I Found my Niche -- And this is Who I Am

No matter how many times a blogger drills it in, it doesn't work until you are truly ready to make the change. Not just read the advice and move on, but actually apply it. What is it, you ask?

It is finding your niche.

I hadn't planned on even posting this until Jocee did this super inspiring post the other day. After I read it, it hit me. For months now, when I would go to write a post, it just didn't really feel like me. The words just wouldn't flow. I began using words and phrases that I didn't use before. Does that make sense? I feel like instead of taking other bloggers posts as simply inspiration, I have wanted to be more and more like them. All these blogs with 1000+  readers, comments abounding, and people head over heels for their blogs -- I thought that if I could make my posts more like theirs then I would get more readers. Conclusion? It back fired. Big time. My little blog slowly and gradually got less comments and less followers. If I'm being honest, that stung a little bit. But I now see why it happened. It is because I wasn't writing like me. I was so ingrained on wanting more followers, more comments, and wanting to become more like the other bloggers -- that I lost my niche. I wasn't writing like myself anymore. The last time I really feel like I wrote like Anna Gray was maybe last Spring. It was before a bunch of bloggers got their big break (as in getting oodles of followers) and since then it has felt like competition.

I felt like if I could be like the "big bloggers", then my blog would thrive and grow. But that is like trying to eat ice cream without a spoon. It doesn't work.

Since I read Jocee's post though, it has encouraged me to reflect a bit and find my niche. My niche is expressing myself through my own simple thoughts and photos. I know, that sounds like what I am already doing -- but there actually is a huge difference. With this post and the kabillion more to come, they will be my true style of writing -- not trying to sound like somebody else.

I hope you all will continue to stay on this journey of my little blog -- perhaps pour yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy the ride?

I am quirky, I am sarcastic, I am dorky, I am loud, I am quiet, I am offbeat, I am silly, I am not perfect because -- I am me -- and that is what I hope you all will see now. I hope you all will get the visual picture of my ups, my downs, the flaws in my life, the good things in my life, how God has worked in my life. I want you all to see the true me.

how society has molded us

Society has the idea that...

The skinnier you are, the prettier you are...

Girls should have boyfriends and begin dating at a young age...

Girls at age nine are old enough to cake on makeup...

"Sexy" is better than "Pretty"...

Producing sexual magazines, like Cosmopolitan, are OK to read...

Pregnancy before marriage is completely normal...

It is the mother's right to abort her baby; "My body, my right."...

Young teen couples are "old enough" to lock lips...

Texting 24/7 is apparently the cool thing to do...

Using profane and crude language is acceptable...

We should be who we want to be.

It is pretty safe to say that our society has become dangerously corrupt, no? Since we are unable to stop all the mess around us, allow me to leave you with this simple piece of advice:

Do not fall into the temptation of society.

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Matthew 6:13 {From the Lord's Prayer}

Anti-Homosexuality: part 3

Last year in November, I did my first post on homo-sexuality. Last May, I did anti-homosexuality: part 2 and responded to those who are for gay rights. And now, it is time for Anti-Homosexuality: Part 3.

It may sound strange, but I really enjoy seeing all the different arguments and opinions; including those who are pro-homosexuality.

Let's get to the responding, shall we?
{note: I am only responding to those who are pro-homosexuality}
--------------

Erin / Miri-love said...

Let you who is blameless throw the first stone.
Let's worry about ourselves before we try to judge others for their shortcomings. Surely we have issues of our own that keep us just as far away from God.

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will
judge those outside. 'Expel the wicked person from among you.'" 1 Corinthians 5:12-13

The above verse clearly states that we as Christians are held accountable to confront (and yes, judge) one another if we are sinning. Is it judging that person? Absolutely. Is it judging wrongly? Absolutely not. If somebody is homosexual and claiming to be Christian, we as Christians are to confront them. Why? Because you cannot claim to be Christian yet live in sin when God has clearly (and in many times throughout the Bible) confirmed that Christians are not to be homosexual nor live a homosexual type lifestyle in any way, shape or form.

Anonymous said...




