Lace em' up

I am lacing my boots up and marching on. My determination for 2016 has skyrocketed, I am motivated to march on through this year with accomplishments, blessings, also some huge victories.

This year has already become the best by far. My Mom was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in September which seemed to be the worst news I could've ever received, my heart was hurt, I feel like I lost myself in worrying about my Mom and my family, but just this week God had other plans. My Mom had a CT scan and got her results back and we were overjoyed to find out that there isn't anymore cancer. As I type this, I feel so much relief, and gratitude to most of all God our healer and provider and also to my Mother's doctors.

My faith was tremendously tested in 2015 in more ways than one, and I failed some of those tests, but God never left me. He stayed by my side, cheered me on, held my hand, and comforted me when I failed, but most importantly when I failed Him, he was still there and he picked me up, dusted me off and pushed me along my way. My love grows more and more for Him everyday, because despite who I am, He still loves me.

For the new year, I don't set resolutions, I set goals, and most of the time I conquer a few out of those goals....
so this year my goals are: grow closer to God, win someone to the Lord, eat healthier, start running again, hike the 6 hour trail at Bernheim, blog more about my historic adventures.

I am in pursuit of a more adventurous year, and a more satisfied soul.

Here is to a wonderful year!

Keep your hearts full, and surround yourselves with things and people that make you happy.

A single lady's Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day isn't just for couples, and if you think about it, shouldn't those couples celebrate their love everyday? 

Valentine's Day is just another over commercialized "holiday" to get guys to buy things for their lady. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it's nice to receive chocolate and flowers on this day, but something that would make me feel more loved would be a day on the calendar that isn't special at all. It could just be a Tuesday, and that would mean more to me than anything, because it would mean he was just thinking about me in an ordinary day. 

No, I'm not being synical or bitter because I'm not spending Valentine's Day with anyone, it's just how I feel. And I would feel the same even if I had someone to spend it with. I would rather spend the day inside just watching Netflix together instead of going all out. 

With that being said, if you're single and not ready to mingle but you still wanna do something on Valentine's Day to avoid all the gushy romance puke, then continue on reading this blog post.

Here are some ideas and perks for all the single ladies (cue Beyoncé):

1: no pressure to buy any gifts for anyone

2: you can use Valentine's Day to pamper yourself. Go get a mani & a pedi. Or a back massage.

3: Invite all of your single closest friends over and have a Netflix night

4: Go shopping, get a starbucks, eat at your favorite place with your friends

5: Embrace singleness. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being single. Don't be one of those girls that feels the need to always have a man. It's fun not having to commit. You are in your own time, you can live your dreams now, and accomplish your goals now. You have time. Embrace it.

One more thing to add before you stop reading.

I'm grateful for one thing more than anything, it's knowing God loves me year round and for all eternity. That kind of love is priceless and doesn't need a holiday.

Some things have got to change...

I know around this time of year there are a lot of New Year resolutions, and people talking of how they are going to make a change, and last year I did follow through with one of my New Year resolutions, which was to become more healthier. I started going to the gym, ate healthier foods, and mostly cut back on things, and because of it today I am leaner than I was, and lost 3 pants sizes.

But now that 2014 is in our rearview, I want to focus on other things, don't get me wrong, I am still going to go to the gym three times a week, and try to eat healthy, but I have new things I want to focus on.

So, here is a list of things I am going to try to accomplish this year with God's help:

• draw closer to God
• read at least 5 new books
• get most of my credits to graduate
• lose 25 pounds
• go on more adventures
• start vlogging
• have a FANTASTIC SUMMER
• donate more blood to the red cross
• visit historical sites
• take more pictures

These might seem like little insignificant things to some people, but to accomplish these would mean a great deal to me.

The main and number one priority of that list is to grow closer to God, because when we draw closer to Him, everything else falls into place, and following Him means everlasting peace and joy. Only God knows my heart and mind, He knows it even better than I know it. This year I want to seek after Him, and let Him just completely make me over. My hearts desire is to be obedient to Him, and follow His will for my life, and when we do obey Him, he blesses us.

I feel like I have failed God this year because I have let certain circumstances lead me out of His will for my life, and I've let the enemy lie to me and make me feel like I mean nothing to anyone. But that is what the enemy's job is, its to make us hate ourselves so much because we have failed God that we just give up on serving Him.

