Speaking Of...

Guys, in case you didn't know, it is already December! I'm so excited for this month because it contains Christmas and is my birthday month! I don't know how I'm going to react to this birthday (2-5). I'm excited and a bit terrified. Don't ask me why. Since I started blogging again, I've come across a lot of good posts that are perfect for birthdays. They are posts that give great life advice, ones that uplift, some that are funny, some give lists of what every twenty something should know how to do, etc. I've bookmarked them with the title "READ ON YOUR BIRTHDAY!" I can't wait to go back and read them. And don't worry, I will be sharing! :) 

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I have talked with so many friends lately about singleness and this journey that the Lord has me on right now. 
I'm beginning to see that we are in consensus that the holidays are THE. WORST. time to be single. 
Yes, there is a blog post about this coming soon. 

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Speaking of the holidays and Christmas. It is beginning to be that time for Christmas parties, playing Secret Santa, Dirty Santa, and going to Christmas parades. Also, time for more holiday food, food, and more food! 
Tonight the Ladies' Ministry at my church is having our Christmas party and I made Cream Cheese Squares! 
Check out the recipe here! 

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Speaking of baking. I'm not exactly a genius when it comes to the kitchen. I can follow a recipe, but most things I make are never really photo worthy. I can be pretty good at whipping something up out of nothing, but I want to know how to do things like make biscuits from scratch, bake a cheesecake. You know, real baking and cooking. I want to get away from a microwave! 

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As the year starts winding down, we start to think about a new year and "resolutions" that we want to start (and maybe keep). Well, since I'm also turning 2-5 this year, I've been thinking about things that I want to learn how to do. You've probably seen lists like 100 in 1,000 days. Or 30 before 30. Bucket lists are popular and fun! They help you think of things you've always wanted to do and it's always fun to check things off a list. 
Well, I've been thinking about starting my own 30 before 30 list! 
It's going to have some really random things on it, but be on the lookout for it soon! 

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Something else that I'm going to start in 2014 is blog sponsoring! 
I don't have money to financially support someone and their blog, but I do have blog space. So, thanks to some brainstorming and advice from Kiki, I'm going to be doing a button swap for each month! 
This is all still in the first phase of progress, but be on the lookout soon for more information! 
I'm excited to grow and share this place with more people and get to know more of you who are hanging around. 
You guys make this place fun. Thank you for that! 
:)

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Let me be real with you guys real quick. 
Although I just got back from 10 months in CA serving, I greatly want to go on a mission trip somewhere. My job in CA was just that. A job. I loved it, don't get me wrong. But, going and serving on a mission trip is so different than a job. You get to be somewhere for a week (or more) and just love on the people you are with. You get to serve them, help them with something they need, hang out with their kids, talk with them. Although it can be hard to leave at the end of the trip, I always leave feeling refreshed and revived. Ready to then start serving the people in my town again. I guess, when I'm in one place for awhile and I start to develop a routine, it becomes just that, routine. I start getting into the mindset that I have to do this, not I get to do this. 
That is something that is different when it comes to a mission trip. I get to get away and do what I really love. 
Travel, people, kids, culture, spreading the love of Christ. It's all what is at the core of my being. 
And I just want to go. 
But, I'm trying to remember this quote by Jim Elliot:  

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