The 30-Day Blog Challenge, Day 26: "It's All About Popular!"

Prompt: What popular notion do you think the world has wrong?

Goodness! I could have made an entire blog revolving around this subject alone (but that could be a very uncomfortable blog to read...)!

However, I'm going to discuss a subject that's very near and dear to my heart: education. Specifically, "Non-regular school." That's right, homeschoolers, online-schoolers, independent studiers, alternative education students, vocational education students, hybrid program students, classical students, and everything in between! You're in the spotlight today! :)

When I think about the prompt for today's post, I remember the cute song from the musical "Wicked." Do you guys know that one? The prequel to The Wizard of Oz? My sister absolutely loves it, and I enjoy seeing some excerpts from it at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The song that I'm meaning to mention is called "Popular." It's pretty catchy (here's a video if you've never heard it before):

One of my favorite parts is toward the end where she sings:

It's all about popular!

It's not about aptitude

It's the way you're viewed

So it's very shrewd to be

Very very popular

Like me!

If anything, this sums up what culture is all about: to be famous like all of the other famous people! Of course, thought has a PART to do with it, but it's more important to focus on looks and fame, because that's what's most important! Right?

No?

Then...why do we act like it?

I can't tell you how many conversations that have begun with "Where do you go to school?" and ended with a quiet, painfully awkward "Oh..." with an implied "Sorry I asked."

And I'm not hurt by that at all! I am well aware of the fact that my school is not "normal." I go to two schools at the same time! That's abnormal, and I totally understand how that can be uncomfortable to think about at first.

The thing that us homeschoolers and "non-regular" students are often bothered by is the amount of judgment that comes with the news that their friend is homeschooled, like...

"What does that mean exactly?"
"Do you think you'll be prepared for college with that type of education?"
"How do you do extracurricular activities?"
"Wow, I feel so sorry for you."
"How do you survive?" "I see, so you don't mind the lack of a social aspect?"
"Don't you want to have more friends?"
"What do you do for fun?"
"Don't you want to experience the real world?"

(I kid you not. These questions have been asked to several "non-regular" students everywhere.)

To be clear, the definition of homeschool is not the education for those with no capabilities, no talents, and no clue as to what happens outside of our bedrooms. Guys, we do not live under a rock, we have plenty of friends, and we certainly have the capability to do the fun things that you do. That includes dances, sports, clubs, activities, and knowledge of the world surrounding us just like you do!

However, just because we lead a different life than you do and we have different interests than you does NOT mean that we're a new-found alien from Area 51.

We might be more similar than you think, but not in ways that you might expect.

So, the next time you're about to judge that "non-regular" student that you're with, or pester them with rude questions, instead, say, "Tell me more about that." And maybe after a while, you'll find yourself saying (as Jordan Taylor once said), "PLEASE TAKE ME WITH YOU!!!"

Question for the Reader: What do you value in education?

"Judge not that you be not judged." --Matthew 7:1

The 30-Day Blog Challenge, Day 25: Current Book List

Prompt: 5 last books you read (or are reading).

Since I'm not reading 5 books all at once, and I can only remember a couple of books that I last read, here is a combined list of 5 books I'm reading and have read.

1) I Kissed Dating Good-bye by Joshua Harris (currently reading)
I'm really enjoying this book. It's put a lot of things into perspective about how I should think about dating, courtship, and marriage in terms of the Bible, not based on what everyone else's actions.
2) Emma by Jane Austen (currently reading)
Reading this book has ultimately come to a standstill. It's been several weeks since I've picked it up. I've just been reading so many other books for school and other purposes!
3) The Bible (currently reading)
I'm trying to study a lot of the Psalms, as well as Leviticus, Numbers, and 1 Corinthians.
4) Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris (read)
When I read this book, it was pretty life changing. As a teenager, the culture so often expects me to be the stereotype of going to school and having a hobby like a sport, instrument, or video games, and that's all we're really expected to do. But what if I chose to be someone so much more than the low expectations of the world? Isn't that what God calls everyone to be?
5) Start Here by Alex and Brett Harris (about to read)
This is the sequel or "field guide" to Do Hard Things. I haven't started it yet, but I can't wait to read it!

