Halfway Done - Reading Challenge Update

June is almost over {less than 6 months till Christmas!}, so I thought I should share another update on Modern Mrs. Darcy's Reading Challenge {check out the original post and first quarter update}.

Since April, I've crossed off another 4 boxes - woot!

April: a book from a genre I don't usually read - Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson. I listened to the audiobook of this, and while there were many, many beautiful lines, overall things were slow and simple, which is probably why I don't usually read many books of this genre. I'm glad to have read it, but I probably won't re-read it. 

May: a book by a favorite author - Black Dove White Raven by Elizabeth Wein. I'm going to be honest here and say that I think I read the best book by Wein first; the two other books of hers that I've read have not been as exciting or intriguing as Code Name: Verity. This one was fun but not intense or suspenseful. 

May: a book currently on the bestseller list - The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. This book was great! A little bit slow until you realize that not everything is as it seems... can't say more without spoilers. Also fun: one of the characters was voiced by Louise Brealey aka Molly Hooper! That was an unexpected but delightful treat. 

June: a book "everyone" has read but me - The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Oh. My. Word. Why did I not read this sooner?!?! I bawled my eyes out, thank you very much. My Book Club read this and then got together and watched the movie...jeepers creepers. If you are like I was and have not yet read this book, do yourself a favor and read this {with tissues!}. 

There you have it! Isn't summer a great time for reading? Sun + sunscreen + book = perfection. What are you reading these days?

2015: Reading Goals

As I shared in my goals post, I am going to attempt to read 50 books this year. Eee!

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I have a few specific challenges for myself, like finishing Birth Art's book list and reading a few books by Malcolm Gladwell and Jim Collins. But then I thought, why stop there? Go big or go home, right?

So I'm participating in a reading challenge from Modern Mrs. Darcy. It's a fun addition to spice up my reading list, and I'll be adding it within my goal of 50 books. 12 books in 12 months, so each month I'll be sharing my thoughts on a book from one of these categories. Hold me accountable, readers - ask me for updates!

Modern Mrs. Darcy's 2015 Reading Challenge {with my plans in parentheses}:

• a book you've been meaning to read {Yes Please by Amy Poehler}

• a book published this year {Golden Son by Pierce Brown}

• a book in a genre you don't usually read

• a book from your childhood {The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank - I tried to read this as a pre-teen but didn't finish}

• a book your mom loves

• a book that was originally written in a different language {The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas - gulp!}

• a book "everyone" has read but you {The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath}

• a book you chose because of the cover

• a book by a favorite author {waiting for Sarah Bessey's second book!}

• a book recommended by someone with great taste

• a book you should have read in high school {I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou}

• a book that's currently on the bestseller list

What do you think, readers? Share your thoughts and recommendations in the comments!

Goals for 2015

It's that magical time of year when Bek reviews her goals for the current year and sets in stone writing her goals for the coming year. It is also the magical time when she starts writing about herself in third person, and everybody {including her} is confused.

Nic is confused, too

Moving right along...

Shall we start with 2014's goals?

1. Invest time in new friendships. Yes! 2014 was full of friendship, and I'm looking forward to spending time with current and future friends.
2. Get into a real exercise routine. Yes! Except for a few summer weeks that were simply crazy, I exercised at least three times a week for the majority of the year. I'd like to thank my sister for the cool workout jacket she gave me and my city for offering Zumba classes. 
3. Continue to blog at least twice a week. Yes! Specifically, my goal was to keep up Funny Fridays, which has kind of died, but I did blog two times a week for the entire year!
4. Try at least one new recipe bi-monthly. Oh my word, big fat fail here! I tried one recipe and made it at least three times, but that's it. I do feel more confident cooking, though; I coordinated 5 days of meals with my sister and friends for Family Camp, and I hosted Thanksgiving and made half the dishes. 
5. Goodreads: 40 books. I adjusted my goal in June to 50 books, and as of this posting, I have read 55 books and am in the middle of 4 more. So that's a yes! :) 

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Onto 2015! I really like what Emilia is doing and I'm going to concentrate on Mind, Body, and Blog. I also have some other categories, but I'm keeping those in my journal. So here are my Mind, Body, and Blog goals:

1. Read 50 books. When I was thinking about my reading goals for next year, I came up with some specific kinds of books I want to read, and of course some of them are doula-related, so stay tuned for reviews.
2. Maintain exercise routine {3x/week}, reduce sugar intake, add more vegetables. I'm going to get back on the MyFitnessPal bandwagon and start tracking food again, and the food is going to be less sugar and more veggies!
3. Keep on blogging... Specifically, my goals are to:
• continue linking up with the Not Alone Series at least once a month
• share a doula-related book review once a month
• post something "personal" each month. This can be a Doula Update, a Funny Friday, a general update, thoughts on a specific topic, or something else. I can add it to a link-up {like 7 Quick Takes}, but the "prompt" is my own. 

