Day 3 (Because I Skipped Day 2):You Know You're Single When...

Don't worry guys, this single ladies party is still going strong. Girl power! (too much? yeah, I thought so)

Anyway! Today's topic is "You know you're single when..."

Lord have mercy, I could write forever about this....And I have enough Pinterest photos on the topic to keep you belly laughing into the wee hours of the morning!

So let me make a simple list for you...Then we'll discuss anecdotes :)

You know you're single when...

1. You're broke because you pay for all of your own meals. I mean seriously, I would be a rich woman if I wasn't buying myself food all the time!

2. Ring checks! LADIES! You hear me on this one, right? I can't be the only one. And let me just defend myself by saying that it is a simple method that I use so that I know if it's okay or not to be a bit flirty. Admit it. You do it too. ;)

3. You're favorite thing to do on a Friday night is sit at home and read novels such as "Redeeming Love" with a mug of tea and a snuggie. I really can't say that I mind this, though. My tea and fiction-love filled Friday nights have become somewhat of a highlight in the midst of my crazy weeks.

4. All of your friends are getting married! I can't lie and say that I'm not incredibly happy for all of them, because I absolutely am...But sometimes you wonder when that special someone will come along for you? Oh well, at least I have my amazing best friend Molli and my super cool, hilarious mom to keep me company until then :)

So I promised you guys an anecdote...

For those of you who don't know, one of my jobs is at Family Video. While I was working one Friday night, I was all but shoving my head into a bag of Cheetos when *ding!* the bell on the door went off and in walks one heck of a good looking gentleman. He browsed through the store for a bit and then came up to the counter (might I add that I had seen this gentleman in the store once before and we had made casual conversation as I was ringing up his purchases)...Anyway, back to the story...

As he walks up to the counter, I'm busy finishing off my bag of Cheetos. I look up to notice that I'm the only employee at the front and he is waiting for me to come ring him up. But *gasp* I was still chewing my giant mouthful of Cheetos! D=
I walked to the register and, with a mouthful of Cheetos and the dusty remains of the delicious snack all over my mouth, I rang him up.

Let me just run that one by you one more time...

I had Cheeto dust. On my face.

He handled the situation pretty well though, and chuckled at me a bit before he asked how I had been doing. We made small talk until his transaction was done, and then he smiled at me and left. I haven't seen him since.

So here's the lesson here ladies...Never eat Cheetos in public. At least not more than two at a time.

So, enough about me. How about you? Do you have any humorous or embarrassing "single-ladies" stories you would like to share? Let me know in the comments below!

In the mean time, I'll leave you with some photos to giggle at...

And this hilarious "single ladies" video...

On another note, if my future fella ever does this, I'll know he's the one...

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Secrets//Robin Jones Gunn{Book Review}

Title: Secrets
Author: Robin Jones Gunn
Genre: Fiction - Contemporary Women
Pages: 288
My Rating: 3.5☆

Synopsis: Jessica ran from her past...But can she hide from love?

Jessica Morgan (or Jessica Fenton as the citizens of Glenbrooke know her) is a twenty five year old runaway with a complicated past. In an attempt to escape her old ghosts, she seeks refuge in a small town in Oregon where she has landed a job as a high school English teacher.
However, her plans are derailed when her car spins out of control and down a bank on the way to her new home. She is discovered by a sturdy firefighter, Kyle Buchanan, whom Jessica regrettably finds all too attractive.
As her life is turned upside down and inside out, Kyle sticks by Jessica's side, softening her heart to love and to the God who created it.

What I Liked: I'm a sucker for a good God-driven romance. And this book definitely had plenty of that to offer. Kyle was a wonderful example of a modern-day man of God. He shows Jessica, and everyone else around him, unconditional Agape love.
This book also provides a generous amount of encouragement for anyone who is struggling with personal issues, be it relationships or a sordid past; Robin Jones Gunn does a wonderful job of relaying the message of God's love and acceptance to the broken and beaten-down.