If you'd like a more detailed list of what I'm reading, what I've read before, and what I'd like to read, I have a Goodreads account, and I'd love to be friends if you have one too!

Question for the Reader: Do you have a Goodreads account?

Jesus answered, "It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” --Matthew 4:4

The 30-Day Blog Challenge, Day 24: Pet Peeves

Prompt: What are some of your biggest pet peeves?

I know that I have one ultimate pet peeve so I'm just going to share it as a hypothetical story:

Imagine yourself back to school and it's the last day before a holiday break. You have everything turned in, no missing assignments, grades are up, and you don't have much homework to do over the break at all. You only have one more class to go before you go home and start vacation.

You take your seat in the classroom. Class has started and your teacher is making announcements about what's left to do before the concert/vacation comes up at the end of the week.

Your teacher makes the last announcement, "I know all of you are excited for this concert/vacation coming up, and I know you all have been working very hard. And I know that you all should not be doing homework at this time. Therefore, you don't have anything assigned at this time."
You are so relieved. Nothing can ruin this day for you. Everything is perfect! Until...

"However, there is one thing you have to have prepared before next class. Please answer the questions at the end of the chapter, read over these articles, and have it all ready to be turned in by the end of next class. You will not have any class time to complete it, so you must finish it at home. It's not homework, but it will count toward your grade."

Here's what it sounds like in the students' ears when teachers say that: "I'm assigning you something to read and to answer questions based on what we've been studying for several days in order to review in class, which you cannot do at school, you must do at home, and you will be graded on it. I know this is the ultimate definition of homework, but let's not call it that."

Every time I hear this, I always think I might be filmed on one of those punk shows, where the people get pranked on camera and it gets millions of hits on YouTube.

...But it's always real.

Anyway, that's my ultimate pet peeve. :)

Question for the Reader: What's your biggest pet peeve?

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." --Ephesians 4:1-2

The 30-Day Blog Challenge, Day 23: Hobbies

Prompt: List your top 3 favorite hobbies and why you love them.

1) Blogging!!!
Yes, indeed. Blogging is one of my favorite hobbies. Why? It allows me to write continuously (not just when papers are due at school) about life, the Lord and His ways and share them with people all over the world. I also consider it to be a way of professing my faith to others.

2) Baking
I'm definitely one of those people that think baking is therapeutic. I love the quote from the movie Julia and Julia in which the food blogger Julie Powell says, "You know what I love about cooking? I love that after a day when nothing is sure, and when I say "nothing" I mean nothing, you can come home and absolutely know that if you add egg yolks to chocolate and sugar and milk, it will get thick. It's such a comfort." I love how baking is a science. If you simply follow the recipe, and measure things carefully, you'll end up with a perfect masterpiece. It's also nice when I'm at home, and everyone else is having a stressful or hard day somehow, just combining an egg, peanut butter, and sugar and baking it turns into something sweet and rewarding for them.

3) Music/Teaching
I wanted to list both of these on my hobby list, but I ranked them together so that it still counted as 3. :)
Teaching: I truly enjoy teaching, because when I prepare to teach a lesson of some form, I learn something too. I either learn a different technique of how to do something, or I learn a fun new fact that I never knew before, or I even learn more about the person that I'm teaching and build a stronger relationship with that person. I feel that it's a gift that God gave me, and I hope to keep learning how to teach even better as I grow.
Music: Have you ever noticed that when you tap your foot on the floor or your pencil on the desk, you're adding background music to your day? Why do grocery stores always play songs at a certain volume, or even at restaurants, a local Subway might play rock music in the background, or a special expensive restaurant might hire live bands to come play? Everyone enjoys music in different forms. It's something special that adds to everyone's life. Without music, life somehow seems a bit empty. Life all of a sudden feels bland or awkward or uncomfortable when there is not one sound to be heard. That's why I like playing music. It feels like I'm adding more to someone's day.

Question for the Reader: How do you like to contribute to other people's lives in big or small ways?

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." --Philippians 2:4

The 30-Day Blog Challenge, Day 22: Good Luck, Future Me!

