I am worth it... So are YOU!

Okay, so here goes round two of trying to post this... Ever hear someone say: you're worth it.

I hear it a lot. So much that I don't believe it.

Not one bit.

You are worth the big dreams. Whatever that dream is... Take it, grasp it, and run with it! No matter how crazy it is... You can do it!

I was talking to a man today and I found myself saying: I can't, I might fail, I can't imagine if I actually...

Yeah, I might fail. Actually, it's highly probable I would. But I am worth that failure.

Because one time... I will succeed and for that moment: every defeat will fade away. The success will conquer that failure and drive it away. And poof: just like that I will be successful.

Never-mind how many times I fell on my face...

Your parents don't talk about the 100's of times you fell on your diapered bottom. We just know that we're successful in walking now. Even as a person that learned how to walk multiple times in my life... We don't dwell in the past. They don't talk about the days that I barely could drag my feet across the floor. Or how I would get frustrated and angry.

We talk about the runs I go on and the victory I face.

So if you're scared... Just remember, your fear is holding you back from being a victor.

You have failed before, but you're on the cusp of something great!!

I have thought about quitting my blog... But something always leaves me coming back for more. Truth be known, I love writing... I love coming to the drawing board with thoughts, grievances, and my creativity. A blank canvas for words.

Little did I know people really still read this thing.

My mom called me last night to tell me that one of our relatives met some people from Ohio and they said: Thank God for Victoria Wilcox from Horseheads, NY! We printed stuff off from her blog and it helped our niece get diagnosed. This is the loose interpretation I got!

Years later, I can still look back to dark days of pain and hospital stays. I still don't quite grasp what it was all like but I know I am glad to have that in the past. Never did I dream that people still read my old entries. I had no idea they were even useful. Sometimes I feel as though I have given up hope... Somehow, my story still helps people. I don't know how.

Anyways, here I sit amazed. Hello, to the Ohio readers, and I hope your niece gets better soon!

Reality Check

I can hardly believe how fast life goes...

Today while on the phone with my mom; I found out a kid that I went to High School with passed away. This kid was a year younger than me. He was in a lot of my art classes with me and developed photos next to me in the dark room...

He was on a gorge and he fell 100 feet and ultimately ended up passing away... He was just out taking pictures with his friend and a log gave way which ended up launching him past his friend's grasp into the gorge. This is a failure of imagination.

Just a few days ago, I was thinking how each day is a gift. How I used to believe that and really grasp on to each day being a gift. Some how in the midst of things, I lost sight of that. Some how I started feeling as though I was entitled to life... Then my mom called me with this news.

I felt like someone had literally punched me in the gut. I gasped a bit for breath as tears filled my eyes... I just don't get how this happens. Our lives are so incredibly short. When people say: "none of us are promised tomorrow" it's the truth. It's so true that it's almost scary.

This has made me start to wonder... I constantly want to save things and hold on to random things for a "special" occasion... Why not have the special occasion today. I don't know when God will call those closest to me home... But I surely want them to know that they are on my list of special people in my life. I want them to know that they matter to me more than I can express in words.

People are important.

I hope that my friend knew that people cared about him.

Instead of thinking there will be a tomorrow... May we live in today. May we love each person in the moment and may we not take our time for granted... Soon enough life changes, transitions happen, people grow up, move out, pass away...

May I never be too busy to say I love you.

From wheelchair to marathon...

One thing that I was thinking about tonight is how far I have come.

As I have gone quite literally from wheelchair to preparing for marathon training.

As I have been editing my book... One thing it has brought me a realization of is just exactly how far I have come... This was quite literally my life. Days on end in the hospital grasping any hope that we could for the future.

Sometimes I look back to that and I can't even fathom it. I know I have come so far. I am so very blessed! Now as I begin to train for the half marathon first, and marathon before I graduate college... I can't imagine being trapped into a wheelchair. However, I get so mad that I am not better at running or that I didn't run sooner.

In a world that is constantly striving to the be the best, the fastest, the smartest... I have come to realize: it doesn't matter. At least I can run. I forget how far I have come. And that alone shows that my life is full of blessing.

I love my God more today, than yesterday...His covenant to His people is everlasting, and for this: I am so very thankful.

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. Deuteronomy 7:9

Project 21 Day #9

Awhile ago, I made a bucket list and since I have made it; I have done quite a few of the things on it! Below are 21 things I have done off my bucket list.

1. Ran a 5 K: My first one was my Freshmen year. I have ran quite a few of them since then.

2. Grow vegetables from a garden: I help my parents with their garden, and I have really enjoyed the process. I hope to have a garden of my own some day.

3. Learn Sign Language: Rochester has a high deaf population and slowly, I am beginning to get better. I can almost carry on a conversation on now with little help!
4. Start a non-profit organization: This offically happened in High School with A Hope 4 Lyme!

5. Spend a weekend at a monastery: I also completed this my Freshmen year of college... There is just something so peaceful about spending a weekend there!
6. Walk to the top of the Empire State building: I did this with my parents a few summers back and it was incredible. It's so crazy. I don't really like heights that much... So this was pretty crazy and scary. But I thought it was really neat to look down and see the taxi's... They looked like matchbox cars!
7. Buy a stranger a meal: I have done this a few times. The surprise the one guy had was pretty incredible. He was so thankful.

8. Read an entire book in one day: I read Rob Bell's Sex God in one day this past summer. It was a pretty good book! Came with high recommendations from June.

9. Learn how to knit: Last year I got so much better at knitting! I made a few scarfs! It was very therapuetic. I hope to learn to make hats next.
10. Get my license: I got my license out of necessity really once I started working at the hospital... And I was finally seizure free! I got it on my first try!!

11. Receive flowers for no reason: My mom ordered them and then had the flower shop down the street call me and have me pick them up! I was super surprised and very thankful. I love fresh flowers.
12. Piece a quilt: I finished my first quilt this winter; for a friend who has been sick in the hospital. It was very fun and quite easy. I was really surprised!

13. Laugh until I cry: I actually have done this a lot over the past few years and it's funny to think I hadn't done this when I made out my bucket list.

