Walk Alone

“The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before.”
Albert Einstein 

My "resolutions" condensed

If I had to condense my 2013 bucket list into just a couple "resolutions" this is what they would be -

1. Focus on God

2. Love unconditionally

3. Embrace and include more art in my life

4. Love the healthy end of life

There - for those who might be interested in a shorter version ;) 

Happy New Year/My Bucket List :)

Happy New Year all!! 

I am so happy a new year is finally here!! I love fresh starts - new beginnings. :)

So this year I didn't make resolutions - I made a bucket list. I like calling it my 2013 bucket list much better than resolutions - why? Because resolutions are never kept and then you just end up feeling depressed and upset with yourself that you didn't keep them. A bucket list on the other hand is a list of things you want to do or learn and it's something to strive for but if you don't do it or can't do it it's ok. Plus a bucket list sounds so much more fun! ;) 

So here it is folks - my 2013 bucket list!!

Amy's 2013 Bucket List 

1. Do better devotions and focus more while doing them (I have a problem focusing on things. ;))

2. Learn how to be a better nanny - I suspect I am going to be doing a lot of nannying this next year and in the next several years and I want to be more kind and gentle with the kids - even when they frustrate me. Learn how to be firm but kind.

3. Run more - I want to work up to be able to do at least 2 miles with very little, if any, walking.

4. Eat better and go more natural :) Wanna get healthy - sick of junk food. 

5. Work on and learn about loving unconditionally.

6. Make it through my first semester at Central with grace and cheerfulness. :P

7. Beat my laziness - I can't be lazy at this new school - gotta beat it!1!

8. Journal more - maybe start keeping different kinds of journals - travel, food, devotions, etc :)

9. Go to Newport, RI and go biking again/more - loved it!!

10. Spend more time in Boston and see more things there
11. Embrace the artsy side of life more :) I love many things art so I want to include more art in my life - whatever form that might end up being.

So there you have it folks - what I am going to strive for in 2013!!!

Happy New Year all!!!!
Leave me a comment with your bucket list or resolutions!! 

Cuz I'm bored

1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before? Worked a full time job - 50hrs a week, got a D in school, took up painting, went to Boston - twice, Went to an Owl City city concert (aka my first concert ever), went biking along the ocean in Newport, RI, applied and was accepted to a university, finished my Associates Degree, met one of my very best friends Kate, was a Maid of Honor for my sister, had my own room, turned 21, road tripped to Iowa, changed my major, went to a bar, had someone dump their drink on me, took up running for real, got a Kindle, got addicted to Pinterest, got my ears pierced...

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?  Amazingly enough I did keep most of mine, or worked on keeping them. :) I am making more for this next year - resolutions/bucket list :)

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? A sweet family in our church had a baby which is kinda cool but other than that no one I can think of. :)

4. Did anyone close to you die? Nope

5. What countries did you visit? None this past year - traveled around the states a bit though! :)

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012? A closer relationship with God, a stronger yet gentler character... An apartment? ;) I wish... ;)


7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? I guess Jan 7th cause that's the day my older sister/best friend since childhood got married! Lots of amazing things happened this year though but I prolly won't remember the dates they happened on :P

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Finishing my associates degree - wooot!! :D Onto bigger and hopefully better things!!

9. What was your biggest failure? Not focusing on God enough or giving enough of my time and energy into my relationship with Him. 

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing serious. :) God is good!

11. What was the best thing you bought? A plane ticket to go see my WI and IN sisters :) Toms shoes, Owl City tickets... :) My new kitty - oh wait she was free... nvmd ;)


12. Whose behavior merited celebration? HannahBeth's - she is one of the strongest, godliest, amazing people I know and she always encourages and inspires me. I think we should celebrate all the amazing things she does for others! <3 :)

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? The man who killed the children at Sandy Hook school. 

14. Where did most of your money go? Gas. :P School, food, gas... ;) 

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? The new Mysterious Benedict Society book ;) Umm... Finishing community college, taking the trip out to WI and IN in the summer, getting my new kitty. :D

16. What song will always remind you of 2012? Good Time by Owl City :) 

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: happier or sadder? I'm not sure... I guess happier in some ways... Wiser I hope ;)

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Spending time with God, Journaling, Exercising... 

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Many things. 

20. How will you be spending Christmas? I spent it at my Grandparents with my family. 

21. How will you be spending New Years? I spent it lazing around, visiting with my sis and bro-in-law, chatting with Sam, and hemming my capris for Africa. :)

24. What was your favorite TV program? Person of Interest is on the top of my list. :)

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Not that I can think of lol 

26. What was the best book you read? Hmmm... Besides the Bible which always wins out ;) I'm not sure - I read a lot of fluffy books to make it through working this summer haha One of the ones I most enjoyed though was a children's book called "Tuesdays at the Castle" - very cute and fun! :) 

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? More Owl City... ;) Ummm I didn't really make a great musical discovery this year lol

28. What did you want and got? A trip to see my WI and IN sisters :) Getting so see my "Bro" Katie, a Kindle... :)

30. What was your favorite film of this year? Prolly the Avengers :D

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 21, and I went to the Cheese Cake Factory for lunch with my Pops, and then went to a mexican restaurant with my relatives and close friends for dinner - it was really fun. :)

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? More time spent with certain far away friends. 

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012? Summer - shorts and or skirts, t-shirts, and flip-flops. Cold weather - Jeans, Yoga pants, t-shirts, scarves, and converse. Is there anyway to describe that in a shorter way? ;)

34. What kept you sane? Actually I'm insane and 2012 made me more insane. ;) Lol jk - I'd say certain friends never giving up on me and always being there for me (you know who you are ;)). 