Prompt: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?

5 years from now: I will be 21 years old.
I see myself in college, getting a degree in either some form of Education, Curriculum and Instruction, English & Literature, Creative Writing, and perhaps a minor in Philosophy, Theology, or the Classics. Clearly there are a lot of stereotypes for people who don't spend their 21st year very wisely, and I do not plan to be one of them. Instead, I'd like to focus on establishing a career in an interest that is close to my heart which pleases the Lord.

10 years from now: I will be 26 years old.
I will either be starting a career, or getting a Ph.D. (if I'm still interested) or both. At that point in time, I hope to have my own apartment or share one with a good friend or my sister. It would be great if my education was all finished by then, but of course, it's not easy pursuing a degree in a short amount of time.

15 years from now: I will be 31 years old.
At this point, I hope to be settled in a career that is pleasing to the Lord. If the Lord allows it, I hope to be married and perhaps have a child or two, or maybe three (some perhaps adopted), and living out the plan that God has in store for my life. 31 years is still a young age, so I am quite convinced that I won't have everything figured out and placed into nice, tidy organized boxes, but above all else, I hope to have a wonderful relationship with God that displays His love to everyone around me.

Question for the Reader: Where do you see yourself in the future?

"And the Lord has declared today that you are a people for his treasured possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments, and that he will set you in praise and in fame and in honor high above all nations that he has made, and that you shall be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised." --Deuteronomy 26:18-19

The 30-Day Blog Challenge, Day 21: On My Mind

Prompt: 5 things on your mind.

1) Thanksgiving
It's at this time of year that I really begin to think about what I'm thankful for. I know that I'm thankful for the obvious "Sunday School" answers: I'm thankful for my Savior, my home, my family, food, an education, etc. But what are the things that I'm thankful that I normally don't think about?

2) Friendships
When you attend an online school with thousands of kids all over the world, you'd think that you wouldn't feel very lonely. But this is one of the rare times that I truly do feel lonely. Part of that is because I'm an introvert, so I'm not very proactive when it comes to making friends and building relationships. I realized last week that in order to truly maintain friendships and relationships with people, you have to proactively seek out time with them, instead of waiting for natural events to give you the opportunity.

3) Talents
Some of you might be familiar with the mild stress, worry, and concern that comes from college prep in junior year of high school. Almost every college prep pamphlet, website, and program in the world tells high school juniors to ponder what they love doing, what they're talents are, and how to apply that to an expertise for adulthood. Obviously, it's kind of scary to think about. "What if I'm not as good at this as all the other kids my age are, so it's not as impressive to college entrance administrators?" "What if I turn out not to like this particular area of interest 10 years from now, even though I absolutely adore it now?" "How do I choose between these two interests?" "How do I turn as weird of an interest as this one into a career?" Lots of questions, lots of thinking, lots of unnecessary worry, because I know that I have a lot more time than I intuitively think. I just need to keep analyzing what I enjoy, and ask God to help me sort out what His plan is for me.

4) Reading
I used to really love reading a lot, but now I'm not finding the inspiration to do so. I think one of the problems is that I overwhelm myself with school reading by putting it off (because they're not always fun to read) and then I decide that I can't read anything because I feel guilty reading anything else but schoolwork. I'm figuring out that if I catch up and keep up, then I'll have a lot more time to read what I truly enjoy. But for right now, I'm very behind, and I need to focus hard on catching up.

5) 10,000 hours
Back to the talents again. An author named Malcolm Gladwell said that the approximate amount of time that a true expert spends in his field of work is about 10,000 hours, or around ten years. I think I know what I want to spend 10,000 hours in, but to look at that number is both inspiring and daunting at the same time. But that number keeps haunting me... Ten thousand hours of practice in order to achieve expertise. How will I spend ten thousand hours of my life?

Question for the Reader: What's on your mind?

"Jesus answered, 'Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.'" --John 11:9

The 30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 20: Childhood Memories

Prompt: Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.