Bam - goals! 2015 is going to be splendid!

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Goals Update {Sneaking in 7QT}

I read this wonderful post by Chelsea about making goals, and I realized that it is almost the end of June, which is a perfect time for a goals update! And since I had 5 goals for 2014, I figured I will expand just a bit and link up with Jen at Conversion Diary - two birds, one stone.

1. First of all, let us applaud the fact that I'm doing a goal update at almost exactly the halfway point of the year. Maybe I'm a few weeks days early, but at least I'm doing it in June. Be happy with what you get, people.

2. Goal 1: Invest time in new friendships. Status: successful thus far. Rebecca and I have become so close {we're planning on buying a cake - she loves cake - for our friend-versary in August} and we regularly make jokes about double dates and maybe even a double wedding, but could all of this happen without actually talking to boys, please? Thank you.
I've also grown relationships with several other people, most notably Notion friends. Also, Laura from A Single Drop in the Ocean and I have been getting to know one another via email {and we've both assured the other that we are not creepy stalker people!}, and that has been so fun. Actually, tune in for a blog swap/interview coming up!

3. Goal 2: Get into a real exercise routine. Status: pretty successful. I've been doing Zumba 2-3 times a week this month {Bradley class cut one from my schedule} and have been actually good at exercising at home when class isn't a possibility. Sugar intake has been down and water intake has been improved. Also, I've started using the MyFitness Pal app {shoutout to AJ who got me started!}, and since starting on May 29th, I've lost 5 pounds. Bam!

4. Goal 3: Continue to blog twice weekly. Status: rocking. I've already posted more in 2014 than I did in 2013, total. So that's cool. Any suggestions for posts can be made in the comments - I'm open to your ideas!

5. Goal 4: Try one new recipe bi-monthly. Status: I mastered one and made it three times - does that count? Ha! I will pick a new recipe for July and give it a whirl. And maybe even a blog post.

6. Goal 5: Goodreads goal of 40 books this year. Status: I updated my challenge to 50 books, and I've read 29 so far. The perfectionist-Type-A part of me would loooove to point out that I'm 5 books ahead of schedule, according to Goodreads, and the overachiever part of me wants to up my challenge again, and the stressed-out-making-life-decisions part of me wants to take a chill pill and just enjoy reading.

7. Just for laughs {and Funny Friday points}:

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Happy weekend!

NAS: Religious Life

Linking up with Jen at Jumping in Puddles and Morgan at Follow and Believe!

While most of us feel called to marriage, it is important to see the beauty in all vocations! If/when you were discerning religious life, which communities interest{ed} you? What do you see as the positives of that vocation?

Tempted to pull out the Protestant card for 200, but I'm going to hunker down and respond to this prompt as best as I can because we've all had The Question strike: what if I stay single to infinity and beyond???

When I was a kid, this question didn't really bother me; in fact, I don't think I ever asked myself this question. In my mind, I knew I was going to grow up, get married, have a daughter named Jessie and a collie named Lassie, and teach ballet lessons. Done and done.

Except not.

When I was in high school, The Question started whispering to me, especially in youth group. So many times I got the impression that God wouldn't let me get married until I was completely happy staying single for the rest of my life. And that scared the living daylights out of me, because I wanted to get married and didn't want to stay single, and if God knows my innermost thoughts, He'd know if I was faking happiness. So obviously I was doomed to be single.

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Some of these ideas stayed with me through college, but part of me realized that relationships, not just marriage, take a lot of work and that college wasn't the right time for me to jump on that train. So I learned to be really content by myself, and to rejoice with my friends, even when the diamonds on their hands sparkled more than the diamonds on mine {because diamonds from your parents are guaranteed to have less sparkle than one from a TDH, especially when all your friends are paying attention}. But with my awesome roomie and wonderful friends, I was able to shush The Question for the time.

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And now I've been out of school for 2 years and life is whirring at 75 mph and God is taking me all different directions and when I catch my breath and The Question catches me, I usually have an answer. If I stay single to infinity and beyond, it will be okay. I will probably just keep doing what I'm doing, working, volunteering, being with friends and family and church family, watching "The Office" and reading lots of books, cooking new foods, making blogging friends {like you, readers!}, and loving Jesus. My life won't end if my marriage never starts, and I think that's the answer to the untwisted version of The Question that has been chasing me all these years.

The Question may sneak around some more, but instead of listening to it, I'm going to keep living life with Jesus. To infinity and beyond.

Not Alone Series: Goals & Lent

Linking up with Morgan from Follow and Believe and Jen from Jumping in Puddles.

Remember the first NAS post this year? How are the goals that you set going? Regardless of how those goals are going, how are you utilizing Lent to continue to strive for those goals?

In short, my goals at the beginning of this series were to grow in friendships, seek new dreams, increase my love capacity, and keep on writing. Now let's get down to business and evaluate!