What I Wasn't So Fond Of: I felt like the beginning of the story (Jessica's arrival and first few days in Glenbrooke) was dragged out a bit unnecessarily, and likewise, the ending portion of the book was rushed. I would have liked to have seen Jessica and Kyle's relationship develop more in-depth.
Also, *minor spoilers* I was a bit disappointed in Jessica's secret. The author led us to believe in the beginning of the story that Jessica was hiding a dark past, but I didn't find that to necessarily be the case.

Overall, I truly enjoyed reading Robin Jones Gunn's novel Secrets, and I am absolutely looking forward to reading the rest of the Glenbrooke Series!


About The Author
Robin Jones Gunn is the best selling Christian author of over 82 books including several series aimed at teen girls as well as Christian fiction for older women and a few non-fiction books. Her books have sold over 4.5 million copies worldwide.
In addition to teen fiction, Robin is known for her women's Christian romance series "Glenbrooke" and the "Sisterchicks" series.

*author bio taken from Wikipedia

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*I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group as part of their Blogging for Books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

"All The Single Ladies"V-Day Party Tag

As Valentine's Day has been rapidly approaching, I have been realizing more and more just how much of a bummer it can be to not have a Valentine *insert sympathetic "awws" here*.

BUT! Lucky for me, I've got a bunch of other single ladies like me over at Just As I Am who are throwing an "All The Single Ladies Valentine's Party" in these last few days leading up to V-Day!

(A special thanks to miss Sarah Elizabeth over at Oh Restless Bird for inviting me to join in on all the Un-Valentine's fun!)

Even though it stinks not having a sweet Valentine (I do love getting *dark* chocolate and flowers!), I'm feeling surprisingly fine about having me all to myself on Valentine's Day (I should give some credit to CharlotteONE for their talk on being single as part of the "His & Hers" series this past Tuesday).

So let's get this party started, shall we?!

And we're kicking it off with a tag!

1. White chocolate or milk/dark chocolate?

 Dark chocolate! I could *live* off of dark chocolate! Particularly Ferrero Rondnoir. My mouth is seriously watering as I type this.

2. Tea or Coffee?

Tea has always been my favorite. I drink coffee occasionally, but I can never say "no" to a good cup of tea. (P.S. Jasmine is my favorite!)

3. Movie or book on a night-in?

I would typically say movie, but I've been doing a lot of reading lately, and I'm thinking I would definitely prefer a good book.

4. Rom-com or a tear-jerker?

It all depends on my mood. Romantic comedies always make me feel good, but I can't say "no" to "P.S. I Love You" if I'm in the mood for a good cry (ladies, you understand).

5. Who is the first literary couple to come to your mind?

Angel and *sigh* Michael Hosea, of course!

(P.S. the photos above are who my mind pictures as Angel and MH)

[Brandi Burkhardt & Wes Brown]

6. Who is the first *movie* couple that comes to your mind?

Paige & Leo, "The Vow"

7. Roses or chocolate?

Um, chocolate roses OBVIOUSLY! ;)

8. Fancy dinner in a 4-star restaurant or a simple picnic?

I would have to agree with Meghan on this one, I would much prefer to stay in and cook....Or have someone else cook for me if they felt so inclined :)

9. Dream wedding scenario: outdoor family affair, or a formal church wedding & reception at a 5-star hotel?

Oh how I love outdoor weddings. I *dream* of a beautiful outdoor wedding, but the possibility of bad weather scares me :\

10. What was the last love song you listened to?

 "Anyhow" by Tyler Lyle. You *NEED* to listen to this song!
And because I can't not also mention this song, check out "The Girl" by City & Colour

11. Favorite real-life/celebrity couple?

Will Smith & Jada Pinkett Smith. They are so cute; I mean, just look at them!

12. One piece of advice about love:

I'm probably not the best person to ask for advice about love. At least not love in the romantic sense. So, I am going to be completely un-original and copy Sarah Elizabeth's quote of choice...
"Love is friendship set on fire"
I can't say that I've experienced this yet, but I just can't wait until I do ♥

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Got (God) Questions? pt.1"What Evidence Do You HaveThat There Is A God?"

