DAY 19

Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them

well I have pretty obvious nicknames like Mar and Ria

The most endearing one is Ria. Only a few intimate friends and family call me that. And even more intimately is just Ri.

Also, you might see my screen name for certain things as Ria Jewel. My mom started calling me that cause my name is Maria Juliana, so Ria Jewel for short.

Other than that no other nickname really stuck...

A funny tid bit, my brother used to be called Peaches by his football team (long story on that one lol). So as his sister, they all would call me Little Peaches. That stuck all through junior high and high school, but no one has called me that in years.

aaannnnddd that's it!

things that make me wonder

really people? don't bring your screaming, fussing babies to the movie theaters. And especially a scary movie...

Also? don't arrive belligerently drunk, chugging a huge bottle of whiskey the whole entire movie paired with an obnoxious running commentary

please and thank you

DAY 18

Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have

we can make plans all we want but truth be told, life just happens in spite of them. And even deeper than that, if your life is surrendered to God, His plans are much better than yours anyway. We are often just given the next step ahead of us, that way we are utterly relying on God and trusting Him to guide us. We just gotta keep our focus on Him.

Within that, He gives direction as to our calling and how to prepare. I have already graduated from Bethany University with my BA in Music Ministries Leadership, which was a huge goal for me. I also got my minister's licence with the Assemblies of God, which was another goal.

It was never my plan to be a youth pastor, but here I am. I have gotten many confirmations that this is God's will for my life, so I am learning as much from this experience as I can. My plan is to continue to serve at Lakeport Christian Center as long as the Lord will allow. I have big ideas and dreams especially for the youth group. So I'm hoping to develop that in due time and see those dreams come to pass one day.

I have many dreams for my life... dreams for ministry, a family one day, etc. But it's in His timing, not mine. And as long as my will is aligned with His, my desires will align with His desires for my life. So I'm covered... He's got me. And I'm takin this adventure one day at a time

DAY 17

Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why

hmmm well maybe a few years ago I would have chosen a celebrity or sports star... just to know what it's like. but that doesn't interest me much anymore..

Then I thought about people I know in my life who have gotten things, experiences, etc. that I have yet to. And I thought it would be interesting to live a day in their shoes just to know how it feels. But just because the desires of their heart were given to them before mine, doesn't mean my "turn" isn't coming. So to switch a day with one of them would be like having a day that will already come in my own life, only early.

I think I would want to spend one day in utter poverty. Now bear with me, this isn't me trying to be uber spiritual or a super human. If i could spend one day in someone's shoes who is in poverty in a 3rd world country as the ethnicity of the country, I think it would be life changing. No, I wouldn't have a full understanding of what it would be like to live like that. But it would give me a big enough glimpse to change me and impact me in a new way. So often I find myself wrapped up in my standard of living and "the american way". Experiencing what it's like to be without first hand would be a worth-it experience in my eyes

DAY 16

Day 16- Another picture of yourself

DAY 15

Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play

1)Muse - Hysteria

2) Iron and Wine - Promising Light

3)The Classic Crime - Medisin

4)Secondhand Serenade - Fall For You

5)Muse - Starlight

6)Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism

7) The Killers - Bones

8) The Red Kid Theory - Angel

9) Hawk Nelson - Everything You Ever Wanted

10) If Trees Could Talk - The Sun is in the North

.... wasn't very impressed with that? me neither lol

DAY 14

Day 14- A picture of you and your family

don't have very many pictures of just the four of us in digital form but here's a couple old ones

my brother, nathaniel and his wife, stephanie

cousin picture (from Dad's side)- years ago

I have so much more family but I'm too wiped out to post them!