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I think that my friendships have definitely grown. My friend Rebecca and I keep each other entertained {seriously, I'm pretty sure God lets us hang out together just so He gets a good laugh}. I've gotten to know Cami better, which is fantastic because she's fantastic. Some Notions friends and I have started hanging out more regularly outside of Notions. I'm so grateful for all the wonderful people with whom the Lord has connected me. 

Dreams...the song from "Tangled" comes to mind...

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I don't know about anything specific, but I do think the Lord has renewed my vision. In late January, I talked with my parents about some goals and dreams, and then in February, Samara and I went on a retreat with Jesus. The conversations from these times have encouraged me to keep going in life, and while I can't see the end of the road, I can see the next step, and that's becoming enough.

For the love capacity goal, I think that the first two answer the third. Always, always, always there can be more love, and the Lord can keep on increasing my capacity. Has He already? Absolutely.

Last but not least, there's the writing goal. I've not written any more about Edna Walters yet, but I've been participating in several link-ups and overall have been writing a bit more. One of my goals coming out of my Jesus retreat was to both blog and journal more frequently, and that's been good. Some of my writing has come up at Notions, and some of it is just going to stay in my journal, and it's all good. 

My Lenton goals {shared in these 7QT} are going well. It's so challenging for me not to read at night {especially since I'm in the midst of three excellent books}, but I know that this is a good exercise for my self-control muscle. And it's been quite wonderful, actually, to write encouraging notes to people. It's fun to ask Jesus who needs some encouragement, and then trust Him for the right words to write. If you'd like a note, send me your mailing address and I will add you to my list! I've got some pretty awesome stationary, if I do say so myself :)

Thank you, Morgan and Jen, for hosting this wonderful link-up each week! It's so encouraging to hear from other women in similar processes, and I really love reviewing what God has done in our lives so far this year. 

Not Alone Series: Deal Breakers

Linking up with Jen at Jumping in Puddles and Morgan at Follow and Believe.

{Before we jump into this week's prompt, give me two seconds to toot my own horn. Today I wrote a guest post for Victoria's blog. Care to read something short and humorous? {And I'm not just saying that - it really is both short and humorous, like me!} Head her way!}

We have all thought about our list of qualities for a future spouse {or maybe religious community}, but those things can be pretty limiting on who God has planned for you. Instead, think about the few things that are so important to you that if a guy you were considering dating {or a community you were entering} didn't have these things, you would have to move on. Why are these things important to you?

Alright, you caught me. I have a list. It's a list that I made several times during my angsty and anxious teens, and then a couple more times as a wise {cough} college freshman. And since that time, I've not really looked at it. I know what's on it. God knows what's on it. These character traits that I seek in a husband are really beyond my control, so I don't worry about them. God know what I need even better than that list does, and I'd definitely rather have God bring the man He has for me than someone who can check off everything on the list.

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That being said, there are a few things that Mr. TDH needs to have going on before he's considered.  My pastor called these non-negotiables, and that's how I think of them. There are the traits that are absolutely non-negotiable and there are things that are negotiable. Because I don't know where God is going to lead me/us, I don't want to limit Him with my lists. The things on my list are important, but trusting God is more important, and the most important item on my list is a relationship with Jesus. No close relationship with Jesus = no close relationship with Bek.

A group of gals went through the book Lady In Waiting last summer, and while the book was cheesy {SO cheesy!}, some great discussions came from it, and our fearless and lovely leader encouraged us to ask ourselves how we are preparing to be excellent wives. Am I learning skills and character qualities that my TDH will be looking for, or am I just focusing on what I want in him? That's a convicting thought, and something I pray about regularly.

That's all, folks! Thanks for reading, and be sure to show our hostesses some link-up love.

Blog Every Day Feb: Day Nineteen - Little Secrets

Linking up with Bailey Jean; we are almost done with February!

Today's prompt asks for "little known facts about you," so brace yourselves.

1. One of my life dreams is to live on a houseboat. "Sleepless in Seattle" may have influenced this desire, but that doesn't make it any less valid. When it happens, I'll invite you over. Pinky promise.

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2. When I was 3 years old, I fell off a bed {no more monkeys jumping on the bed!} and hit the mirrors on the closet door. My nose was basically cut off, except for one little piece of skin. Stitches and two decades later, no one meets me and says "what happened to your nose?!?!" with any semblance of horror on their faces. In fact, when I tell people, they don't believe me and have to examine my nose in order to see for themselves.

3. I played Speed Scrabble for a couple of years before I ever played Scrabble on the board. My AP English professor had us play Speed Scrabble as a way to work in timed, pressure-filled situations {I think he just was tired at the end of the school day}, and I thought that was the best way to play Scrabble ever in the whole wide world. 

