30 Day Writing Challenge: Day 6

Writing Challenge: Day 6

Writing Prompt: Your zodiac/horoscope and if you think it fits your personality

Cancer in a Nutshell:

Cancer is a mysterious sign, filled with contradictions. They want security and comfort yet seek new adventure. They are very helpful to others yet sometimes can be cranky and indifferent. Cancer has a driving, forceful personality that can be easily hidden beneath a calm, and cool exterior. The crab is Cancer's ruling animal and it suits them well, they can come out of their shell and fight but they can also hide in their shell of skitter away back into the depths of the ocean. They are very unpredictable. With cancer, there is always something more that meets the eye, for they are always partially hidden behind the shell. They have a deep psyche and intuitive mind that is hidden from the world. Cancer is deeply sensitive and easily hurt, this might be why they have their defense shell in place, to avoids being hurt by others. They are nurturers so they surround themselves with people, whom after a while can offend or hurt a cancer without even knowing they did so, therefore Cancer's protective shell keeps them safe from hurt. They are complex, fragile, unpredictable and temperamental and need constant support and encouragement, more then any other astrology signs, Cancer needs to be needed. When cancer gets the support it needs, it has a tremendous amount to offer in return. Cancer is very possessive, not just with material possessions but with people as well. Cancer will always want to stay in touch with old friends and anyone who has ever been close to them, because it is easier to maintain a friendship then attempt to learn to trust a new person. It is easier this way for them emotionally. If you befriend a Cancer, you will stay friends for a long time. Cancer makes the perfect mother, this is the sign that represents motherhood. They have unconditional love and caring more so then any other astrology sign. Cancer are very intuitive. Most of the psychics of the world are Cancer astrology signs. They have an excellent memory and are very observant and can read people very well. They can usually tell of other people's intentions are good or not. Never dupe a Cancer, they can see your motives. Cancer has a lot of emotional issues to deal with but once they overcome this large hump of shyness and insecurity, there is practically nothing they can't do. With their strong intuition, sensitivity, powers of observation and intelligence, they will have great success in anything they undertake. 

I don’t think I have ever taken time to read over my zodiac sign, because I’ve never believed in it. I believe I’m the way I am because God made me that way. I feel and I live off of my experiences and my values. However, reading over this, I feel as though this is fairly accurate. I have thick shell and only certain people get all of me, but it takes me awhile to break free of that shell. It may have been because of past experiences, but I can’t let my guard down fully because I can’t trust fully until I have some time. I am very contradictory. I’m always happy, yet I may come off as cranky or indifferent. I lover helping people and being there for others, and definitely find comfort in small groups of people other than large groups. I love people, even though I can only take small amounts at one time; I observe from a distance and I read people. I can usually tell if people’s intentions are good or not, it’s all apart of being a social scientist. I’m curious and want to seek more in life, but I am dedicated to friendships, I seek what the future holds, I seek adventure and I live in a sensitive, caring, emotional, hidden, guarded way. What can I say, I’m unpredictable, but pretty predictable. I’m a messy contradiction. Guess I’m a Cancer. 

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day 5

Writing Challenge: Day 5

Writing Prompt: Things you want to say to an ex

You asked me what you did right in our relationship. You asked me this one day after I broke up with you. I didn’t respond. To be honest, you didn’t deserve a response. The only thing I have to say to you, aside from all the awfulness in my head that is waiting to come out at you, are eleven simple words that sum up everything:

A WOMAN SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO SAY ‘NO’ MORE THAN ONCE

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day 4

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day 4
Writing Prompt: Put your music player on shuffle and write the first ten songs that play 

1. God’s Not Dead (Like a Lion) — Newsboys
2. I Don’t Dance — Lee Brice
3. One Thing Remains — Jesus Culture
4. You Never Let Go — AJ Michalka 
5. Lay ‘Em Down — NEEDTOBREATHE
6. Burn — Ellie Goulding
7. My Chick Bad (Remix) — Ludacris ft. Diamond, Trina, Eve
8. Water Tower Town — Scotty McCreery 
9. Stay With Me — Sam Smith 
10. I Hope it Rains — Jana Kramer

Seeking a 'Fun' Night

After being sick for so long, my friend Rachel convinced me it was because all I do is work, and have no fun. So, the two of us, went to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden to see the Christmas lights. Now, I have been to the Columbus Zoo for Zoo Lights, and in my opinion nothing can top that, and these lights didn't. However, they were still pretty and gave Rachel and I a time to talk, and have this 'fun' that she wanted me to have.