14. Go six months seizure free: Woo! I finally accomplished this a few summers ago and have completed a year seizure free!! YAY!
15. Take up Photography: I actually have gained a lot more skill... But still have a long way to go! I am so blessed that I also got to shoot a wedding this past summer!
16. Simplify my life and learn to live with less. Over the summer I also got to live with no internet or TV among other things as I lived on my own for the first time. It was quite the adventure!!

17. See a shooting star: Over the summer, I got to see a shooting star while I was at a camp fire. It was so significant to me... Like a secret message to me alone from God!

18. Start a successful bible study. This fall, I got to know, and grow with a small group of friends that were truly incredible. I am really glad that I was able to experience the atmosphere. It was more prayer group than bible study... But I think it counts.

19. Keep a blog up and going for one year. It has been up, it's been going... I don't know how faithful you would consider me! You can be the judge.

So, I quickly realized that I haven't quite made it to 21 things off my bucket list! However, I came pretty close. Here are two things that I am getting closer to completing in the next year:

20. Go to all 50 states!

21. Get a college degree.

The 21 Project Day #8

I thought (I re-read this post, today... After writing it at 1:00AM this morning and accidently saving it as a draft... I had a lot of confusing errors! Opps!) have been thinking about dreams and what I could potentially do in this world. People constantly talk about their dreams and ambitions... I have always worried about not being realistic enough. How I need to have this picture perfect life and everything in order. I hear about these other people with dreams of doing crazy things, traveling the world and experiencing all sorts of stuff! I always think: I wish I could do that. And lately, I have began to change my thoughts into a new thought... Why not?

Why can't I do what I dream about? Here I am, now, 21 years old... (crazy right?! I am 21 years old today! ahh...) And I have soo much on my side, if I can dream it: I can achieve it... I believe that and now let's put it into motion, eh? (The order of these dreams aren't in any order of priority or desire, just when they popped into my head.)

1. Work on Capitol Hill. Summer 2011 I went to capitol hill to lobby for Israel on Capitol Hill and I had a blast. It was totally crazy to feel the energy there and just to know that you were part of something much bigger than yourself. Knowing that you were in our country's capitol was crazy to me! We have a country to be proud of and I really am proud to be an American citizen... One day I would love to work there, even if it's just for a summer internship or something! Wouldn't that be so cool?! I think so!

2. Become an author. I would really like to finish my book by the time I graduate from college. It is so close to being done... Just a little further... It seems like it is taking eons. I am really excited to get it completed though! Maybe some day it will be a best seller? Who knows!!

3. This is kind of linked with #2. I would love to be an inspirational speaker and get people pumped up for things. I don't really know what that's called... However, I have a heart for women. Maybe I am a little bias because I am one. Who knows! BUT: I just wish that we, myself included on this! Could really realize and grasp how BIG our God is and How incredibly in love with us He is. I still can't grasp that... However, I would love to travel the country and get people excited about life! Since, hey: I am pretty excited about it! :)

4. Travel to all 50 states! Seriously, I want to go to all the states and see this country! I would love to see all there is to see and just experience our country. Experience the culture and the people and the sites. There are some really beautiful places in our country! Just sayin'.

5. To bike 100 miles! I know that sounds crazy... But there is this thing called: Team In Training and they do this thing where they ride 100 miles. There is one in CA this JUNE! I know it would probably be crazy to add that to my cross country trip... But again, who knows! It might be do-able! I will have to think about it and pray about it more.

6. Run a marathon already! Gosh... I feel like everyone is doing it... I think I might have to become a little more insane to actually get the training done to complete it. However, I feel like it's not crazy enough to just want to run a marathon... I would like to qualify for the Boston marathon! Yeah, that sounds about right... Gotta stick with GOD sized dreams here... Only things that He can provide His strength in my crazy human weakness.

7. Climb a snow crested mountain. I soooo badly want to do this. I have never seen a mountain like this in person. And I think about it, dream about it... I really wanna do this some day.

8. Drive across country. I didn't realize this wasn't on this list yet... This is the trip I am describing in #5. I wanna drive across country!! It's another crazy idea. This is my second year of really wanting to do it. I would like to see the national parks and see all the crazy land formations that there are to see... I have already sketched out a plan on a map... Now I just need a really big dog traveling companion. I think my parents would prefer it to be human! :)

9. Hike the Appalachian Trail. Another random weird one... I know it would take approximately 3 months. However, maybe when I graduate from grad school... I will take some time off and do it. A graduation present of sorts?? Who knows!

10. This might sound weird... But I want to get a weird degree in something. Part of me wants to become a Naturopathic doctor. People have given me a lot of weird looks about that. It's like going to med school and I think it would be incredibly helpful. However, I don't know if that's something I am really supposed to do or not. It could just be an interesting job that I have laid eyes on. However, I also think it would be cool to go to school to become a massage therapist or something. Chances are if I got a degree in massage therapy or something like that... It would be after I already had become established in a career like Social Work...

11. Go to a formal event/ ball... Or a picnic type thing where the ladies act like ladies and the men act like men... But with a little adventure and edge! Something like this, or a ball like Jane Eyre.

12. To live a life on Fire for God and totally head over heals for Him. This song offers an accurate depiction of this dream.

13. Open a cafe/ coffee shop! I want to open a coffee shop and just have a place where people can meet. Take a break from the chaos in life and revive, and rejuvenate. Stop and catch up with old friends... Slow down and embrace life. I would love to own a shop where women come in they are celebrated... Give each women a flower just for coming in and getting a sweet treat! It's random, I know! But I just feel like we get so caught up in the chaos of life... We frequently lose sight of the gift it is!

14. Blog once a day for a year, month, week, I feel like making these commitments seems so tall. However, I would love to blog every day for a year. I don't know how soon that will be able to happen... Especially because school is insane. The bigger dream out of this: to have a blog that is heavily followed.

15. To inspire one person, to touch one life... because someone famous once said... "To have changed one life, is to have changed the world." Okay, I actually googled that and no one famous said it. However, I believe it. If you think about the ripple effect... You have no idea what your kindness could do to change the course of someones life.

16. Learn how to play the piano. I would love to learn how to play the piano... Just to be able to sit and play for hours and hours...

17. Go on a missions trip in another country. I have never actually been out of this country on a missions trip... I have heard they are life changing for everyone involved. I would love to go on one... Lord willing!