4. I took classical piano lessons for about 6 years. I'm so glad my parents "encouraged" me to do this. Sometimes I resented all the necessary practicing, but when I got to my last semester of college and needed another half-credit to graduate with honors, I took piano and loved it again. No, it wasn't the most convenient thing to get myself to the basement of the western-most building on campus every day, but once I was in my little piano room, everything was wonderful. 

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5.  While I can usually read two or three books at a time, it's really hard for me to be in the middle of more than one crochet project. I feel torn because I want to finish both, but obviously can only work on one at a time. This is why I'm working really hard to finish my friend Rosemary's scarf before I start my Doctor Who scarf, even though the Whovian in me is dyingggg. But priorities, my friends. 

There, those weren't too traumatizing, I hope! Go learn stuff about other people in the link-up.

Blog Every Day Feb: Day Fifteen - A Big Dream

Linking up with Bailey Jean for today's prompt.

Well, Bailey has great timing. Dreams are what I've been praying about for the past few weeks. On my retreat last weekend, I was specifically asking God for direction and vision and a dream, a goal for my life. I'll be honest: I'm still praying about this. 

I want to see abortion ended in my lifetime. There, I said it. That is my dream, my goal, what I pray for. What can I do to see this happen? There are so many avenues to accomplishing this: changing hearts, adjusting education, changing the laws, providing support for women facing crisis pregnancies, connecting medical, financial, educational resources, praying, praying, praying...

In what capacity does the Lord want to use me? I studied business in college and have entrepreneur-blood in my veins, so how do I use my skills and training for my passion and dream? I don't know yet. Right now, I'm working in an unrelated field and volunteering at a crisis pregnancy center. There is the potential for more at the clinic, but nothing is solidified. I'm asking God for direction for my next step. 

If you would like more details on why I'm pro-life or about the clinic I volunteer at, please feel free to email me.

7 Quick Takes: Encouragement, Tom Baker, and Humility

Linking up with Jen at Conversion Diary for 7 Quick Takes!

One: The last paragraph of this post is amazing. She resolves the conflict I so often feel, that I need to go somewhere to help but I also am burdened to stay and bring positive change. She says it so simply: "I can choose both here and there - because I have enough and can share with others." Beautiful, peace-filled words. Thank you,  Emily.

Two: Just when you thought Pope Francis couldn't get any more awesome, he does. Bam.

Three: Wow. The articles you find at work but apply to life. This is really cool.

Four: This weekend, Samara and I are going on our Jesus retreat!!! I'm so excited to spend some quality time with my best Friend and my bff :) My goal for this weekend is to work on some of my life goals with Jesus, as well as get some specific answers to some things I've been mulling over {side note: isn't that a great expression? I feel like drinking some wonderful sangria while mulling over deep and intense thoughts}.

Five: For my birthday last month, my youngest sister ordered me a phone case. I know this because she asked me what I wanted and I told her...and then I sent her the links to my favorite cases...and then she told me that she ordered one of them. We're cool like that - the surprise is discovering which one she ordered :) All this is to say that it finally arrived in the mail! So I'll be swinging by my parents' house this evening and having an abridged and delayed birthday celebration - picture forthcoming!

Six: Since I finished my TARDIS purse and my sister's birthday scarf, I'm itching for my next crochet project. I'm thinking that I should make Tom Baker's Doctor's scarf, especially since I have half the colors already. If anyone wants to donate yarn to the Doctor Who cause, I'll make something for you!

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Seven: Next week is Valentine's Day, and since it's on a Friday {meaning 7QT Day}, I won't spill the details of what my gal-pals {oh, hey there, 90's expression, long time no see} and I are doing, but just know that it's awesome. And you should know that it was my idea. And you should also know that humility is my most prominent character trait. Others have told me that; I had no idea. But I did have the idea for Valentine's Day. Wow, full circle, looks like it's time for this post to end riiiiiiight now. 

Happy Friday and happy weekend!

Focus

Call me whatever you want to call me, but I love traditions. Traditions remind me of the things that have value, because if something doesn't have value, it won't {or shouldn't} last very long.

Maybe this doesn't count as a tradition, but in some ways it feels like one, so here goes. For the past several years, my church has set aside the first full week in January as a week for prayer and fasting. This year things have been adjusted and we're fasting and praying Tuesday through Saturday instead of the whole week, but I think the different length will help/is helping us to go deeper. It's a brief drilling down deep, instead of an extended trough.

This month {ha, all seven days of it!} there are a few big things I'm praying about and asking God for revelation, and I'm really grateful for this short intense time of prayer and fasting. I think some great breakthroughs are coming, and I'm excited to see God move!

The Lord has already given me a theme for this year, but He's also emphasizing a different theme for each day of fasting and praying, too. This thrills me, because I find it's so much easier to pray specific, targeted prayers. Which, ironically or not, is tied to today's theme. Today, the theme is focus.

