Interview with Hannah

1. What are your hobbies?
My hobbies are reading, writing, blogging, swimming, horseback riding, and hanging out with my friends. :)

2. What do you like about my blog?
I love all of your posts, they are so fun and interesting! I also love the author of the posts. ;)

3. If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
Hmm... I would love to fly or be invisible! 

4. Would you rather read or write?
That's so hard... but I think I'd have to say read, though I love to write too. :)

5. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
"Just be yourself." 

6. Dog or cat?
Dogs! :)

7. City or country?
That is so hard... I live in the city, and love how convenient it is to get places, but my grandparents live in the country, and I love how peaceful and pretty it is there. I like both. :)

8. What are you most looking forward to in life?
I really want to get married, and have a family. Oh, and I'd love to be an author! :)

9. Favorite season?
Summer, definitely!

10. If you had 1 million dollars, what would you do with it? 
I would save half of it, donate a fourth, and spend a fourth of it! :)

Thanks Hannah! :) Be sure to visit her blog here. If you would like to be interviewed, check out the "Interviews" page!

Have a great day! :)

"Dad's Home!" ~ A Short Story

The late afternoon sun warmed me up as I followed Kinley around the house and into the backyard. Even though it was 6:00 PM, the sun was not letting up and I felt hot and sticky with sweat. Kinley turned his head around once to make sure I was coming, and then took off towards Erica.

"I'm coming, Kinley!" I picked up my pace.

I soon came upon Erica. She had her headphones in, and was picking blackberries. It was still early in the year for them, but I'm sure we could find some sweet ones somewhere along the fence.

The blackberry bush stretched all along the fence dividing our neighbor and us. Every summer, we would come down and pick them. There were never enough to make blackberry jam or pie, so we collected them for dinner or just ate them on the spot. They tasted so good when they were ripe!

Kinley, Erica and I began our search. I went down the line, slowly, looking for black. There were some black berries, but most of them weren't ripe enough and still had a red tint to them.

The first couple of berries I bit into were too sour. Kinley pricked his nose on a thorn. Erica gave up and wandered off, nodding her head to her music. But I kept looking. I touched each blackberry I came upon, testing to see if it was big and squishy enough. I dropped a couple for Kinley so he wouldn't feel left out.

I eventually came to the end of the line. There were only a couple more to check. I felt the first one. Too hard. The second one was too small. But the third one was just right. I popped it in my mouth and the flavor exploded in my mouth. It was one of the best berries I had ever tasted! It was so sweet, I could almost taste the sun rays that had ripened it.

"Mmm, mmm! Now that's a good berry!"

Kinley wagged his tail and I let him lick my berry stained fingers. Then, I heard a car. No, not a car, a truck. My dad's truck! I turned to see my dad drive up our lane after a day at work. Kinley immediately chased after him, barking happily, and I followed. Dad was home!

When my dad comes home, it's one of the best feelings in the world. I don't know how to explain it, but seeing him just feels me with joy. I felt like a little girl again when he opened the car door and I threw my arms around him.

"Welcome home, Dad! Happy Father's Day! I love you!"

And with Kinley by our side, we walked inside together to get ready for dinner.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This is a (mostly) true story that happened last June. I hope you enjoyed it. :)

Insults {A Sunday Devotional}

(I'm going to try to get back into doing these every Sunday.)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

How do you react when others are being unkind?

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

~ 1 Peter 3:8 ~

Have you ever had someone start a rumor about you? What about having a friend tell someone else about a secret that you confided in her? It's sometimes easy in those situations to react by doing the same thing. You know, starting a rumor take the attention off of you. Sometimes even when someone is teasing us about something it's easy to react by shifting the teasing onto someone else.

Today's verse tells us that that isn't what we should do. It says not to repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessings. This idea is repeated in Luke 6:28 where Jesus tells us to pray for those who mistreat us. It's not always easy, but it's what God wants from us.

The Bible tells us that we are to respond to people by being nice, even when they aren't nice to us. We can respond to rumors by stating that they aren't true, praying for those who started and spread them, and also by not holding a grudge against them. When our friends share our secrets, we can bless them by honoring their trust in is anyway. God wants us to display our inner beauty that comes from Christ in us even when others are not treating us the way they should. But by handling things God's way, our inner beauty shines out for the world to see.

Reflection:

In the heat of the moment, do you react to insults with insults, or with prayer and blessings?

Application step:

Today when people tease you or are unkind to you, respond in a kind way; by praying for them, and doing something nice for them.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Have a happy Father's Day! :)

Made to Inspire #2

Beautiful...

Favorites from the past couple of weeks

1. My sister graduated from junior high!

2. Mia, the dog I am pet sitting

3. A pretty flower

4, 5, and 6. Pool party with my sisters and bestie!

7. Graduation/birthday cake