10 Day Challenge: Four Books

1. A Love Worth Giving by Max Lucado. I love his books! This one is probably my favorite, though. This book is based on 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8,

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

He gives each part of this verse its own chapter, so it's a lot to think about! I got this book for $3 at a used book store and I am now reading it for the third time. I think I got my money's worth.:)

2. Owl Babies. This was my favorite book when I was little. If you've never read it, this lady on youtube will fix that. Ignore her creepy, creepy voice and enjoy!

3. Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew by Ellen Notbohm. I had to read this book for my Intro to Speech Pathology class my freshman year at Southern. I picked this book because it was the shortest book on the list of options, but I guess that strategy worked because it was so good! Before I read it I did not know much about Autism and it kind of intimidated me, but when I was done I couldn't wait to start working with children with Autism in my career. It completely changed my attitude about the disorder and there are so many principles talked about in the book that I think of often. It's an easy read and, of course, short. :)

4. Tips for Story Tellers by Archa O. Dart. My Grandma gave me this book sometime last year and I have loved reading it. It's filled with good stories and useful tips. It talks about how powerful stories can be. Everyone loves a good story. They are fun, but they also have a simple way of touching people's hearts and changing your typical way of thinking. It's an oldie, but definitely a goodie.

10 Day Challenge: Five Foods

1. Mexican food.

2. Biscuits and gravy.

3. Watermelon.

4. Peanut butter.

5. Grandma’s Grainola Bars. She makes her own. I could live off of them.

10 Day Challenge: Six Places

1. My favorite place is Oklahoma. I love the people, the scenery, the lifestyle, the accents, all of it. It’s home.

2. Branson, Missouri. When I think Branson, I think Christmas. Our family goes there most Christmas’ and its one of my favorite places. I always have a hard time describing it to people who haven’t been. It’s a very festive, old timey town where time just moves slower. There are all kinds of strange touristy things to do. Plus, there is great shopping. I could stay forever.

3. I’ve always wanted to go to China. Mostly for a panda, but I think it’d be fun to visit.

4. Ebeye. Bet you didn’t see that one coming… :) I think Ebeye is the most interesting place in the world. The history and culture are so unique! And it is the home of the best seventh graders in the world.

5. Camp Yorktown Bay in Hot Springs, Arkansas. I worked at camp at CYB for two summers and it just feels like home. My first summer working there was when I first developed a meaningful relationship with God. I learned so much there and made great friends.

6. Anywhere they are hosting the Olympics. I figured out the next summer Olympics will be right after I graduate with my Master’s. Maybe I’ll have to treat myself to a trip to Rio. :)

10 Day Challenge: Seven Wants

1. I want to see a panda. They’ve always been my favorite animal, but I’ve never seen one in real life.

2. I want to be fluent in ASL. 

3. I want a KitchenAid mixer.

4. I want to have twins and dress them like this for Halloween. 

5. I want to be retired. Seems silly, but retired life is what I'm working for. No stress. Just volunteering and planning Christmas.

6. I want Friends to make more episodes.

7. I want to go on a hot air balloon ride. 

10 Day Challenge: Eight Fears

1. I’m afraid of drowning.

2. I’m afraid of parallel parking. 

3. I’m afraid of mice. 

This was in my textbook from this summer. I hate it!

4. I’m afraid of my Achilles’ tendon being cut. It makes me hurt just typing this…

5. I’m afraid of hearing loss.

6. I’m afraid of eyeballs. They are sickening. 

7. I’m afraid of losing my memory.

8. I’m afraid of my ten-page paper due in two weeks. Yikes!

10 Day Challenge: Nine Loves

1. I love this song. I heard it the other day on the radio for the first time and I've been playing it on repeat ever since. It’s so beautiful!

2. I love Transcription Phonetics. This is my favorite class this quarter! The purpose of the class is to learn how transcribe words they way they are heard instead of the way they are spelled. I feel like I’m learning a secret language and I really love it. For example, “Karissa Knight is a junior at Loma Linda University” would be transcribed as, "kərɪsə naɪt ɪz e dʒunjɚ æt lomə lɪndə unɪvɝsɪtɪ." I lʌv ɪt!

3. I love my family. I am so blessed! I couldn't have asked for a better one.

4. I love Twizzlers Cherry Bites. I think they were invented for me. :)

5. I love sewing. Growing up my Grandma made Ali, my cousins, and me all kinds of clothes, doll clothes, blankets, and stuff from her little sewing machine. I'd wanted to learn how to sew for a while, so this summer I went over to her house for a lesson. She's the best! I fell in love. I spent the rest of my summer on sewing projects. Here are some of my the completed ones:

The valences my Grandma and I made and my first independent project: a heart pillow!

My ruffle shams. I didn't know what I was getting myself into. These took me two full days. I laughed, cried and griped over these things. But they are done and I'm never getting (or making) new ones.

Computer sleeve from Sweet Verbena

Anthro-inspired curtains from Besserina. These were pretty simple, just time consuming. I watched 3 movies as I made them!

6. I love these kids so very much!

7. I love this verse. My favorite. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

8. I love sunrises and sunsets. I love how they're different everywhere and every day. I wish I could watch them all. 

9. Most of all, I love God. Time with Him is the best part of my day.

P.S. I really loved this quote from chapel! "Our greatest treasures are who we love and who we are loved by, not who we are or what we have."

10 Day Challenge: Ten Secrets

1. When I get coffee at Starbucks, I tell them my name is Lucy.

2. I tell people I’m vegetarian but I’m really not. I don’t know why I do that…

3. Instagram doesn’t make sense to me.

4. I have studied very little for today’s anatomy quiz.

5. I cried a little in the last episode of Breaking Amish.

6. I’ve always loved grammar. When I was younger, I pretended I didn’t because no one else liked it. That was dumb. It’s my favorite.

7. Last Sabbath I ate four pieces of pie.

8. Garth Brooks held the door for me at Olive Garden once. (Not so much a secret, but I like to tell that story!)

9. I really love that song “What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction. So catchy!

10. I talk in my sleep.

Challenged

This weekend I encountered a dumb thief. I did not have the pleasure of meeting him/her, but he/she did seem to have a nice time looking around in my car. I was headed to my car (which was locked) to see if I had left my wallet in there and I noticed everything in the front was not where I left it. They rummaged all around but seemed to be disappointed in my valuables because my change in the cup holder, my copied CDs, and my socks were all still there. Why would they not want those things???  Had he been a little more thorough and looked under the towel in the backseat, he would have found my wallet and all my money! Thankfully, he was a dumb thief, but he taught me a lesson!

Ali and I decided we should challenge ourselves to a little blogging. We found this blogging challenge and we thought it'd be fun to do it together. Should be fun! Her blog is A's Days (like K's Days, cute huh?)

Looking Up

I felt like the best part of my life was behind me. What kind of twenty year old thinks like that? I have so much to look forward to. But when I think of Ebeye, tears fill my eyes. I am naturally a reserved person. It takes me a while to open up to people and really get to know them. I don’t know how, but my kids in Ebeye were a major exception. In those five short months, I fell in love with each of them. No reservations at all. My heart broke into 21 pieces the day I said goodbye and I’ve spent hours and hours reminiscing and crying over those precious kids God put in my life.

I felt like the best days of my life were behind me and it was all down hill from here. I did what God asked me to do and then I was back at home where life was on pause and all I had to do was look back. I felt like God’s plan for me was over and He had forgotten about me. Though I was now home, I was homesick for Ebeye.

One Friday night, when I was missing and googling Ebeye, I happened upon a blog of a woman who had gone to Ebeye as a student missionary several years ago. I enjoyed reading her post about the island and her students who were now in high school. I identified with her in many ways and continued reading other posts she had written. She posted regularly on her somewhat well known cooking blog and wrote about her current life. Since she had left Ebeye, she had become a teacher, learned to cook, met her husband, married him and loved her life. There was so much she had to look forward to after Ebeye. Her heart was broken when she left, but it was now cheerful. God had not forgotten about her. She spoke of her students with appreciation rather than tearfully missing them every day. Her life was changed after Ebeye, but certainly not over.

This struck me so personally tears welled up in my eyes as I read her simple posts about dinner for her husband. God had not forgotten about me either. I had forgotten about Him. He was the One that was with me every day in Ebeye and opened my heart to fall in love with my kids. He was there when I waved goodbye from the ferry, and as I first stepped onto American soil. He sees each tear fall as I miss my island home and feels my pain every day. He understands and He cares. I was awakened to the fact that God has a plan for my life, too. It isn’t over; it is just ahead. My career, new relationships, and new experiences are all awaiting me. I truly believe God is present in a special way during the Sabbath hours because as strange as it seems, this simple cooking blog filled me with God’s compassionate and constant love.

My life was changed in Ebeye, but it is far from over. It still has a purpose and He is not finished with me yet. I have to remind myself of this every day. I am working on keeping my eyes fixed on Him and trusting Him with my life.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” –Jeremiah 29:11