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Today I'm focusing my prayers on:

• the next step in life
• goals {10 years, 5 years, 1 year}
• growth, healing, reconciliation in my church body

Hopefully I'll get my life together and share the next 4 themes with you this week. That would be something, to look back at the end of 2014 and say "Here is the specific fruit of these specific prayers!" I'm looking forward to that :)

Goals for 2014

Farewell, 2013! It's been real and it's been fun.

Goals for 2013 {original post here, September's update here}:

1. Blog twice a week, one funny and one not necessarily = CHECK! For the vast majority of 2013, I blogged at least twice a week, and I think Funny Friday is officially a thing.
2. Blog different experiences = a wee bit vague, but I do think I hit a variety of topics and experiences and stories. I'm gonna call this one CHECK.
3. IRL goal: Made to Crave = check-ish. I definitely feel healthier, but I need to jump back into a routine. Good news: zumba classes start in January! :)
4. Fun goal: Prince Edward Island - definite check! In case I haven't posted about it enough, you can read my travel journal here.
5. From September, get fully settled into the condo = CHECK! My wall has more pictures than it knows what to do with, I've changed approximately 4 billion light bulbs {not really but almost}, and Samara and I both have new fans in our bathrooms. Like a boss.
6. Finish my Goodreads goal of 45 books. Well, folks, being behind in September must have lit a fire under my tail, because I had to adjust my goal to 50 books...and I've finished 54. Audio books for the win!
7. Finish the TARDIS purse = checkity check CHECK! Please admire it here.

So now 2014 goals... gulp. 2013 has challenged me to expand the horizon on my perspectives, meaning that while my default personality type is ESTJ and black-and-white and task-oriented, I have come to recognize the value in different "letters" and shades of color and person/being-oriented. It's been challenging and I'm still learning to value both all viewpoints, so to really stretch myself, I'm going to try and make one of my goals more abstract and less measurable. The business major in me is cringing, but here goes.

1. Invest time in new friendships. 2013 has introduced some wonderful people, and I want to grow these relationships in 2014. The concrete-sequential part of me will probably have to come back and add more detail to this goal, but for abstractness, I'm happy.
2. Get into a real exercise routine. As noted above, zumba starts in January and I'm really excited! I'm also jumping back on the bandwagon of decreasing my sugar intake and increasing the water intake.
3. Continue to blog at least twice a week. Since Funny Friday is a thing, count on that at least two times a month, and then look for some 7 Quick Takes. Usually the link-up is on Fridays, but I may do it a day or two early just to spread the love. Also, as a sub-goal, I will be joining with Rachel and focusing on blogging quality, not just quantity.
4. Try one new recipe monthly bi-monthly. Let's not jump in over our heads; these are my limited cooking skills we're talking about.
5. Goodreads: I'm gonna shoot for a solid 40 books in 2014. We'll see if that needs adjusting either way; hopefully the library can keep up! Specifically, I want to finish Team of Rivals this year.

Since 5 is the number of grace, I'm gonna stop there. :) I'd love to {but am not committing to!} do a monthly or quarterly check-up on these goals, instead of just in September... but we'll see. 

What are your goals for 2014?

Tuesday's Tasks

Whew! This weekend was awesome and busy and fun and full of laughs and relaxing and exhausting and rejuvenating and still more fun. Or as Miranda's mum would say, "Such fun!"

Laurie and I had a great time. We hit up the less tourist-y spots of the neighborhood, had the sistren {like brethren, right?} over, made mojitos {some of the best I've ever made, actually}, hit up Ikea, painted and hung picture frames {my room is closer to finished}, went to dinner with my parents, skipped over the mountains to tour Leavenworth and visit Dahlia, and generally had a great time. Oh, and we watched a couple more episodes of Miranda because we can. So great.

I'm thankful for such a great visit with a great friend. It was a busy weekend, but it was also really restful. Laurie and I are both task-oriented, so I think it is complimentary to say that we got a lot accomplished this weekend, but we were still able to rest and enjoy a mini-vacation.

Because I'm task-oriented, I feel like I have a never-ending to-do list in my head. The worst thing is to start a task and not be able to complete it; I wish I hadn't started it because I keep thinking about it and its incomplete status. Sigh.

That's how I feel right now with the pictures in my room. I've got most of the frames hanging, but there are two that still need a picture. Then there's a frame that Samara and I are going to swap {long story- wrong color, already opened, etc.}. And since I had to take Laurie to the airport in the wee hours of the morning, my bed is unmade and the deflated air mattress is occupying an ungodly amount of floor space. Sigh.

I love having guests and friends over to visit, but I dislike the messiness that sometimes comes with that. I know it's not anyone's fault; it's simply an inconvenience of living out of a suitcase in someone else's room. But mess drives me a tad batty, and add the incomplete task of picture frames, and here comes crazy.

