Another Year Older, And What Have I Done?

Ok, so I know that the title of this post (sorta) comes from a Christmas song.  However, this post is not about Christmas.  It's more like an update/holiday post.  "What holiday" you ask?  Only the best holiday ever!  Established 27 years ago and occurring annually...it's MY BIRTHDAY!  I know I share it with like nine million other people, but that just means we are having one huge, global party baby!  So, let's get this started.

One of the children from Sarah's Covenant Homes, India.

First, my update.  You may remember my 12 by 2012 list that I posted back in October.  I am proud to say that I accomplished quite a few things on my list.  The one item on my list that I was incredibly excited to do was to plan a mission trip.  You can read about it here.  I decided that I wanted to go to India and I registered with Adventures In Missions.  Unfortunately, the trip I wanted to go on, which was scheduled for April of this year, got cancelled.  This turned out to be a blessing though.  I am no where near my fundraising goal, and the money would have been due by this coming Wednesday.  With the holidays and some unfortunate family events, I got a bit side tracked.  There is a bright side to this story, however.  There is another trip to India in August of this year that I am registering for.  I need to be fully funded by June.  I believe this is absolutely possible and I am incredibly excited!  I am still selling prints of some of my photographs to help raise money for my trip.  If you want some neat art prints and to help me reach my goal, you can visit my store here.  I'm also toying with the idea of designing t-shirts to sell also.  More on that as it develops.

Now, about my holiday.  I've got two projects in the works to celebrate another year in my life.  The first, and the one I am most excited about:  I have decided to establish a new tradition.  Each year on my birthday starting with this year, I am going to perform a number of random acts of kindness equal to my age.  So this year, on my birthday, I intend to perform 27 random acts of kindness.  They can be small or they can be grand.  I can't wait to start showing love and kindness to complete strangers!  The second project, which is kind of a big undertaking, will be to take a photo a day to chronicle 1 year in my life.  So from my birthday this year until my birthday next year, I plan to take one picture of anything that captures the essence of that day in my life.  Soon, I'll start a gallery and post a link to it on my blog.  This year is gonna be spectacular...I can feel it!

Five Fave Friday: Saturday Edition

I know, I know...it's not Friday.  Sorry friends, I was too busy being awesome yesterday.  So here is Five Fave Friday...today!  Everything featured is pinned here.

I just found out I have been using bobby pins backward my whole life.

Kevin McAllister.  Who doesn't love this kid?  Classic holiday film.

So true.  No bigger turn off than incorrect spelling and grammar.

Jaba the Hupcake.  Ummm...winning!  

Chewie dog!  I must own him.

Confessions

Don't worry...this isn't the post where I tell you that my chick on the side said she's got one on the way.  That's coming next week.  J/K, J/K...I hope you guys know the song, otherwise, this got awkward really fast.  If I were a super hero, I think my super power would be creating awkward situations.  Then, my arch enemy would just get so uncomfortable they would leave.  Non-violent, no bloodshed, no messy spiderwebs to clean up...just incredibly uncomfortable to watch.  Alright, we got off topic way fast.  I told you guys a few weeks ago that I would write something worth reading soon, so here it is!

What am I confessing, you ask?  Are you ready for this?  It's gonna get uncomfortable (guess I wasn't too far off topic).  I am confessing my faith in Jesus Christ.  I'm a Christian.  I love my Jesus, and I can't get enough of him. I would hope so dearly that this is clear by my actions and the example I set, but it needs to be said aloud.  I have long believed that the very best way to share God's love and His promises for us is through actions.  Being the hands and feet of Jesus.  And I still do believe that, but I have come to realize that God's word needs to come in to the equation too.  Actions may speak louder, but words carry so much weight.

I've always shied away from conversations about my faith for many reasons.  I'm not a scholar or a theologist.  I don't know the Bible inside and out.  I'm always scared that someone will want to debate me, and I am terrible at debating.  I also worry that I may unintentionally present the Lord as unholy, or say the wrong thing and cause someone else to stumble.  Mainly, because I don't have all the answers.  I've realized though, no person on Earth has all the answers.  No one is perfect.  It's impossible.  That's why I believe, because I'm not perfect.  You don't have to be perfect to accept Jesus, that is what is so simple and so hard to understand sometimes.  You don't change for Jesus, Jesus changes you.  We don't live for God, we live with God.  I want to share my faith because I have been blessed beyond measure, and I want everyone to be able to experience that.  I want to share my source of hope, joy, love, peace, and patience.  I've been selfish for too long.

Five Fave Friday: Extreme Makeover Edition

Well, hello you guys!  You're probably looking around and thinking "Hmmm...something's different.  I just can't put my finger on it..."  I totally changed things up around here!  It was about time.  I taught myself some new graphic designs skills (it sounds more impressive than it really is, technically I don't think it could be called graphic design).  I am in love with the new header!  Isn't it adorbs?  I am so proud of my shiny, new blog.  Very basic, but...I made it myself!!!  What do you guys think?  Do you like the new header/color scheme?  I always love to hear from you.  Also...some things to chew on: I'm considering starting a weekly advice feature.  People come to me constantly for advice.  Not just friends, but total strangers too.  I'm a magnet for broken-hearted and lost people.  What are your thoughts?

Five Fave Friday

Here it is...another edition of Five Fave Friday!  I realize that this is just a cop-out and I promise I'll write something real very soon.  Pinky promise.

Adele is Cosmo's cover girl for the month of December.  She is absolutely flawless.  Yay for curvy girls!

Hahaha!

Mental Floss magazine is probably the best thing I have ever discovered.

Awesome temp tattoo from Fab.com.  Maybe stocking stuffers?

Talk about a throwback to my childhood.  How I do miss 3rd and 4th grade.

As always, everything is pinned here.

Five Fave Friday

I bet you thought I forgot, didn't you?  Well, I didn't!  I was too wrapped up in my Harry Potter marathon to concern myself with creating this post until I was finished.  I watched all 8 films, back to back.  This is going to be my new Thanksgiving tradition I think.  Also, in case any of you are wondering, I am so Team Harry & Hermione!  They should be together, J.K. Rowling!  Ok, now on with my purpose.  I was going to do a special Black Friday edition of Five Fave Friday, but I'm not really a Black Friday kinda girl.  So, here are my faves from the week of 11/8-11/25.  They are pinned here on Pinterest.  Enjoy!

HelloGiggles is on the list 2 weeks in a row!  They finally have their shop set up.  Yay!

I <3 Fred Savage.  Who doesn't?

Totes adorbs!  Trying it this weekend.

Hahahaha!  I would own this.  I think I'll make a bank that says "I'm saving up to buy a bank that says 'I'm savin' up to buy a unicorn'"

What can I say?  I love smart-ass people.  :-)

Hope you guys all had a fabulous Thanksgiving!

Five Fave Friday

Here you go...my five favorite things from the internets this week!

One of my all-time fave websites now has a forum!  I will waste even more time now.  If you haven't checked out HelloGiggles, go there...now.

Create a cat-eye effect with scotch tape and eyeliner.  As soon as I find my scotch tape I am trying this!

My print that got selected for sale on Society6!

What a great motto for a purpose driven life.

Creative and attractive way to give cash for a Christmas gift.

All of these great things can be found on my Weekly Faves board on Pinterest.  Be sure to check out my other awesome boards while you are there.  Also, a shout out to my #1 fan...you know who you are!  Stay tuned for some special Thanksgiving posts next week as well as a special Black Friday edition of Five Faves.  Have a fabulous weekend you guys!