Today I am...{3}

Today I am...

(and lately I have been...)

{Writing}

I'm doing this daily scripture writing plan for January:

It's fun and super easy, plus it only takes a few minutes every day!

{Reading}

This year I'm reading through my Bible

I'm also reading North & South

{Listening}

Lately it's been Pentatonix because their Pandora Christmas channel is like my favorite, but then Fernando Ortega, and some Hammered Dulcimer music.

Also one of my favorite hymns that someone sang as special music last Sunday, Little is Much if God is in it.

{Watching}

For a while I've been watching Once Upon a Time, and Heartland.

For Christmas we watched a lot of different Christmas movies.

The latest movie I saw was Beauty and the Briefcase.

I got the new Cinderella movie, and Inside Out for Christmas.

{Looking}

Because Pinterest is amazing, I've been searching for animal blankets to crochet.

{Learning}

How to drive.

{Feeling}

A lot of things. I main thing is I've been tired, and almost depressed. I think it's the time of year, winter just gets me down usually but this year there's no snow, and I'm bummed. 

{Anticipating}

Having a whole week off of work! I wasn't happy at first but now I'm really looking forward to it, and starting to plan how I'm going to spend it, and what crafts I'm going to get done. 

{Wishing}

I'm wishing I had a 5-year journal. And that there were more hours in the day. 

{Loving}

Warm hoodies and socks. Also, I got a new king size fleece blanket for Christmas. It's really warm. I also love sleeping. Sleeping is good. 

What have you been doing lately?

MissBea

Hello, Goodbye, Hello

Originally my post was called Hello 2015 but since it is now 2016, I figured I better change it.
Here is the original post, with some thoughts added on. Enjoy!


When did time start moving so quickly? And yet, sometimes so slowly?

I can't help thinking, "Oh, how slow time goes!", yet it speeds away, never to be seen again.

It's a strange phenomena, what makes time go slowly, yet quickly? 

Could it be our minds playing tricks?

Is time really the same as it's always been?

2014 sped away, and left me with questions like, Where has the time gone?

What did I really do last year? Was I productive? 

But then I remember that year is gone, it came to a quiet close as a new year started.

Highlights of 2014

Working for a ministry is so amazingly wonderful, but until late this past year I didn't know it.

I had been working there a year before I even realized how blessed I was to be in a place working side by side with fellow Christians that I know and love.

I've had ups and downs, mostly emotional, but I've grown closer to God through it all, and that's what really matters.

I've gained new friends, and seen a few go, adjusting isn't always easy, but we'll get through it together. 

Goals and Aspirations of 2015

I have these goals written out, and I'm not saying I'll be perfect at any of them, but I'm giving it my best shot, and I'll update on how they're going.

Read the whole Bible
Memorize 60 Bible verses (5 a month)
Read 6 "novels" I'm giving myself 2 months to finish 1 - so far my list consists of North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell, Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen, and Wives & Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell
Open an Etsy shop sometime in July, that gives me plenty of time to make some things to sell.

These are just some of my main goals, I have others, but they're more personal.


Highlights of 2015
I turned 19, got new glasses but most importantly contacts!
I've been working for 2 years now, there's been ups and downs, but overall God has blessed me through it all. I've learned and have grown so much over the past 2 years but the best part is my amazing co-workers!
In October I got my driving permit, and am learning to drive. Driving is fun but frustrating, I'm having trouble with backing up, my aim is not so good.
We had a good Christmas, and a happy New Year as well, and I'm so looking forward to what God has in store for my family in 2016!


Goals and Aspirations of 2016
Read through the Bible (I never ended up finishing last year)
My reading list for 2016: North & South, Wives & Daughters, Little Women, Pride & Prejudice, Persuasion, A Christmas Carol, The Chronicles of Narnia.
Start crafting more
Save money
Get my Licence


My main theme of 2016 is from these quotes:

"Don't you dare shrink yourself for someone else's comfort. Do not become small for people who refuse to grow."  


"Let your love for God change the world, but never let the world change your love for God."


"God said, "Be still and know" not, "Freak out and question."



Have a wonderful year, 2016 and may God bless you and your families richly in this new year!
Miss Bea

Simple Captures: Day 14

For Valentine's Day my mom was very sweet and bought each of my siblings some chocolate. 

It was yummy :-)

And also on Valentine's day, I made a heart shaped chocolate cake! 2 layers of chocolaty goodness, with chocolate frosting!

