Letter to the Readers: On Vacation!

Dear Readers,

I know it's been a super long time since I last posted, but I thought I'd give you a quick update on what's going on. I've been spending the majority of the month of June preparing for a big summer vacation trip, completing lots of summer reading, and attending other important events, which haven't left much time to blog.

Actually, as I write this, I am in my grandparents's house in Orlando, FL and just got home from quite an adventure!

I will tell you all about it when I return from the trip, but in the meantime, I hope all of you readers are enjoying your summer as well, crossing off summer bucket list items, keeping cool, resting, and enjoying God's blessings! :)

I'll be back soon, don't worry!

Blessings,
Hayley (Victorious Heroine)

June Resolutions: Summer Vacation

Read a ton!
I'd like to accomplish reading several Omnibus books for summer reading, plus a couple on my own pleasure reading list.

Exercising
I'd like to walk a lot more often. I think if I worked pretty hard, I could be walking a minimum of two miles every day, maybe 4.

Extracurricular Activities Report for VPSA Resumé
I have a summer assignment due on the 15th in which I need to turn in a list of things that I did during the school year that didn't count for a grade, but were beneficial in other ways. At the end of my senior year, my online school will help me use that information to put together a lovely college resumé.

Give Dad an Awesome Father's Day
I'd like my dad to feel appreciated, loved, and respected on June 16th this year. I'll do my best to make that happen. :)

Scratch off bucket list items
Now I'm not looking to get 75% of my bucket list done all in the month of June (even though that would be pretty cool.) But I am hoping to get a lot scratched off.

Publish at least 10 posts this month
It's a bit of a challenge, but since it's summer, I'm up for it. Besides, with all of the guest posts, series, and other fun things I have in mind, I think I can make it happen.

Music Practice
Recurring goal...I just want to do better than last month.

Read Isaiah & Other Scripture
I think that maybe the problem I'm having is that I feel forced to read some Scripture that might not be the right fit for my spiritual journey at that very point in time. I'd like to self-discipline myself to read the Book of Isaiah, since I am reading it with one of my friends from youth group, and then decide what I'd like to read next and accomplish that.

Preparation for Summer Vacation in Florida
I need to do A LOT of laundry, shopping, and other preparation and planning before this trip comes around soon. This is something that needs to be done quickly and efficiently.

Go to Florida & Prepare to Blog about it
This is exciting! It's probably the biggest summer vacation that our family has planned in several years. It will be so much fun, and I hope to include enough details through diary entries and picture taking to tell you all about it. To see how soon this vacation is coming, check the widget on the right side of this page to observe the countdown. :)

Overall, ten things for a resolutions list sounds like a pretty good challenge. This will definitely be a memorable month, and perhaps a monumental one for Victorious Heroine. We'll see what happens! :) 

Question for the Reader: Do you have plans for summer vacation?

"And he said, 'My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'" --Exodus 33:14

(Link-up to Kelli Taylor's She Learns As She Goes)

May Report Card: I Hate It When I'm Right

I hate to say it, but I was right.

If you remember my May resolutions post, then you might know what I'm talking about. Remember when I was pretty concerned about how crazy May 2013 would be? And how I was totally unsure about how the resolutions would go? I was right. And for the first time in a while, I get to use the phrase that I rarely use: "I hate it when I'm right." I am a bit disappointed to show you all what went down this month, but for the sake of promise keeping, here are the results of this past month's resolutions, or, in other words, the May 2013 Report Card. Cue the "dun dun dun" ominous musical effect.

Omnibus Reading: D-
Oh, that I could relive certain areas of my life...but I can't. I could have done much better on this, and I just didn't. I don't want to let myself act like that. My first goal for next year is to step up on this area of my academics. If I don't want to do something sometimes, I need to "man up" and do it anyway. This summer, my goal is to try, try again and do my best to get a head start on this coming school year's reading so that it makes the job somewhat easier, and forces me to be more responsible. The key is to persevere and self-discipline myself, so that's exactly what I'm going to do, or at least give it my best. 

Diary Writing: C+
I'm improving, and that's what I think is what's most important. I made 3 entries out of the 5 that I was aspiring for. 2 of them were quite long and helped me reflect a lot. I should write in my diary more often. I think it's healthy.

Finish the Book of Isaiah: F
This did not happen at all. I don't recall making any effort on this whatsoever, but I will do my best to catch up.

Read either Judges or Proverbs: D-
I read Proverbs 31 and a couple chapters from Judges about Samson, but I did not come close to reading all of either one. It's okay, I'll try again.

Music Practice: D-
I think I may have practiced once or twice, if at all, in the entire month of May. This should be unacceptable in my mind. 

Get Through Extracurricular Events: A+
God is very merciful. The drama club performance went smoothly (even though there were a few things that could have been better), the symphony concert was excellent, and the jazz band performances were great. All went very well, and for that I am very thankful.

Give Mom an Awesome Mother's Day: A
This went pretty well. I got her a gift that she absolutely loved, and I helped doing a lot of yard work that day, which I think she appreciated. I hope she felt pretty special on her day.