You should judge yourself before you judge others.
I just talked to someone who told me you were one of the rudest, most hate filled people she had ever encountered. And she didn't even know about this narrow minded, judgmental and hateful post about homosexuality.
I am sure you will delete this post before you allow it on your blog, but I just wanted to say that you shouldn't go hating on other people so much. You already have a terrible reputation as a blogger, and if you want to be successful with an online blog, professionalism and courtesy will go a long way.
Oh, and they might help you get into heaven, too.

Anonymous, what you commented is called an Ad Hominem argument. Ad Hominem arguments are where you attack the person rather than arguing your point. When you attack the person instead, it does nothing to help support your case. Why? Because there was no real argument in the first place and all you are doing is insulting the person.

Anonymous said...




You people are pathetic.

Again, an Ad Hominem argument.

Anonymous said...




I'm far more concerned with starving children, deep poverty, and the state of our environment than with what my neighbors choose to do in the privacy of their own home.
I choose to let God judge the sinners, I'd rather focus my energy on the positive.

Whether children have full stomachs or not, people are in deep poverty or not, or what the state of our environment is like...homosexuality is still wrong. Once again, read 1 Corinthians 5:12-13.

Qinni said...




What jokes. You're not open at all. You only tell yourself that to make yourself feel better and more "righteous".
Although being open might not mean that you have to support them, but it should at least mean that you wouldn't condemn and judge them openly (which you do, in your fancy phrasing).
If you let go of your condemnation and hatefulness, that's when you're really "open".
You're not there yet. Even if you'd like to think you are.
There's many things I'd like to say about your ignorance, but I'll hold my tongue and not stoop to your level.
Anyways, you should also leave people alone and not harass them with rude religious and hateful messages, just because they didn't agree with you and did not want to donate to your little blog-giveaway. It's her right to say no, and you should respect them and leave them alone.

When I said, "I'm open." at the end of Part 2, I meant that as in, "I am ready for whatever is thrown at me." I do not at all "hate" homosexual people. Just because I do not agree with that lifestyle does not mean that I "hate" them. Secondly, I did not harass the Etsy seller. I asked her if she would be interested in donating to a giveaway, she said "No" for a few reasons; one of them being that she did not like my opinions on homo-sexuality and she continually egged on the conversation. Each time, I responded. That is not harassing. That is responding to a message.

Your comment is an Ad Hominem argument.

Sean said...


So...I'm curious as to how you choose these values of which you speak of. I mean, you choose from Old and New Testament, but you pick things out of context. I mean, I hate to beat a dead horse, but have you read Leviticus. Some of the stuff is a bit out-dated.
I also feel compelled to tell you that the initial colonies were founded on the principle of freedom from religious persecution. The phrase 'Under God', was added later. Modern history will tell you that. While the first settlers WERE Christians, they didn't claim the soil for God.

I must say, I was rather baffled when I received your comment. I am not sure why you seem to get the impression that I am taking things out of context. I listed one Bible verse in my last Anti-Homosexuality post which was,

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 - "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."

Again, look at the key words I bold-faced.
I was using that verse as a response to a commenter who was arguing that God said gay sex was wrong but loving the same gender is not wrong. It is clearly not taken out of context.

-----
What are your opinions on homo-sexuality?

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as a side note: Our desktop computer isn't publishing your comments, so if you see that yours did not appear, please do comment again!

gratia ago

With Thanksgiving only a mere one day away, it is the ideal time to begin pondering things we are grateful for. What could possibly be a better way than to link up with the lovely Rachel's ABC's of Thanks?

I am thankful for...

amusing musings//blessings//cute shoes//dinner out//east coast//friends&family//golden hour//hershey's chocolate//iced coffee//Jesus//kids//laughter//musical theatre//nikon d3000//oreos & milk//photography//quirky people//running around the house//simplicity//taking pictures//united states//vanilla ice cream//winter//x'tra hot cocoa//youtube//zero school work


What are you thankful for?

november.

