Thirty Day Blogging Challenge: Day 17

Courtney9 Comments

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Today is a very special day in the challenge, as I get the awesome opportunity to give a shoutout to my favorite blogs! I have enjoyed reading so many of your posts, but since I have to choose only five, I’ve narrowed it down to the blog websites below. 

Dainty M.-Not only is Mfon a good friend/pen pal, but she’s an awesome blogger! Her posts are very inspiring and provide a lot of wisdom. She writes some great stories and even writes poetry sometimes (A triple threat, y’all!😉). Definitely be sure to check her blog out if you don’t already follow her.

The Dream-I found Immanuel’s blog a couple of months ago and it is very good! His posts are incredibly deep and always leave me thinking. He writes a lot of really great Christian posts and my faith has been strengthened through reading his blog. I’m sure you guys will enjoy reading his posts as much as I have.

Fearfully Wonderfully Me-Emily is a longtime follower and her posts are always incredible! She writes a lot of insightful posts about grace, self image, and the gospel and her blog is very inspiring. She also does fashion posts sometimes, where we get the chance to see some of her personal style. Keep up the good work, Emily!

Sapphire Life Writer -As a fellow aspiring writer, I can often relate to Juni’s posts and love of written word. Many of her themes are universal and I can pretty much guarantee that something on her blog will tug on your heartstrings. She writes very eloquently and sometimes even shares her awesome artwork. I have just started following her recently and look forward to reading more of her blog entries.

Saved By Grace 2009 -AKA, my mom’s blog. She is new to the blogging world, but catching on fast! Her posts are very insightful and she has a lot of interesting topics on her blog. She also writes very, very in detail articles, so you’ll find a lot of great points packed into one post. Definitely check her blog out!

*Note: You are all amazing and I would nominate all of you if I could. I love you guys and appreciate your faithful reading! 😘

P.S. Be sure to check out my friend Angela’s blog, she just joined the blogging world last night and her site is called passionandpixels.wordpress.com. I know you guys will give her a warm welcome! 😊

Thirty Day Blogging Challenge: Day 16

Courtney3 Comments

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“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”-Martin Luther King, Jr.

As you may have figured out from the quote, today’s topic is education. As a recent high school graduate and soon to be college freshman, this is a topic is very relevant to me right now.

I believe that education is a very important thing in life, considering that in short, education means to glean knowledge. Granted, some things taught within the walls of our local public school or college are iffy at best…false at worst (e.g. relativism and evolution). Nonetheless, I believe that much of what is taught in a classroom is good and helps prepare us for life. Imagine if we had never been taught to read or write, we would never be able to converse on the web or share our thoughts and opinions through blogging!

We wouldn’t be able to make purchases or organize our finances without a basic understanding of math; and without history and science, would never know our country’s history or the basics of how the world works. For these reasons, I believe that education is important, and in this post, I’m going to explain how I believe education works best.

  1. Education works best when discussion is encouraged-As an extravert, I may be a tad biased here, but I’ve found that I learn best when allowed to discuss the topic at hand. Last year in my government and economics class, we often discussed current events and social issues, and we were allowed to give our thoughts and opinions. Through this, I feel that I got a better understanding of the complex nature of the issues and a firmer grasp of my own views/beliefs.
  2. Education works best when it’s proactive-I always retain more when I’m allowed to think about the information and form my own opinions about the topic I’m studying.  I took an ethics class once where the book gave two different points of view on a hot topic (e.g. Capital punishment) and let us decide which view was more in line with our own (In case you’re wondering, I’m against capital punishment). Granted, this works best with subjects like psychology, ethics, and government, but I believe that when this concept can be applied, it should.
  3. Education works best when focused on teaching values along with academics-As Martin Luther King said in the quote above, intelligence plus character is the goal of true education. Teachers should encourage morals such as honestly, integrity, and empathy. In addition to formal schooling, parents should also teach their children God’s word and help them to develop a strong faith and love for the Lord. Mark 8:36 says “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” I believe that this concept can be applied to academics. What good is it for someone to have a PH.D if they don’t know God and their heart isn’t in the right place?

To conclude, I believe that education is an important part of society and that it works best when it helps students learn to think critically and grow in character and faith. If a person knows how to do that and has a strong faith, I believe that they’ll go on to do great things.

In the words of Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

The Liebster Award #2

Courtney14 Comments

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Big news guys, I have just been nominated for the Liebster award by my friend Papberry! I’m super honored to have won this award and I can’t wait to nominate some of my awesome readers! 😉

The rules are

  1. Answer the 11 questions you are provided with by the person who nominated you.
  2. Nominate 11 new bloggers who have less than 500 followers.
  3. Post the Liebster award to your blog.

The questions are

1. What is the funniest thing that has happened to you?

Hmm, I’ve had a lot of funny things happen to me. One that sticks out in particular is a time a time involving a squirrel and a cupcake. I threw the wrapper away (Which still had some icing and crumbs in it) and watched a squirrel retrieve it from the garbage can. He began eating the icing out of it, and the more he ate, the faster he licked the icing remnants, as if he had a a sudden energy boost. His tail began twitching at rapid speed and he seemed to be completely loving that cupcake. Watching a squirrel on a sugar high is definitely an experience that sticks out. 😂

2. What is your dream job?

A writer. You can read more about that here. 