Okay, I'm a teenager so by technicalities of the law and my parents (and I think the Bible too...) I'm still in "childhood." But I won't let that stop me from describing a few memories of mine. It'll be kind of like the letter I wrote to my 16 year old self even though I'm still 16! :)

1) Sunday School
I still vaguely remember some of the events of Sunday School at my church in Kissimmee, Florida when I was only 3 or 4 years old. We'd sing songs, learn Bible stories, and eat frosted Animal Crackers. I remember some of my teachers, and some of the songs we learned like "The Wise Man Built His House on the Rock," "Let My People Go," (I had my first lesson of snapping my fingers in this song), "Onward Christian Soldiers," and the most famous of all: "Jesus Loves Me." I'm so glad that I started learning about God's love at such a young age. I think that it was the foundation of my faith that was built early, so that it could be built upon for the rest of my life. And now, it's that faith of that little girl at Sunday School that I can fall back on when I have any doubt about God's love (and that doubt never lasts long).

2) Drawing Pictures
When I was about 4 or 5 years old, I used to ALWAYS draw or color pictures on 8' x 11" standard copy paper with RoseArt or Crayola crayons on a little table in my bedroom. The table, from Fisher Price, was a terrifyingly ugly dandelion yellow with two benches on the sides that were red and purple. Overall, the entire table was about 1.5 feet off the ground: very small, very ugly, very much used and loved. The table was my school desk and also the kid's table at many Thanksgiving dinners, but primarily, it was my drawing desk. I colored everything: ladybugs, jack-o-lanterns, Christmas Trees, Monster's Inc. characters, and baby Moses in a basket on the river. To this day, my grandmother collected them all (or what she could save anyway) and made a quilt which is hanging on the wall in my bedroom. Looking back, I think the reason I drew pictures so often was because it was my mode of communication. I didn't know how to write very well (at that time, I thought writing was using a pencil to draw letters in the alphabet) so I drew pictures about what I was feeling or thinking about. When I learned how to write sentences and stories, I didn't draw so much anymore at all. By the time I was 8, I had my own diary which I still have on my bookshelf today. Writing and drawing were things that God gave me to communicate with others that I've taken advantage of since I was little, and I still haven't stopped.

3) First Day at Kindergarten
My first day at Kindergarten was at Rocky Mountain Christian Academy in Niwot, Colorado in the early autumn of 2002. It wasn't the first day of school, but maybe a few weeks or a month afterwards, so I was considered "the new kid." I had already met my teachers a few days before, but not my classmates. My parents still have a picture of me and my sister on that morning before leaving for school in the front yard of the house we were staying in. The picture is too cute: Moriah in a pink sweater and polka-dot pants all ready for pre-school, and me in my uniform: navy blue cardigan, plaid skirt, and knee socks. I was more excited than nervous, but I remember being scared of going to a school for the morning with kids that I had never met before. My teachers were very kind though. During circle time, I got to pick a song to sing: I think I had the choice between the alphabet or the days of the week. Ready to try something new, I chose the days of the week song (and I still remember it to this day). I've been attending the same school every year since, and it's proven to be a big part of my life.

Question for the Reader: What are your favorite childhood memories?

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." --Proverbs 22:6

The 30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 19: Well, You'd Probably Say the Same Thing!

Prompt: If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?

My answer is pretty simple: Europe (especially the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, and Hungary).

I've always wanted to go to Europe because it has beautiful artwork, delicious cuisine, extraordinary opportunities for careers, and it seems that everywhere you turn around God especially reveals Himself in Creation. Of course I probably think that because of pictures on the Internet, but people who have been there and lived there always seem to show how unique, vibrant and beautiful the continent of Europe is.

I can't wait to see it for myself one day, Lord-willing.

This is a picture of the castle in Eger, Hungary where my church often goes on mission trips.

Question for the Reader: Where would you live if you could pick anywhere in the world?

"You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you." --Nehemiah 9:6

The 30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 18: "I Took the One Less Traveled By"

Prompt: A poem.

The Road Not Taken 

by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Question for the Reader: What is your favorite poem?

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of mockers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law, he meditates both day and night." --Psalm 1:1-2

The 30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 17: I'm Not Perfect

Prompt: What is the thing you most wish you were great at?

