January: random {personal}

The first month of the year has come and gone. Thirty-one days. It seems that every month that passes by, I get to say the exact same thing. WOW that went fast. January is an extra special month for me....because:

{it is the first month of the year.} I love how I can look on the whole year with hope and expectation. There are no big mistakes in it yet, and I love being writing new daily, weekly, and monthly goals.

{the restaurant that I work for is closed for the month of January.} :) This means that I have more reading time on my hands, there is a lot more family time and breathing room is allowed.
     Two books that I especially enjoyed are:
            1. God's pursuit of Man {A.W. Tozer}
            2. "Cool Stuff" They Should Teach in School {Kent and Kyle Healy}
     Amazing reads, and if you are a book worm like me - you will especially love them. :)

Below I have posted extremely random pictures of my month (from my phone). In no specific order you will see that:
I love my brother
I ate a ton of peanut butter
Studying is a daily habbit
My favorite soundtrack has been Braveheart {though I don't think I could ever watch the movie...}
I love my Grandma Schaeffer
Snow is a beautiful part of winter
My family is the best
God has blessed me with wonderful friends
I took my first bike ride of the year! :) It was lovely.
I have been able to talk with amazing couples who have been married for a long time!

And there is alot more that the pictures don't say.

One of the "loves" that isn't captured in the pictures are the many hours I have spent listening to sermons. I  have stumbled upon some very convicting and inspiring preachers. I know that you would be blessed by taking some time to listen, learn, and glean from these men.
-Purity in a Wicked Age {David Wilkerson}
-Oh America, America! {Leonard Ravenhill}
-Ten Sheckles and a Shirt {Paris Reidhead} <= I would have to say that this is my favorite..
-Spiritual Treason {AW Tozer}
-Seek my Face {Richard Owen Roberts}
-A Burning Heart {Leonard Ravenhill}
-How do you know if you are Saved {Paul Washer} <= this is an amazing 'what is the Gospel' message.

December Favorites {personal}

Not only has a month come and gone......but also a year.

It is so weird! I have been meaning to write this blog post, but as I sit here thinking of my month favorites, I realize that I don't have many. Most of my favorites are with the anticipation of next year (aka - next month). That being said, I am going to have my skimpy month favorites and then follow them up with my future favorites for next year!

Drink: Water {nothin's better, folks!}

Book: I read 3 books, but I didn't have a favorite. :/
Memory: Chanukkah!

If I had an extra afternoon: It didn't really happen. :)

Quote: Many have made a decision to believe in Jesus without making a commitment to follow Jesus. The gospel allows for no such distinction. Biblical belief is more than mental assent or verbal acknowledgement." *Kyle Idleman

So there you have it! I honestly couldn't really think of my favorites! I will be sure to be more conscience of what I enjoy. ;)

WHAT I am looking forward to....

Month: January! {I don't have to waitress for 1 month!!}

Drink: Unsweetened and Hot and Black tea {I am doing a sugar "fast"....}

Music: Jamie Grace's album /  Aaron Shust's song

Book: God's Pursuit of Man by A.W. Tozer

Random: Soaking up as much family time as I can.

 

November favorites: {personal}

I am back.
It feels weird sitting here blogging, trying to explain my absence. :) November was a lovely month. I have a feeling this post will be long, because if there was such a thing as an "overflowing month", that would be November for me.

What happened? (you may ask.....) Well:
-I went to Florida for a week for vacation
- I turned 19
-I painted my room
-I went to Florida for Thanksgiving to visit my grandparents
-My dad's birthday

Oh, and those things are all just icing. That doesn't iclude work, college, and the occasional sibling time or "organizing date with myself."

November
Week One

Doesn't it look like paradise? It was my first time at the beach. Well, technically, my first time was when I was 6....but I don't really remember it. So, I like to say it was my first time. That week was filled with Disney World, Busch Gardens, The Beach, Meeting lovely and inspiring people, and spending it with These people.

November :
The Last Week

This last week of November was spent with these people.

To say that I had a fabulous time would be an understatement! I really enjoyed speaking French for a week (I am getting pretty good! ;) The week was filled with listening to the experiences and wisdom of both of my grandparents. The subjects ranged from education down to respect, and I loved every part of our chats. I also went shopping on Black Friday for the first time! (what an experience. I had to learn the art of agressive walking....)
Best memory of the trip:

Haha. I still laugh when I think of it. All week my Grandpapa was teasing me about eating too much (I was on vacation, so that makes it ok, right????). I kept refuting by saying "Je ne suis pas un cochon, Grandpapa!" Meaning: I am not a pig! Well, because of my big mouth, I was dubbed "le petit cochon"/ the little pig - for the week. The entire week. Towards the end, however, my Grandpapa remembered a movie with a pig in it. {Have any of y'all seen Babe?}SOOOoooo, half the time I was "Le Petite Cochon" and half the time I was "Babe". Honestly, I didn't mind being called Babe. ;) I could get used to it.