18. Become a better photographer. I am really good at coming up with ideas for photographs, however, I lack the assertiveness to be able to tell people how to pose. Or I lack the skills in actually making the photo come out exactly how I want it.

19. Learn and understand the Word better. I want to know the Bible so well, and grow so deep in my relationship with God that it's literally ingrained on my heart.

20. Do something spontaneous every day for one week.

21. Approach every day as if it is an adventure for a year. I believe that it's not the outside circumstances in your life but the dreams you create in each day. It's about being able to create adventure with limited resources or an expanse of resources. It's about meeting with God no matter what your outside circumstances may be.

If you get a chance: you should look up John Hagee's teaching on dreams here.

Project 21 Day #7

You think I am crazy yet?! Three posts in one day to catch up... I can't fall behind like this! However, I made the commitment and I am going to remain true! This post brings you 21 of my favorite bible verses!

1. "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
          - Psalm 46:10
2. "I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. "For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions." - Daniel 6: 26 & 27

3. "Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." - Psalm 103:1-5

4. "Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me." -Psalm 42:7

5. "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." - Psalm 27:13-14

6. "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ." - Romans 3:23

7. "Then the Lord replied: write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay." - Habakkuk 2:2-3

8. "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." - Micah 6:8

9. "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to a royal position for such a time as this?" -Esther 4: 13 & 14

10. "After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before." - Job 42:10

11. "Then he said to them all, 'If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?" Luke 9:23-25

12. "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." - Isaiah 1:18

13. "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth." - Job 19:25

14. "It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." with that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God." - 2 Corinthians 4:13-15

15. "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18

16. "Let light shine out of darkness", made his light shine in our hears to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." - 2 Corinthians 4:6

17. "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions- it's by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and it is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." - Ephesians 2:4-10

18. "O Lord, if you heal me, I will truly be Healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone." -Jeremiah 17:14

19. "The king is enthralled by your beauty, honor him for he is your Lord" - Psalm 45:11

20. "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” -Exodus 14:14

21. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." - Jeremiah 1:5

Project 21 Day #6

Random Facts! Everyone loves a good ole' list of random facts. These are 21 Random Facts about me. Some may be little known... Enjoy!

1. I live in a barn. Yep, you read that right. I have recently moved off campus and into a barn that was re-furbished... Actually to be even more specific my room used to be a horse stable! Pretty cool right? Well, until the pipes freeze... It is an adventure, our land lord's are awesome about helping us make the most of it! It feels like every morning I wake up to a new noise, smell, adventure. Just kidding, I really love it and it has been such a blessing. Maybe I will write about it more another day!

2. I don't know if I ever blogged about this, however, last year before my 20th birthday, I cried for about a month. I didn't want to grow older! I was really scared, and had a hard time. This year I am taking the more relaxed approach! Bring it on!

3. I broke my pelvis in 2 places my Freshmen year of High School. Between courses of antibiotics for the Lyme disease.

4. I decided in about 3rd grade that I didn't think it was fair to have a favorite color... I didn't like having "boy" colors and "girl" colors. I remember a boy telling me I wasn't allowed to like blue because that was a "boy" color. Ever since then: when someone asks me my favorite color... I try to remain neutral. I don't play favorites and love them all.

5. I have never read the bible all the way through. It's something I have still always wanted to do. And by this I mean from cover to cover. Beginning with Genesis and ending with Revelation.

6. I don't like to sit still for movies.

7. I love playing in the snow! I am very disappointed we haven't had much snow this year and I am holding out to build a snow man.

8. I have never been downhill skiing. And secretly I am scared that I would break my leg or something.

9. I am horrible at texting. I actually have a really hard time using technology at all. Sometimes I feel like I was born in the wrong generation.

10. I hate taking multi-vitamins. I wish they had no taste... It's the only pill that I have trouble swallowing. I don't know what the deal is.

11. I can't listen to music while doing homework, having a conversation, or praying... It's too distracting. Really, any background noise makes it hard for me to concentrate.

12. I have a fear of heights... But I have always wanted to go sky diving.

13. I am not very good at cooking; but I love to bake!

14. If I had one food to live off the rest of my life: it would be pizza.

15. I go out to coffee all the time: but I actually hate coffee!

16. I turn off about six alarms before I get out of bed in the morning and plan for this by setting the first one twenty minutes before I have to get out of bed... I know this can't be healthy.

17. I am very particular about the pen's I use... I only like to use one pen throughout any given notebook and it bugs me if they are different. I have gone to the extent of not journaling for long periods of time because I couldn't find my pen!

18. I love quotes.

19. I have no idea what I want to do with the rest of my life and I find it secretly exhilarating that I am about to graduate and have no plans.

20. I am scared to death that I will fail.

21. I love having pillow fights, finger painting, coloring, playing with play dough, and laughing until I cry. I think adults should do this more often... I think overall, we're too serious: most of the time!

Project 21 Day # 5

Psyche!!! I know you probably thought: okay: It's 10:00 on day five, day six,  day seven, Victoria. You gave up the lists... Couldn't even make it a week! Well, this 21 Project isn't for the faint of heart. It has tried my creativity... But I do not surrender that easily. Here's your dose of blogging for today!

Confession time... I love to read blogs. It's quite the addiction... I assume since you follow my blog, you probably have other blogs in the blogging sphere that you like to read. These are my latest favorites.

1. A Cup of Jo I love Joanna's candid writing and her taste! She writes frankly about marriage, and raising a child in NYC. She also writes about love, life, and enjoying the journey! :) I found Joanna when I first started blogging in 2007 and have consistently followed her since.

2. There and Back Again I love Jessica's writing tone and enjoy the adventure of living through her, slightly more exciting life. Married to a man in the Air Force, Jessica writes and laments about the woes of life... From traveling Space A, to moving around the world to stay with the man she loves. She offers a hilarious perspective on everything from learning German, to keeping up with the cultural mores... She leaves me coming back for more!

3. Confessions of a CF Husband This is a blog that I fell in love with when I was sick... I always remember thinking: I hope some day my Nate will come. I began following their blog, probably a month or two after Nathan started blogging! I followed through Tricia's very high risk pregnancy, then double lung transplant, cancer, and now the road to recovery. Their blog is honest about life with Cystic Fibrosis a lung disorder that is fatal. I have learned a lot from them, and their journey is a story of inspiration and love.

