Story of a Nerd

The nerd= me.

When I was a kid, I used to love the library (ok, still do). We didn't have a community library but we could go the high school where there was a small library. I went several times a week. I literally think I read most of the books in the children/young adult section. I also knew the librarians very well. Helen was an older lady and Steve (who seemed soooo old at the time) was finishing college with an economics degree. Yes sir, I loved my library!

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Every summer, I would sign up for the summer reading club and win because I read more than any other kid. One year I remember Steve was so excited to give me a surprise... my prize was TWO MOVIE TICKETS! Man alive, that was so wonderful! I saved those tickets for months until I found the perfect movie to use them on.  

I remember being SO excited to turn 11 because being 11 meant that you could volunteer at the library. As soon as I did, I began to volunteer at the library two evenings a week. Most of the time I spent shelving books, which was honestly as boring as all get-out, but I loved when I got to check customers out.

Ok, one last nerd factor about me and the library? Chess club. Dalton and I used to go to Chess Club at the library on Sunday afternoons. Don't get me wrong, this was a very informal Chess Club as I am terrible at chess. But Chess Club nonetheless...

What did you love when you were a kid?

The First Week

Happy Tuesday! Like I mentioned last week, I started the "Fruit Challenge" (read more about it here).  So far, it's great! Some days I have felt like I wasn't doing much and some days were a lot of work.

What have been the daily challenges so far?

Day 1: PRAY about everything. Before doing anything at all, big or small, pray! Some key passages: Luke 18:1, Mark 11:22, Philippians 4:6, 1 Peter 5:7, James 4:15

Day 2: Don't get angry or upset about anything! Focus on peace and longsuffering.  Key passages: Matthew 5:22, Ephesians 4:26, Colossians 3:8

Day 3: Be a peacemaker. Focus not only on not being angry but also to seek peace with others.  Key passages: 1 Corinthians 1:10, 1 Peter 3:8, James 3:18, Hebrews 12:14

Day 4: Help someone else; be a burden bearer. Make yourself available to share someone else's burden.  Key scriptures: Acts 20:35, James 2:16, 1 John 3:17, Philippians 2:4

Day 5: Give THANKS in everything.  Make a list of all the things you are thankful for; you will find more than you could possibly expect! Key passages: Ephesians 5:20, Colossians 3:15, 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Day 6: Forgive others! If we want God to forgive us (which we certainly don't deserve), we must forgive others of the little things they do to us. If there is someone you haven't forgiven, do it! Key passages: Matthew 5:24, Colossians 3:13, Romans 14:13, James 4:11

Day 7: Confess God before someone today. Don't hide your light! Luke 12:8, Mark 8:38, 2 Timothy 1:8, Philippians 2:16

Day 8: Be imitators of the kindness of God! Go out of your way to show kindness, even to those who you don't feel deserve it.  Luke 6:36, Matthew 5:7, Ephesians 5:1

My favorite days so far have been day 1, day 4, and day 5. Praying before I did anything really helped me to focus on God. I have been trying to keep that habit up because being able to talk to my Father in Heaven is such a blessing!

Doing something to help someone else out is immensely encouraging.  But not only that, it makes you realize how little you are really doing to help others.  It has made me examine my own life and try to find ways to do good.

And of course one of my favorite days was giving thanks! I believe it is so important to truly count your blessings, because it makes you realize what you truly have.  Which is SO much more than so many people have. 

Operation Smile

Did you know that every 3 minutes a child is born with a cleft lip or cleft palate? I certainly didn't! In fact, in the US, cleft conditions are one of the top four birth defects! TOP 4! Here it's not such a big deal because they are quickly corrected.

However, in many countries of the world, it isn't so easy. Families can't afford the surgery for their children. Cleft lips and palates make speaking and eating quite difficult. These children, beautiful as they are, are often shunned because of how they look! I find this unbelievably sad.  Such little things can make such a huge impact.

And that's why Operation Smile is so awesome! Operation Smile is a medical charity that offers free, that's right-- FREE, cleft operation surgery to thousands of children around the world. Because of Operation Smile, those children have a chance to smile brighter. 