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Adam Young from Owl City ;) 

36. What political issue stirred you the most? Bllah politics. 

37. Who did you miss? Lots of people but prolly Joy and HannahBeth the most, and the kids in Africa. <3 

38. Who was the best new person you met? I don't think I really met anyone new who I've become really close too in 2012 that I remember... 

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012. There were lots, but I honestly can't think of one specific one atm - must be tired... :)

Love you for you

Every time I hear this song I think of God's heart towards people. He is waiting with out stretched arms ready to love each person for who He made them to be. 

Love them for them. Not for anything they have done, or would or could do. But just simply love them because He is our great Father.

Wow! Have you ever thought about that before? How God SO loved the world BEFORE while we were STILL sinners so He sent His only Son to die for us. Christ died for us WHILE we were sinners. He didn't wait for us to become "good", He died for us while we were still unlovable.

That's they heart I want to have towards people - I want to love them the way Jesus loves them. Not for what they have done or who they will become or what they will do, but because Jesus loves. 

The first verse of this song makes me think of children all around the world. Here in America, in Africa, in Mexico, in China, etc etc etc etc. Those children who no one seems to care about. Who might be dirty, naughty, and hard to love. Those who have no family, or families who don't care about them.

And I think - God - Let me love them like You love them. You have given me a big heart and wide open arms, fill them with those unloved children. Fill them with those hurting children. Fill them with those abused children. Fill them with those children who have never known what it is like to be loved unconditionally. 

Help me to love them UNCONDITIONALLY. Help me to love them even when they are unlovable. Help me to show them YOUR love. Help me to show them what love really means. 

God is a father to the fatherless. I pray I can show the fatherless that they have a heavenly Father who loves them unconditionally. That I would show them a picture of unconditional love.

I want to be the one who picks them up when they fall down, and who they know if they need a hug or a listening ear or just love love love I am there for them.

I know God has given me this desire for a reason. And I trust Him He will send me the children He wants me to love and to show His love too in His time. Or He will send me to them.

God will love you for you. Not for what you have done or what you will become. HE will show you what love really means. 

I have SO much homework - but it's sunny out!!

I don't know about you, but it's always a bit sad when the fall weather hits and there is a GORGEOUS Fall day, just calling you to get outside and enjoy it BUT you have a stack of homework that is about ten miles high. So instead you sit inside bent over your books and groaning inside as you look out the window every once in a while at the sunshine.

I know that has been me WAY too many times! So I am here to offer a few ideas for how to get outside AND get your homework done at the same time! :-) If you have any other ideas for creative places to go to work on homework, or efficient methods for getting it done faster, please do leave me a comment!! OR write your own "favorite" homework ideas and post the link to your blog!! :-) (Note - these are not just ideas about getting outside - there are also some other of my own personal ways to get homework organized and finished).

Anyways - My list!

• Find a lake or pond or pretty puddle nearby and take your reading down - sit on the dock or picnic table and get that History reading done as you enjoy the breeze! :-) 
• Nature preserves - They probably have picnic tables too! Or find a quiet path, lean against a tree, and get that work done! As long as you don't need internet for an assignment you can do it anywhere - save those internet assignments for later! (And I don't want to hear complaining that your bag is to heavy to lug down a beautiful woodsy path! It'll help you build muscles!).
• Front steps of the house - the bonus to doing your homework sitting on the front steps of your house is that you can still get wireless internet on your laptop! SCORE! ;-)
• Back yard table - we have a table in our backyard used for summertime dinners, but sometimes on beautiful days I will drag all my work outside and just sit and work on projects! The great thing about this is that you don't have to pay for gas to go somewhere - downside is that your family can still find you ;-)
• Coffee shops - Panera, Starbucks, some other cute place you know about. Grab yourself a coffee or a tea and get to work! It gets you out of the house but still lets you get your work done. On beautiful days they sometimes have outdoor tables to sit at.
• Libraries - if you are sick of your local or college library look for others nearby - I have walked into beautiful libraries where it would be pleasant to to sit and study. If you are down at school check for outdoor tables - my school library has some tables right outside.
• Bring a snack and a drink - if you are starving or need a drink you won't be able to pay as good attention to your work! 
• Make yourself goals - I find that when I set myself a goal I do much better. Today my goal was to get a stack of history reading done - I found a nice shady path at a nature preserve and sat down and read it - I finished all but two pages! (Which I finished later ;-)). Makes you feel good that you spent time in nature AND got that work done. 
• Lists - I like lists - then I can check them off and feel like I did SOMETHING at least ;-) 
• Give yourself breaks - even if it's just for five minutes - stretch your legs, pick a daisy, take a deep breath, and then get back to it - you will be able to go for longer and get more done if you take a moment to relax! :-)
• Remember WHY you are going to school in the first place! There will be days when you have no good answer for that and where your dreams seem not to matter because you just want to be DONE! But don't give up! It won't last forever! :)

Good luck on the start of your new semester! Go knock um dead!!! :)

Good friends and a check it out :-)

Today a very good friend of mine came over and helped me with a big project that had been hanging over my head for a while - how amazing is she??? :-) We had such a nice time laughing and talking! Thanks again Lieren - it meant a ton!! <3 Love you!!!

Also please head over to HannahBeth's blog and read her latest blog post - it is so so so good!! HannahBeth's Blog Post