Real Talk Tuesday: Kindness is Free

Have you ever thought that if someone could just be inside your mind, they would be in for a crazy time? I've definitely wished for that a few times. 

Yesterday I became aware of the significance of a kind word. Someone I have one or two classes with ran into me in the hallway and told me that she thought I was pretty. I don't know her name and I don't think she knows mine. She didn't want anything from me, just to pay me a compliment. 

And let me tell you, it made my day! 

Later I was at target, and I saw this older woman with beautiful hair. It was long and white and looked soo soft. Let's just say I would be so happy if I had hair like that when I'm in my 70s. But that was all and I went on with my day. But as I was browsing the chex cereal, I had a thought. Why didn't I tell that woman that her hair was beautiful? 

Because I'm shy.

Because I'm busy.

Because she probably already know it and that's why it was down to her butt....

When it comes right down to it, there is no valid reason. Why wouldn't I take the opportunity to make someone's day? Why should I keep my positive thoughts to myself, instead of sharing them?? It doesn't cost me anything.

So I'm challenging myself, and I'm challenging you. 

Don't keep your thoughts to yourself! 

The next time I think someone is pretty, or they have a cute outfit, or a nice smile, I'm going to step outside my little awkward bubble and make their day. 

I know this post isn't anything that you've never heard before. I know I've heard it preached my entire life from my mom or middle school seminars, it's not my intention to bring something new to the table.

I just want to remind you of the importance of a kind word.

Let's be encouragers of each other, and make someone smile today. 

Real Talk Tuesday: Not Even Halfway Through

It's Tuesday night, and it just turned 9:00. I'm home for the first time today since 7:30 this morning.
My week has already had enough happen to make me counting down until the weekend.
Would you like me to share with you? Maybe you will realize that your week is going rather well ;) 

Monday:

6:00 AM - I realize that I left my laptop charger in Alex's car. Have I ever mentioned in the past that during the week Alex are I live 45 minutes away? In all cases, (but especially this case),  this is extremely inconvenient.
10:00 AM - Computer dies with a homework assignment on it due. No, it was not lost forever. However, I was not able to get to it before class started. Thank God for understanding teachers and friends who will loan you their charger after class.
5:00 PM - Drive 40 minutes to pick up computer charger during Alex's lunch break. I don't know how this happened, I was supposed to be working a baseball game until late. Then it rained enough to cancel the game. Woot Woot! Shoutout ~ I'm such a good girlfriend, I brought him a Jamba Juice.
7:00 PM - My mom meets me (since I'm so close to home) to take me to dinner.  This one is not a complaint. She's awesome, and thanks to her and the leftovers I didn't have to cook tonight

Tuesday:

9:00 AM - International Outreach Festival! All.Day.Long. I love my school but this made for a loooonnnngggg day. 9am-4pm listening to different speakers talk about missionary work.      
4:00 PM - Quick lunch/dinner and workout   

6:00 PM - Making Awkward Phone Calls. I'm part of a leadership scholarship on campus, so we have to help out from time to time. Well this week that entails 3, 2-hour time slots where we are that guy who calls you at dinner time to say " Hi alumni, I'm a current student, would you like to donate to your alma mater?" I definitely woke up a sleeping baby on one of my calls. Literally.
7:42 PM - I get the most dreaded text:  From my training room supervisor, where I work. Telling me that I was scheduled to work the basketball game. And of course I don't get the text until I'm done asking people for money. After the game is over.

All that, and it's only Tuesday. Not even half way through the week.
It can only get better from here right?? Besides the exam in the morning. And facing a bitter athletic trainer in the afternoon. Oh and more phone calls by night. I love college.



Want to hear what will be getting me through the week?
I'll share. These voices lead me straight into God's peace every single time.



If I did it right, it should be a playlist of 4 songs.
I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Real Talk Tuesday: The Facts of Me

Hello my kitten whiskers! How was your 3 day weekend? I hope it was restful!

This past week I have been super uninspired and I'm sure you can tell from looking around. It's been a while. Anyways, Monday night rolls around and I realize that I have nothing for RTT. And then Whitney at I Wore Yoga Pants saves my butt by hosting the Facts of Me link up. Thanks for that Whitty Pie. 

So without further adieu:

The Basics:

~I LOVE the Lord. He is good all the time, and I am able to love because He first loved me.

~My favorite color is blue

~I can't handle cold weather

~My perfume of choice is Daisy Eau So Fresh by Marc Jacobs

~I'm addicted to Modern Family, Bones, New Girl, Criminal Minds, and Nashville. 

~For more than half my life I wanted to be a dolphin trainer. Now I want to be a human trainer. Oh the irony

~ Before we had met, I had to ask my (now) boyfriend to dance. But don't worry I still made him ask for my number.

The Serious:

~I am subject to completely random and unreasonable anxiety attacks. Example: Meeting a friend for a coffee/study date after 6 PM. All of a sudden, for no good reason at all, I just can't handle the thought. And heaven forbid we carpool. Sheesh, talk about airways constricting.

