Here we go...

     So here I am. I have decided to write a blog. It's something I've been wanting to do for a little bit. But I kept thinking it was dumb. "Who would even read it?" "Will people think it's weird?" "Am I really a blogger? I mean do I really have much of anything to say?" There are some great blogs that I follow that I absolutley LOVE and since I've been reading them, I've started changing my thinking to "I think I would enjoy this." So here I am. Maybe no one will read it or maybe I'll find out I don't have much to say. But what's the hurt in trying, right? Also, my life is pretty quirky. And my friends have been saying for a while, "Rachel, if your life was a book, I'd read it." So why not make a blog! And my little brother, Adam, assured me that he would read it. So there's one reader right there. Woo!

     But really, I wanted to make a blog because I am loving what God is teaching me. The way He is changing my heart. The way He loves me, surprises me, makes me uncomfortable and grows me. I think it's easy to look around and see things as a given- this is the way it is because it's just the way it is. Who knows why things are happy or sad or hard or easy? I think this way of thinking is the trap we fall into a lot. But what I pray to see is that it's all a gift, not a given. The good- a gift that we can thank God for and praise Him. The bad- a gift that we can thank God for because it points our hearts to our need of a Savior. And oh the joy I find when I look from this perspective! That's what I want to come through in this blog. Not every post will be deep. But some will. Because that's part of life. But life is also, fun and normal. But what I hope will shine through is that even when things just seem normal, the Lord's in that, too. He's stolen my heart. And because of this I love being intentional in what I do and say so as to glorify Him and love others. Whether it's a post about my latest crafting or cooking endeavor or something that clearly screams "JESUS," I want to remember that the Lord is in it all. Even what seems mundane. I hope this shines through.

     I also hope that my personality shines through. I have no clue how often I'll be posting, but when I do, I hope that the person that the Lord has created me to be is visible. And like I said, I don't know how often I'll even be writing things.

     Yeah, no. I don't want to feel like I have to say something. Some days are just normal days. Go to class, eat some food, do some homework, get some sleep (if I'm lucky). Don't get me wrong. I know that each day is a blessing and God is in it all. Even the normal and mundane. But no one needs to hear about how much the food in the dining hall was seriously lacking in the flavor/healthiness department but at least I have food to eat. My hope is to portray what I'm learning from the world around me, my friends and family, my ministry, my quiet times, nature, and complete strangers. I have no idea what that will look like. But here we go! Thanks for reading, Adam. :)