A Few Words Written, A Few Words Read, & A Cup of Clean Water

The internet is a huge place. For my explorer's heart, there's a lot to discover. One of the best things that has come from the Start Experiment is a ton of new blogs, ideas, internet spaces that I can explore. I feel like over the past few weeks I have learned a great deal from people that just a few weeks ago I did not have any knowledge of them, their stories, their hurts, their causes, their fears, and what makes them come alive.

It's funny. I saw the simple tweet from Jon Acuff when I was sitting on a hotel bed pondering a life altering decision and decided 'Why not?'. A simple tweet, a quick email back and a lifetime changed is how it has turned out. I've been reading his stuff for years now. It's amazing to have seen a community connected just through his writings rally around each other to support each others' dreams coming true.

One of the fantastic things I've run across is Cause Pub which is a 'for-profit crowd-book-publishing company that partners with nonprofits to help them achieve specific goals within specific causes'. For their latest venture, they have gathered 127 storytellers together to share the moments when they have been pushed outside of their comfort zones to experience the world around them.

The best part? You get to read tons of awesome stories and help people around the world through Blood:Water Mission to help provide clean water in Africa. Why clean water? Because water is life giving.

Another really cool thing? You can read and vote on some of your favorite stories to be in the book. Would you rather write or photograph? CausePub provides those options too. How cool is that?

Their newest release, Couch Rebels, is coming on August 14. Go ahead and purchase it. I know I can't wait to get my hands on it!

Unpacking the Unpacked Adventure

If you've been reading here at my little corner of the internet for awhile, you'll see that things have changed stylistically (is that even a real word?) in the last 48 hours or so. I've decided to go undergo a new me, a new blog and become a new dream chasing girl - one that I've always wanted to be but what scared me so.

You see, it all started back in the days of xanga when I would read my high school friends blogs and posted one of my own. The problem with high school xangas is they are very high school. I say this in love though, I've volunteered with teenagers for over five years now and adore the age group no matter how awkward and confusing it is. As I moved up to blogger and wordpress though, I began to see true writers that posted hours and hours of content - funny, engaging, brilliant, thought provoking, life affirming stories and encouragement all surrounded by great designs and beautiful photography.

Well y'all, the comparison game is a thief of joy and I have been its' captive way too long. 

I'm at a definitive crossroads (I guess you really could say I have been at one since I graduated college) and it's time to step up and be the true me here. I don't know where it's going to take me. I know that there's a lot of adventures ahead. I'm currently on one now. Jon Acuff of Stuff Christians Like has been a writer of one of my favorite blogs for years now and he tweeted out the other day that he would like information sent to him about his followers. He wanted real information emailed to him to take us on an adventure that may include a machete and a passport. I don't usually respond, but I did.

He's invited me and 2000ish other friends to go on an adventure to punch fear in the face and start what we have wanted to start all along but have been too afraid of. He's named it the Start Experiment after his book I'm currently reading entitled, Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average and Do Work that Matters, which I highly recommend (along with his other books - I'm a bit of a fan). Here goes my START!

Unpacked Adventure. It's a weird name. How do you unpack an adventure? Don't you usually pack for an adventure? Unpacking isn't the fun part - it's the thrill of getting everything together before a journey, packing your necessities and heading off. I don't know what the adventure looks like. I know what I hope it involves: transparency, a deeper level of writing, a consistent blog, some encouragement, a less fearful me, a few crafts, some reviews of some great restaurants, books and digs along the way, a few fashionable moments, a few thoughts and adventures, creative projects and photography.

Here's to dreaming!
Here's to hoping!
& Here's to STARTing!

Quitting Church

If you're not aware, I'm drastically behind in reading and finishing my To Read List. I'm trying to play a bit of catch up, but it will be okay if I don't make it. In fact, I know I'm not going to make it, but I've at least tried.

One of the books on the list is Julia Duin's Quitting Church. I have been reading this on and off for several years. It's a tough read. I'm not sure if it's tough because of the content that ranges from controlling pastors to house churches to gender roles within the church or that it is tough because it resonates in my heart so much.