4. Cheap Love Book This is new blog on my bloglist. Quickly turned favorite. This blog captures the candid life of Carrie and Erv, professors from my college. They are honest about living life in love, and striving to have conquering a life of being debt free! They make you laugh and smile, and they also challenge you. Not only are they incredible authors, they are also incredible Land Lords! :)

5. Donald Miller I have made my way through one of his books.... And many of his blog entries! This man is an incredible author, and inspiration. Read one blog, and I am sure you won't be disappointed.

6. Young House Love Looking for interior decoration inspiration? Or inspiration? Or a few laughs here and there? This blog is for you! They have a variety of different posts and are incredibly talented in the D.I.Y. department. I fell in love at first sight.

7. Beka Stays one thing about being friends with June is that her friends are contagious. Beka, was an admissions counselor my Senior year of High School. Her writing is candid and funny... While I read her blog, I feel like I am catching up with an old friend. She also has a great knack for delicious recipes, and interior design as well!

8. Cultivate Her This is a blog about leadership within the church. Just over a year ago, I was helping out with an incredible youth group here in Rochester... I was having a blast; but had never really done anything like it before! During that time, the youth leader told me about this blog. It's incredible especially for women within the church! I am inspired and refreshed by many of these posts! And while I am on the topic of incredible and awesome blogs, and my former youth group: you should check out the youth leader, Jonathan's blog here! I am sure you won't be disappointed.

9. Leading in Shades of Grey This is another incredible Christian blog for leaders. Jenni is an awesome woman of God who has posted multiple different posts that have had me walk away thinking about something in a different way from a new angle.

10. Eat Drink Chic This is another place I go for inspiration. Though I don't follow it as regularly... If I need a craft idea, or if I am feeling stumped while trying to make an art project: I stop by this blog and browse the key words! I love the multiple different areas it sends you across the web.

11. Relevant Magazine This site is great for reading up on the trending issues and topics in the Christian realm and within the Social culture in general. I love reading their reviews of different books, movies, and CD's both secular and Christian alike. They offer up some interesting topics and definitely keep me on my toes with information. If you're looking for a Christian site with lots of contributors on a decent array of topics, you should give them a go!

12. Boundless This was the first Christian Blog or site, that I got hooked to. I really liked a lot of their articles and the "old fashioned" approach they talk about with chivalry. When I read their posts sometimes I think: wow! I am not the only one who still thinks this way?! AWESOME! It's a fun place to read and when I am looking for some time to kill, I frequently pull this blog up!

13. Our Daily Blessing... Life I started following Amy B.'s journey when I was sick. She posted a comment on my blog, and I would pop in and out of her blog. This is more of a journal for her... However, her reflections on life offer inspiration and a poignant reminder of the frailty of the life that we live. I am so thankful for her honesty through the good, the bad, and the ugly. She is an incredible author and blogging friend! She also just started blogging again after a long hiatus: so welcome back Amy B!

14. One Lap at a Time This is a friend from school who has undergone a fair amount of struggles. Her ability to approach each day with joy and excitement has left me in awe and inspired! I am so blessed to call her a real life friend and I love her faith that is so transparent and shines through her blogging.

15. Mrs. Southern Bride I don't know exactly how I came across this blog. However, when I visit her blog I feel like I am catching up with an old friend. It's both interesting and exciting. I find her posts about faith, art, and her book reviews, and everything else, helpful and light-hearted, and even a little inspirational sometimes! :)

16. Johnny and June This blog gets the most inconsistent blogger award! Maybe I just get to say that because I am friends with June... ;) Hi June! However, I love their posts and each post is like a piece of gold , as the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. This is most certainly true with Johnny and June. Each post they publish usually makes me laugh, or think, or a little of both! I love it when they post, and I extend grace for the lack of posts... I mean hey, they are pretty busy people (it's not easy changing the world one high school senior at a time and finishing up seminary and getting your Master's!)!

17. Not Unredeemed I recently stumbled upon this blog... She is a friend of a friend... And from what I have read, I love it! Katie's honest and insightful tone creates a podium of thought. I like thinking!

18. Sohl Design This is a Rochester based Graphic Design artist... That is awesome. Her blogs inspire me to become more crafty and get in touch with my inner artist! I also love that she's from somewhere that I am familiar with.

19. Wrecked for the Ordinary I really enjoy reading about Social justice, working on projects for it, and investing time doing things that will help change things for the better. This blog offers information about stuff going on in society. It is another blog that just amazes me sometimes.

20. Happiness Is... I am beginning to realize my blogs I follow are very similar. I love to come to this blog and just look at the pictures and be inspired... Inspired to think about things that make me happy, or angry, or jump with joy! :)
21. Black Effel I will admit I don't follow this blog as much. Similar to the others it's especially helpful when I need some insight on a craft or am looking for a graphic. In college, I try to limit my time in the blogging world. Try is the operative word.

Project 21 Day #4

Blessed is the word... And it's an adjective that adequately describes this girl right here. :) And blessed I most certainly am.

"'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise."
- Laura Story

This song was a Christian song that recently came out and the lyrics have struck a chord with me. Mostly because they mean a lot and it's true... Some of my greatest blessings, oddly enough have come from my deepest heartache. I don't know that I would consider nightmares and staying up all night in tears and fear a blessing yet... BUT I would consider the love that comes from my savior that casts that fear out one! Bring us to the list for today:

1. I am blessed to be an American. This is such a simple thing, but something I think we look past a lot. With our country being in the condition it's in... It sometimes feels like things can't get much worse. But, I think that's the biggest error! When I look to other countries, I see the lack of freedom the women have and I know the freedom I am able to have. The voice I have and the people who listen to me as a woman. And for this, I know I am blessed to be born in America.

2. JOY. I have joy, I think part of it is a choice... And part of it is a byproduct of having Jesus in my life... Well, ALL of it is Jesus in my life. The part that is a choice is allowing that to be accessed. And for this, I am thankful.

