Allegiant has Arrived!

As you might have guessed, I am a lover of books, especially novels with strong,  heroic heroines. "Allegiant" the third and final book in Veronica Roth's "Divergent" series has such characters. Even though the novel is marketed for young-adult readers, the story line is moving and interesting, and the characters are real in their inner monologues and, sometimes, rash decision making. The story is set in a dystopian, futuristic Chicago in which the United States has ceased to exist, and the city is divided into five factions each based on a positive human quality: Abnegation values selflessness, Dauntless values courage, Amity values peace, Erudite values intelligence, and Candor values truth. Peoples' lives will change forever as the society they live in is destroyed and the truth is revealed about the characters' pasts and their futures.

I long to have that much courage and strength as Tris, the novel's heroine, possesses. This series and others like "The Hunger Games" can really inspire women of all ages to really bring about change in their own lives and in the lives of others and to do it with the inner strength and bravery all women possess. You should totally pick up a copy of "Allegiant" and become inspired. (My kindle version is pictured below). 

Let me know what you think in the comments!

Walking through Beauty

I took a walk through the woods with my husband. Perfect time for self-reflection and to take a breather. God does some magical things with his creation.

A Beautiful Autumn Day

This weekend my love and I explored new hiking trails at a new park near our house. It was a glorious day. Perfect fall weather, and you can just see the leaves beginning to change. I love how the colors always seem to be hopeful---a chance for a new beginning regardless of what happened in a previous season. Autumn. A time of beauty. A time of change. A time of hope.

In my personal life, I'm going through quite a bit right now, but I hope I can always hope. Hope is what we long for as humans to get us through even the toughest times. That's what Autumn symbolizes to me-- hope in tomorrow.

After a crisp, fall hike nothing's better than some hard apple cider to warm you up!

Closing the Doors or Having Patience?

This is a question I have often thought and wondered about regarding my faith in God, trusting him, and my future: How can you tell the difference between God closing the doors and strengthening your faith through patience and time?

I am often confused when storms hit and I feel like I'm drowning--Does God not want this for me? Is this just not meant to happen? What is Plan B? How much longer should I wait before I change my mind or my heart?

How can you know the difference between God testing your faith and him telling you "no?" I have thought that if God gives you a vision of something you want---children, a husband, a new career in a specific field, going to grad school, etc, that it means it is something God wants you to have. So if the doors are closed for now, does that mean a faith strengthener because eventually you will be given your dreams?

What do you think? Do you struggle with this idea of distinguishing God's will and desire for your life? We are all human, and if we believe in the Lord then of course we are going to have questions and of course we aren't going to know the right answer to them all.

The only thing to do is to pray and to listen. and to Hope.

I'M BACK

I haven't been writing as often as I would like simply because so much has been happening lately. First, my husband and I went on our honeymoon--a week long camping trip in the Lowcountry, specifically Charleston, which I'll write a ton about here really soon a long with a few of my other adventures.

After our honeymoon, we then traveled West to Manchester, TN where we experienced one of the BEST music festivals in 'Merica--- BONNAROO! Bonnaroo was amazing, words cannot even describe all of the feelings I have for Bonnaroo (although I will try in a future post). Let's just say a dream came true for me there and it is an experience that has left me changed. Yes, a music festival changed me. Possible forever.

Finally, I have been having some health problems, and after many, many trips to the doctor as well as many, many tests, I have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease. So, I finally feel better, but because it is celiac, it means a completely new lifestyle for myself and my husband. We are still in process of adjusting to eating differently, checking out every ingrediant, spending more on food, etc, so it can still be trying at times. Especially when you have gourmet cupcakes at your work for the taking, but alas, none were gluten free.

That's just a quick update on my life at the moment. Things have changed dramatically, yet some have changed the same. And as with every new change, comes a different lesson, story, or memory to share.

Camping Adventure

My husband and I are going on our honeymoon in exactly 3 days! As huge nature lovers and adventurers, we are going to camp for 7 days on the beaches of Charleston, South Carolina, which is about 6 hours from our house in the Smoky Mountain foothills. Camping, swimming, hiking, trying new food, and exploring sound like the PERFECT getaway for us both who got married on December 16 last year.

This will be our first camping trip together, and my husband's first camping experience ever, so I cannot wait to introduce him to the joy and excitement of exploring unknown territory, picking the perfect spot to set up camp, and sleep under the stars next to a warm, slowly-dying campfire. I have no doubt that it will be magical.

Spending time with my husband, who is a huge blessing to me, surrounded by all of God's glory and creation is the only way I want to spend my honeymoon.

I'll be sure to post pictures of our journey along the way!

A New Adventure

One of my New Year's Resolutions this year was to have more adventures. I think I have been pretty successful so far. Let me share with you what adventures I have taken since January.

*Explored new nature trails near my home, which ended in a black and bruised knee
*Have worked both second and third shift at a group home with 10 boys and survived
*Traveled to Chicago in winter and explored the city
*Adopted a 3 year old shih tzu named Wesley
*Completed 2 9-mile hikes, including one to a large waterfall in the Smoky Mountains
*Applied to graduate school and was accepted. I start classes in the fall.
*Sold my first car that I've owned for seven years and in the process of finding a new (to me) car
*Purchased tickets to Bonnaroo! for the summer, which will be my third music festival, but the first with my husband
*Started writing a blog (this one!)

And, this hasn't happened yet, but in two weeks, my husband and I are going camping on the beach in South Carolina for our honeymoon.

I want my life to exude faith, love, hope, free-spiritedness, and joy, which are things I believe I possess. I can't wait to go on more adventures and share them here!