Having both gone to Christian colleges, and both being swimmers, it was a great time to just talk and share experiences that had happened in our past that made us who we are today. (Sounds a little bit like, "My Messy Masterpiece," right?) For four years, I was surrounded by like believers in faith, who challenged me and questioned why I believe the way I do. It was something that I loved--one of many things that I loved about Calvin College. I felt as though I could talk to those people about the real struggles in my life, because they would have an answer, they would always send me back to the Lord with prayers, scriptures and hope that I could climb my way out of a hole. And that's what I felt with Rachel. It was a genuine, fun, conversation that brought up those challenges and crazy fun experiences, that allowed two Christian women (swimmers) to talk with no judgement.

After the Lewis Ginger Gardens, we went to American Tap Room and had dinner and drinks. Conversation was just easy, certainly never boring, and it was definitely that fun I was looking for in my totally busy days. She, like many, is going to go back to school in the fall, in Charlottesville. She wants to become a scrub wearing ultrasound tech. She says everything changes, she never knows what she wants to do, but being an ultrasound tech is her constant. I however, feel that I am not that lucky.

If you asked me everyday what I want to do, I would tell you, everyday, a different thing, however, the one constant in my life is New Zealand. Do I just want to travel back there? Do I want to work and live there? However, the thoughts of New Zealand bring up one concern: If I move there, where is all of my awesome stuff, which is laying in my parents basement going to go? That's a big question for me. Thus, I think I should just return to New Zealand, study or travel there for a year, find myself and come back to the states and work.

Enough about New Zealand though. I am sure I could write your ear off about it. Back to my night. Back to a great night that is continuing in the attendance of a new church this morning. Rachel and I both agree that we like trying new churches, learning new faiths, new denominations, so we are trying out Movement Church  , a church she says is Baptist and non-denominational. I am leaving here shortly to go, I'm excited to get out of bed and try a new church. I will say I am guilty of being a Bedside Baptist the past 2 months or so. (Bedside Baptist = the act of laying in bed and streamlining a church service onto TV/computer and you watching it).

I want to stop going through the motions of attending church and leaving. I want to find a good church that fills me up inside, a church that gives me the community that Calvin College, gave me. A church that challenges me, provides me with opportunity to meet other similar minded people as me. So, I'm excited, I could hate or love it, but it will get me off of my Bedside Baptist routine.

I know I had these feelings before I went out with Rachel. But time allowed to talk with her and make some things more clear, did just the trick. I'll let you know about my new church experience, whether I love or strongly dislike it. It may open up new doors and new experiences for me. And who doesn't want new doors and experiences?

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day 3

30 Day writing Challenge: Day 3

Writing Prompt: 5 Pet Peeves

1. SHOUTY CAPITALS in a text or e-mail
2. People, (men take note), who honk in front of your house instead of getting out and ringing the doorbell 
3. Lazy people
4. Kids with baggy pants hanging below their ass
5. Chewing with mouth open, or chewing and talking 

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day 2

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day 2

Writing Prompt: 5 Ways to my Heart

1. Be a Christ-filled man who can challenge me and grow in our faith together 
2. Go on adventures with me and be spontaneous 
3. Have meaningful conversations with me 
4. Make me laugh everyday 
5. Look at me as if I am the only woman in the world 

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day 1

30 Day Writing Challenge: Prompt 1

Write something you feel strongly about

 There are so many things that I feel strongly about, such as my faith, the  inequality in our world and nation, the fact that so many people in this nation think all the homeless people are lazy bums when in fact they (all) are not. I feel strongly about swimming, my friends, writing, sharing things that may be able to help others in the future. I feel strongly about baking, cooking, and crafting (even though I sort of suck at it sometimes). The list can continue to go on, but what I want to write about with you today, is travel…wanderlust. Wanderlust- a strong desire to wander and explore the world. 

I had travelled before I went to New Zealand and Australia, but my traveling was confined to the  United States, Mexico and some of Central America. I was able to see and witness beautiful things that not a lot of people get to see in their lives, and that amplified so much when I was abroad. We lived a simple life in NZ and AUS. A life out of packs on our backs, living in tents during the week and simple dorm rooms of hostels over the weekend. A good week would involve three showers, two of which were in an actual shower. This simplistic lifestyle meant there was no pressure to keep up with social media, being glued to your phone, tablet or computer. The people we cared about knew where we were and how to contact us if need be, but they weren’t something I thought about (sorry, guys!). I cared strongly for the sites around me. The beauty that I witnessed, that such a small sliver of the world’s population had seen before. The beauty that questioned everything I believed in, wondered about and challenged what I want to do with my life.  

I could go on and on, and on and on, about the things I saw and how I changed in these two amazing countries, but I will save that for a later post. I want to say that if people have time in life, or even if they don’t, leave your home and go travel. See the world through a different set of eyes, a different set of pressures and live a life asking questions and seeing beauty in the world. Live simplistically, don’t spend thousands of dollars to travel the rich way of fancy hotels…you aren’t experiencing the culture and geography of the country that way. Live life simple, travel and see the world. It’s a shame that people don’t take time out of their lives to explore the beauty and meaning of the world that our Lord God created for us.