3. What is your favorite song and why?

I have a lot of songs that I love, but one that seems to stand out right now is Fight Song by Rachel Platten 

4. Do you have any pets and if so what are they like?
Yes, I have a cat named Precious. I got her when I was seven. 🐱 Here’s a picture of her, if you want to see.

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5. Are you a night owl or early bird? How early do you wake up or how late do you stay up?
Not really either, honestly. I’m definitely more of a night owl than an early bird though, as I’m barely coherent first thing in the morning. I usually go to bed around 10:45 and during the summer, wake up anytime between 7:00-9:00.  

6. When you were little did you have imaginary friends? What were they like?
Yes, there was a bunny named Fluffy and a yellow monster named Cutie Pie. Don’t judge. 😂🙈 

7. What is your favorite food? And your favorite dessert?
For food, probably pizza or french fries (I know, real healthy favorites, right?) and for dessert, probably cake. 

8. What are your beliefs?

I like Papberry’s answers, so I’m using those.
I believe in God, creator of the universe and everything it entails.
I believe in the trinity; God the Father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit.
I believe in the Holy Book(Bible)
I believe in love
I believe in hardwork
I believe in friendship
I believe in grace
I believe in Favor
I believe in change
I believe in second chance
…

9. What are the things you stand for?

Jesus

Making a difference 

Making wise choices

Being a good friend 

Leaving a legacy

Sharing my faith 

10. What is the most important character trait in someone?

Hmm, I think I’m going to have to go with Papberry’s answer and say humility. So many other character traits are encompassed in that one. 

11. Who is your role model in life?

I admire a lot of people, but Jesus is my ultimate role model.

The new nominees are

Dainty M.

Fearfully Wonderfully Me

Sapphire Life Writer 

Saved By Grace 2009

TheyeofBarbie

Mandie’s World 

Julian For Jesus 

TIMI

Concealed Foundation 

Out Loud 1142

Cherry Drop Princess 

Please answer the same questions that I did and keep up the awesome work on your blogs! 😊

 

Thirty Day Blogging Challenge: Day 15

Courtney7 Comments

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I can’t believe it…I’m already at the halfway mark! After today I’ll have fifteen posts down and fifteen to go! I can see the finish line in the distance! That being said, it’s time to dive into today’s topic! 

* * *

The future is a funny thing. As much as we try to plan it, life has a way of taking unexpected twists and turns, a fact that can either be exciting or frustrating, depending on how we look at it. Looking back five years ago, I never would have been able to predict half of the stuff that has happened in my life.

That said, everything in this post is merely a guess; how I hope my life will look five years from now.

    • I’ll be twenty three-years old (a fact that is freaky in itself), nearing the end of my time in college. I plan to get a masters degree in journalism/communications. Hopefully, I’ll already be dabbling in my career path, job shadowing others in that line of work.
    • I plan to have a steady part time job. I’d like to get a job working at a store; maybe Hallmark? I should have some of my own expenses at that point, such as a car which brings me to my next point…
    • I should finally have my license by then. For those of you who are calculating my age, yes, I’m late. Driving freaked me out for a long time and I was honestly pretty unmotivated to get my permit. But, the older I get, the more OK with driving I seem to feel (I still don’t love it). Hopefully, I’ll be able to get my license some time before the end of summer, or at least, sometime this school year.
    • I hope to be on my way to publishing my first fiction book. I’ve been working on it since freshman year and I’m starting to feel really happy with the way it’s sounding. I still have a lot of logistics to figure out publishing-wise, but college should give me some time to explore my options.
    • I’d like to work with a youth group sometime during college. My old youth pastor was in his early 20s when he taught youth group and I’d like to do the same during college. I think it would be a really good experience and I believe I would enjoy working at a youth group and helping to share the Word of God with others.
    • I should still be running this blog. I’ve really begun to immerse myself into the blogging world this year and I hope to continue writing through college. I don’t know all of the details about how this blog will evolve during college, but I hope you guys will stick around to see what happens. I know God has a lot of life lessons lined up for me in college and I plan to write about what He’s teaching me in this new chapter of life.

As usual, I’m going to ask for your awesome feedback. How did you picture your life turning out five years ago? What were you right about and what surprised you? I’d love to hear your stories!

 

Thirty Day Blogging Challenge: Day 14

Courtney2 Comments

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Happy Sunday everyone! I’m officially two weeks into the challenge and today’s topic is three healthy habits!

  1. Sleep-It used to be really hard for me to fall asleep, but it’s gotten easier as I’ve gotten older. Sometimes, admittedly, I even fall asleep in front of the television (Not until about 10:00-11:00, but still). I’ve found that when I sleep well, I feel great the next day, so I try to be consistent with my sleeping habits.
  2. Exercise-Admittedly, I don’t do this one as much as I should, but I’ve gotten somewhat better about it. Sometimes, I walk on my family’s elliptical to work out. I’m not a huge fan of it, but I do typically feel better when I do exercise. And, good music helps it become more enjoyable.
  3. Staying hydrated-This is an important one, especially during summertime! With the sun practically cooking the world this time of year, it’s absolutely necessary to drink plenty of water. Even if you mostly stay inside, it’s important to remain hydrated.