But I'm not giving up, God has brought me so far already, I won't turn back now. He has plans for me, and for whoever is reading this, and that's why the devil fights so hard against us, because he knows God has wonderful things in store for us, that's why he tries to do any and everything to keep us from receiving those things.

If you have been struggling with sin, depression, drugs, alcohol, or even tobacco, don't turn away from God, He loves you, and if He didn't, He wouldn't have created you in your mothers womb. We all have a purpose in life, many purposes actually. So, seek after God, ask Him into your life and heart, put all of your trust in Him and He will not lead you wrong. Jesus was sent to us to be our savior, He took our sin and shame to the cross and was sacrificed for us, so we wouldn't have to. Jesus was God's son, and He was a pure, innocent, and holy man, but yet He was hung on the cross for us, for our sin.

No matter what you're dealing with in your life right now, and I mean NO MATTER WHAT, God can and will turn it around for you.

Trust me.

2015, watch out!

Remember why...

Why do we celebrate Christmas & how should we celebrate Christmas?

Why: in my heart I celebrate because it's the birth of my Lord and savior. I want to give thanks to God for sending his son as a precious baby to this earth for us. It's his birthday, but commercialism has taken the joy and fun out of Christmas with the constant chatter of buying gifts and beating each other down for the last on sale item at Walmart. I know everyone enjoys receiving gifts because I do too, but when it becomes the only thing we care about on Christmas then we have truly lost the real reason we celebrate.

Most stores you shop in today for Christmas gifts won't allow their employees to say, "Merry Christmas" because they're afraid of affending someone of a different faith, so they just say "Happy Holidays." 

So therefore, the Christmas season has become more of a selfish season than anything. There isn't any joy in it without Jesus, because He is the reason for the season. 

He was born, He was sacrificed, and He was resurrected from the dead. He deserves celebration. He is the holy, pure, true lamb of God, and really we should celebrate Him everyday, not just on Christmas. We should celebrate Him daily with our lives and how we live them.

He is our King. 

We should take time to celebrate this time with joy, laughter, family and telling others about Jesus' birth, and why He was born. 

You could possibly change someone's life. Be the light that leads someone out of darkness.

Live for Him

Xoxo, Kiersty

Be in the moment...

(Photo cred to: Free people blog)

As I sit here on this snowy November night, I am pondering about eating all of my Ben & Jerry's ice-cream in one sitting, but also thinking about the exquisite genius and heart wrenching love story turned bitter end of Wuthering Heights. How my mind can go from one extreme to the next is beyond me.

Nights like these make me wish I was an eight year old kid again, hoping and wishing for Santa Claus to come soon, and also bring me a Barbie doll house. The snow, and bitter cold make me think of my happy childhood memories, like sitting around the Christmas tree and watch the twinkling lights shine through the glass ornament of the tree. Those were simpler times for me then. When you are young you want so much to grow up, and be who you wanna be. When you actually become an adult you want to be a kid again, as if some time machine will be created and you can return to your more youthful free days.

I've noticed the older I get the less time we seem to have for everything, everyone is so busy, with work, school and whatever time filling thing we seem to be into these days. We spend our days creating schedules, dropping kids off at school, texting, being on social media, fast food drive-thru windows, mind numbing jobs that are slowly breaking our bodies down into withering nothings. No one takes time to do anything that could possibly saturate their hearts or souls, no one takes time to have a great, stimulating conversation with anyone, we don't sit down a drink coffee with someone over some cherry pie, we don't call just to chat anymore, we don't sit down a read a classic novel anymore, or even sit down and talk to our children or families about their day. Its a sorrowful day when we would rather act as if our minds have no ability to produce a thought that we could converse with someone about.

I want to change this. I want my focus to be on every moment of my life, because if our eyes are on our screens and our minds are somewhere else, our moments are passing us by, and one day we will regret it unless we decide to make a change.

Put down your cell phones, pick up a book, and expand your mind a little further than the unfortunate illiteracy of this generation. Turn off your television, and turn on conversation with your loved ones. Have sit down dinners, have family discussions, join a club or something, just avert your eyes from anything that takes away your moments, those are the moments that could possibly saturate your heart in warmth and love. Those moments change your life forever.

Instead of looking at Kim Kardashians bum on the internet, please, I'm begging you do something more productive and possibly life changing with yourself.

