Summer Recap + Fall Goals

Fall Goals

*Be in the Word more
*Blog more
*Go on a trip
*Make my family a Ghanaian meal
*Learn a new song on the piano
*Take more pictures
*Do more image manipulation
*Volunteer
*Exercise more


What happened this summer :

As most of you know, this summer I went to Ghana.  It was absolutely incredible to finally visit the land God had laid upon my heart so many years ago.

While I was there, I had the privilege of handing out Fante Bibles, flip flops, and cards.  I was also able share the Gospel with several people.  It was an absolutely incredible opportunity, one I will never forget.

I was also tested and went through a challenging time.  Through this test, I learned a lot about myself and now know what to really pray for/against.

What do you did you do this summer?

What are some goals that you've made for this fall?

I'd love to hear from you :)

July goals + recap

Yeeeah so I haven't been keeping up with posting the goals + recaps like I used to, buuut I plan to start doing them again :)



Here were my July goals (recap is included)

*Blog more - so glad I can knock this off the list ;)

*Journal more - yeah this month I have not written in my journal AT. ALL :(

*Read Proverbs - Yeah I know I finish it every month, buuut hey - Proverbs is full of "hidden treasures"!!!

*Help in VBS - complete - served as the VBS photographer {pictures coming soon!}

*Take more pictures - I will try to post the pictures I've taken as soon as I can

*Write 1-2 letters a week. I actually got really behind in this ... totally forgot this one was even on the list ... I'm caught up now though lol :P

*Do some reading - I haven't read as much as I'd like, but I have read a couple books.

Hey, not bad - I knocked more off this list than my past list!!!

So now for my August goals :

* Plan an event

*Read two books

*Journal more

*Blog more

*Take more pictures

*Do a tutorial

What are some goals that you have for the month of August?

In HIS grace, Alisha

January recap + February goals

*Blog more

*Get my hair highlighted

*Learn a new song to sing with Rhey

*Read Isaiah

*Read Proverbs

*Read Psalm 119

*Exercise 4x a week - I wasn't really consistent in this .... buuut i was  a lot better than December =P 

*Take more nature photos - surprisingly I didn't take a whole lot of photos January ... ohh well!

*Blog more

*Journal more

*Read Proverbs

*Read Ezekiel

*Exercise 4x a week

*Learn how to speak Tagalog

*Learn how to play "I'll Fly Away" on the piano

What are some goals that you have for this month?

Until next time!

In HIS grace, Alisha

      xoxoxoxox

My goals for 2015

Yeah, yeah, yeah .... I know that this post is waaaaay over due, but eh, at least I'm getting this years goals out here on the blog.

reason behind it : maybe... just maybe .... since I'm telling you what my goals are, that'll be enough accountability right there, and I'll actually get them marked off ... one.by.one!  Maaaaaaybeeeee ;) =P

Sooo here they are .....

>> Faith life <<

:: Study the books of Genesis + Johsua

   - I would like to list all the godly women and find all the verses "describing" why they're considered godly.

:: Read the story of Aquila + Priscilla in the Bible

  - I think it would be too neat if afterwards, I *attempt* to write a play about their story.

:: Do a Bible study for the young ladies at church

  - I still have doin' a young ladies Bible study on my heart.  I started one at a previous church + it was soo enjoyable.  The one that was goin' to be started at the library didn't work out cuz of school, lack of interest, and schedules didn't line up.  Sooo hopefully I can start another one at church :)  I'll keep y'all updated ;)  Prayers are appreciated!

>> Home life <<

:: Start doin' the laundry here at home

  - In this season of life, I really need to focus on bloomin' where I'm planted.  Up to this point, I haven't done such a great job, but this year will be different :)

:: Shop for the family

  - This would include menu planning, checking for sales, using a list (I'm not a fan of lists LOL), + using coupons.  Not too mention - if this isn't done .... either 1) I slacked off or 2) it involves driving the van (which btw is MOM'S car .... I don't normally drive it)

:: Clean the fridge + freezer

  - It needs to be done ... Mom's typically busy + Rhey is busy with school ... I'm free ... might as well be me :)

:: Canning

  - This is a good skill to master ... so this summer, I'm going to master it *gulp*

>> Personal life <<

:: Start using coupons

  - I'm not one to ever use a coupon ... but it's a good habit to start now.

:: Learn how to cook a dish from all the countries that interest me

  - I think it would be neat to try at least one dish from all the countries that I am most interested in.  Yes they end up ... gross interesting ... but I will never know what they are like until I try it.  Pssst ... don't tell Mom, but I may make the entire family try rat (it's quite famous in Uganda, Africa) *muwhaha*

:: Read "The Hidden Art of Homemaking"

  - If I can find the book somewhere I would looove to read this + glean from any wisdom within the pages.

