New blog

Hey ya'all, I've started a new blog over here!! This one is going to be so much awesomer.

someplaceinthemidst.blogspot.com

 

Cheers!

Sophia



My Testimony

Hi ya'all!
I've been really busy lately..... But I hope your summer has been lovely!
Anyway, BIG NEWS: I GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!
It was super awesome and I thought I'd share my testimony with you.

Hi! I’m Sophia, I’m the oldest with four little brothers, and I have two of the most amazing parents in the world. I trusted Jesus as my savior with my mom at a young age, and I know that if I didn’t have Jesus, my life would be totally different.

One of the ways Christ has impacted my life a lot is in how I see myself. I have struggled to not measure my worth by how I look in the mirror or how high my ACT score is, but I’ve been able to focus on how Christ sees me. One of my favorite songs says you are treasured, you are beautiful, you are worth more than you know in the eyes of the one who made you. I play this song all the time and drive my brothers crazy, but it has been a great reminder of who I am in Christ.

One of the best parts of my relationship with Christ is that I’m not doing it alone. I have one friend in particular that I can honestly talk to about any of my struggles. One time, right before a week that I knew was going to be crazy and stressful, she wrote me a note of encouragement... And she gave me a list of Bible references to look up about peace. One of her favorite verses is Proverbs 17:17- a friend loves at all times.

Another way Christ has impacted me is that I’ve been challenged to take action. I love being a part of American Heritage Girls because through it I’ve had opportunities to serve and lead... Which isn’t always easy.  One of my favorite opportunities I’ve had was being able to crochet washcloths for girls in third world countries.  Praying over those washcloths and stitching each one was so special because it took the focus off me and onto God and  focusing on blessing others.

Anyway, one of my brothers is very passionate about leading others to Christ. He’s not scared to tell others about Jesus, while I sometimes am pretty scared. He has inspired to share God’s love because I want others to see themselves as how God sees them: a child of the highest king who’s not measured by their earthly appearance. I want to lead people to Jesus because I want others to feel the sense of Christian community that I have.

I love the first few verses of Psalm 96.

Sing to the Lord a new song;  sing to the Lord, all the earth.  Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations,  his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

And I want these to be the words I live by.

A few of my favorite things

So my cousins are here!! My beautiful, fabulous, cousins from Indiana.
They showed me this video which I find totally awesome. It's extra awesome because there are 12 kids in my cousins' family.

THIS.... This is the best. recipe. ever. You will fall in love with this amazing cake. Yum. Here is the recipe!

Also, I'm loving this book by Colleen Coble right now:  Lonestar Homecoming- cowboys, intrigue, redemption... What more could you ask for?!

I hope you enjoyed a few of my favorite things!
xo
Sophia

oops.

Sooo... Guess who forgot it was fathers day today?
Sorry dad.

We joke that June is my "dad's month" because his birthday, his anniversary, AND  fathers day are all only a week or two apart. So I guess with all the other celebrations, fathers day just slipped my mind.
Sorry dad.

However, this is for my dad:

I printed it out and gave it to him. You can use it if you want

.

And I also really, REALLY love this song.

 Have a great fathers day, everyone!

Sophia

on this next adventure....

May the force be with you!

We are in the wonderfully HOT state of Arizona... and these were what I gave my 4 crazies as travel gifts. I also taped more candy inside the cards. Aren't I such an awesome sister!?
I think I actually like star wars more than them. Oh well, they loved them! I got the idea from pinterest and spent over an hour trying to get the sizing and margins just right. (Then I was in a rush to get them done, so sorry that Obi Wan is larger than Darth. oops!)

Click here to see the document!

Here is what I used. I printed mine out on cardstock, and cut a slit at the base of the light sabers to slide in the pix stix candy. FYI, you might have to tape the pix stix to the the back so that they don't slide out and so they lie flat.

Luck, I wish you. ;) (get it?!)
Sophia

Women of excellence

Do you hear that sound? That sound of chains falling off?? Yes, that's right! School's officially OUT!!
So now I really don't have an excuse to not blog... I'll try to be more loyal to you lovely blog readers!

Tonight is our awards ceremony for AHG, and guess who gets to MC? Yep, that's right- ME!! And my mama is giving a speech. Her speech has 3 challenges for the AHG girls, which I think apply to ever christian lady.
The speech is titled "Women of Excellence"
OK, here are the 3 challenges to work on this summer: (with excerpts from mama's speech)

1. Being Hospitable

"I have a friend, Linda. This friend always has tea ready for anyone who visits. I am not kidding you. She is ready for everyone and anyone. She  give her best treats,she is super active. Of course everyone loves going to her house.  I am sure she did not just wake up one day and become super hospitable. she like you and me, must worked on these skills of being  hospitable. She gives her friends all of her attention and stops whatever she is doing so that she treats her visitors like Jesus would treat us"

2. Working hard

"One time I called one of my sisters to get some advice on how I can get out of working so hard. I thought she was going to sympathies with me.  I was hoping she would say, 'Take a rest, don’t work so hard, have a candy bar and take a nap.' Instead, this is what she said, 'You are so blessed that you have two hands, that you are healthy. Just keep working and work some more.' " 

3. Doing what God is pressing on your heart

I have this friend. My friend would always be talking about going on the mission field and giving up everything. God just kept pressing it in her and her husband's hearts. She tried to delay it, resisted it, and prayed and prayed and cried a lot, but she knew that God was calling her to the mission field. Me, being the inspirational friend that I am, said, “Seriously, you can just stay here, don’t be a missionary.” She turned to me and said, “This is not our home, our focus needs to be in heaven. Heaven is our true home.” My friend has now been a missionary for ten years. She talks about eating red ant eggs soup and having little critters on her pizza. I just saw Joy a few weeks ago. She shared that being a missionary is super hard but that is where God has called her and her family. That is the best place to be

I'm taking the challenge this summer to live out these challenges. Are you going to take the challenge, too?