I already miss the thick French accents. The ones that call Michael Buble - Bubley. The ones that can't pronounce "th" - so Happy Birthday becomes Happy Birday. The ones that mix French with English. Oh, those special faces! Next year can't come soon enough!

Oh, and of course there was my birthday (left) and my amazing father's birthday (right) last month! We are 30 years apart, so it is always easy to remember my dad's BIG number!

What are my favorites from last month?

Person: my Papa

Random: enjoying two seasons. Florida's sunshine and Colorado's snow!

Nail Polish: Cranberry/Red

Drink: Water. {can't get much better!}

Snack: Donuts {I know, I know. I am bad....}

Music: Michael Buble's Christmas Album

Book: Obsessed by Ted Dekker

Memory: lip syncing on an Air Plane with my BFF.

Thankful for: Language! Being able to communicate in another language.

Quote: "Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading." ^Oswald Chambers

 

All in all, I had such a wonderful month. God truly has blessed me with amazing friends and family. I can't wait to see what this 19th year will bring!
God Bless!
*felicia

October Favorites {personal}

Ah! It is Monday! I have been so excited for today. I couldn't wait for the weekend to leave so Monday would come. {bet y'all haven't heard that before.....} Why? Because I don't have anymore work shifts before vacation, AND it is the day before the day before vacay. ;D Not only that, I can wear my cranberry nail polish and don my new AE skinny jeans. Yes! It is a lovely Monday.

Plus - I get to sit in a coffee shop and blog. There is something really fun about drinking a hot latte, people watch, and listen to some of my favorite music.

As I look over the past month, so much has happened - and I have so many diverse favorites! How do I describe what has happened and what I've done and experienced???

Many of my days saw me driving to the library with my older brother. We would study together for a couple hours and blast country music on the way home - laughing and singing loud because the SCHOOL DAY was DONE! Many days also saw me out and about. I did as many out-doorsy things as I possibly could. October was the month of amazing colors, millions of snowflakes, soft rain, and fallen leaves. MMmmm: Colorado weather! God has placed me in the middle of paradise.

Anyway - I have alot of "ties" for my favorites. But 2 favs isn't a bad thing. {at least I like to tell myself....}

FAVORITE>>>>

Movie: Courageous

Nail Polish: Brown/Purple

                    Grey

Drink: Caramel Macchiato (from The Press Coffee Shop)

           Pomegranate Paradise (from Jamba Juice)

Snack: Fairy Cakes {accompanied - of course - with Hot English Breakfast tea}

            Yogurt

Music: Christmas

           Phillips, Craig, and Dean {I can be an oldie sometimes. :D }             

If I had an extra afternoon: I would ride my bike in the amazing fall weather.

Memory: Going to see the Swan Lake Ballet with my BFF.

                Sleeping outside under the stars.

Time of day: The late nights that I spent reading.

                     The time of day that I have great conversations with my Papa.

Thankful for: My family. As I grow older, the more I realize how blessed I am to live with loving parents and amazing siblings! I can't give this one enough stress!!!!

Quote: Becoming a Christian isn't about acting right. It's confessing we're wrong. *Lecrae

The Challenge for me this month was not to get worried. Worried about my school, life, or money. I have been learning the meaning of Trusting  God. I remind myself that He is the One who brings me fulfillment, and nothing else. He is my Joy, and He makes me Smile. {Psalm 9:10; 37:5; 91:2 -  Proverbs 3:5; 16:20 - Isaiah 2:22; 12:2 - Jeremiah 17:5, 7 - Nahum 1:7}

Well, I am leaving for Florida the day after tomorrow! I am really looking forward to waking up to the sound of the ocean. :) Toodloo - and see y'all when I get back.

.

September favorites: {personal}

Time seems to be getting shorter and weeks seem to go by faster as I get older. I feel like I keep saying that or describing my busy, full to the brim life - but with all of the busy-ness comes the amazing memories. September was that month that left me with those many of those lovely memories. =)

All month really has been crazy with preparation for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. And now that day 2 of Rosh Hashanah is here, I have been able to sleep in, read, and catch up. =) It's a great feeling!