I'd say check it out. It's tough. It's not a sit down and read through the whole thing kind of book. It's written by a Christian journalists filled with statistics, interviews and personal anecdotes. You can see it on Amazon here as well as read some reviews. Whether you like it or would rather leave it, there is definitely a challenge for the church today and for the souls of us who are going. (Plus, right now it's pretty cheap!)

12 for 12 April Update

Need a flashback to the 12 for 12 March Update?

Twelve for Twelve

1. Books.

I love seeing the books being scratched off of this To Read List here. The first week or so of April I ploughed through The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down, Book 2 by Neta Jackson, Scared by Tom Davis and Confronting the Controversy - Adam Hamilton. I'm still about half way through Forgotten God by Francis Chan and still only 6 chapters through So Long Insecurity (which I may have slightly misplaced). Thanks to the Junior High Girls, I also added in the Hunger Games trilogy. Here it goes!

2. 5K.

I skipped the Blue Bell 5K. All that non-training was useful at least. I ended up doing work outreach projects with the college students and some of the youth at my church. It was worth it. I put my 24 Hour Gym membership on hold. I may end up having 2 gym memberships which is a far cry from 2 that I started my semester with. I have gotten to work out some thanks to Pinterest! (The difficulty level of some of those pins is not a lie in case you were unsure.)

3. Quotes.

I have not written any quotes down in the month of April. I am still aware of where my notebook is though! That's definitely a plus. I did organize my Pinterest boards of pins. That's something, yeah?

4. Blog.

April was definitely slightly higher. I need to find a consistent way to blog. Also, I tend to write a ton of blog posts in my head. Remember that time I blogged about the 10 Best Things About My Week? No? What about that post on My Failed Pinterest Moment? No? Yeah... there's more where that came from that never made it online... Maybe May will be the month where blog posts translate out of my head onto here.

5. Create.
I'm not sure if I designed grad invites during April or March. Either way, they were designed! I'm feeling rather uncreative although I do know that I experimented with some Pinterest recipes like mozzarella, spinach and feta quesadillas, making my own avocado pesto sauce and trying my hand at recreating Kerbey Lane's Queso. Can you say yummy?

6. Learn.

I've been reading a ton about animals and psychology lately for some reason as well as learning firsthand about jewelry making and different metals. It's been fantastic. I'm kind of ready for a tangible skill to be learned though. Any ideas?

7. Minimize.

I started to go through my college room. That didn't get too far.

8. Gratefulness.

Yet again nada. Here's to hoping May may have some real thank you notes.

9. Handmade.

I'm not sure if I had any gifts that I made. I did come up with grad gift ideas and decided that I wasn't going to bother with homemade gifts for weddings. Seriously. How in the world would I make a homemade blender? That just sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

10. Intentionality.

I think this month was about seeking out and trying to invest in a few key relationships. I'm happy with the outcomes. I had to take the initiative to set a friendship straight and work out some past kinks that haven't been able to. It's now better than ever. It's been a great month. I loved finally getting to see the Johnson's especially.

11. No.

I said the hugest 'No' that I have ever had to initiate. That is all.

12. Word.

God's timing is perfect, true and right. Although it was difficult, I'm glad he not only led me to but forced the book of Jonah on me thanks to Jr. High Breakthru 2012. I really need to step up my game on this whole Grand Sweep of the Bible though.

12 for 12 March Update

Remember the February Update? Haha. It was a few days ago...

Twelve for Twelve

1. Books.

If you've missed out on the amount of books I'm attempting to read, it is here. March was a good book. I was able to scratch off The Dating Book by Matt Lantz and Blue Like Jazz. I'm about half way through Forgotten God by Francis Chan. I'm still only 6 chapters through So Long Insecurity. I'm about 40% through The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down, Book 2 by Neta Jackson. It's great! 

2. 5K.

This was my big month of training to make the Blue Bell 5K in April. I have trained exactly zero days to be exact. Sunanda and I have been faithfully going to our Zumba classes, however, I was out of town for what seems to be half of the classes. I'm pretty sure that snorkeling counts as exercise for that week though, right? I had no idea it was that strenuous until we were out in the water. So glad I went though

3. Quotes.

I have not written any quotes down in the month of March. This one has gone on the back burner for sure.

4. Blog.

The 12 for 12 February Update was done a few days ago, a few days before March was over. I was hoping all of the updates would be done in the first week of the month. It kind of sets the pace for the month as new. Here's to hoping April is filled to the brim with blog posts!