I didn't much like it with the frosting. I'm not very fond of chocolate cake/ chocolate frosting. Vanilla cake / chocolate frosting is better but my favorite is vanilla cake/ vanilla frosting. And I don't think I really like chocolate cake with frosting, since I've had it more often with just powdered sugar on top, I like that best.

It was fun to decorate thought, and my family loved it!

Truly,

Bea

Simple Captures: Day 13

Today I had some fun and made a little drawstring bag! 

I love how colorful the fabric is! 

I didn't really have a pattern, I just used tips from one I found, and made it my own. 

I had a lot of fun, and it turned out pretty nice! I'm just using mine for small crochet projects, and things like that. :-)

Do you ever make your own patterns?

Simple Captures: Day 12

I wasn't able to take any photos today, but I have a few lined up, so here's today's! 

This is our deck, at sunrise, with frost all over it. 

"I've got a dream, I've got a dream, I just wanna see the floating lanterns gleam!
And with every passing hour, I'm so glad I left my tower!
Like all you lovely folks, I've got a dream!"
~Tangled

Do you ever take photos of the sunrise?

Simple Captures: Day 11

Tonight I made chocolate chip cookies! They're super yummy :-)

I made a double batch, and it made 75 cookies! :-D

What's your favorite kind of cookie?

Simple Captures: Day 10

I didn't have a lot of time on Sunday to post, or take pictures, but here's one I did take.

Sorry it's nothing special, it was late, and my sister and I were busy getting Valentine cards ready to send out Monday morning.

We found these at Walmart, and liked them so much we decided to get 2 packs to send to some family and friends. :-) 

Do you ever send out Valentine cards?

Do you make yours or buy them?

Simple Captures: Day 9

Saturday was busy. I got up at 9:30, left at 11, and didn't get back 'til 5.

We made a trip to Cincinnati, and on the way we saw these. We call them cloud makers. They're so cool looking! 

After coming back from Cincinnati, we went to a local thrift store, but it was closed for some reason. :-( We ended up going to a Goodwill, and my sister and I found some clothes.

I was very excited to find a denim skirt! It's really nice too! 

The cloud makers made a heart shaped cloud! :-D

Do you ever find good deals at thrift stores?

Simple Captures: Day 8

Here are the hand warmers I made yesterday! I think I might need them tonight! haha

I've really been loving the DIY & Crafts category on Pinterest. I can find so many crochet and sewing projects that are really easy, and use materials I already have! They're fun and useful too! 

And this is the skirt we're working on! We still need to get the ruffle on, and put the elastic in. I love the fabric though! 

Tonight we went shopping. I tried on 6 pairs of jeans and only 1 fit. I'm kinda bummed out right now about jeans. I can't seem to find ones that fit! Walmart just isn't good for jeans anymore. :-( 

I bought one pair a couple weeks ago, and they didn't fit. I didn't have time to try them on at the store, and that was a mistake. So we returned those, and this week I bought another pair, but I'm really not sure if I'm going to keep them or not. 

Have a great weekend!

Simple Captures: Day 7

 Day 7 and a week before Valentine's Day!

Last night my sister and I finished making our practice skirt, and today we started on the real thing. We got it cut out, mostly sewed, and I realized that I had pinned/sewed the casing for the elastic on the wrong side of the skirt! So, while watching a movie I took out the 2 rows of stitches I had put on it, and will start over tomorrow! It's frustrating, but nothing major. :-)

Also today I tried out this tutorial on how to make hand warmers! It's really fun and easy, and my mom and sister love them! They only take about 30 seconds to warm up in the microwave, and I know we'll be using them sometime soon! They also make great bean bags, although filled with rice. 

The tutorial is very easy to follow, and they make up pretty quickly, too! The hardest part is measuring, and cutting the fabric. 

What kind of things have you been crafting lately?

Simple Captures: Day 6 & Today I am...{2}

Today I am...

(And lately I have been...)

{writing}

Blog posts here, and a bit for school. I still don't write for fun! haha.

{reading}

My Bible (still doing the Word of Life Devotional book!), and reading some for school.

Also been reading a sewing pattern...I think that counts! And I've been reading blog posts from certain people, but it depends on if I have time, and if I'm interested.

I kinda quit reading North and South, and I'm supposed to be reading Wives and Daughters for school.

{listening}

Casting Crowns station on Pandora, a bit of Les Mis, and at the moment I'm listening to Disney songs with my sister. I've also been enjoying Buddy Davis' CD's, especially I Am Not Ashamed, and my favorite song is King of Kings. 