November. It is the month which welcomes wintry weather and a chilly breeze to nip away at your nose. It is the month which you are permitted to pull out your bulky, insulated coat and sweater boots. It is the month which is perfect for bonfires, hay rides, and a mug full of steaming hot cocoa.

This past weekend, I was privileged to simply relax at our church's annual bonfire. Our pastor and his family always host it and to say that we have a "good time" would be a vast understatement.

There is just something about nestling up in your bulk of a coat and settling by the bonfire that is quite relaxing. Starting off with a splitting headache was not oh-so-fun, but after some water, protein, and a lot of praying it slipped out of my head {Thank you, God!}.

hello there kiley.

my mom is in the funky, hardcore red hat.

a couple of side notes:
- I ordered Lightroom 3 and it is on the way. swoon.
- I am currently borrowing Kiley's mom's Nikon f/1.8 lens. can we say in love?
- I  did a couple's engagement photos!
- I am sorry I have not been commenting on your blogs lately, I have just been extremely busy. To everyone who I follow: I have not forgotten about you all! Promise.
- Can you count how many times I said "I"?


Do you have any special plans for November?

called.

It started when I was ten years old. My mom, brother, and I were at the mall 'shoe shopping' and after a while, I wanted to take a little break. Leaving the little shoe store, I plopped myself on a bench. My and my mom's friend had recently been called out to California for an interview in hopes to get on "The Biggest Loser" and I sat on that bench thinking about what it was like out there. As I was pondering, Carrie Underwood's song "Jesus Take the Wheel" was echoing throughout the mall. For some reason, just the echoing stir of the song made me feel sad. No, it was not the song itself, just the blend of the song echoing plus thinking about California. Suddenly, the thought came to me.

I want to go to California.

Keep in mind, I was only ten years old. I had never really seen photos of California (true, I had seen the Hollywood sign) and honestly knew virtually nothing about it. I didn't just want to go; I felt the need to go.

It was as if I was homesick for a place I had never been to.

Since then, I have always desired very strongly not just to go to California, but to actually live there. This is no secret either. The majority of my friends and family know about it. In fact, the discussion of it came up briefly at the home-school group I go to on Tuesdays. During the seminar, our tutor looking a bit skeptical about the idea, brought up the cons of living there:

vast amounts of homo sexuality
terrorism (potentially occurring)
expensive living
beyond sinful groups of people
etc.

I did not beg to differ with his points. He was right. This led me to thinking though,

That is exactly why I need to go.

There are so many unbelievers that California needs more believers.

As of right now, I know that beyond a shadow of a doubt, God has called me to go there. I know, I know...I am 'just a teenage girl who doesn't know everything about the real world' but...who am I to question that? If God has called me to go, then I will go. My friend, Bailey, feels that God has called her to live in Africa, open up her own orphanage, and adopt. Now that is beautiful, right there.

God can give people their calling early on. If you take the time to pray about what He wants you to do, you may see a door opened up that you had no idea was there.

Has God called you to do anything specific?

a few of my favorite things.

 
I always have to let out a blissful sigh of relief when Friday comes. Why? Well because it is the weekend, of course!

Throughout the week I have documented through photography things of simplicity, beauty, and simply life.

these are some of my favorite things from the week:

sweet young, children



getting school work done in a reasonable amount of time

cookouts with friends

half eaten apples...

enjoying Wednesday & Thursday with your cousins

making silly videos

talking for well over an hour to your 9 year old cousin about hamsters

buns that happen to stay up perfectly without bobby pins, clips, or any other necessities in them...just your own hair...

feeling accomplished by knowing how to set the aperture on your camera {thanks, carlotta!}

getting nice straight-out-of-camera (aka sooc) photos

bokeh

God's creation...

clever quotes by your best friend, "I inspire me."

chillier weather

being able to finally wear jeans

skinny jeans, to be exact

rain

cooking lasagna soup for the first time {thanks, emily!}

chickens...

last but not least...

being asked to do engagement photos.

Saying I am "excited" would definitely be an understatement. I am beyond thrilled, ecstatic, happy!

Do you have any favorites? Be sure to link up at Rachel's blog!

imagine.