I've learned recently that our culture rarely values this important definition of love: to be willing to drop EVERYTHING in order to be there for that person, whatever is on his/her mind.

In answer to the question: I wish I could be great at loving everyone around me, and displaying that through a strong relationship with God.

I'm not always good at maintaining my relationship with God, and each time I fail to live for the Lord, I find that at the same time, I don't maintain good relationships with others.

I know that I'll never be 100% perfect as Jesus was, but I know that one of my responsibilities as his child is to do my best to reflect His image. Furthermore, I know that I have a chance at becoming like Him because He made my record of sin completely clean. So, even though I mess up a lot, Christ made it so that I can still build up my relationships with God and others.

That means that Christ has given us all the chance to do great things.

Question for the Reader: What do you wish you were great at?

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." --Ephesians 5:1-2

The 30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 16: Accomplishments

Prompt: What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?

1) Accepting Christ as my Savior
This is the greatest accomplishment that I believe any person can achieve. It's the act of accepting an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, loving, merciful God as our friend and Savior.

2) Longmont Youth Symphony, Longmont All Stars, CU Honor Band
These are all musical accomplishments that I am happy to say that I have participated in.

3) 11 years of school so far...
If you're a student, you'll probably understand.

4) Leadership opportunities at school and church
I like the leadership opportunities that I've been blessed to have. I've been a teacher aide and pioneer at my school as well as an assistant to my mom (the leader of Family Ministry at the church) on Sundays. I've also been blessed to teach youth group before.

5) Writing: Blog, Scripts, Short Stories
These are all hobbies: I haven't really been awarded in writing before (except for English awards in middle school), although I've won several spelling bees. However, I enjoy writing and creating stories though scripts and prose. Also, I enjoy writing this blog, of course. :)

I wouldn't necessarily call of these accomplishments, but I look forward to the days where I can increase this list.

Question for the Reader: What are your greatest accomplishments?

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." --Titus 3:5

The 30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 15: Beaches and Mountains

Prompt: Where is the most beautiful place you've ever been?

I can honestly say without a shadow of a doubt that I live in a beautiful place: Colorado. It's a place where the grass is mostly green, the highest mountains are almost always snowcapped, and the sun rising is an event of nature. Yet, when I think about the most beautiful place I've ever been, I don't just think of the town where I live in. I think of two places: Vero Beach and the Rocky Mountains.

1) Vero Beach

Vero Beach is gorgeous because when you travel to Florida, the weather tends to be unbearably hot. However, when you go to a beach, like Vero Beach, you feel comfortable and even a bit more relaxed. This was the first beach that I had been to in over ten years, and I'll never forget it. When you first walk onto a beach, there's a huge hill of sand that's grainy, hard, hot and completely uncomfortable. But then, as you get closer to the water, there's a floor of sand that the waves crash over that feels like a cold, soft carpet. This is the best place to collect seashells. Looking out into the water feels somewhat intimidating because of the energy of the waves and how infinite the distance of the ocean looks, and when you swim in the water you have to watch your step, because it's easy to loose your footing when the sea floor is completely made of sand. But it's a beautiful sight to see and constantly reminds you of the infinite power and beauty of God with each minute that passes.

2) Rocky Mountains

When our family first moved here to Colorado, we used to go on hikes in the Rocky Mountain National Park about once a month because we (my parents especially) couldn't get over how beautiful the view is. It truly is magnificent to see how big the mountains are and how for most of the year, even in July, they will be covered with snow.

I hope you enjoyed my presentation of two of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. It reminded me of God's beauty and omnipotence. :)

Question for the Reader: Where is the most beautiful place that you've ever been?

"For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." --Romans 1:20

The 30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 14: Strengths & Weaknesses, Part 2

I know it's been a couple of months since I last posted for the 30 Day Blog Challenge, but I don't want to start something and not finish it.

Prompt: 5 strengths you have.

1) Christ
Christ is the best strength granted to me.

2) Writing
This is a much lesser strength than the first. However, this is a strength I am happy to have. It's a way that I can communicate clearly and also share my opinions and minister to others.