3. Friends. I am incredibly blessed for the Godly women God has placed within my life. Seriously, I look back to the last year... And if you told me when I turned 20 that I would move back home and meet a small group that would end up being probably the most incredible people I had ever met and be exactly what I had been praying for... I would disagree totally. Since I thought I knew every person in my hometown. Well, I was wrong and the small group especially the beautiful women I have begun to share life with, have really blessed my socks off.

4. A home. Soon you shall read of my home on my random facts list stay tuned... But seriously, the story of how I ended up off campus living with five other girls and a married upstairs is truly crazy and incredible. I think it's a true blessing.

5. The ability to run, jump, leap through the air... Now this might be a stretch for some people... If you don't know my history: I was in a wheelchair. Sometimes I forget that. And I am like, dude... I should be able to run as fast as a car drives, a cheetah, the speed of light. And I get really mad and frustrated about training or this or that... My complaining list can get pretty long sometimes. But when I take a step back: not only am I lapping the people on the couch.... But I also couldn't walk for awhile. Pretty crazy, right? Yeah... I am amazed when I force myself to remember.
6. Advocates. So... I didn't know how to put this down as something... BUT these women and men well, they are mostly women! Are incredible... The directors of A Hope 4 Lyme, Inc. are seriously incredible. They have taken my pint sized dream from High School and have kept it up and running despite my friend and I leaving and the incredibly rocky economy. They inspire me... A lot. These women, are people that really work hard at grassroots and have taught me a lot about the importance of elbow grease.

7. Healing. There is an old saying that says time heals all wounds. I think I would change that a tad bit to say: God heals all wounds in time. I have been extremely blessed to have the spiritual walk that I have had so that I have been able to see and experience God move in an incredible way. I have been able to see God move and heal not only physical things and ailments but also the healing of my heart and emotions.

8. Family. Oh. My. Goodness. I love my family... They drive me totally crazy, and make me laugh until I cry. Ultimately, knowing my family, makes me realize that God truly does have a sense of humor.

9. Passion, and COM-passion. :) I am really blessed to have a passionate heart. When I hear of certain causes, ie: sex trafficking, domestic violence, and people suffering in general... I tend to have a sense of urgency to help them. This has been a blessing and a curse. However, I am finding out that it can be such a blessing to help them and I am beginning to realize it's not written in every one's DNA.

10. Shoveling Snow. OK- this might be something that sounds so weird. But last night, I was out shoveling our sidewalk and it was a blast. I have never gotten such joy from such a mundane task. I never really had to shovel our sidewalks back home. They would get snow blown or my sister used to do it... And when she was in High School some kid she went to High School once came to do them! haha. I really felt blessed knowing we got snow this winter. It was worried we wouldn't get any more. I am one of those weird people who still gets giddy when I see snow fall.

11. Spiritual Support. I am blessed to have people surrounding me who care very deeply about my spiritual life and my spiritual health. They support me in prayer and ask me the right questions. They come alongside me in pain and suffering and I am so blessed.

12. Dish washers. Let me confess: I hate dislike washing dishes a lot. I really don't like washing dishes... However, above not liking to wash dishes: I don't like having dirty dishes sitting in my sink. However, I have been blessed to live with some wonderful women who will share the task and we carry the burden of making sure the dishes are washed before bed together. It's teamwork at it's finest.

13. I have a car. It is a pain in my butt a lot of the time. I desperately wish it was realistic to just ride my bike everywhere. However, it's not. And for this, I am really glad that I have my car. It has also been a blessing to help others out when they need a lift places.

14. I have been blessed with trials. I know I started this post out with my trials. However, I have found each one to uniquely shape me and help me become a better person and a better child of God.

15. Singleness. For some people my age, I am noticing that they have a huge issue with their singleness. It seems as though they're out on the prowl. And I guess for awhile, so was I. However, I have found this to be such a blessing. Seriously, I love being single. Right now especially: it has been really awesome to get to adventure and see things. I get to plan crazy road trips and fall in love with adventure all over again... I don't want to say that you can't do this married... However, I am really having a blast being single. :)

16. Blessed with a home. This past summer, I got to experience the whole providing my own roof over my head. I am really blessed that no matter what, I have always had a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and food in my stomach.

17. A College Education. In 1999 a study was done and out of 100 Americans that was equally distributed to compose of the world's demographic. One person would have a college education. I consider myself very blessed to have a college education.

18. Medical Care. A few years ago, I did the one day without shoes campaign with Toms and I learned that people die from cuts on their feet. That's crazy, right? Well, when I learned this: I realized. 1. I had to do something. 2. I was very blessed to be in a country where I could get help for small cuts, bumps, and bruises... Or major illnesses like pneumonia. And I am very fortunate that I don't know anyone who has died from a cut on their foot.

19. I am blessed to be part of things bigger than myself. Last year I started CUFI on campus at my school and I have been involved in other various groups on campus. There is something meaningful and totally exciting about being a part of something bigger than yourself.

20. Grace. God's grace flows abundantly in my life... Every. Single. Day. And this is the biggest blessing of all.

21. Realizing that it has been difficult to come up with 21 things that I am blessed with, has made me realize that I have fallen into a minority on the top. No matter how it may feel difficult to get through certain days or finances may feel tight. I am still richer, and more blessed than a majority of the world. And in that, unfortuantely, I believe that I may even be a bit ignorant to my blessings.

Project 21 Day #3

Today's edition of Project 21 is brought to you by Favorite foods. Here are 21 Favorite foods!!

1. Pizza.

2. Pomegranates.

3. Salad. No seriously, I am not even saying this just to be good. I really love a good salad with lots of stuff layered on top of it. Especially fruit!

4. Kiwi. I have loved this since I was a little girl! SO good.

5. Mango.

6. My momma's Chicken and Biscuits!

7. A good juicy hamburger with tomatoes on top and some lettuce! YUM!!

8. Steak. I was raised in a home where steak was served quite a bit and my dad supported 4H. I used to hate steak... However, since I have been away from it: I have developed a healthy appreciation for steak again.

9. Chocolate. Is this a food? I don't know. However, when I am in the mood: I love me a good piece of chocolate. However, I have found that this along with other sweet things... I have to be in the mood for them.

10. Chicken. I love chicken. I really enjoy grilled chicken, fried chicken, however it's prepared! I usually will eat it right up! I don't know why but it's my favorite meat. Like Bubba was with shrimp... That's me with chicken.