These are my healthy habits! I’d love to hear about yours in the comments section below! 

Q&A Time!

Courtney13 Comments

Hey guys, inspired by my friend Mfon, I decided to do a Q&A discussion with you guys.

I have been wondering about this question for a while now and I’m very curious hear your thoughts on it. The question is: Do opposites attract or people who are similar?

By this, I mean personality, hobbies, and patterns of thinking.

What has been your personal experience and which do you think is more common? Please give reasons for your view in the comments section.

I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!

Thirty Day Blogging Challenge: Day 13

Courtney16 Comments

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Day 13 of the blogging challenge: What’s inside of my fridge? 

This topic actually came at a very good time, as I just got home from the grocery store! Thus, my fridge is now full!

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On two top shelves, there are drinks, such as almond milk, regular milk, orange juice, lemonade, and water.

The middle contains eggs, meat, butter, and fruit.

At the bottom…gluten free bread! I found out a while back that I have a slight gluten intolerance, so I’ve switched from regular bread to gluten free. Admittedly, regular bread is a little better, but it could be worse so I’m not complaining.

In the freezer, there’s pizza (YUM!), more meats, and frozen vegetables.

On the side doors, there are various condiments, including salad dressing and barbecue sauce. There is also an unusually large gallon of gatorade because it is way too hot where I live. 😅

Thank you for taking this tour of my fridge…I’ll be back tomorrow with three healthy habits! 

God Speaks, Are you Hearing Him?

Courtney4 Comments

I just saw this article on my friend Immanuel’s blog. It was very inspirational and made me want to be more bold in my faith. God works in mysterious ways and this article does an excellent job at showing how He can work in our lives through simple acts of obedience. I hope you enjoy this article as much as I did!

Thirty Day Blogging Challenge: Day 12

Courtney6 Comments

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From the time that I was a little girl, I’ve always been obsessed with books. My mom used to take me to the library every week and I would always come home with about twenty books. I typically finished all of them over the span of a couple of days. By about third grade, I absolutely loved long series, because they gave me the chance to stay with one character and read all about their life. My favorite series as a child would have to be Katie Kazoo Switcheroo.

The series basically centered around a girl who would frequently find herself in someone else’s shoes…quite literally! A “magic wind” transformed her into other people, and sometimes even animals. New age-iness aside, I believe that the switches were intended to teach a lesson, one that was echoed in a quote from my favorite classic, To Kill A Mockingbird. “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” (3.85-87).

I also remember feeling connected to the protagonist, Katie, because she was a lot like me. We had a lot similarities and her two closest friends, Suzanne and Jeremy, reminded me a lot of my closest friends at the time. I also loved that while the books were short enough to finish in an afternoon, there were a lot of them to read; over thirty, according to Wikipedia.

Now a young adult, I admire the author (Nancy Krulik) for doing such a good job writing the children’s series. Though I’ve obviously outgrown these books, they heightened my interest in reading and taught some great life lessons in a child-friendly way. Through this series, I believe that the author intended to instill compassion in young readers and get them to consider life through another’s eyes, or “Walk around in their skin,” as Atticus Finch said.

If you had any favorite books as a child, I’d love to hear about them in the comments section! I always love hearing from you guys! 

Thirty Day Blogging Challenge: Day 11

Courtney11 Comments

Wow, I can’t believe I’m already on day eleven of the challenge! It’s definitely been ‘challenging’ at times, but I absolutely love it and I believe this is helping me grow as a writer. After a somewhat lengthy article yesterday, today’s post is going to be relatively short. The topic is ‘ten favorite foods’.

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  1. Bean burgers & fries-I absolutely love this combo. It’s my go-to-meal at my favorite restaurant…Chili’s! You seriously need to try that meal if you ever go there, it is the best!🍔🍟
  2. Cake, cookies, donuts, and pretty much anything from the bakery-Confession, I have a major sweet tooth! I’m pretty sure that the local grocery store bakery is what Heaven smells like. 🎂🍪🍩
  3. Pizza-Does this really need any further explanation? The bread, sauce and cheese make this meal absolutely amazing. 🍕
  4. Spaghetti-Food for thought (Pun intended), spaghetti is a little like pizza in noodle form. 🍝
  5. Brussels sprouts-I know, this one looks very out of place on the list, but when they’re cooked and sautéed right, they taste incredible!
  6. Garlic bread-Garlic bread and bread sticks are awesome. At this point, you’ve probably figured out that I have a weakness for carbs. 🍞
  7. Soy burgers-Fun fact: I’m a vegetarian. Thus, to replace meats, I often eat soy chicken, and soy burgers. They’re actually very good, contrary to most stereotypes about soy products. 🍔
  8. Mac & cheese-It’s kind of like spaghetti…only with cheese. 🍜
  9. Cereal-Peanut-butter granola cereal has been my go-to lately.
  10. Corn-One of my favorite vegetables.