3) Work Ethic
This one is sometimes a strength of mine, but not always. My weakness of procrastination can outweigh this at times. When I have the enthusiasm and motivation to do something, I very often do my best to work my hardest to achieve the goal.

4) Organization
A few of you have probably seen my tutorial on creating a planner, so that was probably a hint as to how much I love to create things that makes things much more organized.

5) Stubbornness
This has been mostly a weakness lately, but I have faith that God will turn it into something good. If I can be so hard-headed in believing something in which I'm wrong, then how stubborn can I be in believing something that's right?

This post was a lot harder to write than I thought it would be, but I've learned that I need to like myself a lot more and focus on the good instead of the bad.

Question for the Reader: What strengths do you have? How is God using them?

"But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." --2 Chronicles 15:7

The 30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 13: Strengths & Weaknesses, Part 1

Prompt: 5 weaknesses you have.

No one likes to admit their weaknesses, but it's often healthy to do so, and helps us reflect on how they can ask God to help them change their ways.

1. Procrastination
Ah, yes. Even the pastor's kid and the principal's daughter can struggle with the common student issue: procrastination. It's a bad habit that I have yet to completely conquer.

2. Stubbornness
This can be a weakness and a strength, but currently it's been a lot more of a weakness.

3. Worrying too much
Whether it's the fact that plans might not go as expected, or if I might not make it through tomorrow, or if people think bad about me, I worry way too much, and forget that God is with me.

4. Disorganization
Now, I might be quite the organizer at school, but when it comes to my room and keeping up with laundry, I don't know how my parents put up with me.

5. Fear of change
So often now, I am coming to the realization that I can't stay with the same old bad habits forever, because it won't be long now until I'll be going off to college and having the entire world of responsibility on my shoulders. So, usually I deal with the temptation of being afraid to try, because I don't really want things to drastically change.

Question for the Reader: How do you overcome your weaknesses?

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." --2 Corinthians 12:9

The 30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 12: A Day in the Life (As Promised)

I promised that I would publish a "day in the life" blog post as a result of a poll I did a few months back....and I never got around to it. But today, I have no excuse, thanks to the 30 Day Blog Challenge! 

Prompt: Describe a typical day in your life.

5:30am--I wake up and roll myself out of bed, because at this hour I am really, really tired. I then go and wash my face, because it helps me wake up.
5:40am--I try to wake my sister up if she missed her alarm. I grab my Bible, journal, and a pen, and start studying the word. Currently, I've been reading a lot of the Psalms, Isaiah, 1 Corinthians, and a few chapters from the Gospel of Matthew. After I read the word, I pray about what I studied that day and ask God for His companionship in my life as I do my best to apply His word to my daily life.
6:00am--Basically, after devotions, I make my bed, eat breakfast, get dressed and ready for school. 
7:00am--If we're on time, my brother, sister, mom, and I all load our stuff into the car, and drive to school.
7:25am--We arrive at school, and my mom gets set up for work (she's the head of the school), and my siblings and I entertain ourselves until 8:15 when we have to go to our classrooms.
8:15am--I say "bye" to my brother as he goes upstairs to his fourth grade classroom. My sister and I walk to the upper school building and set up our desk spaces in the high school room.
8:25am--Morning assembly with teachers, middle school & high school students. We pledge allegiance, pray, sing a hymn, and listen to important school announcements.
8:30am--Middle school students go to their homeroom class, as us high schoolers take our lunch orders and get ready for study skills DVD lectures and free work time. Since it's not September yet, we prepare for free work time instead of a high school devotion class which will likely start on the 6th.
8:35-10:35am--Free work time (Reading, art projects, planning) and/or study skills DVD lectures
10:35-10:45am--Break with Middle School & High School Students/Eat a healthy snack
10:45am-12:20pm--Continue free work time
12:20-1:00pm--Lunch with Middle School & High School Students
1:00-2:25pm--Finish free work time/DVD Lectures
2:25-3:15pm--This block depends on the day of the week. If it's Monday or Wednesday, I have a live art class that I attend. If it's Friday, I attend a community service class period. If it's Thursday, more free time! 
3:15-4:00pm--I pack up my stuff and get ready to come home.
4:00pm--Depart from school, and head home.
4:30pm--We all arrive home from school, and I unpack all my stuff and spend a few minutes in my room to organize my stuff or get comfortable. Sometimes when I come home and dinner is not happening soon, then I'll take the opportunity to grab a snack if I'm hungry.
4:45pm--Help with dinner, whatever homework I may have, or chilling in my room
5:00-6:00pm--Dinner with my family
6:00-7:30pm--Family time/finishing homework/music practice/chores
7:30pm--Start preparing for tomorrow's school day by ironing clothes or packing a lunch
8:00pm--I say "good-night" to my brother and parents and go to my room to hang out with my sister until we go to sleep at 10:00pm. Sometimes we'll watch videos until 9 and then read or play a board game until 10.
10:00pm--Turn off my lights, straighten up my room, charge my phone, set my alarm, and I go to sleep.