The good news is, tonight will be a fun evening meeting AJ's s-i-l who happens to live in the neighborhood. I'm so excited to get to know another part of AJ's family. And after dinner, I'm going to clean my room and wash my sheets and exercise and shower and go to bed early. This evening will be great, and a lot of my to-do list will get crossed off, and sleep will be wonderful tonight.

Oh! Exciting! Speaking of my room, I bought a clock yesterday for yonder bedroom. I'm really excited, because I think this fits the feel of the room. Now I just have to hang it...you're welcome to come over and make suggestions :)

Ending with an update: the TARDIS purse I'm crocheting... 'member that? Well, I'm happy to announce that I'm almost done! I just have windows and top of the TARDIS to complete, so yay! I promise: as soon as it's done, you will see pictures.

Happy Tuesday, dear readers!

Thanks for the Moral Support

Well, friends, thank you for all your support and encouragement. Samara and I have been recovering from our intruder the other day, and I think we're gonna make it. ;)

Since school has started/is starting soon {depending on your age and location}, I started thinking about my goals for this year. Am I even close to accomplishing them? Well, let's take a look-see...

Goals for 2013 {original post}:

1. Blog twice a week
2. Blog stories of depth as well as humor
3. Become healthier through adjusted food intake and increased activity
4. Travel to Prince Edward Island with Dahlia

How am I doing? *moment of soul searching...*

I'm pretty sure that I've been faithful with Numeral Uno. So far I've posted 81 times this year, which is an average of 2.18 times over the past 37 weeks of 2013. {Side note: we have approximately 15 weeks left of this year, and less than 100 days until Christmas. Gulp!}

Numeral Dos: I give myself a B on this goal. It seems that there are phases of funny stories and then a bundle of more serious thoughts... probably could go more on the serious side, but I also want to be real with what's going on in my head in the present. 

Onto Numeral Tres...this has had ups and downs. When I lived with my grandparents, it was really strong, for some obvious reasons: my grandparents spoiled me rotten let me eat what I needed and my bedroom had carpet {makes ab exercises kinder on my back}. Coming home was a little weaker. My mom cooks healthier food than my grandparents, but I wasn't exercising as much. And now that I've got my own place, I'm eating less but also exercising less. So...we're getting there. 

Y'all know about the big Numeral Quattro, but in case you've been living under a stupid rock, scroll through the archives and click on anything that says "Travel Journal." Dahlia and I went to PEI in August, and it was one of the highlights of 2013! I highly recommend it to anyone considering such a venture.

So what am I going to do for the rest of 2013? I'm going to continue blogging consistently and frequently, making sure to share my more personal thoughts as well as humorous happenings, and I'm going to implement a regular exercise routine at least twice a week.

Another goal I have for 2013 is to get fully settled into my new home. By the time 2014 rolls around, I want to have pictures on walls and boxes out in recycling. There are also a few little things that I'm looking for, and I'd love to not have a permanent mental shopping list in 15 weeks. 

Another goal I made for myself this year was to read 45 books. So far I've read 30, so Goodreads indicates that I am two books behind schedule, but what do they know? I'm in the middle of a biography of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother {mum to current Queen Elizabeth II}, and I've also read a few chapters of a book about vaccines {fascinating, right??}.

No commitment here, but I would be really proud if I finished crocheting my TARDIS purse. It may or may not happen, given that it requires sewing *sigh*. But hey, this can be a dream, right?

Thanks for "listening" to my accountability report. Let's talk again in a few weeks :)

Sunday's Ponderings

First of all, sorry for the one post last week. Sometimes two posts feels overwhelming, which is bad, because it shouldn't be. But it was a busy week, and we're going for flexibility, and if you have a problem with that, then you should probably find a different blog to read.

Yep, it's going to be one of those nights.

As you know, I'm looking for a condo or townhouse to buy so my bestie and I can feel like real grown-ups. I went to two open houses this weekend, and while there are some great places out there, so much depends on my budget, which right now is limiting.

So I'm contemplating ways to make some extra dough, and I'm also considering what my dad told me: people who are really successful do things that other people don't consider doing or aren't willing to do. He gave the example that the garbage man is usually the richest man in town because he does what no one else wants to do. So he encouraged me to find something that I'm passionate about and make that into my job. Do something that others won't do or aren't willing to do so that I can live in a way that others can't.

It makes sense. Dad bought a gas station when he was two years younger than I am. Dad is a risk-taker and a man of reason and faith, and he calls it like it is. He's very black and white. I am too, but probably not to the same degree. So I feel stuck, because I want to do something unusual and out there and something that I'm passionate about and that I can make a living off of and that I can pursue and all that, but I don't know what that something is.

I want to work more with people than with a computer.
I want to work with a purpose.
I want to use my gifts and talents that God has given me.
I want to do something that hopefully I could continue once I have kids.
I want to tangibly advance the Kingdom of God.

Any ideas?

