NaNoWriMo!

National Novel Writing Month is on its way! November is National Novel Writing Month for anyone who loves writing. I love to write, so I am really looking forward to November this year. My brother and sister will be writing novels this November as well. Most people set a goal to write at least 50,000 words in the 30 days of November, But my siblings are going for a far higher goal: 100,000 words! I am just going to 50,000 and hopefully I will finish this time. Last year I found out that trying to write a historical fiction novel in only 30 days would be a stressful stretch. This year I will have to settle with a fantasy fairytale. I will be writing about fairies because they inspire me even though they are not real. I have drawn some of the charactures, and that helps me to think about the plot of my novel.

Productivity Challenge!

I just got another idea! I am going to start a challenge called the productivity challenge। I am so exited about this i can't wait to tell you. This is a challenge to go a whole day with out watching any tv or using the computer for no reason at all, and no video games either. (Some times that is a big challenge for me.) And if you want, you can make it last a whole week for more of a challenge. I think I was not realizing that I was wasting my life when I would tell my mother that I would do my math and then plunk myself down on the couch until supper. So I would tee myself; "God gave you your life so you can spread his glory and bring others his light, not so you get to rap yourself up in a video game with your friends all Saturday. But there is hope for you yet." these Ideas help me when I am bored:

* Try and keep your room clean (that one is hard for me)
* Ask your family about what you can do to help them.
* Start some kind of a project (sewing, writing, building)
* Go for a whole day with out watching tv, and spend the day outside.
* Memorize Bible verses (that is probably the best one yet)

You can do so much in your life if you only try, spend every moment as if it were your last. There are so many things that I want to do in my life and I am going to try and find time for them all. Please come back with your Productivity Challenge results!

A Love of Animals

I have some pets, and I would like to share some of their funny pictures with you.

As I was cleaning my room just the other day, I came across this video that I made for 4-H last year. I think it has all my pets on it except for our latest horse. So here is a peek into my daily life.

Check it Out... Do Hard Things!

On Mother's Day I got the Harris twins' book called Do Hard Things. I can't believe how well they present the topics in their book and illustrate their point. It really makes you think of how you could inprove in your daily life. (You should get their book!)

Well anyway, I am now trying to think of how I could do hard things for Jesus' name. Up until I got their book and read it, I had thought of myself as a pretty good example of the Rebelution. But as I think back to only about two days ago, I never really made my bed each morning because I didn't feel like doing it! What a lousy thing to think, basing my actions on how I feel. If the world was built on feeling alone, this would be a pretty bad place to be. I also would put off cleaning my rabbit's cage because I would convince myself that the cage was very heavy, and I had to carry it all the way to the woods! And how is it that I don't mind carrying my tuba to band and back when it weighs about 50 pounds? Hmm. I wonder.

We all try to settle for the easier stuff in life, and sometimes just get by in our daily basis because that is human nature, instead of striving to do our very best job in everything. I know there is something holding me from doing my hardest in everything, we could all do better if we just made an effort to do so.

Alex and Brett Harris' book Do Hard Things is the perfect match for what I have just wrote. What they have to say in it is breathtaking. You probably never would realize what they said is true in your own life until you read about it in the book. I strongly suggest that you read it some time soon. The picture above is of their book, Do Hard Things.

Hope to hear from you soon, and feel free to ask a question or leave a comment. I will be back soon with more posts.

Tuba Music for God

I'm back at posting on my blog again. I took a break from it while I was in the Minnesota Honor band with my tuba. And when I was in Honor band I got the idea to write a post on music for God. My brother says that whatever you do in your life, it was made to bring God glory. That is why he has a blog about Aerospace to the glory of God! I am so inspired by him that I want to try and do everything, not just play music, to the glory of God. It is so amazing that God would take our pitiful little words from our mouths and use them in such a way that can bring him glory!
I love to play my tuba and harmonize with the rest of the band, but lots of times my heart is not looking upward. I know that everybody has that problem because we are humans, and that is human nature, but that should not stop us from trying our hardest to lift our hearts in praise no matter what we do.
My goal for my tuba hobby is to not be a receiver of praise, for man's praise is nothing. But be the praiser to the one and only receiver. Do you have a hobby or passion that you are having a hard time giving God all the glory with? I have lots of hobbies that I still am taking the credit for.
Maybe some day I will join a professional band and be a missionary to the other musicians, because lots of the musicians in this world focus on the music and not God. Do you have a passion for music and God? I would love to hear you story too. Feel free to leave your own ideas on my blog, I would love to talk to you soon.

An interesting quote

This is a quote from a book called The Basket of Flowers. I just started reading this book and I am already really into it. It is an old book about a young girl and her father, who are both devoted christians. The quote is taken from the very first chapter which is more like an introduction really. Anyway, I found it quite interesting, and I hope you do too.
"Human nature is the same in all countries; on the one hand we find the human heart, sinful,producing a life apart from God which leads to total misery and sorrow; and on the other hand, the remedy for this despair, is the work of the Holy Spirit of God, producing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ which leads us to a life of purpose and peace. 'For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved.' (Romans 10:13). The whole book is full of interest, and of the most valuable moral and biblical instruction; and we are persuaded that young people and old alike, will peruse it with pleasure, and reap from it many great advantages."
I hope you find that just as interesting as I do. the author of this book is named, Christoph Von Schmid. He wrote lots of Christ-centered books and novels. If you have any good God-centered books that you think others might enjoy, please tell me about them. I would love to hear about them.

Helping Elephants

Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to help the elephants in Africa from being killed for their ivory tusks. I have researched the ivory trade over the years and it is terrible to hear of all the elephants that are being killed illegally in Africa. People think that all elephants are very dangerous animals and need to be kept under complete control, but in reality they are very peaceful. If you keep your distance from them, they might not even take heed of your presence. There are people out there who are trying to help the elephants, like a woman named Cynthia Moss, who has been researching African elephants for a very long time, and follows certain herds around to watch their natural behavior. Also ther is an organization called The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which saves orphaned baby elephants and takes care of them until they are big enough to take care of themselves. I used to help foster some of these baby elephants with some friends of mine and I hope to find other ways to help out the elephants again sometime. Until then, I will try my hardest to keep you up dated!

Try creativity

Do you know why creativity is so great? Because it makes you think of new things and keeps your mind thinking, unlike watching a movie. When you watch a movie you are just consuming, not producing. Sometimes being creative is a challenge, which is good because if we always did easy things, we would never really go anywhere in life worth our while! Test what I am saying and try to do more than what other people expect of you and see what happens. You might just like it, or maybe it will take you more than one try to start seeing the effect.

So what are my hobbies?

Well, my main interest at this point in my life I would say is taking care of children at my church's nursery. I love to watch them gradually grow in understanding of God, and learn new things. I also like to dream about the future, and how I will raise my children. I want to inspire these youger children to be creative, and not as much to copy other people in their life. Being creative really stimulates the mind and makes you feel like you have accomplished something, which you have! you will end up a happier person if you are more productive, and that is what I want to see the children at the nursery doing.