5. Create.
I painted a little ceramic piece for my friend and prayer partner, Sam, at U Paint It. I attempted to make a bunny out of a bandana. I was a failure at that. There was a lot of traveling this month so I wasn't exactly able to sit down and do much 'creating'. I did create some grad invitations which allowed some creative juices to flow. I also did some filming of the Belize Documentary John made. I have yet to see it though.

6. Learn.

The Holy Spirit and I had some good chatting time. That's going to be left at that.

7. Minimize.

Taking bags to Goodwill has probably become one of my favorite things.

8. Gratefulness.

Nada. I stink at writing thank you notes.

9. Handmade.

No gifts, nothing to make.

10. Intentionality.

I definitely played a lot of Tiny Wings while having conversations with family members. I also was texting at times when I should have been enjoying the company of those I was around. On the up side, it was not nearly the amount that it used to be.

11. No.

I said no to a certain commitment one night and ended up at a Bible Study that was perfect for what  needed to hear that night. I'm still working on this one for the most part.

12. Word.

It's been a hard month. I'm not sure if what I'm hearing God saying is what he is really saying to me or not. It's been a hard month for sure.

12 for 12 February Update (Finally!)

It's a few days late... or weeks, but it's here (finally)!
Can you barely remember the January Update? Me too.

Twelve for Twelve

1. Books.

I've compiled the list of books I will be reading here. I'm about 17 pages away from finishing The Dating Book by Matt Lantz. I'm about 100 and so pages into Blue Like Jazz. I began Forgotten God by Francis Chan and am loving it. I'm also 6 chapters through So Long Insecurity which is a wonderful read. Really, go buy it if you haven't read that book yet.

2. 5K.

The Color Run in Austin was a lot muddier than I expected, but it was a blast! I'm definitely hoping on running it next year. I signed up for a 24 Hour Fitness membership and started Zumba classes with my friend Sunanda. My class consists of a wide age range of women, which I find to be fabulous.

3. Quotes.

I actually did pretty good at this one. The pages of the quote book has begun to fill up. It's a lot of inspiration with a tad of humor thrown in. It's a great little thing. I've been writing down my favorites tweets. I'm hoping to get to my Pinterest board, Quotes & Scripture next.

4. Blog.

Should I really even go there? It's the last few days in March and I'm doing my 12 for 12 February Update which I wanted to do the first week of March. There's always next month, right? Maybe we should say week? You know, it's kind of embarrassing when you're writing the beginning of February post in the last week of March, especially when one of the things you wanted to do more of was blogging. On the plus side, five posts for February doesn't seem that bad in comparison to past months where I wasn't even present.

5. Create.
I'm having trouble with what I even got done creativity wise. I know that I made a dry erase board. It wasn't the prettiest thing in the world. It's not even worthy of an iPhone snapshot, it's just that terrible looking. It suited the need I had to use a dry erase board at that exact moment though. Other than that ugly little dry erase board, I believe that's it other than a few outfit creations. I did have some fun experimenting in the kitchen trying Nutella Hot Chocolate and several new muffin and cupcake recipes. I've found what may be my all-time favorite cupcake flavor: s'mores!

6. Learn.

I read some on photography and put that to use. I really don't know what I learned in February. Nothing is sticking out right now, although, I am positive that I must have learned something. Apparently, whatever I learned didn't stick with me.

7. Minimize.

I'm pretty sure that I need to take up scrap-booking. I have a ton of cards that I'm trying to decide just how to organize. I finished going through my room. It's kind of fun to see what I've kept over the years.

8. Gratefulness.

I have written several cards out in my mind. I even went so far as to get addresses. Hopefully that will get on paper and sent through a post office in March.

9. Handmade.

Dad wanted to wait and cash in on his birthday gift of pecan pie bites later on in the year. This may have something to do with Lori making him a pie. Lori loved her gift.

10. Intentionality.

I got to see the majority of my friends this month in both cities, however, it wasn't the amount of time that I necessarily wanted to see them. I probably didn't do that great of job being around family and not being on my phone. I think I did a bit better around friends though.