My days are pretty easy going since my online classes have not started yet. When I get into my class routine with electives and core classes, I will definitely have a lot more in my day. Maybe when that happens, I'll make another day in the life post.

I hope you enjoyed a tidbit of my everyday life! :)

Question for the Reader: What does your day typically look like?

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." --Colossians 2:6-8

The 30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 11: Today's Theme Music

Prompt: 5 songs on your playlist today.

1. Crazy Love by Mindy Gledhill
This is a cute song by an artist I really like. Her opening line is my favorite part: "Nobody knows that I am a secret spy..."

2. Piano Concerto No. 2 by Dmitri Shostakovich
I love this piano piece because it sort of reminds me of a fairy tale. If you've ever seen Disney's Fantasia 2000, then you probably know what I'm talking about. (It fits The Steadfast Tin Soldier perfectly.)

3. Hot Air Balloon by Owl City
This is one of my favorite songs. It's on my playlist for today because my sister and I actually saw a maroon hot air balloon right early this morning. :)

4. Symphony No. 5 "The Reformation Symphony," Movement 4 by Felix Mendelssohn
I love how majestic this piece is. It's almost as if Mendelssohn had the ability to compose God's power into a symphony, especially towards the middle and end of the movement.

5. Your Hands by JJ Heller
This is one of my favorite Christian music songs. It's a great, soft acoustic song about God's love and our security in Him.

Question for the Reader: Do you have any songs stuck in your head today?

Praise the Lord. 

Praise God in his sanctuary; 

praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him for his acts of power;

praise him for his surpassing greatness.

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,

praise him with the harp and lyre, 

praise him with timbrel and dancing,

praise him with the strings and pipe,

praise him with the clash of cymbals,

praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

--Psalm 150

The 30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 10: Storytime!

This is a children's story I came up with. Even though the first day of fall isn't until September 22, I felt inspired by the beginning of the school year to write a short story about autumn. I hope you enjoy it.

Prompt: Tell a story.

Alice was quite little, but not little enough to fit under a microscope. Just little enough to where she was the size of a big sunflower petal. As a matter of fact, that's where she grew up: in a sunflower. One day, however, it was high time for her to leave the house, or in this case, the sunflower, and blow away to find a new life for herself. 

So that's what she did. When all the petals blew away, that's when she blew away to a far away land, called Winterville. Now, Winterville was a very cold, white & blue place where flowers never grew, but instead, only icicles and snowflakes were the closest to a flower that anyone could find!

This was very unsettling to poor little Alice where so many big and cold things were surrounding her, when she was so used to sunshine, clear skies, and everything bright. 

Alice asked the mayor of Winterville what happened. He said, "It was a great and powerful spell that fell upon the land. This used to be a place called Springville, but when everything fell cold and white, we changed the name because it was no longer spring." 

Alice didn't know what to do! She simply had to break the spell. Because she was so sad at what had happened, she went to a nearby tree to rest and weep. All of a sudden, when a small tear ran down her cheek and fell to the ground, a tree grew! It had so many gorgeous and vibrant colors on its leaves that she ran around with her special water from her sunflower house and planted all sorts of these trees. 