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Written in love, Kiersty

Xoxo

Hallo-rosie

This years Halloween was the best as far as my costume goes. I was super proud of myself. 

I hardly ever do anything for Halloween, but I think I've decided to create a look every year now, because it was so fun!! 

My look this year was Rosie the Riveter.

I chose her because she represents strength in women of the work force. My goal every year is to portray a strong woman from our nations history. 

My outfit:

Jean top: Old Navy

Red cami: Cato Fashions

Grey Skinny Jean Rockstar: Old Navy

Boots: Walmart $25

Red polka dot bandana: Amazon.com

My makeup: 

Loreal Classic ivory concealer

Loreal lift foundation

Avon peach blush

Loreal setting translucent face powder

Benefit "They're real" mascara

Maybeline Stiletto liquid eye liner

Bite red lipstick

My family and I had a blast, we had a little get together at my grandparents house. My mom made white chili, and I made regular chili, as well as chocolate chip cookies.

 We all gathered together to spend time with one another, we laughed and watched Halloween 5, which I should have never watched in the first place because I had a nightmare that night about Michael Myers. 😱

We were in hopes of a halloween bonfire and s'mores, but the rain washed our hopes away. 

So instead we stayed inside, ate tons of candy, and played with my little 1 year old cousin Autumn. 

It's always fun to gather with family. Always remember family is forever. Love your family no matter who they are. You never know when it might be too late to spend time with them, or tell them you love them. Show them how kind and loving you are, and that you're there for them if they need you. Sometimes you can look at your family and think "Gosh, we are a mess!" But if you think about it, it wouldn't be you if you weren't a mess. 

Appreciate what you have, while you have it. Don't neglect any moments, take every moment in, and store it where you'll never forget how you felt during it. 

(Feeling pretty tough right here)

(My Brother Noah and I)

(Me and the little bit)

(my youngest brother Jaxon trying out the wig)

Have you ever had someone's make you feel inferior, or as worthless as a speck of dust floating around in the air? 

Has that person rolled their eyes at things you say, or put you down in a "jokingly" manner in front of others, or even make you feel like they could either take you or leave you, it wouldn't affect them at all?

I have, and it's not fun, it's heartbreaking, especially when you thought you had a good relationship with this person and you were very close to them, then you come to find out it seems like the whole thing is one sided. It hurts.

But, that's when you need to stop feeling sorry for yourself, you didn't lose them. They lost you, somehow. 

I am a very lovable, easy going, laid back kinda of person, I love to love people, those that will let me. If I trust you, I will be very open with you about everything. Don't get me wrong, I have my days when I just wanna be by myself, and be a hermit. But I have more good days than bad.

But some people for some reason aren't like that.

They can seem closed up, cold and not able to receive love at times.

I have not come up with a solution to this problem yet other than don't let their attitude affect your loving nature. Keep being who you are, don't resolute to being cold and distant to keep from getting hurt. Just be you.

If you feel the need to confront the person about why they act the way they do, then do it, but only do it with love and concern for your friendship with them.

Some people just don't know how to show they care about you in a friendship, I don't know why, they just don't.

But one thing is for sure, if they make you feel like less of a person when you're around them, and they put you down and make you feel inferior, get them out of your life. You don't need that negativity.

You need people to encourage you, tell you what you're capable of, lift you up, and you need a friend you can trust.

And also be the kind of friend you would want to have. You don't want a friend that never checks on you, never tells you to have a good day, never listens, never prays with them or for them, never offer a helping hand. You want someone you can depend on, for many things like: advice, midnight phone calls, Netflix buddy, food junkie, prayer, laughter, help anytime you need it, and encouraging words. 

Even though you may be friends with someone, they may tell you a lot, but not everything. They could keep the deepest darkest part of their life hidden, maybe because they are ashamed, or hurt, but always be aware that they could be hurting in some way, and your words or actions could make or break them, especially if you're their bestfriend.

The title BESTFRIEND is a BIG title to me. And it should only be given to those you trust whole heartedly. I for instance have 2 best-friends: Jesus, and Chelsea. They are the only two I trust with EVERYTHING. 

Choose your friends wisely, and pray for those that don't wanna be your friend, and tell yourself it ok that they don't. 

Xoxo,

Kiersty