Things I am Afraid to Tell You

Hello all,

It is officially Sunday on the east coast and I am finally posting a SSU on a Sunday! I'm quite proud of myself, actually. I missed last weeks post and well as all the planned posts because I was overwhelmingly busy. Though I am still busy 24/7, I am making myself take a moment to blog because I honestly miss writing my thoughts for all to read and pretend to care about!

So instead of "summing up" my past two weeks, because it would literally be... School, I am instead going to share something I have been interested in posting for a while.

As I spend my evenings reading other blogs, I have recently came across many bloggers posting a list of things they are afraid to admit. I find this super interesting for two main reasons: 1. I love lists and 2. I think it is cool for people to have courage to profess their fears and when they realize they are not alone in them it is a refreshing feeling.

So....

Things I am Afraid to Tell You

• I have crazy anxiety and get freaked out my 99% of things. This includes speaking in front of people, and really just speaking in general... I'd rather observe than engage. 
• I struggle at normal people conversation. This probably in some way links back to the anxiety in which I have to tell myself to actually make sounds come out of my mouth. 
• I am a communications minor... HA, funny? I thought so too. What is someone who has social anxiety and struggle making conversation thinking by minoring in communications? Well, not only that, but I also major in psychology and have a second minor in global health studies. I plan on being a Behavior Analyst, which also involves talking... so I better work on that social anxiety problem. 
• I love special needs children with every piece of my heart. I would rather have a job working with special needs children that pays nothing that having a super easy job that pays a ton. 
• I put things off far too much, for example, waking up... I constantly push the snooze button and keep putting off my morning so much to the point where I have had to create a rewards system for myself for not hitting snooze. 
• I sometimes will eat multiple doughnuts or equally unhealthy foods and watch up to 6 hours of Netflix in one day just because I don't want to get up... it really is a struggle.
• I love love love leading. I love organizing and making plans for events and carrying them out. I love being in charge... I just don't like speaking.
• I sometimes get easily annoyed at people but I do not express anger or annoyance because I am against hate and bad moods. 
• I have this issue with asking for help... I just do not do it. I refuse to ask for help even when I know I really need it.
• I am a struggling Christian and am proud of my faith. I feel that the struggling part might throw some people off but I must put it because I do struggle constantly with living a Christian life in a college town. It is hard.

And that is enough digging into my fears for the night. I challenge you all to acknowledge your fears and realize that you are not alone in them. 

Loyally, 

Beth

Coming Down from the [Jesus] High

You know those moments when life is just so great, you believe that nothing can bring you down? 

I recently lived a weekend full of those moments. 

3 Days

2 Missions

1 Christ

Plugged-In 

What started when I was a Junior in high school has occurred twice again and is "officially" an annual event anticipated by many pre-teens and teens in my community. It's a weekend of praising, worshiping, and serving the Lord, and boy let me tell you, it puts you on a "Jesus High." It may just be me but being around 50ish girls who are praying and praising really impacts my heart..in a good way of course.

But there comes a time when the "high" wears off and you are put back into the reality of society. You feel lost, unsure, and confused because the people here are not the same as the people you were surrounded by just days, maybe hours, ago. How do you deal with this?

In the past, I have come down from my high and gone right back to my no nonsense life. Going through each day without thinking twice about what just happened and not even reaching for my Bible. Not continuing my prayer and only sharing the "it was fun" details. Not getting down to the dirty with what happened. Not sharing the emotional ride I went through during my high. Basically, if you weren't there with me, it never happened. 

This time I knew it had to be different. It WOULD be different. I would come down from my high while sharing the wonderful ride that brought me to it. I would tell others about the tears I cried when I witnessed 50 young girls worshiping. I would share the happiness in my heart when I saw these girls cutting up shoes for SOLE HOPE. I would release all the emotions that had been placed in me during these days to anyone who would listen. I would continue to remember what had just happened and would continue to praise my Lord in the way that these girls did. Without shame. Without fear.

It's been 5 days and I am still going strong. I am still coming down from my high and life is becoming hard again. I am not in a blissful place 24/7 but I am creating bliss within me.

Join me as I create bliss within?

Loyally, 

Beth

Sunday Sum-Up 3.17.14

With intentions of getting this posted on time, I am once again late. 

I thoroughly enjoyed my Spring Break and I have so much I want to share. My problem is that the words will not come. They are there, in my head, but are not translating to sentences. 

