Arnica Anonymous

Yesterday was my last day of the 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge! Thanks for reading my lists every week! March 28th Prompt : What small thing happened today that you are grateful for? My Answer : I found a book at the library that I've been looking forward to reading since it came out in November.  March 29th Prompt : What friend/family member are you grateful for today. My Answer : There are so many choices but I'll go with my oldest nephew. He's such a sweet and thoughtful little guy with a good sense of humor. He brightens my days and I can't imagine life with out him. March 30th Prompt :What talent or skill do you have that you are grateful for? My Answer : (Isn't this the same as "abilities" which they asked me on the 13th??) Writing which has given me the potential job of tutoring two girls this summer. Have you ever done a 30 day challenge before? What are you grateful for this month?

Dear Blog Readers, I have a confession to make: I have this disease called "I am single and don't want to get married." (Don't worry, it's not contagious) And yes, I know we all have those friends who claim they are happy and content single but the day a guy finally asks them out they confess they've been dying to get married for years. I'm not that person. I could have been married twice already had I wanted to be. I could still get married at this moment if I chose to return one gentleman's interest.

This week's prompts inspired some interesting answers. I recommend an "R" rated movie, lock my keys in the car, and mention my toothbrush! If you want to see previous posts on the gratitude challenge I am doing this month click here . March 21st Prompt : What song are you most grateful for? My Answer : Different songs have encouraged me at different times. I have been listening to and enjoying the one below most recently. March 22nd Prompt : What story are you most grateful for? My Answer : Apart from Bible stories, which would be the most correct and obvious answer, I would have to say at this point it would be the true story of Desmond T. Doss. I recently watched the movie Hacksaw Ridge (Doss' story) and was so encouraged. {As a side note I do recommend this movie but keep in mind it is "R" rated. There is a large dose of language and violence/disturbing images throughout.} March 23rd Prompt : What tradition are you ...

Most people have no idea I struggled with my identity as a teen. In fact, when my mother reviewed a book for someone else on how to deal with their teens she informed me that she got nothing out of it for herself. "You're just not a normal teen." she told me. "You aren't  having an identity crisis." I chuckled and walked away to type out an email to my best friend about how I felt I could not get out of my older siblings' shadows and truly be myself. Don't judge my parents, I have a poker face.

I'm experimenting with my phone's camera and having a very difficult time getting the focus in the correct spot. This is my neighbors' back yard and would you look at all those flowers? Who couldn't like Spring when it looks like this?! I'll admit that the only thing keeping me going on this challenge is the knowledge that I have to post my answers every Monday. So good job guys! You're providing incentive. Keep up the good work.😉 Click here if you want to see the others in this series. March 14th Prompt: What sight are you grateful for today? My Answer: The number "97" on the test for my boating license. (I needed an 80 to pass.) March 15th Prompt: What season are you grateful for? My Answer: Spring!!! It's my favorite season and the one I'm in right now!  March 16th Prompt: What about your body are you grateful for? My Answer: (I never like these "body image" questions!) My freckles. They help hide wh...

Last month my brother and sister-in-law introduced me to The Bible Project . I can't describe them very well so just click on the link and watch their homepage video for yourself. One of my goals for this year was to read through the New Testament twice. Right now I am about half way through my first pass and each time I finish a book of the NT I look up the corresponding video from The Bible Project. I am a rather visual person so I love their illustrated outlines. They allow me to see and understand the concepts without getting lost in the technical words. I can't tell you how many light bulb moments I've had since I started watching them. This Monday I finished reading James and watched the video above. I was amazed that I had never noticed the book's correlation to the Sermon on the Mount but I had to admit, once they pointed it out the ties were obviously there. Have you ever heard of The Bible Project? What did you think of this video on James?  ...

To see the first six days of this challenge as well as the prompts for all thirty click here .

I have not had much time for breathing this week much less blogging. I had orchestra practice, put in my weekly hours volunteering at the local crisis pregnancy center, spent two evenings getting involved with a local churches' (not mine) outreach to internationals, went hiking with an old high school friend, and attended a meet and greet for the Master Gardeners Class that I am planning on attending in April. Every evening I was home, and many of the evenings I was not, my family had company. I cooked three suppers out of the five week day ones, made bread, and cleaned in between waves of over night guests. To top it off I had signed up for a three day online class complete with lectures and handouts which occurred in the latter half of this week. Oh, and how could I forget?? I jammed my left thumb playing volleyball last night and it is now both painful and immobile from swelling.  Like I said, it has been a busy week! But it has also been one of the most satisfying wee...

One of my New Year's resolutions was to do one 30 day challenge every month. January's was a vocabulary challenge where I learned a new word every day. February's involved planking for an increasing amount of time every day...I failed this one. March's challenge comes from the above picture. My hope is that if I share my answers to the prompts every week or so I will actually complete this one.

I am an avid reader. As in, I-read-an-average-of-100-books-a-year avid. And, I-have-miscellaneous-books-stacked-on-every-surface-in-my-room avid. Because of this habit I frequently get asked how, as a Christian, I choose books worth reading. My methods have evolved over the years but his past summer was the first time I actually wrote down some guidelines. They were primarily inspired by a book called Set-Apart Femininity by Leslie Ludy (a book I would recommend for any single Christian young woman over the age of 16). When I skim the back cover or inside flap of a book at the library I ask myself the beginning questions. If I think the novel passes inspection I will take it home but as I read it I keep these questions in mind. When I am done reading the book I ask myself the questions at the end of this list. Before/during a book: Will this book glorify darkness, perversion, mock God or make sin seem noble even in subtle ways? Will this book influence me toward materi...