{watching}

I've been watching movies with my sister. Like a week or so ago we watched Little Men, two nights ago we watched Earthsea, and tonight we watched a movie called Radio Rebel.  

We also watch videos on Youtube like Messy Mondays, Jostie Flicks, and Tim Hawkins (comedy).

{looking}

For quick and easy crochet and sewing projects to keep me busy. I've also been looking around each day for something to photograph for my Simple Captures challenge this month! 

{learning}

Learning...oh uh, that God will bless those who obey Him. I've been struggling with this for awhile now. I submitted to Him a couple weeks ago, and He's been teaching me more and more through my Bible study.

These are some tiny hearts I've been crocheting today. I love them so much! And they're really really easy! I used this tutorial, it makes up very quickly! 

{feeling}

Better. Happier. After talking with a friend, and realizing what was really missing in my life, I'm learning I need to spend more time pursuing this part. When I do, I feel happier, and am less apt to disagree with my family over small matters. When I don't or I forget to, my day goes horribly, and I get frustrated easily. 

{anticipating}

Being able to go to Sunday school, and Church services this coming Sunday. And possibly trying the youth group some time soon. Also going shopping Friday night.

{wishing}

To find some jeans that fit! Hopefully I can soon, because the pair I have now are wearing out.

{loving}

Crafting. Just crafting. Crocheting, sewing, anything crafts. I love them so much. 

Also music. I love music. And crafts. Listening to music while crafting is the best part. hehe! :-D

What have you been up to lately?

Have any neat crafts you've been working on? Please share!

Simple Captures: Day 5

I made it to Day 5! YAY!!!

I had little to no inspiration today, so I took pictures of my socks.... :-D

But that's okay right? Socks are cool!

Miss Raquel at God's Daughter is hosting a giveaway on her blog! 

Welcome February {giveaway}

There are some super cool prizes, and it's really easy to enter!

Do you love socks as much as I do?

Simple Captures: Day 4

This is my picture for today. The sunset had been really pretty a few minutes before, but I was shoveling snow off the deck and couldn't get to my camera at that moment. So I took this later, and I still like how it turned out. :-)

Snow on my parent's skylight! It looked really neat.

I eventually took my mittens off because it wasn't terribly cold outside. 

Not the greatest photo ever, but I love how it shows how large the snowflakes were!

Have you gotten any snow lately?

Simple Captures: Day 3

Day 3!

We had a great day at church today! It was the first time trying Sunday school at this particular church. The teens class I was in has 30-40 teens in a normal week for Sunday school, and 40-50 in youth group. 

My mom mentioned that it really says something about the church and their outreach system when that many teens want to come, and they don't have any sort of contemporary music at all! (A lot of the teens come on the church bus from neighboring towns)

My afternoon looked like this, but then I took a nap before going to church again. It was cold and snowy today, and I was exhausted!

I forgot to mention it, but yesterday was my 100th post! 

Here are some verses from the message today:

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. - Matthew 6:33-34

Did you have a good Sunday?

Simple Captures: Day 2

Late again! Oh well, I have 2 photos to make up for it! 

My sister and I bought a new skirt pattern yesterday and we were testing it out today. We never actually got to the sewing part, but cutting out patterns, pinning, and cutting fabric, and just trying to understand the instructions were challenging enough! Hopefully we can start making some skirts soon! 

Buddy wanted to help! :-)

Have a wonderful night, and a blessed Sunday!

Have you done any sewing projects recently?

Simple Captures: Day 1

Happy February!

Today's the first day of the Simple Captures Challenge!

It's really late, but I'm finally posting the first picture of the challenge! 

Meet my Critters! Each one has a story, and they're all pretty special. 

The frog, elephant, and bunny I bought at a nearby Museum. The dog (his name is pug), I got from Sunday school as a quiet seat prize when I was 7 or 8 (I'm really quiet. Especially at church, even more so when I was younger...I got that prize a lot. haha). The storm trooper I found in a parking lot when we first moved to KY. The pink monkey I got from a gumball machine in Maine, when I had my friends over for my 16th birthday party last year.  And the others I got from gumball machines in Maine, they don't have very special meanings, but I still like them. :-)

I love collecting little critters, they're so cute! They also look great on dressers :D

Today since I was taking pictures of them already, I decided to do a sort of stop motion video with them. 

Check it out here!

I only did it with a few, but I kinda wish now I had done more! I may do some more in the future, because it was just so fun! :-)

Have a great day!

Do you have any critters?