 

   Our minds are a very odd, very mysterious part of the human body.

Our minds are a necessity. We need them in order to do things.

Our minds are what tell us the answers to things...

tell us if we do not like something...

Our minds are what choose who we spend the rest of our lives with,
our friends,
what we like and what we don't like,
our mood,
our cravings
what we want to eat...

they are what decide our morals,
if we want to go to sleep,
what we want to do,
what music we listen to,

our minds are what create imagination.


Our imaginations are what give us ideas.
they give us ideas about what types of materials to combine to form a masterpiece...

devices to create,
house design layouts,
patterns to use for sewing,
songs to compose,
graphic designing,
photo editing,
what to name children,
books to write...

What causes our minds work like this? How are we able to think up these crazy, insane ideas and do something with them?

Because when God created us, that is what He intended. He is who constructed our minds to work the way they do.

'Nuff said.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14

out with the old, in with the new

"I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Mark 1:8

short and sweet

My day today...started out not so well. I was way behind with school work, shed many tears for well over two hours (I willingly admit), and just had a rough start. But see these people up here? Well, they are kind of amazing and totally changed my rough day into a joyful, happy, memorable one. Volleyball, adorable little pink cupcakes, lemonade, and fellowship can totally do a one eighty to a girl's day.

prayer chain for summer

 

 
  A lot of you know that the sweet miss Summer @ Summer's Story is battling DM. She has been going through so, so, so many medications, doctor visits, and chemotherapy just to get in remission. She is a wonderful example of someone who doesn't let her disease ruin her life. Summer is one of the happiest, sweetest, and positive ladies I have ever met and it is pretty much impossible not to absolutely love her!


Unfortunately, her disease has started blazing and she is having to take tons of medications. She is in great need of prayers and therefore I have decided to host a prayer chain link up for her.

It would be wonderful if you guys would link up! Your post could even be something as simple as, "Summer @ Summer's Story is fighting DM and it would be great if you all would pray for her!"

Even if you don't want to link up, please, please, please be praying for her. She wants so badly get in remission.

Remember, God DOES do miracles!


P.S. You also can support her by purchasing a Team Summer T-shirt!

Yep - I'm Back!

  Wait a second, back from...where? The beach, baby! My family, aunt, uncle, cousins, and grandparents all traveled to the beautiful Holden Beach to vacation for a week. The weather couldn't have been any more perfect and we all had an absolutely wonderful time!  Since I took well over 100 photos (No worries - I didn't post them all) I decided to create some collages of our trip.

These are in no certain order, but I hope you like them!

Yes sirrey-bob, I am now officially fifteen years old! For my birthday I just got a couple cards and a bag of dark chocolates because my whole entire family chipped in to pay the rest of the $150 for my camera (I honestly could have cared less if I didn't get any cards for my birthday. I am just grateful I got the rest of the money!). They all sent me the money early so I could purchase my camera before the beach!

We stayed in an adorable little oceanfront beach house. 10 people + house = :D We mainly just relaxed on the beach and porch, did a bit of shopping, and went out to eat a couple times.

I hope you dear lovely readers enjoyed these photos!

Also, a huge thank you to Maggie, Amanda, and Abigail for your beautiful posts! They did a *fabulous* job and I was so happy and grateful that these awesome, Christian gals were able to guest post.

Smitten Sunday - The Lake

Today, after church, my family and I went down to my MeeMaw's house to bring her some cookies (she had mouth surgery a few weeks ago). While we were there, I was able to capture some beautiful scenery throughout her yard.

It is especially fun in the Summer to ride her pontoon/jet ski...and go tubing!

^sooc





How have you spent your Sunday?

Prayer Request?

This isn't really a big prayer request or anything, but I still could use the prayers. I have just been cramping over the last couple of days (Tuesday morning to be exact) and it is not *how should I put this* a very lovely feeling. I'm not in constant pain, it's like sporadically throughout the day that I suddenly start cramping. I also am a major, major, major worrier and I come up with all kinds of *ahem* crazy solutions as to what this could be.

Once again my favorite Bible verse.....

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."