11. Hummus. Especially the Roasted Red Pepper Kind.

12. Appetizers! I love these things... Lots of little foods to just browse through! So you can have a little of everything. Now that's my kind of food!

13. Applesauce. I love me some good ole' fashioned home canned applesauce. It's delicious. If you have never had it... Leave a comment if you're local and I can hook you up with a can! :)

14. Apples. Especially when I am sick, I crave them... They are so good. I remember when I used to get the stomach bug when I was a kid... Apples were one of the first foods I wanted when I started to feel better.

15. Girl Scout Cookies... Especially Thin Mints. After being a Girl Scout for years, up into High School... There is something nostalgic about eating a Girl Scout Cookie.

16. Pumpkin Pie. I love to make pie... I really like my Pumpkin pie the best... However, I also enjoy Apple Pie and Cherry Pie... However, the best Cherry Pie is the kind with really pitted cherries.

17. Newman's Own Cookies... The ones that look like Oreos. These are one of my weaknesses. I love them! They are sooo good. I don't know why, but the packages always seem smaller than they were before. I wish I could eat them all in one sitting. Must. Practice. Self-Control. Haha. For the record: Hint O' Mint are the best.

18. Orange Juice. Is this a food or a juice? I guess it's more of a drink. BUT: I love to have this every morning with breakfast and it's really amazing.

19. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Filled cupcakes. As seen here they have been one of my favorite recipes to make. I made them last year all the time and they have always been a big hit!

20. Cheese Raviolis from Olive Garden. I tend to find a dish I like and then stick with it at restaurants. This is a dish that  I have never been disappointed in. They are so good. I don't know what's going on with my font... So disregard the random italics.

21. ANY dish that I don't have to cook. Living on my own and making my own meals has brought me to the conclusion that any meal that I didn't prepare always tastes a little better! :) 

The 21 Project Day #2

Today's edition of the 21 Project is 21 qualities of a perfect day!

1. I would get to sleep in as late as I wanted and be able to take my time getting ready.

2. The outfit I would like to wear would be clean and all picked out for me.

3. The weather would be warm enough that I didn't need a heavy coat but chilly enough that you need a sweater. The sky would be blue with a few clouds.

4. I would be surrounded by those I loved and would get to spend time with them.

5. I would have a coffee date or a lunch date with a friend and we would get to chat and laugh together.

6. I would get to sit down and eat dinner with my family. We would not be on our phones or distracted but soaking up good quality time with one another.

7. I would go for a run and when it ended I would still feel like I could just keep going forever.

8. I would have extra time to just spend doing devotionals.

9. Time would move very slowly and the day would leisurely string along.

10. I wouldn't have any big projects or homework to worry about.

11. Get a boquet of wild flowers to put in my room.

12. Spend time getting lost in a book.

13. Spend time doing crafts with my mom, sister, and my mom's friend Cheryl.

14. Not getting called in to work and feeling completely content with that.

15. Not needing any money and having all of my student debt paid off.

16. Find out I had a 4.0 for the semester.

17. Get a massage.

18. Going to bed as late as I want the day of the perfect day and not having to worry about getting up early the next morning.

19. Have unlimted energy for the day to accomplish everything.

20. Go hiking with a friend.

21. When I went to bed that night, sleep well and have a good night's rest.

The 21 Project Day #1

This is the beginning of the week of my 21st Birthday (my Birthday is February 4th!) I feel excited to be entering into my 21st year. You may be here because you got an e-mail about this. OR you may be here because you already follow my blog and you saw I posted! Either way, welcome.

For the next 21 days, yeah, I feel a little crazy doing this... But it should be fun! I am going to post a list of 21 things. These lists could range from things I like to do to photos I have taken and everything in between.... This was a challenge offered to me by a dear friend. It will be an adventure of 21 things as I enter into turning 21!! I hope you enjoy these posts as much as I have enjoyed putting them together! Come back every day!!

Today's post is 21 of my favorite quotes! I absolutely love quotes and love inspirational quotes. My journals are filled with them. I hope you will be inspired by these wonderful quotes! :)

1. "We will no longer make up excuses for powerlessness, because powerlessness is inexcusable" - Anonymous
2. "The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you find yourself." - Mark Caine

3. "We are all haunted with the fear of living lives of insignificance, and we all know that to play it safe is to lose the game. By definition an adventure is "an undertaking or enterprise of a hazardous nature." In other words, it comes at great cost. And life as God intends for you to live it is nothing less than an adventure. You were created for both pleasure and purpose. You might be thinking, I'm not sure if I really want to undertake an enterprise of a hazardous nature. Is a life of adventure really worth the risk? Is it really necessary? yes, you can choose to play it safe, you can choose to settle for less, but never forget this: you were born to live a great adventure; you were created with a divine destiny; you are called to fulfill a great mission. You were designed for a unique purpose. Now you are called to live it out." - Erwin Raphael McManus Chasing Daylight
4. "Authority can shape waht a person does, but influence shapes who a person becomes. Influence is born out of trust and finds its strength in the connection of heart and soul." - Erwin Raphael McManus Chasing Daylight
5. "Enthralled by your beauty. That means captivated, smitten, fascinated, spellbound, and delighted. That's exactly how the prince feels about the princess in fairy tales. But this sentiment is not fiction. Enthralled is how God in heaven feels about you. He is taken with you. Undistracted. Intensely interested. Emotionally connected. He enjoys your laughter and takes pleasure in the way you think. He is not bored with you, and He would never consider you ordinary. There is no way you will ever go unnoticed with God. You are beautiful to Him. Incredibly, breathtakingly beautiful. When a man feels this way about a woman, we say that he's in love." - Angela Thomas Do You Think I'm Beautiful?
6. "Sexy is when it feels good to be in your own skin. Your own body feels right, it feels comfortable. Sexy is when you love being you." - Rob Bell's wife Sex God
7. "I want first of all... to be at peace with myself. I want a singleness of eye, a purity of intention, a central core to my life that will enable me to carry out these obligations and activities as well as I can. I want, in fact- to borrow from the language