September saw me riding my bike to the library for over a week to study for my first CLEP. [which, by the way, I had a great score on....] My sister also became a non-teenager.....finally! It was waaay past due. [speaking of.....go check out this video that the guys in my family made] With all of the waitressing done, French lessons learned, Studying crammed in, pictures edited, and family days - September was a great month!

FAVORITE>>>>

Book: Radical {by David Platt} FAVORITE book of the year right now. Haven't read it? Pick it up, you will love it.

Drink: Vanilla Coffee and Mango Iced Tea

Quote: "When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer." ^Corrie ten Boom

Thing to look at: The colorful trees

Breakfast: Yogurt, granola, and peaches

August Favorites: {personal}

Can you believe it?  Today is the last day of August! Already! August was the month that saw end of summer and the beginning of school.  I can say {without batting an eyelash} that this month was very very full with new things that I fell in love with. =)

A huge highlight at the beginning of the month was…camping! Oh.my.goodness – I had a blast! I was half scared that I would hate it, and that I would be a complete Grinch because of my lack of sleep. I had no clue what to expect because it was my first time. I am happy to announce, however, that I was not a grumpy pants. =) {in my opinion} To summarize my week in a few words = bear, stars, yummy camp food, greasy hair, rain, more rain, camp fire, amazing views, cool friends, Psalm 19, shot blocks, getting wet, hot chocolate, laughing, marshmallows, and inside jokes. It was a success, and I guess I am not a complete city girl after all.

Buuut…I do want to talk about my August Favorites. So, if you care to know what I was gravitating towards, then continue reading. :D

FAVORITE>>>>

Book: A Chance to Die {by Elisabeth Elliot}

Nail Polish: Egg Shell/Aqua

Accessory: Pearls

Snack: Raspberries

Music Artist: Owl City

Person: my sister

Past Time: Taking pictures. =)

Memory: Baking cookies with my sister and one of my best friends.

Time of day: Any time in the car by myself. =) Perfect for quiet and uninterrupted time conversing with my God.

Quote: “American Christians have fallen for a counterfeit peace and joy. Instead of going to God and understanding experientially that in His presence is the fullness of joy –we go to Hollywood, we go to the music industry, we go to professional sports –and that’s where we get our rush and our sense of fulfillment.” ^Leonard Ravenhill

Goal for next month: Not to be one of the American Christians that Mr. Ravenhill was talking about Psalm 16:11..."You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy ; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore!"

Here's to another amazing month! CHEERS!

July Favorites: {personal}

This month has come and gone very fast. July has quickly flown by with more than a dozen memories left behind for me to enjoy and remember. =) I have had more “firsts” this month than almost any other month. Do you wanna hear some of them?

>First time ever going to Sonic {and I got an Arnold Palmer}.

>First time going to a bridal shower {my very dear, childhood friend is getting married this next week!}.
>First time wearing a hoop skirt.
>First time second shooting a wedding.
>First time eating Dominos pizza.
>First time shooting in Manual mode on my camera.
>First time getting my pictures professionally taken.
>First time wearing yellow nail polish.
>I broke my phone for the second time. <--It’s a mistake that is worth mentioning, right?

The seventh month of two thousand eleven was filled with wonderful things. My little brother’s baseball team has been rocking our socks off - An undefeated Eagles team brings a lot of pride into my little heart. Fireworks, biking, swimming, blogging, and editing have all quickly filled up my weeks as well.  As you all know, July was also packed full with many pictures – exactly 6,372 of them.  SIX THOUSAND pictures, folks! I am both shocked and impressed with that number. The internship I was a part of will be a HUGE memory, the first wedding I was a part of [pictures coming soon] was more amazing than my simple words can explain, and the photo shoots I have been  able to capture are worth way more than a thousand words.

Besides the smiles that spread across my face when I think of my six thousand pictures, there are quite a few things that make me smile. Here are a couple of my July Favorites:

Favorite>>>

Music band: Royal Tailor

Food: strawberries
Words: Y'all and Redic <abbreviated - ridiculous>
Book: Rees Howells Intercessor by Norman Brubb
Snack: Honey Mustard Pretzels
Cold drink: Mango Lemonade
People: my family [Y'all knew that, right?]
Quote: “Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.” ^Thomas Paine

*felicia

p.s. Fyi, I can count at least half a dozen new embarrassing moments that I have gained this month.