~If I come across confident, I'd say that's pretty accurate. I'm truly confident in who I am..and who I am is a girl who makes slightly awkward situations as awkward as humanly possible.

~Speaking of confidence, I am more self-concious of my complexion than anything else about me.  

~I'm currently in the middle of a 4 year program working towards a degree in Kinesiology. While it's good, my main dream in life is to be a wife and mother. Part of me feels like I'm putting off my life. Then I wake up and realize that degree = $ = happy family. So it's all good.

~I am legally blind. My glasses are stronger than my mother's and grandmother's combined. If I weren't wearing contacts I wouldn't be able to see the computer screen right now.

~I am a conspiracy theorist. For real. Ask me, I'll tell you. Or maybe I won't, that might not end well.

The Random:

~ ~I get my best ideas in the shower. Oh, everyone says that? Well I mean it. Almost every single time I shower, I kick myself for not owning a waterproof notebook.

~ I love to play the guitar, but only when I'm alone and no one can hear me, because I am no good. My sweet, sweet boyfriend has remained neutral on the topic.

~ My motion light makes me paranoid, even though I know it's just the neighbor's cat.

~ I own a 2 foot baton taser, and I keep it under my bed. If you think I'm ridiculous, refer to the above fact.

~ When it comes to buying home decor items, I am THE MOST indecisive person you will ever meet. I currently have a dog blanket draped over my bedroom window because I have bought and returned curtains at least 4 times.

~ I have self-diagnosed myself with selective OCD. My closet is color coordinated, my bathroom counter can not have clutter, but I'm a walking tornado when it comes to books, papers, shoes and department store bags. I've stopped trying to figure it out.

~I have listened to Vanessa Carlton's White Houses on repeat for the entire duration of writing this post.



If you made it through all that, thanks so much. Leave a comment if you can relate, I'd like to know that I'm no the only freak around here!
Xoxo,
Terra

Real Talk Tuesday: Prayer

Hello my friends. It's been so long, and I'm sorry! I've had a very chaotic week, all in preparation for today.
Today is a somber day for me..I return to school from Christmas break.
All good things must come to an end so they say! I don't know if I've mentioned this before but I attend a small (and I mean 500 student small) private christian college here in San Diego. It's a great community, everyone knows everyone and we all have those people that we couldn't live without..and those people that we definitely could live without. But at the end of the day we're still family. I love it, I wouldn't trade it for any other school.
But getting back in the swing of things is not easy. I can't tell you how not excited I am to show up without a single textbook in hand. I'm a terrible student like that.

But thats way off topic. Unless I was getting at the fact that I need prayer, especially today. Cause I do.

I am a firm, firm believer in prayer. It truly works, and I am always amazed at the results of prayer. The problem that I used to have (and let's face it, still do) is that my prayers don't get answered in my timing, but in His perfect timing. I doubt the power behind them, and being human I just assume they are going unanswered. In reality I couldn't be more wrong.

Source

When we are persistent in our prayer life, God hears our cries to Him, and whether He changes our situation or He changes our heart, we are always heard. I love the parable told in Luke 18:1-7, and the one in Luke 11:11-13. Take 30 seconds and read those, they are a great reminder that we serve an awesome God.

Source

I'd like to give you an open ended offer-

Email me with a prayer request. Anything at all that I can pray for you about.

It would be a blessing for me to be able to share in lifting up your struggle to our good and righteous God, or to rejoice with you in prayer. I'd love to encourage you wherever you are on your path of life.

Please don't feel held back or intimidated, it would be a joy to my heart to hear from you!

Email me at sunshineandstovetops@gmail.com  I check it regularly. 

I love you guys, I really do.

Xoxo, Terra

Real Talk Tuesday: New Year's Resolutions

Real talk Tuesdays is a new idea of mine, kind of a test run to see how it goes.
And what better way to launch this idea than with my New Years Resolutions, on Tuesday, January 1st?

I know everyone and their mothers will be posting what they plan to do differently in the new year, so I will attempt to be as non-cliche as possible.

I'm keeping my list short.

I'm keeping my goals attainable.

I'm giving myself deadlines.

These are the rules that my resolutions will abide by.

1. Become a volunteer at the local animal shelter.

My deadline: February 1st 

2. Find and join a local kickboxing class (or as similar a fitness class as I can find)

My deadline: March 1st

3. Attain a job at a local medical office.

My deadline: April 1st

Bonus: After the above goals are met, if my schedule allows, accept a job coaching girls volleyball.

Now, Lauren Conrad posted a few weeks age about her 2013 resolutions and how she displays them. 

I personally thing it's brilliant so I just spent the last 25 minutes trying to find the post.

Come to find out I think it was deleted.

(I did a thorough creep job on her site)

Anyways, what I read was that she writes (or in my case type) her list real pretty,

and frames it to put in a place that she will see every day, like her night stand.

Genius!

Love that girl.

I'd love to hear what your new years resolutions are!!

Be safe tonight!!

Xoxo, 

Terra