:: Read "How to Live on Practically Nothing And Still Have Plenty"

  - Again ... I would love to find the book somewhere!  Amazon here I come!!!

:: Make a casserole + take it to the Fire Department

  - When I took the cake decorating class, I took the cakes I decorated to the Fire Department each night.  It made me smile seeing those men light up when they saw what I was giving them.

:: Read "Moby Dick"

  - I have heard this classic is really good, but I have never read it ... until this year (sometime).

>> Creative life <<

:: Decorate a t-shirt

  - I found this really neat idea on decorating a t-shirt on Pinterest.  So this summer, I'm gonna try it (maybe I'll get Rhey in on the action too *wink*)

:: Make one or more items of clothing for men

  - A lady at the library knitting group told me that she would teach me how to crochet socks.  I've also found a sewing pattern for a men's tie.  I'm gonna try 'em :)

:: Learn the art of tatting

  - I looove the look of tatting, so I am going to try to learn it *gulp*.

:: Learn how to make a tablecloth

  - It would be so neat to make a tablecloth and put it in my hopechest ... awaiting it's future use.  I'm not willing to spend some craazy amount at the store for a cute cotton tablecloth + I will not purchase the vinyl ones lol.

:: Learn how to make a pillowcase dress

  - I have seen pictures of pillowcase dresses for little girls + I loove them.  Thankfully the patterns aren't too hard to find.

:: Make cloth napkins for a special occassion

  - I just made two cloth napkins last week ... they were soo fun to make!  So I may make some that are to only be used during the holiday season.

:: Make valentine cards and send them to all the widows at church

  - I love card making + the older ladies at church are so super sweet ... they deserve somethin' showing them that they're loved!

:: Attempt to piece together + make a simple quilt

  - I found an easy pattern ... and the picture of it looks soo cute.  So I'm going to attempt to make my first quilt.  Luckily, an old friend of mine in TX showed me how to make one (it was for a premie though).

:: Make one or more items for a baby

  - I found some very cute ideas + have some pretty good ideas/dreams/plans ... now to execute those plans + make those dreams/ideas a reality.  Ooooh soo excited!

>> Music life <<

:: Try writing a song of my own

  - I love playing piano (most of you probably already know that)!  I would love to try my hand at writing a song of my own.

***************************

I better go .... until next time!!

In HIS grace, Alisha

        xoxoxox

The end of 2014

It's time for a recap of my December goals :)  December was a good month for me .... 

December goals:

*Finish reading "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan

*Finish reading "Sacred Singleness" by Leslie Ludy

*Finish reading "Will Our Generation Speak" by Grace Mally

*Finish reading "Passion & Purity" by Elisabeth Elliot

*Finish the prep for the surprise blog event

*Read Jeremiah

*Read Revelation

*Read Obadiah

*Read Lamentations

*Blog more - again I failed at this ..... 

*Journal more

*Exercise 4x a week - with a lifestyle change coming up the 1st of January ... this will be done ;)

*Memorize Scripture

January goals:

*Blog more

*Exercise 4x a week

*Create more items for the shop

*Take more nature photos

*Get my hair highlighted

*Learn a new song to sing with Rhey

*Read Isaiah

*Read Proverbs

*Read Psalm 119

Psssst .... don't forget ....

Don't forget about the Favorite Things 2015 package swap.  If you're interested, fill out the form and send it to me here.

Blessings!

In HIS grace, Alisha

Goals, goals, and more goals!

Happy December y'all!  I am amazed at how the month of November flew by!!!!!

Here were my November goals ..... time to recap!!!

November goals recap:

*read "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan - I started reading it ..... and intend to finish it verrry soon ;)

*Finish reading "Sacred Singleness" by Leslie Ludy - I started reading it .... and intend to finish it verrrry soon ;)

*Finish reading "Passion and Purity" by Elisabeth Elliot - hahaha .... I thought I could finish it, but I will be finishing it verrry soon too

*Finish reading - "Will Our Generation Speak" by Grace Mally - yeah ...... I'll be finishing this verrry soon too =P

*exercise 3-4x a week - I did for a while, but then started slacking .... oh well ... there's always this month!

*memorize Scripture - I didn't memorize as much as I wanted to ....... grrr

*Learn how to play "Stand for Truth" written by Rachel Wissmann Busenitz

*Finish reading Psalms

*Finish reading Amos

*Finish reading Proverbs

*Plan a surprise blog event

*blog more

*work out any rough spots in the new schedule I have made for myself

December goals:

*Finish reading "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan

*Finish reading "Sacred Singleness" by Leslie Ludy

*Finish reading "Will Our Generation Speak" by Grace Mally

*Finish the prep for the surprise blog event

*Read Jeremiah

*Read Revelation

*Read Obadiah

*Blog more

*Journal more

*Exercise 4x a week

*Memorize Scripture

I pray y'all have a great night!!!!!!!