Let's start off with one of the most basic and popular questions asked by non-Christians on a regular basis: "What evidence do you have that there is a God?"

Now let's think about this. Looking at this question from the perspective of a non-believer, it is a totally valid inquiry. Much of what we believe as Christians is largely based on faith which, for someone who doesn't even want to have faith, doesn't provide a very convincing argument. So these types of questions are better approached from a scientific or philosophical point of view. As believers, we can see the universe itself as all the proof we need of the existence of an all powerful God. The way life is breathed into all creation, and the way the patterns of the universe flow harmoniously together.

There are three arguments for the explanation of the universe:

1. The universe always has been. It had no beginning.

This explanation is the weakest of the three, and has been rejected by almost every scientific community or logical thinker. We have found scientific proof that the universe had a beginning. Something put the world into motion. It certainly isn't eternal.

2. The universe came into being by itself.

Scientists call this the "Big Bang Theory." This theory has more merit than the first, but still isn't quite completely credible. If the universe did not at first exist, it could never have created itself. (We all know the saying "nothing cannot do anything.") According to the Big Bang Theory, the universe is the result of a small volume of matter at extremely high density and temperature that was thrown in all directions and became what we now know as the universe. Although the Big Bang theory itself possesses some merit, it still fails to address one thing: How did order come from chaos? Never does a chaotic explosion produce order. An explosion in a print shop does not produce an encyclopedia. Furthermore, how did all of those millions of molecules come into being? And who packed them so tightly? When looked at carefully, we find that there is not much contradiction in the "Big Bang Theory" and the claims of the biblical Genesis. However, many questions still remain answer-less until we explore explanation number 3...
3. The universe was created.

Like I said before, everything in creation points to intelligent design. Creation by an all-powerful, omnipotent God. Charlie H. Campbell provides this example in his book: "Let's imagine I am holding up a painting. When you see a painting, what proof do you need to establish the fact that a painter exists? Nothing besides the painting itself. The painting is absolute proof that there was a painter. You do not need to see the painter to believe that he or she exists." The universe is God's painting. We don't need to physically see Him to believe that He is the painter. In fact, the Bible tells us that we can't see Him anyway (Exodus 33:18-23).

So you see, faith and logic go hand in hand. God created us to be logical, and seek out the answers to our questions. He doesn't intend for us to ignorantly follow Him. He wants us to be firm in our faith because we know that what we believe is true. The more we ask questions and learn, the closer we become to understanding the truth and genuinely being near to the heart of God.

"A young man who wishes to remain a sound Atheist cannot be too careful of his reading" -C.S. Lewis

*This blog post is based on readings from pgs. 19-20 in Charlie H. Campbell's "One Minute Answers To Skeptics"

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Just Let It Go

Well friends of the bloggariffic world...Today has been one of those days. You know, those days that you just have a hard time doing anything right. And then there I go again, letting my stress and anxiety overtake my mind and spirit (told ya I'm a worry wart). I'll sometimes think to myself "How am I ever going to fix this?" But then I remember that I can't and won't fix it. That's God's job, and I am humbly handing it all over to Him. I'm too weak to worry about a whole heaping pile of what-ifs anyway. I feel bittersweet. But I know God will fill my life with joy once again.

1 Peter 5:10

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Have you ever had one of those days? Or maybe today has been one of those days for you? (hop on into the bummer-day boat with me)

If so, how did you notice God working through all of that?

Because y'know He is!

But just in case, here's a song by one of my favorite bands, For King And Country, to remind you to just
*let it go*

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Got Questions?

I've been thumbing through my new book One Minute Answers To Skeptics recently, and I'm finding it to be a wonderful tool in sharing God with people who have questions (you'd be lying if you said you didn't). I'm thinking about doing a mini blog-series based on the teachings of this book in which I will address some of the biggest questions that both believers and non-believers have. Let me know

what you think by leaving a comment

below with your opinions and suggestions!

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The Queen KING City!