11. No.

Saying no? Ha! I said yes to going to Belize in March. I think that kind of sums up that I still have a problem with the word 'no'.

12. Word.

I finally got The Grand Sweep, however, it's not that easy to read the book and do all the readings. I found a Bible Study to join and never went to it. I did read a good portion of Beth Moore's So Long Insecurity and met up with my WILgroup when I was in CS. That book is crazy good. I'm pretty sure that I just sat down the day of the study and read most of what the girls had already read and man, it cut deep. Suggestion? Go get a copy.

Reading is Ridiculous...

One of my 12 for 12 goals is that I finish every book I've started in the last few years. I could think of a few book titles at the time when I wrote that down. I had no idea what I was about to find stashed away in plain sight on bookshelves waiting for me to rediscover them - all 24 books that I never finished. I'm not even sure that the number is capped there. I read a few excerpts from Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers but I think that's going to be rain checked for next year after looking at this list.

Okay y'all, here is the ridiculous amount of books I will try to read this year:

One Month to Live - Kerry and Chris Shook
I think I got to Day 2.

Vintage Jesus - Mark Driscoll
Read most of it, lacking a few chapters at the end.

Get Uncomfortable - Todd Phillips
I'm not even sure where I stopped...

Enfrente a sus Gigantes - Max Lucado
That's Facing Your Giants for those who thought this blog was in English. Yes, I only own this book in Spanish.

Wild at Heart - John Eldredge
I got slightly past page 10...

LiT - Dave Edwards
I can not tell you how many times I've started this and stopped.

Quitting Church - Julia Duin
I actually got through over half of this if I remember correctly.

A Call to Die - David Nassar
I always end up switching to something else...

Sacred Romance - Curtis & Eldredge
I can tell you where I was when I started Chapter 1, which was the last time I ever read it.

When I Relax, I Feel Guilty - Tim Hansel
There's a poem in the beginning of the book that I've read too many times to count. I at least finally started Chapter 1 this last semester...

Breaking Free - Beth Moore
I think I actually read about half of this one semester with ASC and stopped when we had to stop for Summer.

So Long Insecurity - Beth Moore
I actually haven't started this book yet. I'm hoping to read it in its entirety this spring though.

The Grand Sweep - J. Ellswoth Kalas
My church is doing this as a read the whole Bible in the year plan together. I'm way behind. I did get the book in February and it was supposed to be started in January. Excuse? Oh, yes.

Ragamuffin Gospel - Brennan Manning
I read the first chapter in a car once. I proceeded to carry it everywhere with me for awhile and never opened it again.

The Ultimate Field Guide to Photography - National Geographic
I started this and never really got too far into the book. I need to. I think its owner is missing it...

When God Writes Your Love Story - Eric Ludy
I think I may have read three chapters in this? That is probably an overestimate though.

Forgotten God - Francis Chan
I can guarantee that I only read the first chapter.

Scared, A Novel - Tom Davis
I have no idea how far I got into reading this, but I know that I loved it!

Dangerous Wonder - Mike Yaconelli
First chapter. I'm pretty positive on that guess. There is a bookmark at least in it indicating that I would return. That's a plus, right?

Blue Like Jazz - Donald Miller
I read a few chapters in the back of the book. I went back and read Chapter 1 the other day. I'm not so sure about finishing this one.

Redeeming Love - Francine Rivers
I read three chapters in this book! Then, I went to sleep and never went back to it again.

The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down, Book 2 - Neta Jackson
I loved this book! I was reading the first book in the series at the very end of my study abroad in Costa Rica last summer. I started this book when I was in the hospital right when I got back. I got to page 123/422 which isn't too bad.

Confronting the Controversy - Adam Hamilton
My kindle says I'm about 11% into this book. That's not too bad, right? That may be the Chapter 2 start page, or not, that's just how I feel...

The Dating Blook - Matt Lantz
I've actually gotten pretty far on this. I have been reading bits and pieces out of order, but with my reading history, what's to be expected?