Put it in perspective.

For all those people who complain about having little girls who sing Frozen's sound track 24/7, you are blessed. So blessed.
Because those little girls try to sound at least a bit like Idinia Menzel and Kristin Bell. Those mini Elsas and Annas are actually kind of cute.

But I wasn't so lucky. You see, I have four little brothers who are Frozen addicts. Yet they don't care if they don't sound good. They just sing at the top of their lungs for hours on end. Then they jump on my bed to wake me up at 6:40 to turn on Frozen... On the one day I get to sleep in.

They can quote any line from the movie. Then another brother will tell everyone else who said the line and at what exact moment to who pertaining to what. I'm not sure how much more I can handle.

Oh yeah, then they made multiple board games... complete with Olaf and the big snow monster. It would all be okay, but then they ask me to play their games any time they aren't singing. Seriously.

So I'm not telling you all this so you can feel sorry for me. This is for 2 reasons. Just put it in perspective.

1) You are so blessed if you have little girls who sing like angels. I know, I know, they may sing it over and over again, but it's still (a little) better than 4 little boys singing in obvious unharmony.

2) I seriously apologize for the ten million times I sang "let it go". Now I know the horrors of hearing this song on repeat.

On a different note, I still love my brothers. I bet those little angel girls don't sit down and watch the extend version of the Lord of the Rings with you.

it's a big deal.

Sometimes great things start super small. 

If you happened to pass by us 4 Radiant Rubies the past couple Fridays at church, you probably wouldn’t have known we were planning something great. Sometimes we would be embroidering or crocheting, sometimes we would be laughing, and sometimes we would be talking about random things that had nothing to do with what we were supposed to be planning. However, we put together an event that made a difference.

On Saturday, March 29th, we spent the day crocheting washcloths for an organization called Days for Girls, which provides hygiene kits for girls in third world countries.Thank you to all the people who came and helped us make a difference! Our event wasn’t big, but we used our time to serve, and serving is always big. Imagine the smiles on the girls faces when they receive the blessings that we take for granted. Our washcloths that we made for them aren’t perfect- some are too big, some are crooked- but they will make a difference. 

So next time you worry because your service project seems too small, remember: service isn’t about the quantity, but the quality. When a willing heart chooses to serve the Lord through service to others, it’s always a big deal.

  

#longingforheaven

It doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter how many times I've watched this. I always cry.

#iheartzion




But that's okay. Because on earth, there will be tears, there will be babies dying, there will be families broken.

It's only for a little while.

Come, Lord Jesus, come.
#longingforheaven

Sometimes I wish I was a Duggar.

It's been a long time since I've posted. Too long.

Well, life at our homestead has been busily moving along... Too fast.
Recently, when I was lookin' at my mama's facebook over her shoulder, I saw one of her friends had shared this~

I've admired the Duggars for a long time, but two things about their family really always gets me.

1. There amazing family relationship. I love how the older girls talk openly with each other, and how Mr. and Mrs. Duggar always make time for the kiddos.

2. Their modest apparel. Sometimes, when I watch stuff, I long for their cool clothes, fashionable clothes, etc. When I watch the Duggar's show, I'm always encoutaged to strive for modesty. Oh yeah, and it's not that they dress frumpy. In fact, I think they are some of the nicest dressed ladies.

Sometimes I wish I was a Duggar. I mean, from their show, they seem pretty awesome. But then I remember that I have a crazy wonderful family and I'm happy with being me.

See Jinger's (center left) outfit? That's what I wore to church today.

See? Oh, and that crazy necklace that i'm wearing? That's my mama's style rubbing off on me. ;)

And there's all my random thoughts for the day. So, I haven't read their book yet, but I'll be sure to read it and tell you about it!
Have an awesome week!

<3 Sophia

what i learned in florida

i love florida.
going there was crazy, (picture the seven of us in our minivan for 24 hours straight) but it's just so amazing there!! like seriously, it's like a taste of heaven to stare at the ocean for hours for a midwestern girl.

 in florida, i learned that you can be carefree once in a while, without having to worry so much about your assignments, your piano competitions, etc. etc.

in florida, i learned to love my siblings with all my heart. i learned {again} that you really can have fun with four crazy brothers.

in florida, i was struck with the amazing, awesome, powerful creativity of our maker. 

we found so many jelly fish! aren't they just amazing!

i happen to adore palm trees. 

there is nothing quite as beautiful as a beach sunset. period.

that home.

this song just made me smile this morning.
this is my hope for our home.

giggle.

soooo..... funny story of the day.
You know those smart phones everyone seems to have? Well, the one that I rely on was forgotten to be charged. You know what that means? It means we drive into town, only to find that we didn't read the email telling us that AWANA was canceled.
What in the world should we do???
We decided to have some much needed family time, and we all went out for ice cream. Fun!

This little outing helped remind me that though ice cream is sweet, there's nothing sweeter than family giggles and moments together.

So would you do something for me today?
Wherever you are, whoever you are would you just take a moment...

And giggle?

Need some help? Well.... This always makes me giggle.

 

 

Need another silly thing? I love this little video.



 

 

If that didn't make giggle you could always go with some Narnia humor...

 

Seriously, I think I'm just as logical as Susan. Weird.

 

Did you giggle? Thank you. You really are lovely. ;)

 

<3

Sophia