Currently: Goals, Grace, and Giveaways

Hey y’all!  It’s been a little while since I’ve done a “Currently” post, and even longer since I’ve shared monthly goals with you!  But yet, I’m putting out more posts and coming up with even more blogging ideas than I believe I ever had before.  How exciting!!
Anyway, it’s always nice to take a step back and just do a down-to-earth post about life and reality.  Today I’m just going to sit down with all of you like I would a close friend, here in my little bedroom, and chat about all things goals, Grace, and giveaways :)  And some other stuff, too.

Life has been full lately; not only with every-day stuff and all the busy-ness, but also with joy and happiness!  Just trying to live life to the full, y’all.

Spring has sprung and the weather has been interesting here in the south.  I don’t think the weather has made up its mind yet what temperature it wants to be ;)  Well, God knows best and I’m enjoying it all!

Spring also means shopping with my grandma!  We have a fun tradition where each year we go shopping for a new outfit and/or accessories, and then we go to lunch.  This year I got a chambray headband, soft lavender necklace, and this cool green baseball-looking-ish top.  I threw my hair in a bun and paired the shirt and accessories with a denim skirt for a casual and fun outfit for the day.

Last week my Wednesday did not go as planned, so I ended up making lots and lots of chocolate chip cookies (which I had volunteered to do anyway as part of a ministry).  They turned out delicious, although I skipped the step about rolling the dough into balls, so they looked more like... clumps.  But they tasted good anyhow :)

I completed very few goals in March, but one mental goal I had was to eat healthier (and I know, I just mentioned cookies??  But they weren’t for me anyway… except for the 1 ½ tiny ones I may have taste-tested…).  I don’t think I’ve ever eaten enough foods with magnesium, and then I looked over a list of side effects of magnesium deficiencies and realized that I had most of them… so I started eating more nuts.  Not like it’s going to transform my health overnight, but nuts are high in magnesium, so it’s a start.  I also started eating slightly healthier things for some of my breakfasts and lunches.  Below, my salad wrap for lunch one day (this has since been made healthier by using a low-carb tortilla instead of the usual flour one).

On the writing front, I was super excited to be featured over on Abby’s blog, Truly Beautiful!  Abby and I did an interview which was a ton of fun (click here to read it).  If you haven’t heard of or read Abby’s blog, definitely check it out!  Abby posts new content often for young ladies, full of fun and encouraging things.  Her blog is one of my favorites!

I also had the privilege of guest posting over at my sweet friend’s blog, Worth it All.  You can click here to go directly to the post. I’ve been following Bella’s blog from the very beginning and am thrilled that she would be so kind as to let me guest post!

Did I mention that my friend Grace from Don’t You Know That I’m Singing is hosting a giveaway for 2 copies of her brother’s book, More Than Conquerors?!  Head on over to her fantastic blog for details on how to enter!  And while you’re there, check out some of her other posts… she is a gifted poet and songwriter, and a wonderful writer in general.

Lately I’ve been doing a lot of lettering projects.  Several of you have shown specific interest in my hand-lettering/card-making, and I’ve been terrible and haven’t posted any further on that artsy topic.  My apologies!  Here are some of my favorite recent lettering projects.

This one isn't really "lettered," but I threw it in here because I liked the quote :)

Music, music, music!  I seriously don’t know what I’d do with myself if music didn’t exist.  I suppose God would've given me a different ability to use, but I don't even want to go there.  I'm glad He gave me the gift of music. :)  Praise God for being such a gracious Creator and giving us such marvelous gifts!  Lately I’ve done quite a bit at my church in music, and I’m looking forward to playing for our sunrise service on Resurrection Sunday.

(Above, music practice.  Sometimes you just gotta multitask and eat your breakfast while practicing.  And sometimes you gotta entertain the baby of the family at the same time, so you give her the phone camera.  And if you give your sis a camera... she may take fifteen thousand photos of you practicing, as well as a good amount of 1-second videos, which may take you 5 minutes to delete.  Oh, but observe those adorable tiny toes! *heart melts*)

Speaking of Resurrection Sunday… I am so excited!!  It has always been one of my very favorite holidays.  Isn’t it just so wonderful to celebrate what Jesus Christ has done for us and His victory over death?  I wish I could share the beauty of my day with all of you personally.  Maybe I should do a vlog? :)  Haha.  Just a thought!

For this special week, I’ve uploaded a special YouTube video, which you can see here.  This arrangement of His Robes for Mine is absolutely gorgeous.  I heard it several years ago and it took my breath away.  I went and purchased the book and learned to play it.  It is still one of my favorite arrangements today.  Just take a moment to ponder these lyrics, written by Chris Anderson:

“He as though I, accursed and left alone.

I as though He, embraced and welcomed home.”

Need I say anything else?  We should be overwhelmed by what our Savior did for us!

I encourage you to check out these blog posts and songs for Resurrection Day:

- Blog post: 8 Ways to Celebrate Easter and Why You Should (from More Radiance)

- Song: The Wonderful Cross Medley (by Taryn Harbridge)

- Blog post: A Prince’s Sacrifice

- Song: Mercy Tree (by the Galkin Evangelistic Team)

- Song: Jesus Saves (by the Steve Pettit Evangelistic Team)

- Song: You Are the Christ (by the Wilds)

Okay, now for my April goals!  April is going to be a crazy month, so I don’t know if I’ll get everything done that I want to, although I will certainly try.  Here are the goals I’ve made thus far:

- Finish A Woman of Prayer by Betty Henderson.

- Make dinner x2.

- Read a book.

- Go through + evaluate my wardrobe.

- Write out 1 verse of an arrangement.

- Upload 2 videos to YouTube.

- Get 3 lettering projects done.

I also plan on continuing to make small, healthier changes in both areas of food + exercise.  I'd love to go hiking this coming month as well, but we'll have to see.

So, that’s what’s been up lately in my life!  If you lasted to the end of this post, congratulations! :)  Now it’s your turn…

What have you been up to lately?  Have you made any goals for April?

What was your favorite part about this post?

Any special plans for Resurrection Sunday?

Did you check out Grace’s giveaway?