I think I just proved that either:
A) I'm a quitter when it comes to reading.
B) I finished an extremely low number of books in college.
C) I have a lot of reading to catch up on this year.
D) I need help; AKA all of the above.

ninetyeight through onehundredfortynine. [100]. [102]. [113]. [119]. [129]. [130]. [135]. [136]. [146].

ninetyeight. unseenbeauty: findingtheperfectcreativitylaunchpad.

ninetynine. unseenbeauty: Addy,thefutureAlaskangoverner.

ninetyninecontinued. unseenbeauty: photoshootingwithfriends.

onehundred. Sad no photo day.

onehundredone. unseenbeauty: growinginChrist.

onehundredtwo. Sad no photo day.

onehundredthree. unseenbeauty: Tuesdaynightwalkbreaks.

onehundredfour. unseenbeauty: neverseeingmathagain.

onehundredfive. unseenbeauty: thetruth.

onehundredsix. unseenbeauty: cuddlyoldstuffedanimals.

onehundredseven. unseenbeauty: displayedwork.

onehundredeight. unseenbeauty: sunshineonacloudyday.

onehundrednine. unseenbeauty: notsoimportantdecisions.

onehundredten. unseenbeauty: jumpingrope.

onehundredeleven. unseenbeauty: findingbabybirds.

onehundredelevencontinued. unseenbeauty: preciousbabybirdchirps.

onehundredtwelve. unseenbeauty: sillymomentsbeforeaseriousservice.

onehundredthirteen. Sad no photo day.

onehundredfourteen. unseenbeauty: thenoblepursuitofeatinglizardtails.

onehundredfourteen. unseenbeauty: clothingoptions.

onehundredfifteen. unseenbeauty: puppydogeyes.

onehundredfifteencontinued. unseenbeauty: Clydenoteatingeastereggs.

onehundredsixteen. unseenbeauty: revelinginwhatlittlesleeptimeyoudoget.

onehundredseventeen. unseenbeauty: rustybikes.

onehundredeighteen. unseenbeauty: postdentistnumbfacelaughter.

onehundredeighteencontinued. unseenbeauty: goodcurlyhairdays.

onehundrednineteen. Sad no photo day.

onehundredtwenty. unseenbeauty: murdermysteriesandgiggles.

onehundredtwentyone. unseenbeauty: learningnewthings.

onehundredtwentyonecontinued. unseenbeauty: livemusic.

onehundredtwentytwo. unseenbeauty: Breakthru.

onehundredtwentythree. unseenbeauty: lettersfromfriends.

onehundredtwentyfour. unseenbeauty: anunstoppablespirit.

onehundredtwentyfive. unseenbeauty: fibersthatcreatesomethinggreaterthanthemselves.

onehundredtwentysix. unseenbeauty: whenlongdaysarefinallyover.

onehundredtwentyseven. unseenbeauty: sunsetswhilewalkingwithfriends.



onehundredtwentysevencontinued. unseenbeauty: joiningtogetherforRelay.

onehundredtwentyeight. unseenbeauty: Aggierings.

onehundredtwentynine. Sad no photo day.

onehundredthirty. Sad no photo day.

onehundredthirtyone. unseenbeauty: freedomtoquestion.

onehundredthirtytwo. unseenbeauty: knowingotherlanguages.

onehundredthirtythree. unseenbeauty: theabilitytosee.

onehundredthirtyfour. unseenbeauty: supportinglovedones.

onehundredthirtyfive. Sad no photo day.

onehundredthirtysix. Sad no photo day.

onehundredthirtyseven. unseenbeauty: encouragement.

onehundredthirtysevencontinued. unseenbeauty: thingsthatmakeyouponder.

onehundredthirtyeight. unseenbeauty: textureofcotton.

onehundredthirtynine. unseenbeauty: nightlife.

onehundredforty. unseenbeauty: smallthingsthatmakeyouhappy.

onehundredfortyone. unseenbeauty: oldschoolknowledge.

onehundredfortytwo. unseenbeauty: SnowWhiteandfavoritepasta.

onehundredfortythree. unseenbeauty: arelaxingsleepafteratoughday.

onehundredfortyfour. unseenbeauty: reallifeTetrisskills.

onehundredfortyfive. unseenbeauty: moviesandpopcorn.

onehundredfortysix. Sad no photo day.

onehundredfortyseven. unseenbeauty: SnowWhiteandfavoritepasta.

onehundredfortyeight. unseenbeauty: bakingwithcriticism.

onehundredfortynine. unseenbeauty: friendship.