Comfort Zone

The company that I'm interning for is really focused on leadership, both personal leadership and business leadership. The owner is a great, godly man who is dedicated to growing leaders, and he has done hundreds and thousands of webinars, seminars, speeches, blog posts, newsletters, emails, and more all about developing leaders and growing people. He's fabulous.

So my task this week has been to go through and create a catalog of all the videos we have, and -you guessed it- the vast majority of them are of our owner speaking about leadership.

So I ponder...

In my Business 101 class {waaaay back during freshman year}, I learned that there are basically three specialties of business people:

1. People who start businesses {usually start, get it going, sell after a few years and move on to start something else}
2. People who run businesses {these are the people who buy the existing business & run with it}
3. People who rescue businesses from extinction 

My Business 101 class discussed this, and my teacher pointed out how rare it is for one person to have all three abilities, and that's what made Steve Jobs so amazing-he did all three.

I remember talking with my mom after that class and saying "You and Dad have told me I would own my own business, and I guess I always thought that meant I had to start it, but now I think that I would be good at running it without starting it!" Light bulb!

fast forward to now

The owner of this company is a true visionary. He has so many ideas, and he is always looking forward. He sees things way down the road and then sees where the end will end and then starts to make a new road. It is amazing.

It is not easy or natural for me to look that far down the road. Well, sometimes I try to convince God to let me plan out my whole life, but He just chuckles at me. But when I think about where I want to be in 20 years, I have a few ideas, but that's it. I think part of that is the learn-to-trust-God thing.
It feels like I see dots out in my future, but I don't know how they're all connected. There are many locations around the world that have my heart, and I don't know how God is going to use it all.

But let's get back to the business aspect. L and I have talked about this, and neither of us want to be THE person responsible for a whole organization. I would love to be in charge of something {can't help it- firstborn, administrator, management major}  but I want to answer to someone. I want someone else to tell me "This is the long term vision" and then I will say "Awesome. Here I go to do it."

But is that what God has called me to? Am I supposed to be THE person responsible for a whole organization?

These are a few things that I know and will hold fast to:

• God made different personalities and there is nothing wrong with having one and not another
• God has called me to do something and bit by bit, He's revealing it to me
• What God calls me to might will probably be uncomfortable
• God's grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in my weakness

just some thoughts...

Victory!

Alright friends, we’re gonna get real here.

I’ll be going home 4 weeks from yesterday. May I just point out that this is the going home to stay home for the first time in three years trip. Heck. Yes. But this is an aside. The point is that I’m going home.
The other point is that Grams’ favorite hobby is shopping. And related to this point is that I too have gone shopping {quality time-don’t be hatin’!} while living in the Frozen Tundra {ok, and there’s not a whole lot else to do. I said we were getting real.}.

These points lead to the point that I was really nervous about all my, ahem, stuff fitting into suitcases. P.S. I’m flying Southwest because a) they’re usually cheap and b) along with that cheap price, they let you check two bags included in the price of the ticket!!! Score for this gal moving across the country!

So even with these two suitcases, I was nervous. So what did my little OCD-self do? Yep. Packed tonight.
Not everything; just my clothes and half my shoes. I wanted to see how much space it all took, because I had a guess, but I wasn't sure. I’m a good packer, but didn't expect to be that good.

ALL my clothes fit into one of my checked bags, and half of my shoes {as in, 3 pairs of boots and 4 pairs of dress shoes} and my socks and undershirts fit into my carry-on suitcase. Bam. Victory.

There are probably those of you wondering why would she pack up all her clothes a month in advance? Why was she even thinking about packing?? Some of you are probably thinking she needs meds for this level of OCD. And still others of you are thinking Geez! How many pairs of shoes does this chick have!?!?

Well, dear readers, fear not: I shall answer your wonderings. I unpacked after I packed. {This may raise more questions, but let’s review how many times the term “OCD” has been used already in this post and just let it be.} As for the meds wondering, I do take meds…actually vitamins, not actual meds. And for you shoe haters or lusters out there, I will say that a) 2 pairs of boots are snow boots-one can never be too prepared in the Frozen Tundra! and b) yes I like shoes. I have feet. Duh.

So there. You are now a part of my victory. Congratulations.

And for those of you completely bored by this post, here is a picture that cracks my sister J and me up every time. Yay, “Big Bang Theory”! You’re welcome.

                                                                       source

New Year

As you saw in my last post, I'm back in the Midwest chilling with the grandparents. Totes awesome. I hope your Christmas and New Year's celebrations were all fabulous and wonderful. Mine were.

And now, on to business.
You might remember my blogging goals for 2012 and I think that overall I accomplished these goals! Woot! Pat on the back for Bek! So now I want to make some new ones for 2013, and I want to advance, not retreat. So here they are, and these are not just blogging goals. There are also some life updates thrown in here for good measure. So here goes.