Conquer Final Exams: A
I made it through exam week!!! YAY! I've already gotten some of my grades back, and a lot of them are As & Bs, so I could hardly be happier.

Finish Tenth Grade: A
This category went pretty well. While I surely hit a few bumps in the road, I'd say I finished the school year off wonderfully. Another chapter has closed, and another challenge has been conquered victoriously.

Overall Grade Average: C

Well, I suppose this could have been worse. It was a tough month, but if one thing can be learned from this, it's that I need to really try to do my best in everything, and not stress out when I fail, because as Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables said, "Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?"

Question for the Reader: How was your month of May?

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." --Colossians 3:23

(Link up to Kelli Taylor's She Learns As She Goes)

A Promise to Keep: My Favorite Bible Verses That Have Helped Me in My Spiritual Walk, Part I

I made it! Summer is finally here!
I survived exams and I am now on my official second day of summer. Yesterday was an adventure. I got to do some yard work, sleep in, eat gluten-free blueberry pancakes, and on top of that, I performed at a graduation party in my jazz band. It was a great day to start off the summer.

Now, my first order of business here at Victorious Heroine for the summer is to keep a promise that I made a few weeks back. Remember the poll that some of you viewers participated in? Well, there was a tie between two blog titles. The first was "My Favorite Bible Verses That Have Helped Me in My Spiritual Walk." So, I decided to dedicate this post completely to that topic. Since there are so many verses that fall into this category, I'm going to split it up into parts. For now, here is Part 1:

Part I: Verses on Encouragement, Hope, Walking in Faith, Love, and Beauty (7 of the Verses That I Wrote in the Back of My NIV Bible)

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." --3 John 1:4

This is one of my favorite verses because it reminds me that God wants to see me succeed. He's not an evil villain holding the universe together, only to see His Creation constantly fail. He wants to see our faith! This is one of the most beautiful encouragements I ever received.

"I can do everything through him who gives me strength." --Philippians 4:13

I also like this verse because of it's encouragement. I've found that one of my primary love languages is "words of affirmation." I really feel like I can conquer the world when someone gives me a compliment or in some way tells me that I can achieve something or that I did something well. God gives me those all the time, as well as constructive criticism. But if God says that I can do anything as long as He's with me, it goes without saying that my day is made.

"But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation--if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, (Paul,) have become a servant." --Colossians 1:22-23

One of my favorite doctrines of my faith is that God is constantly transforming us in our hearts to completion. When I think about where my heart is on several points, and who I am as a person living in a sinful world, I would think that my being is beyond repair and beyond hope. But that's what the gospel is all about! God gives us hope by Jesus's death on the cross, that there may be hope for us and we can have a transformed heart to be completed. What a beautiful privilege that is.

"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

I often take the blessings in my life for granted of being raised in a devoutly Christian family, attending a private, classical, Christian school, and being rooted in a Christian environment my entire life. Some people have given me grief about it: "Don't you want to know what it's like in the 'real world?' Jesus doesn't have to be a part of everything! Isn't experiencing culture important in life?" These comments and questions have led to several of the most awkward conversations I have ever been in, believe me. Yes, I've wanted to experience a more "cultural" environment before. Sometimes I have thought that I've been deprived of the "real world." But I was wrong, because  I didn't realize that if I wanted to see the culture or "real world" around me, all I have to do is walk down Pearl Street in Boulder. Actually, all I have to do is walk outside. I live in the "real world," and there's no way around it. There isn't a Christian environment anywhere that can completely shelter people from the culture and secular environment in this world. Not one. Paul wasn't only talking to those especially "exposed to culture." He was talking to everybody. That includes me, the private Christian school student, my neighbors, my teachers, my parents, my siblings, the people flipping burgers at McDonald's, the rich, the poor, and the actors in Hollywood. Everyone is being spoken to in this verse. The world is surrounded by temptations from the enemy to fall into a false belief that it's okay to be influenced by the "real world." If we fall into that belief, that can lead to being exposed by all kinds of evil and deceptive philosophies which can make us lose our doctrines in the faith at our disposal forever. The point is that while no one can avoid culture, our job is to be confidently firm in the faith, finding our strength in God so that we really can say that nothing can touch us. While evil is everywhere in the world, God's bigger than all of it. We have to invite Him to take His place in our hearts to protect us from evil influence and deceptive philosophies. In my life, I will overflow with thankfulness for all the blessings He has given me, that I have been given the opportunity to be firmly rooted in the faith, as everyone else has been given such a gift.

"...his banner over me is love." --Song of Solomon 2:4b

Have you ever heard that song in Sunday School His Banner Over Me is Love? The first verse goes like this:
"The Lord is mine, and I am His,
His banner over me is love.
The Lord is mine, and I am His,
His banner over me is love.
The Lord is mine, and I am His,
His banner over me is love.
His banner over me is love!"
I always enjoyed that song when I was a little preschooler in Sunday School in the Bible Belt. I remember several hymns and Sunday School songs like that, but for some reason, that particular song has stuck with me especially throughout the years. Perhaps it's because I like to feel safe. When Solomon said that the Lord kept over him a banner of love, I can relate to that. 1 Corinthians 13 says that "Love always protects." Now, love is much more than protection of course, but when I think of a "banner of love," the first thing that comes to mind is protection and rest.

