Be Thankful In All Circumstances

A few weeks ago my little sister was memorizing this verse,

give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Since we homeschool together, as in the same room, I couldn't help but over hear her going over her verse several times a week. She has memorized it and now, so have I. 

It wasn't until yesterday that I really thought about the verse and put it into practice. After I had finished reading the Bible last night I came to the computer to blog hop. I found the living room in a disarray. Building blocks were all over the place, storage bins and other miscellaneous toys were scattered on the floor. The evidence of a toddler at play was clear as day... even though it was night time already. I am the type of person who cannot sit down until every little thing is put in the right place, so imagine howI felt at the mess before me! I set out to hastily put things away and midway into the process Genesis' memory verse popped into my mind. 

give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

I began to recite the verse until my task was complete and in a jiffy I was finished. I began to mediate on how I am thankful for my little sister. I am thankful for her sweet words and her kind gestures, like when she brings me pretend yogurt during homeschool or gives me a sticker when she thinks I've done my work well. I am thankful for when she tells me she loves me and that I'm the best. 

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I realized that this is God's will for me right now. He has called me to be a good big sister to a little girl who is just too cute for words. He has called me to help her and watch out for her. He has called me to be her friend and I highly resolve to do and be just that!

I decided that, from yesterday and on, I was going to exercise thankfulness for all of God's blessings, even those in disguise.

Score Thrifty: Washi Tape + Braided Bracelets

I love good deals! Whether I'm shopping around Target or hunting down the perfect find at my local thrift store, my eyes are almost always peeled, looking for something #scorethrifty. Hannah Sandersfeld inspired me to share my #scorethrifty deals and without further ado...

Now the regular price for this washi tape was $2.99. 

It was 70% off at Target and I snagged it for just $0.88! 

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These bracelets are regularly $3.95 each (so for two it's $7.90) at H&M and they were on sale for $1.00 each.

On top of that, there was a BOGO (buy one, get one free) going on and instead of $1.00 each, they were $0.50 each!!! 

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Pinking sheers of a super fun project I have planned... FREE!!!
And I obtained these by "dumpster diving"... don't judge:)

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As soon as I saw this vintage copy of Little Women, I knew I had to have it.

At my local thrift store, books are 90% off the retail price and on half-price Wednesdays they are 

50% off the already low price. This book cost me $0.40! 

I bought this book a while ago...but just had to share:)

I love the frayed cover...

and the brown edges.

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Now these are one of my favorites!!! At Target, a box of 20 striped paper straws sell for $3.00 but they were 90% off making them $0.30!!! Score!!!

Aren't they super, duper cute?!?

I also got a ton of really cute gift bags at Target for $0.09-$-0.18!!! Those bags were on clearance for 90% off. #canigetawootwoot?!? 

What are some of the #scorethrifty things you've scored recently?

18 Inches

Do you know that 18 inches is the distance between you brain and your heart? 18 inches. The length of a ruler and then some. Yeah, I didn't know that either until Thursday service, during the preaching.

That fact I just shared with you may seem to have very little importance but I've discovered that it could radically change the course of your life and where you will spend eternity.

The Bible tells us in Romans 10:9

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

I want to be saved, don't you? This verse, like many others, clearly spells out what we must do to be saved. We must confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts. Why do you think the author says "believe in your heart" instead of "believe in your mind"? Oftentimes, we, as humans can over-rationalize and over-think everything. With our natural eyes, we cannot see God and doubting His existence could take us down a terrible road. Instead, we are called to believe in our hearts by faith. If we believe in our hearts, instead of our minds, we can exercise faith in Jesus and after exercising that faith, it will come naturally to take God's Word for what it is: truth!

I want to encourage you: believe in your heart. Don't let doubt cloud what you know is true about God's Word. Don't let the length between your over-annalyzing mind and your believing, faith-filled heart disqualify you for the prize which is eternal life in heaven with your Heavenly Father!

Book Review: Unbreakable

About The Book:

Gentle and unassuming, Hope Kauffman has never been one to question the traditions of her Mennonite upbringing. She quietly helps her father run Kingdom Quilts and has agreed to the betrothal he arranged for her with the devout but shy Ebbie Miller.