8. "Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do." - unknown
9. "We are given a shot at dancing with, or at least clapping along with, the absurdity of life, instead of being squashed by it over and over again. It's like singing on a boat during a terrible storm at sea. You can't stop the raging storm, but singing can change the hearts and spirits of people who are together on that ship." - Anne Lamott
10. "It is better to live one day as a lion than one hundred years as a sheep." - Benito Mussolini
11. "Since childhood the Lord has been my Shepherd and his goodness has never failed. Being one of his sheep is the best adventure of my life." -Luci Swindoll

12. "Feed your fears and your faith will starve. Feed your faith, and your fears will." - Max Lucado
13. "Nature is God's first missionary. Where there is no Bible there are sparkling stars. Where there are not preachers there are spring times... If a person has nothing but nature, then nature is enough to reveal something about God." - Max Lucado.
14. "It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half hearted creatures, fooling around with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." - C.S. Lewis

15. "[Biologists' investigation of DNA] has shown, by the almost unbelievable complexity of the arrangements which are needed to produce [life], that intelligence must have been involved." -Antony Flew, Former Atheist

16. "To be transformed, our job is to 'behold'- to continually contemplate- God's glory, focusing our spiritual gaze not primarily on things like Christian duties or our unworthiness, but on God's spectacularness." -Dwight Edwards
17. "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."
18. "A saint is not someone who is good but who experiences the goodness of God." -Thomas Merton
19. “What day is it?"
It's today," squeaked Piglet.
My favorite day," said Pooh.”
- A.A. Milne

20. “How do you spell 'love'?" - Piglet
"You don't spell it...you feel it." - Pooh”
- A.A. Milne

21. How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. ~Anne Frank

Upload those Photos!!!

Golly, I was looking for photos the other day and realized that they weren't on my computer anywhere...

As I frantically searched through folders looking for my photos, I thought they were certainly gone forever. I was quite panic struck.

Then it hit me, the photos I took a few days, weeks... uhh well, months ago... Were still on the camera! I still haven't uploaded them! This is kind of embarrassing since I consider myself a somewhat decent photographer. I am ashamed.

It reminds me of the days as a kid when we would have a bag of rolls of film and disposable cameras and we would take them to the store and be surprised by what we developed! I remember the time my parents got doubles of photos I had taken of my baby dolls! :) How sweet right?
Maybe today after class, I will finally get around to getting these photos onto the computer... Again, with the procrastinating! Gosh!

Totally content, no seriously.

I am totally content. I realized this about a week ago. No seriously, I am.

I have so much that I am looking forward to doing and I just want to enjoy them. People are unpredictable and so is life! However, aproximately a week or maybe it was two? I am not really sure!

I realized that I am totally, completely, content!! I have pretty much everything I need right now in my life and I am at a very exciting crossroads in my life. I am deciding whether or not I want to be a Social Worker the rest of my life or if there is something else that I would like to be... I could go on to Medical School, Law School, or become pretty much anything I wanted to be! Isn't that crazy?!

I am looking forward to traveling this summer and going places I have never been before!

Some places on that list? Well, confession: there is only one right now... Colorado. But I was thinking about some others: maybe Montana... I don't know! What are some of the most beautiful places you have ever been? What would you highly recommend? I would love to hear about it!

I am so excited about approaching each day as an adventure! I recently began thumbing through the book I Married Adventure by: Luci Swindoll. It's a book about allowing each day to be an adventure in and of itself. So here I am, no idea what I am going to do this summer... But trusting God that He will provide through each leg of the journey. Maybe I will go square dancing or go to a hoe down. Maybe I will climb to the peak of a mountain (I sure hope so!) and swim with dolphins (never thought about doing that!)... Some day soon I think I might re-visit my Bucket List... I hope you will join me as I journey onward.

Is it worth it?

We are in a technology saturated culture....

Recently upon going to a pro- Israel conference, I noticed that my generation is extremely attached to the technology around them. I watched people "live tweet" powerful quotes and constantly interact with others through smart devices.

As I sat in a room with some incredibly connected individuals, I saw how out of the loop I was. I didn't have a twitter, or a facebook. I had no idea what their other counterparts were; tumblr, google-plus, and others were not even in my vocabulary at this point. I couldn't tell the difference between a tweet and a hashtag and barely knew if it was tweeter or twitter and could really give a hoot!

Despite my lack of ability to tweet, text, and look up 20 different news stations within a few seconds... I was able to hold a conversation and keep eye contact; face to face contact has high value to me. When the speakers said something profound, I jotted it down with a pen, in a notebook to be stashed away for later use. Maybe in a blog post, or to be inspired when I went on a journey to change the world... These quotes would be stashed in my heart for a moment to light a fire when speaking to others. Still I felt inferior to my tech-savvy counterpart. I was lost in a sea of faces lit by the glow of a smart phone or ipad.

I realized I couldn't resist the culture that was rising around me. I fell with the rise of the pressure and reluctantly got a twitter (just a plug: you can follow me: @victoriaqwilcox)! It has been a love/hate relationship between my account and I. I sometimes tweet similar tweets two or three times because I don't remember that I can put multiple people's names in the tweet. Or I have tweets that are probably very difficult to understand because I just can't fit my full thought into the 130 characters provided. I become frustrated and confused. It's difficult to conform to this idea of tweeting my exciting thoughts.

I have felt like an outcast in a generation that knows just what to do. With just over twenty followers on my twitter account; I must have something interesting to say! Or else they have followed me out of pity, perhaps a mixture of both. I hope they find a quote or a statement inspiring or informative, or maybe my thoughts will encourage them to dig deeper than surface level. I mean I think that's what people are supposed to get out of twitter anyways. I am still not sure what I am chasing after with my twitter account. Or maybe I am just following the goal that was placed before me at SALT in Texas averaging approximately 5 tweets a day.

However, all of this brings me to the question... Is it worth it? With being connected to society and allowing them into your life via 130 characters or through photos on facebook... All in the name of connection, are we really becoming a more connected society? It's hard pressed to get together with people without having someone take a phone call or send a text message. I am also guilty of this. With all of this connection, I must ask myself if it's really creating a better society... Or are we just creating a society that cannot connect on more than a surface level. I text to the car, I talk on the phone while I am walking outside... Sometimes I believe that I fail to observe the environment that encompasses me.