For all those students out there, Campus Book Rentals is a awesome rental site that donates a portion of each transaction to Operation Smile.  Check out their site or read here.  I rented a textbook from them last semester and it was SO easy.  They shipped my book to me quickly and when it was due, all I had to do was print out the label they sent me to get free shipping!

Please go check out Operation Smile... and remember to be thankful for the beautiful smiles you see every day! 

Lunch today

20 garlic cloves, peeled (that's right... 20!!!)
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 large onions, halved and sliced
2 Tbsp butter
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 tsp dried thyme
1 cup heavy whipping cream

CROUTONS
2 cups cubed sourdough bread
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp minced fresh rosemary
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper

TOPPINGS
1/2 cup shredded Swiss

In a small skilled, cook garlic in oil over low heat for 3-5 minutes.  Remove and set aside.

In a Dutch over, cook onions in butter over medium heat until soft.  Reduce to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes. Add broth, thyme, and reserved garlic. Bring to boil.  Cover and simmer 20 minutes.  Stir in cream and heat through.

For croutons: place bread in small bowl. Combine the oil, rosemary, salt and pepper; drizzle over bread and toss to coat.  Bake on baking pan at 400 for 15 minutes.

Top soup with croutons and cheese.

The MAINE Place I Want To Go!

Maine!! I so badly want to go there. My parents are obsessed with Maine and have passed this obsession along to me. I have been scouring the internet coming up with what to do in Maine... when I go someday! 

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First stop-- a lighthouse! Lighthouses are so beautiful and I want to go to real, live one! My family went to Pemaquid Point Lighthouse when they were in Maine and it looks just beautiful.

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Camden. When I was just a tot, my family went to Camden and I want to go back (not that I remember it at all). It was named #2 in Forbes' "America's Prettiest Towns". Cool!

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Acadia National Park: My brother's recommendation. The view is beautiful and the hiking is great!

Bar Harbor: I want to go whale watching and, of course, get some delicious seafood grub!

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Lastly, the James Place Inn Bed & Breakfast, because they have this room, which looks like a giant dream. I love blue and white china and this is basically a room version of that!

Now, who wants to go to Maine?! (;

Fruit Challenge

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I have a confession to make: I have not been having a very joyful attitude lately. For a girl with a blog called Pure Joy, it is pretty hypocritical. One reason for this is my uncertainty about the future. I'm a person who likes to have life all planned out.  Surprise, surprise-- it doesn't always work that way! Sometimes I just need to let go and trust in God's plan for me.  

Today I am starting on a journey called the Fruit Challenge.  It's 30 days long and even though it would make sense to start at the beginning of a month, I can't wait! So I'm starting today.  Yay! I hope it will help me to have a joyful makeover.

What is the Fruit Challenge?

It is a daily guide to becoming more like Christ.  Every day for 30 days you are given a commandment of Christ along with a fruit of the spirit that goes along with the commandment.  Then it gives practical advice on how to live that commandment in your daily life.  It also gives specific instructions for each day. I'm really excited to start today! Send me an email if you are interested in doing the 30 day fruit challenge!

To Read

Here is my current to-read list. I'll let you know which ones I enjoy!

The Giver/Gathering Blue

Lois Lowry

I am currently reading these with my little sister. I loved Lois Lowry books as a kid-- I would definitely recommend them!

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Stephen Covey

The ironic thing about this is that I have been trying to read this book for months. I have actually started it twice and then ended up returning it to the library because it was overdue. Guess I haven't learned much about effectiveness.

The Happiness Project

Gretchen Rubin

A self help book about happiness? I'm so there. I don't think it's possible to be too happy. 

The Diary of a Young Girl

Anne Frank

I don't know how I have gotten through middle and high school without reading this book! 

How Then Should We Live? 

Francis A. Schaeffer

About the rise and decline of Western thought and culture, from Ancient Rome until the 20th century.  

What's on your reading list?