And that, friends, is how autumn came to be: all because of a little sunflower girl named Alice.

The End.

Question for the Reader: What is your favorite childhood story?

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew, a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace." --Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

The 30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 9: Note To Self

Prompt: What would you tell your 16 year old self if you could?

...I am sixteen. :)

However, that's not going to stop me from giving myself some advice, because I think I could use it.

I need to practice the beautiful act of thinking about others before I ever think about myself, and listen to the words and instructions of the people older and wiser than I am. Finally, I need to stop worrying about the past and the future, or any problems that seem big now. Instead, I ought to focus on God's plan, and in Him, all worries and troubles fade away.

Question for the Reader: What words of wisdom would you give to yourself?

"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." --Philippians 3:12-14

The 30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 8: Passions

Prompt: What are three passions you have?

1. Teaching
Ever since I was little, I've wanted to teach. I love being able to share knowledge or wisdom with people and seeing them realize that the information is helpful to them in their daily lives or spiritual walk. Many people believe that it's one of my spiritual gifts.

2. Writing
Whether it's writing in my student planner, or taking class notes with a pen and notebook paper, or just writing down my thoughts in this blog, I love to write. It's a way to get lost in your imagination, or plan out your life, or keep a record of how God is working in your heart, mind, and soul.

3. Walking with the Lord
If there was one after-school activity that was my favorite, it's church youth group. Why? It's a chance to hear God's Word in a way that relates to the lives of everyone around me, not just my own. One of my favorite habits that I'm starting to develop is waking up early in the morning and studying the Lord's Word. I have always been a child of God, and I am so blessed to be loved by Him and have the opportunity to walk with Him throughout my life.

Question for the Reader: What are your passions?

"Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me." --Psalm 119:133

The 30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 7: My Calling

Prompt: What is your dream job, and why?

I have given this a lot of thought, and even though I'm not quite sure what I want to be yet, I'm willing to share a few of the ideas I have right now, according to my current interests.

1. Secretary/Assistant
I don't really know what the real title for this job is, but you get the general idea. I've always loved the idea of sitting at a work desk taking dictation, planning out schedules on Google Calendar, answering phones and e-mails, running errands, and getting coffee for some weird reason...call me crazy. (I make really good coffee with a french press by the way.)

2. Journalist/Columnist
I've always liked the idea of writing a column or article in a newspaper or magazine. I like the idea of a magazine writer better though, because I could write "how-to" articles or interviews by celebrities or something like that instead of the inside story on a local crime or traffic catastrophe.

3. Novel/Children's Book/Christian Book Editor
I like reading novels, christian and children's books and coming up with ideas for them. I also like the idea of going to meetings with writers and publishers, and helping them become great writers and book sellers.

4. Copyeditor
I think this is the job that might be one step down from an editor, but I think I would be happy with it all the same. It's a great opportunity for my spelling, grammar, and proofreading skills to be put to good use, and it might be fun.

5. Professor
This one is really "if-y" because I've never really seen some of my own talents where I find myself saying, "Oh wow! That would be great for becoming a professor!" However, it's a great job to teach the next generation about becoming great citizens and leaders of the world that gets them excited about learning in the areas that they know they want to specialize in.

Now that I have all of the "potential" jobs out of the way, here's a dream job that I have that I think I might be called to do by the Lord. I'd like to become a teacher of English, Literature, Language Arts, the Classics, the Bible, Philosophy, and potentially foreign languages, history, or other areas of the Arts. I would especially like to teach the middle school and high school groups, because they seem to be at the age where they might need the self-discipline to want to learn. I'm also considering getting a counseling degree so that not only would I teach kids academics at the secondary school level, but also counsel them to be mature, intelligent, discerning, and Christ-loving individuals. This doesn't just include kids in the schools of America, but the kids in the church, and the youth all over the world. It would be wonderful to see kids who are my age now, be so excited to love Christ and learn about Him and His world, and receive a great education that prepares their hearts and minds for whatever the Lord calls them to be as His children and disciples.

Question for the Reader: What's your dream job?

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." --Proverbs 16:3