Despite the attempts of Hope and other Kingdom residents to maintain the status quo, changes have already begun to stir in the small Mennonite town. The handsome and charismatic Jonathon Wiese is the leader of the move to reform, while Ebbie insists Kingdom must remain true to its foundation. When Hope's safety is threatened by a mysterious outsider, she can't help but question what she's always been taught about the Mennonite tradition of nonviolence.

As it swiftly becomes apparent the threat Hope faced is only the beginning, the town that's always stood so strong finds itself divided. With tensions high and their lives endangered by an unknown enemy, will Hope and the people of Kingdom allow fear and division to break them or will they draw on the strength of the God they serve?

My Review:

Allow me to begin this review by stating that Unbreakable was such a joy to read! Its flow, characters, suspense and romance challenged that of it's prequel Inescapable and in my opinion surpassed it completely.

Nancy Mehl did a phenomenal job weaving the Mennonite code of nonviolence into this book. She presented both sides of the argument and with characters who exercise "trusting in God" in different ways, I enjoyed looking at the debate from two distinct points of view.

I was also pleased at the level of spirituality I found when reading Unbreakable. It shows how truly devoted some people are to their faith, despite the fact that the world around them is changing. Each member of the community is bent on doing exactly what God wills them to do and I found such a demonstration of complete surrender to Him encouraging. Another encouraging aspect of the book was an illustration of the biblical call to "turn the other cheek." Doing so shows humility and full dependence on the Lord. Can I get an amen?!

The characters in this book were appealing, relatable, and intriguing. I felt that I could relate to Hope's indecisive spurts, not in the aspect of choosing a husband but when it comes time to make difficult decisions for myself. Ebbie Miller is one of my all-time favorite characters! Though I imagine him to be slightly nerd-ish and nasal, his character and personality reflect that of Christ. I was touched by Eddie's unconditional and unwavering love for Hope. 

In my experience, stories told in the first person point of view are sometimes more difficult to read, as I discovered when reading Inescapable. But, the first person writing here didn't hinder my reading experience; I think it improved it in allowing me to go "inside" of Hope's mind and understand her thoughts and actions

I give Unbreakable 5 out of 5 stars! The suspense was gratifying and constantly leaving me "over the edge." It kept me guessing and at times holding my breath. This is a story that will keep you turning pages until the end and leave you wanting for more! Characters with heart, soul, and relatable flaws allow the reader to connect. And who couldn't love the little town of Kingdom or the poor dog who immediately grabs your heart?

I received this book from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for my unbiased, honest review.

Librocubicularist- Uh Huh!

I don't believe it! Do they really have a word for me and my kind? Yes, I am an avid book reader and reading in bed is my absolute favorite place in the whole wide world to read.

There, on my bed, I can read half of a 400-page book in one sitting. All concept of time vanishes. When I near the end of any story, I know it's time to put the book away, especially when my eyes begin to flutter closed.

Are you wondering it this is a fake word that book lovers have made up? Well, it's not a made up, fanciful, word. It's actually in the dictionary.

So, shout it from the roof tops:

I AM A LIBROCUBICULARIST!

Are you a librocubicularist?

What book(s) are you currently reading?

Monday

Dear Monday, 

I write this little note to thank you for having the word mon in you. Mon is French for "mine"; it makes me think of you as "my day" and frankly, that's sounds like a much more promising start to the week. 

I want to look at you in a different light from now on. I promise to look forward to the great things you bring each week, like family prayer time. 

Yours Truly,

Kianna Rose

Cozy And At Home

Over here in New York, we have received warning of a northeaster which is  a wind blowing from the north east. (duh, right?) After Hurricane Sandy, it seems as though everyone is taking this warning to heart and preparing for whatever may lie ahead, like gas shortages. Last night after church, we had to fill up the car tank and at the gas station we pulled up to the longest line I have ever seem in person. 

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this is what a northeaster does to new york: it creates gas lines that wrap around the block in both directions. #aftermathofhurricanesandy. and parking regulations are suspended!!! #wootwoot!