Blogging Goals

1. Blog at least twice a week. One will be funny {I'm trying to institute Funny Friday, but I'm not promising that a) funny things only happen on Friday or b) that I can remember funny things until Friday. So we'll go for one funny a week.} and one will have more depth. 
2. I'd like to spend some time writing down different experiences, different stories that have happened and that I will want to remember sometime. These might be humorous, but they won't count as the funny post. There are just some cool, random, odd, etc. things that have happened & I want to document them. Nothing big or serious that I can think of right now, but I want to give y'all a head's up. So there. Keep your head up. 
3. Do you have any ideas? I'm willing to try new ideas, so if you got em, share em! Have questions for me? I'll answer them as best I can. 

Life...Updates:

• Two of my favorite people ever are joining me in a Made to Crave journey. Made to Crave is a book by Lysa TerKeurst {check out her blog here} about craving God more than we crave food. AJ read this book first, then I read it, and now AJ's sis Tisa is in on it. The three of us are holding each other accountable to a new way of eating and to our personal exercise plans. It's pretty awesome. So far, so good! I'll probably be posting updates about this, so you guys can hold me accountable too! Keep it positive; we're here for encouragement. 
• Fun goal for this year? Go on a trip with my friend Dahlia! We've been planning a trip to Prince Edward Island for almost two years, and we're hoping that this summer is the time to go. Any suggestions for our trip? Have you been there? Is there some thing or place that we MUST see? Let us know, pretty please! 

Well, I think that's all. Stay tuned for updated & revised comments on Les Miserables since my friend L and I saw it for her birthday. 

Peace out, readers. 

Tuesday’s Torture

I’m trying to exercise every day. Already you know about my running endeavors. Well, I decided that I should also strengthen my arms and my abs {what girl doesn't think she needs this?!} so I've been actually doing exercises from P.interest. Wait, you didn't know you could do those? Yup. It’s true.

sorry for the sarcasm. I guess endorphins make me a smart-aleck… actually not. that’s natural.

So, I thought I’d share some of my favorite exercises. And by favorites, I mean the ones that I hate the most but know they’re good for me. Oh, paradox.

So for abs, here’s what I've been doing.

this is not me, and I don’t think it’s the blog author either… just some random chick who guides us through the exercises. whatevs. the full work out is here for your viewing pleasure. wow I really am a smart aleck when I exercise.

Also for your abs, pick your 5 favorite songs and burn the butter!

I did this one today, and literally broke a sweat. I know, ladies don’t sweat; they glisten, but I was working out like a beast and I actually sweated. What. Now.

Finally, for your arms, anyone ever heard of Tracy Anderson? Me neither, but after today I would not want to meet her in a dark alley. Here is her under-8-minute arm workout. I’d cuss, but this blog is supposed to be like PG or whatever, so I’ll just say dang. Here's the video of torture.

I have nothing else to say. It hurts to type. And I have to go for a run, because ya gotta get your cardio in! Oh, speaking of cardio, here’s on more regime that I think would be awesome but am too scared to attempt.
Here is a dare for you. Let me know how it turns out. I wish you luck.

And just for fun, here’s some motivation (also from P.interest).

sometimes I feel like this….

my new motto :)

And with that, I’m choosing to feel sore tomorrow…or today…more likely both. Anyway, cheers!

Follow-Through Post

Ok, my first left-ya-hanging item is from this post in January. I said I would tell you what Jesus had been speaking to me at that time.

Well, I’m looking back in my journal as we speak, folks. Let’s see: Jesus was speaking a lot of vision and destiny into my heart at that time, because I was wondering if I was meant to make my Other Home my permanent Home, and Jesus told me that “there will be goodbyes and see-you-laters and hello-agains.”
Wow. God told me all that, months before I would even need it! Thank You, Jesus!!!

Second: this post in March. Sacrifice, especially regarding the products we purchase and what companies do with their revenue. Please check out this and this site {you might have to click something at the bottom of the second link to continue to the correct page}, and please consider this letter to businesses that support Planned Parenthood. Also, if you really want, I can post my last research paper on the subject of de-funding Planned Parenthood. Maybe I’ll do that if someone requests it. Now it’s all you, readers! But seriously, let us consider where our money goes and what products go into us. There are some vaccines and other household, consumable products that have aborted babies in them. What!? I’d say “yuck” but that doesn't even begin to describe my disgust and sadness. Check out this website for more information on things like that.

I actually think that I've been ok with following through on things. Pictures are the only things that are really lacking here. So, my next post will {hopefully} include pictures of 1- my dulcimer and 2- my craft that I made with my friend and finished and brought home today!!!

Oh, speaking of crafts, this same friend and I went to Good.will and brought home some treasures. Like a wooden picture frame for $0.50 and a vase for $0.69 and a cheese grater!!! for $0.69!!!! Shut up shut up I spent less than $3 on these treasures! Pictures coming soon!