In HIS grace, Alisha

    xoxoxoxox

Being in full surrender

Growing up, I heard all of our pastors say, “in order to get the most out of your faith, you need to be in full surrender” and that's where they would stop. They wouldn't explain what it meant to be in full surrender. They didn't explain why I needed to be in full surrender. I was just left on my own, to figure the rest out, and if I find it … great, and if not … oh well, at least I tried, right?

This was one topic (out of quite a few) that I decided that I wouldn't ask God to reveal to my what it meant to be in full surrender, and why it was important. I simply figured …. “if God wants me to learn what it means and why it's important, then He'll reveal it to me on His own. He doesn't need me to ask Him.”

[pause for a moment]

I know, I know … what kind of mindset is that?

To be honest … as of lately, I have been having a hard time coping with a “trial” my family and I have been going through. This “trial” has really put a damper on my faith … like a lot, thankfully we serve a God of restoration and mercy, so my faith is being restored!! [more on this in another post]

[okay back to the post]

About three weeks ago (I think my time frame is right), I was praying before I started my morning Bible reading. During that prayer, I prayed that the Lord would show me what it means to be in full surrender to Him, and why it was important … I also prayed for my time to be encouraging + edifying. I was quite disappointed when none of the verses I read that morning, didn't mention being in surrender to Him. Ready to give up, I felt as if I needed to read chapter 2 in“Sacred Singleness” by Leslie Ludy … I couldn't understand why I felt that way, but I felt it … and I read the chapter.

[side note]

I have had the book “Sacred Singleness” for about three years now, and I haven't even finished it once. It isn't a book that I see on my shelf and think to myself “I really need to finish that book”. Instead, it's one that I see on the shelf and think “oh yeah … I haven't finished that have I? Maybe I should send it to a friend … I'll never get around to reading it!”

[back to the post]

What I read in chapter 2 was aah-maay-zing! Below is a snippet from chapter 2:

¹“When I chose to live in purity 'all the days of my life,' I wasn't making a bargain with God: 'I'll stay pure, and in return I want You to write me a beautiful love story.' Rather, I chose a life of purity because I wanted to love and honor the Prince of my heart, Jesus Christ–even if He never blessed me an earthly love story. When I walked through this process of surrender, God exposed and uprooted every seed of selfishness within my heart. Prior to this season of my life, I had always approached Christ wondering what I could get out of my relationship with Him. Now, He was asking me to lay everything down upon the altar, not expecting anything in return.”

After I read this, I realized that God did want me to learn what full surrender was! After leading me to this, He made it clear to me that I wasn't in full surrender to Him.

As I was about to close the book … satisfied that He had answered my prayer, I noticed that Leslie Ludy used Jim and Elisabeth Elliot's love story as an example of being in full surrender … so I read on.

I was astonished to learn that Jim and Elisabeth, even though they were interested in one another, surrendered everything … their dreams, desires, plans, to the Lord. They were willing to except whatever the Lord had in store for them. If that meant that they would remain single, then great … they wouldn't have a “hinderance” or an “earthly distraction” keeping them from the Lord's work. Or if that meant that they would end up getting married, then great … they would be able to serve the Lord side by side.

It amazed me (and still does to this day) that they were willing/able to lay their love for the other on the altar of the Lord … ready to except whatever was in store for them … even though they were in love with each other.

[oh by the way … I ended up finishing chapters 2 & 3 haha]

Still in amazement, I began asking myself questions:

*have I “surrendered” something to Christ, only expecting something in return?

= the answer is yes … my purity. I have decided to live a life of purity, which is great. But I have expected the same “reward” that Leslie Ludy had expected … an earthly love story written and orchestrated by God.

*am I willing to be in full surrender to God, and not expect anything in return?

=the answer is yes … I want to get the most out of my faith! And if I'm not in full surrender, then I will be doing a disservice to my Lord.

*if I'm in full surrender and not expecting anything in return, will I be okay if God chooses for me to be single until He takes me Home?

=this answer was the hardest for me to answer … because being a wife to a Godly man has always been my desire. So I began really contemplating whether or not I would be okay/content or if I would be worried/discontent. However, I finally came up with the answer … if God sees fit to give me a Godly husband, then great – I will be able to serve Him by my man's side! If He sees fit for me to remain single, that's great too – I will be able to serve Him and worry about the things of the Lord, and not the things of the world (1 Corinthians 7:34).

Were those questions easy to answer? Yes and no

Do I wish I would have been told all of this when I was younger? Kind of … there's a reason God revealed it to me now and not then!

I am soo glad I heeded the Holy Spirit's nudge in reading “Sacred Singleness” … it was just what I had needed!

Oh and by the way … I am still reading the book – I look forward to reading it!

In HIS grace, Alisha

       xoxoxoxox