"All beautiful you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you." --Song of Solomon 4:7

You all probably know what's coming. You all know the stories about girls that believe in the lie  that they have no worth or beauty for a season in their lives. I was one of those girls as well. Many of us get over it though, especially when we realize that God didn't create pieces of junk. He made beautiful masterpieces to bring grace, rest, and life. I love to read that God created me "all beautiful" and flawless, and I think everyone else loves it too.

"Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame." --Song of Solomon 8:6

I wrote this one down in the back of my Bible, knowing that it was important to me and that I would completely feel the fullness of it one day. I haven't gotten to that point yet, but I'm confident I will. I want to realize the ultimate power that love is, and almost feel it burn like a flame. I haven't reached complete understanding of this verse, but I recognize its importance, and I know that God will let it fully speak to me in time.

Stay tuned for Part 2 in this series! :)

Questions for the Reader: Are there any verses that you know were important to you, but you never fully understood? Are there any verses that have been specifically encouraging to you? In the same way that I think of protection and rest when I read Song of Solomon 2:4b, what characteristic(s) of love do you think of when you read that verse?

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." --Proverbs 18:10

Ms. ShadowCat

Hi everyone!

I'd like to introduce you to another blog buddy of mine. She's a great writer, an aspiring author, and blog writer. She has written a blog called ShadowCat (which you all may have discovered through my link list on the side of this page) and just yesterday, she started a blog called "Ordinary or Extraordinary." I invited her to come and do a guest post on VH today, and I hope you enjoy it! (P.S. She likes writing in really unique voices, so in case you're wondering, her post is purposefully austere.)

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I’m sure that no one who reads this blog has ever heard of me or read anything that I have posted on my blog. (Which is called Ordinary or Extraordinary, by the way) The author of this blog is a friend of mine and she offered to let me guest post on her blog, because she was aware that I don’t get a lot of pageviews on mine. Don’t ask me why, but she obviously thought it was worth it. Anyway, my name is really hard to pronounce, but you can find out what it is if you want to bother going and looking at my blog, which you probably won’t. (Yes, I am blackmailing you to go look at it.) I’m almost fifteen, and I have no idea how to write a decent blog post, and I obviously need another blogger’s help just to get people to look at mine. I also know that this isn’t a long post, but I honestly have nothing to write about and yet I still manage to make a post long-winded and boring. Thanks for reading, I suppose. Go do something worthwhile with your life instead of sitting there reading terrible guest posts from people you’ve never heard of who write insignificant blogs. Enjoy my extremely long-winded and boring post.

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Here is the link to her blog if you would like to check it out! She is very talented as a writer. :)

ShadowCat Literature: http://shadowcatliterature.blogspot.com/

Ordinary or Extraordinary: http://thestorywriter24.blogspot.com/

Question for the Reader: What kind of style do you like to write in?

"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." 

--Isaiah 40:8

Mid-May Progress Report: We'll See...

I'm back!

I know it's been a while, but to be fair, life's been insane lately. Even this week is final exam week!

I apologize for not posting as much lately, but to make it up to you, here's a post on my progress for monthly resolutions: May 2013 edition.

Omnibus Reading
This is finished, but the results were not very satisfying. I didn't quite reach an 80 in my primary class, and I definitely did not do very well for secondary reading at all. The good news is that the overall average shouldn't be too bad. It's not something I was aspiring after, but I think God's going to come through in it.

Diary Writing
My goal is to have five entries this month, and so far I have 2... 

Finish the Book of Isaiah
I haven't touched this one. 

Read either Judges or Proverbs
I've read one chapter out of Proverbs. The other 30 need to fall into place quickly!

Music Practice
*Sigh* This hasn't gone too well either. I'll do my best to do some clarinet and alto sax practice this week.

Get through Extracurricular Events
God definitely made this one happen. I'm surprised how well things went in this category, but more on that later.

Give Mom an Awesome Mother's Day
More on that later, but I'd say it was a pretty good day.

Conquer Final Exams
A work in progress...to be continued.

Finish Tenth Grade
I'll get there. Few more things to finish up, but I'll get there. Summer awaits!

I don't know about this month, folks. But we'll see. :)

Question for the Reader: Please tell me someone out there is having a rough month too? Any advice on dealing with it?

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." --John 16:33

Exam Survival Awaits!

Hi readers!

For those of you who haven't seen it already, here is the link to my very first guest post on Fresh Ink by my blog buddy, Leighanna Rose: http://www.wildflowersinbloom.com/2013/05/how-to-conquer-dreaded-final-exams.html
I hope you enjoy it and keep it as your survival guide to exams.

Good luck in exam weeks everyone! See you on the other side. I hear it's warm, sunny, and peaceful. :)

I pray that you all will joyfully experience the weeks ahead with the rest of knowing that God is active in all situations, even the difficult ones. While exams can be very stressful, don't forget that He calls us to be at rest in Him.

Question for the Reader: Are you ready for summer?

"He says, 'Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." 

-Psalm 46:10-11