I am internally dealing with many hard decisions currently, and my blog is taking a seat on the back burner which is upsetting to me. 

So for now, I will just share some pictures of the amazingness of Savannah, GA... and when the words come, be prepared because they will be strong. 

And something I am looking forward to sharing with you soon is a teen retreat I helped at this past weekend. Below is a banner from our Sole Hope party, which turned out exceptionally well. 

Sunday Sum-Up 3.11.14

Hello all,

I am writing this post from the comfort of my bed at home, which means I have finally made it home for my Spring Break! I barely survived this past week of school (kidding... of course) and I am so glad to have a short break.

This past week I did a few fun things in the few spare moments I had...

(I spent a day at the lake, followed by a trip to Bass Pro, and a date to see The Lego Movie!)

I decided that in order to make my Spring Break (almost) productive that I will come up with my SB 2k14 goals. Maybe you have some of the same goals!

1. Respond to the many emails I have been letting collect in my inbox.

2. Purchase, package, and ship the 3 gifts I need to send out or give out.

3. Study for my college classes (the is the most fun goal!)

4. Print out and make use of a blog calendar so I can plan my month ahead of time and not feel rushed to get a post out.

5. Follow through with Goal #4!

6. Edit my LinkedIn profile.

7. Spend several hours on Pinterest and not feel guilty.

8. Write hand written notes to be delivered or mailed.

9. Complete a goal from my 101 in 1001 post!

10. Go to the Beach! (this is a give me, because my mother and I are going on Thursday!)


To end my post I want to share a fellow blogger's post that really meant a lot to me when I read it. It was posted today when I was thinking about how I feel that everything I do is mediocre and not to my best ability. I really suggest you take a moment to read these words.

MKM Designs Giveaway Winner

I want to take a moment to thank everyone that entered the giveaway I co-hosted with MKM Designs! Your support means a lot to me.

I also want to congratulate the winner.... Melissa Marlin!

I look forward to hosting more giveaways in the future so be sure to look out for them.


Loyally,

Beth

Sunday Sum-Up 3.3.14

Hi Guys!

I promise you guys I will be getting around to posting my Sunday Sum-Ups on Sunday! (I will make that my goal for next week!) 

It has been a super long week because our professors think its funny to schedule every single test and paper to be due the week before Spring Break...Hahaha...no. On the bright side though, Spring Break is next week for me so get excited!

And now for a few pictures to sum up my last week...

I got to go home for the weekend. Then I researched Hamlet for my paper. Also my roomie and I planted Sunflowers!

Dylan and I went the the Ocmulgee National Monument and the old book sale, and he took me out for Chinese!

Also, if you haven't entered my giveaway yet... Go Here!

Mary Kathryn Martinson Designs // Giveaway

Hi guys,

I am so excited for today's post and you should be too, because at the end of this post there will be a giveaway for an awesome canvas!

A few months ago I was scrolling through Instagram and I came across this amazing painting of sorority letters by a girl named Mary Kathryn Martinson. I had honestly not seen any like it before. I instantly followed the account and kept telling myself that I had to place an order soon. When I decided to start blogging I knew the first person I wanted to link up with for a giveaway would be Mary Kathryn. After contacting Mary Kathryn, she was instantly on board for a giveaway and I was extremely excited.

To share a little about Mary Kathryn, she is currently a sophomore at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia. She is majoring in Graphic Design and minoring in Photography. She is from Huntsville, Alabama and has a background in fine art. At SCAD there is not Greek Life, but when her friends from back home pledged different sororities, she began painting them their letters as a gift. This instantly turned into painting letters for their bigs, littles, and sisters. She now has paintings in 10 different states and has represented 14 sororities at 14 different schools.

Mary Kathryn was so generous as to paint me my own set of letters, and I must admit they are perfect.

One of my favorite things about Mary Kathryn's work is how much care she puts into each canvas. Each canvas is hand painted so no two are exactly alike. Also she takes time to package them in the most adorable ways. (She used my sorority colors for the ribbon!)

She also is quick with her work. Once I contacted her about this post, she had my letters painted and sent out within a week, which is really awesome. I am 100% positive that my future little will be receiving her own personal set of letters from Mary Kathryn. 

Now for the part you've all been waiting for. Mary Kathryn has so graciously agreed to paint a personalized 8x10 monogram initial canvas for one lucky winner. You can enter this giveaway through the Rafflecopter entry below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway