Me Myself and I September Edition

Well, I did it...I scheduled a post for today before I remembered that I already had a commitment to post another link up today. The scheduled post went "live", so you just get two posts today! Hope you don't mind. :)

1. When you're feeling down, what do you do to pick yourself up?

I know I SHOULD always PRAY and seek God through His Word. And I often do, but I also like to talk. When I'm feeling down, I don't actually want to be alone. If I can't be with people, then I will watch a movie or listen to music.

2. If you had to live in a different time period which would you prefer?

As an American, I would love to go back to the days of the American Revolution. The days when American's knew what it was to honor both God and the country He had given them. I realize life would be a lot different, but I would just want to TALK with the people who lived back then and see what they were made of.

Mount Vernon

3. What is the most creative Halloween costume you've ever worn?

I don't celebrate this holiday anymore. However, when I was about five or six I was a gypsy. I wore a black leotard with a million different silky handkerchiefs tied and pinned together on it, I had some crazy big hair,  lots of jewelery, and I believe a good bit of makeup. My Mom was pretty awesome like that! 

4. Five weird things about you we wouldn't know without being told?

A. I am always racing myself...I race to put grounds in the coffee machine while the carafe fills. When I used to babysit, I would race to see what I could get done at people's houses (cleaning, etc.) before they got back. While the water warms up, I race to see what I can tidy in the bathroom before I hop in. 

B. I'm almost always multi-tasking.This was probably given away in A.

C. Most of my friends live at least an hour away. Some live across the country. I haven't seen some of them for two years. We talk as much as we can (FB and skype work wonders!) so it doesn't seem like it's been that long.

D. I love to read, even if it does take me quite a while to make it through most books. 

E. All of my travel dreams have been fulfilled. They were totally unplanned and happened unexpectedly in the course of one year. I had no idea what God had in store. I hope to share them with you soon!

5. What would you tell your 16-year-old self?

Being goofy after getting "lost" at a hospital. (FYI I'm 16 here)

Technically, I'm 17 in this picture. (Also, this hair was never meant to be seen in public...I did not wear that thing out of the house.) That would be my little brother. I no longer have to bend in half for him to be able to do that.

Victoria, don't ever think you have life all figured out. It's not going to look like you thought it would and that's okay. Pressing into God is good. He mainly wants to know you and you to know Him. That's your identity. Nothing else really matters. Don't wear yourself out trying to do it ALL. Just live to treasure God the way Christ did. Along the way, help who you can learn to do this too. 

Remember this sentence and the next few years won't be so bad:

" The life of the godly is not a straight line to glory, but they do get there...all along this hazardous, twisted road that doesn't let you see very far ahead there are frequent signs that say, 'The best is yet to come.'...all the perplexing turns in your life lately are not dead-end streets. In all the setbacks of your life as a believer God is plotting for your joy."

(This comes from a very influential sermon series on the book of Ruth that John Piper preached.)

Just so you know, I preach this to my 22 year old self almost daily!