I can't believe it has been so long since I've blogged! I promise I didn't forget about you guys, I've just been so darn busy. I feel like a million things have happened in my life this past month and a half; and it would take me forever to tell you all about it. So I'll give you the short of it. God is awesome. Yeah, I'd say that pretty much sums it up. This point in my life is so incredibly insane. I feel like I'm in a hurricane of emotions and experiences. I find myself falling to my knees constantly in desperation for His love and comfort. I feel like I'm actually experiencing life for the first time. It's scary and magnificently exciting all at the same time!

For those of you who don't know, my best friend/roomie/soul sister (yeah I know it's lame, but it's oh-so-true) and I are planning a huge move to Charlotte later this year. I say "huge" because although we live out on our own now, this move is really going to push us into independence!

Yesterday, she and I visited Charlotte to look at potential apartments. The night before, I decided to lay it all on the line, and I asked God to make it painfully clear to us if moving to Charlotte was not the plan He had in mind for us; and likewise, to make it evident if it was. Well wouldn't you know it, when we got to Charlotte yesterday, it was a gorgeous 70 and sunny day (Not at all typical of recent weather patterns), we found the most perfect apartment (in our price range!), and were able to visit CharlotteONE that evening where we met some awesome new friends!

On the ride home, we were both so in awe at how clear He made it that this is the path we are supposed to be on. I couldn't be more excited! I'll post more as we visit more often and make more plans; but for now, I just wanted to let you guys in on the excitement, and explain my absence :\

Here's what I've learned through this chaotic past month:

1) God is faithful. "Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise." Hebrews 10:23

God is incredibly understanding. He understands that times get tough. He understands that sometimes we lose our faith. He understands that sometimes we don't like not knowing what is coming our way. But He also understands that HE knows what is coming our way, and HE will prepare us. Even when we don't realize we're being prepared or what we're being prepared for.

Being in Charlotte yesterday, I felt like God was telling me that amazing things are waiting for us in the city. Opportunities are presenting themselves, and I'm beginning to really see God's faithfulness in all of this.

2) God is peace. "Be still, and know that I am God..." Psalms 46:10

Psalms 46:10 is probably my favorite Bible verse. I say this because I am a big ball of nerves. I stress about everything. Even the things that don't need to be worried about. But with eight little words, God calms my heart. My worries vanish, and my stress melts away.

I've been stressing about this move, and wondering "how in the world are we going to afford this?" Deposits, new jobs, higher cost of living etc....It's has just all been too much! So that's when I just have to stop being so self-reliant, and humbly hand it over to God. He has my back :)

3) God will provide. "Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest, or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to them than they are?...So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows." Matthew 6:26, 10:31

I can't tell you how many times I've been afraid that I was going to be unable to pay one or five of my bills. I stress and stress, and run through possible fix-it scenarios in my head to no avail. I just can't do it on my own. Lucky for me, God is more than able and willing to take on my nasty problems and polish them up until they are shiny new solutions! Like I said before, I have thought about this move to Charlotte and wondered how on God's green earth I'm going to be able to save up enough money to actually go through with it. Then God shakes some sense into me and reminds me that I'm not dependent on myself, but on Him. He can and will provide. And has He ever!

4) God is my daddy. (and my protector!) "For you are all Children of God through faith in Christ Jesus." Galations 3:26; "In peace I will lie down and sleep. For you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe." Psalms 4:8

I often let myself get so caught up in the magnificence of God, that I forget He is my personal spiritual Father; And like any earthly father, He is protective. He wants us to do well and be eternally happy in Him. He doesn't want us to be or feel constantly attacked by the enemy.

Moving to a big city is going to be scary. It's a far cry from "Small Town Friendly." You have to be more cautious and aware than you typically would in a small southern town. But I've decided that if this is where God wants me to be, then I am going to trust Him to keep me safe; and if something were to happen to me, I would know that I would be suffering for the glory of God; and that would help calm my restless heart.

So, it's safe to say that I'm super excited and giddy with anticipation for the big move to the Queen...no, let's call it the KING city ♔

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