Are we so lost in texting and tweeting, and whatever else there is that we are walking off a cliff with phone in hand?

too true

design credit: http://www.etsy.com/listing/62293698/it-always-seems-impossible-until-its

What makes you feel beautiful??

Photo Credit: Clémence Floris However, fun fact: I do have that lamp and it's on my night stand! :)

I was browsing around the internet yesterday and I came across this article. The first page, Anne Roiphe writes about her husbands words and how they made her feel beautiful.

The honesty in her writing literally stands on the page and really draws you into the scene she paints and creates. It made me ponder what makes me feel beautiful, and how to just be comfortable in the skin I am in.

I don't know if I am totally sold out and happy with the body I have been given, ocassionally I look at myself and wish I had something different. However, a lot of days I am pretty content just being me! I hope some day, I will have a partner in crime that can reflect with me as Anne's husband did.

However, today, I am looking up to a creator... And ultimately, after I am old and grey... If I am fortunate enough to grow wise with years... I will be face to face with him and my biggest dream to be answered would be when the creator of the world tells me, I am beautiful, and well done to a faithful servant.

May I be honored to be in the presence of the King. I yearn to have an encounter with the Lord that is approving. However, today, I walk around the creation of His and look up into the sky and am amazed by the beauty and complexity simplicty of it all.

Be Satisfied

Be Satisfied with Me


by St. Anthony of Padua



Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone,

To have a deep soul relationship with another,

To be loved thoroughly and exclusively.



But to a Christian, God says, "No, not until you are satisfied,

Fulfilled and content with being loved by Me alone,

With giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me.

With having an intensely personal and unique relationship with Me alone.



Discovering that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found,

Will you be capable of the perfect human relationship,

That I have planned for you.

You will never be united to another

Until you are united with Me.

Exclusive of anyone or anything else.

Exclusive of any other desires or longings.

I want you to stop planning, to stop wishing, and allow Me to give you

The most thrilling plan existing . . . one you cannot imagine.

I want you to have the best. Please allow Me to bring it to you.



You just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things.

Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I am.

Keep listening and learning the things that I tell you.

Just wait, that's all. Don't be anxious, don't worry

Don't look around at things others have gotten

Or that I have given them

Don't look around at the things you think you want,

Just keep looking off and away up to Me,

Or you'll miss what I want to show you.

And then, when you're ready, I'll surprise you with a love

Far more wonderful than you could dream of.



You see, until you are ready, and until the one I have for you is ready,

I am working even at this moment

To have both of you ready at the same time.

Until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me

And the life I prepared for you,

You won't be able to experience the love that exemplified your relationship with Me.

And this is perfect love.



And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love,

I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with Me.

And to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty, perfection and love that I offer you with Myself.

Know that I love you utterly. I AM God.

Believe it and be satisfied."

I desire to have this certainty and contentment with God.

Some times I can't wait to have kids... This is so funny.

New Place #1

Place: Yogen Fruz
Product ordered: Mint Chocolate Chip
Ambiance: 0 points on a scale 1-10, I cheated a bit: it was at the mall in a kiosk.
Taste: 4 I wasn't overly impressed with the taste, I have had awesome frozen yogurt that tasted much better... However, I have heard other flavors are better. Perhaps if I am feeling daring, I will try another flavor some day.
Nutritional Value: 7 Pretty good! The calories are relatively low in comparison to their ice cream counterparts.

Over-all experience: O-K. I stopped by the little kiosk because I kept walking by it and there was always a line. Usually you can tell by the long lines that the product being sold is de-lish! However, I was utterly disappointed. I was ready to taste something very fantastic, perhaps I had too high of hopes! Stay tuned for the next adventure...

Twelve things for 2012

Wow! I can barely believe it's 2012 already... In years past I have been on top of things. However, this year, I allowed thanksgiving to pass without giving thanks, and Christmas to pass without a mention of Jesus' birthday (surprising when I was awarded a Christmas spirit award when I did this giving back effort!). I digress, and apologize for my absence. Over the past few months...

I have moved, traveled to two different states, and moved again... Went speed-dating, met the love of my life, fell madly in love, and eloped to a small island just off the Caribbean. 

Just kidding about the last part... But seriously: life has been crazy busy. I went to Kansas City, MO and San Antonio, TX less than a day apart and moved the day I got back, to come back to school! I have to admit, I have enjoyed every minute of the crazy life I lived but let's be real: it's time to get back in the grind and finish up my degree.

Last year I had a nice little synopsis of the previous year...

This year, in an effort to keep things new and exciting... I bring you Twelve for '12.

1. Eat healthier! I tend to forget to eat when things get busy... This year I would like to make an effort to get better at cooking and eating three balanced meals a day! This is tough cooking for one...

2. Trip advisor has a list of top things to do in Rochester, where I go to school. I would like to go to at least 1/2 of them. So 10 of the 20 places on the list. Especially the Museum of play!! It looks so fun!

3. Do some sort of exercise every day and run at least 5 days a week. Since I ran Cross Country, I have slacked off in exercise... I really miss it and I miss the mood boost it gave me. Next year, I would really like to run a marathon!

4. Achieve at least a 3.7 both semesters. I still am aiming for a 4.0 before the end of my college career. I have come close but still no cigar.

5. Become more connected. I would really like to spend more face time with those I care about. Enough of this texting and phone calls!

6. Go backpacking! I have never been on a prolonged backpacking trip. But I really would love to go on one. Let the planning begin! I would love to go out to Colorado. I don't really know anything about Colorado but a lady I met in the airport said it's great for backpacking!

7. Visit one new place each month. Whether it's a coffee shop, or a hiking trail. Just check out unique and different places to visit!

8. Read the Bible more. It's something I haven't done nearly enough of and would really like to gain a better understanding...

9. Visit more churches in Rochester! I would like to really check out some different churches in Rochester and see the different cultures within churches. I think it's so easy to get into your comfort zone and stay at the church that doesn't necessarily challenge you or is just like the church you have gone to since you were a kid.

10. Start a bible study/ prayer group. I started a prayer group back home and it was such a positive experience... I would really like to start something similar here in Rochester.

11. Take a multivitamin every day! This is something I stink at doing. I always see it as an accessory pill. However, people say that they really help.

12. Learn more board games... I would really like to learn more board games and host game nights on a regular basis.