As I write this post, I am glimpsing ever so often out the window. There is snow falling so fast that it is accumulating. I can hear the wind and ice beat against the air conditioner and when I opened the window to snap a few photos, I was chilled through and through. So, since going outside is not an option, I'll spend part of my afternoon blogging cozy and at home.

An Update On Me

You may be wondering what I've been up to recently. I have to admit my time has been taken up with a  lot of activities but heres a list to keep you updated.

I' re-orgainized my room. Whenever I grow tired of the layout of my room, I grab my doodle book and sketch out a new layout. I shift a few things until I'm happy with the turn out. This recent room renovation took me 4 hours from start to finish! I was utterly exhausted at the end of it all but when I lay down that night, I breathed a sign of relief. I felt so comfortable knowing that everything was organized just the way I wanted it, I got rid of a ton of old papers, and I feel that the new layout makes my small apartment bedroom look bigger. 

My birthday is in exactly 5 months. I'm pumped! I can hardly believe that I'm going to be 16 so very soon! I was telling a friend how we so often wish away our childhood, wishing that we were older and completely independent. I am guilty of that. But I promised that from that day on, I'd try to patiently wait for everything God has planned to bless me with. I don't want to stand in the way of Him doing His work in my life. 

I'm not to sure what the plans are for when I turn 16. I've mentioned to my parents that I'd like to get my driving learners permit and a job and they are prayerfully considering the possibilities. I am also excited for a few things that will be coming up like:

• Hopefully buying the camera that I have been saving up for. 
• A surprise. (I'm still putting the finishing touches on a few things but you'll all hear of it very soon:)

I've been spending time with my sister. Recently, Genesis and I have been spending a lot of time together. We  have read countless books, colored tons of sheets and played many rounds of Connect 4. I am so blessed to have Genesis for a little sister. Yes, like any siblings we have disagreements but I am trying my best with God's help to be patient with her and speak loving words to  her and over her life. 

I'm going to start sewing. For our family's christmas gift exchange, I received One Yard Wonders from my uncle. I've recently put post-its on the patterns and things I'd like to sew first. I've always wanted to sew but I always worried about getting my finger stabbed of stuck beneath the needle. I've gotten over that qualm and once I but fabric, I'll start sewing. 

I've been reading books galore. I don't know if you've noticed, but I love to read. I've set a goal of myself to read 30+ book this year. I know that isn't a lot, but I wanted to make my new years goals achievable, especially since my "me time" is so limited with school, chores, and church eating a big chunk of my time. I've been reading this book, this book, this book and finished this book.

I've been journaling, diary writing and doodling. A few weeks ago I got 3 journals made and bound. It's so much fun to write down everyday happenings and know that if I preserve these journals, I'll always have written records of my childhood. I paste inspiring quotes clippings from magazines. I also have doodled quotes that I love and tried my best to keep my diary updated. A post on these journals is coming up soon.

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Now, I have a question for my readers. What kind of posts would you like to see here on Kianna's Korner? Do you have a question for me? Do you want to know how and why I do something? Recipes? DIY projects? Fashion posts? I'm all ears:)

Something Fun: Pick Your Plum

Who's ready for something super, duper fun and exciting?!? A few months ago, I came across a website that offers #scorethrifty prices on all sorts of crafting goodies, clothing, baking supplies, home decor and other fabulous finds. Each weekday at 7 am (MST), this site is updated with a new item and the item remains there until it either sells out or until it's time for a new item. This rockin' website is called Pick Your Plum.

I know that many of you are interested in Smash-booking, journaling, gifting and every other creative process that a teenager loves. On Pick Your Plum, you are sure to find something (or many somethings) to suit your creative fancy.

Here's what you need to know about this delightful site:

-We have limited supplies on some of the most swank supplies. We have agents out in the field who find killer deals on high quality products.

-We delicately slap prime-o pricing on crafting, clothing, baking supplies, home decor and other fabulous finds. Stellar pricing. Cool.

-We sell it 'til it's gone or 'til time is up.

-You leave feeling like you just won Martha in a crafting contest (our favorite!).

-The supplies arrive in 7-8 shipping days and you've just picked your 'plum'! Doesn't it feel good?

Seriously. They've got everything! Just take a peek:

And those are just of few of the fab items they offer at unbeatable, rock bottom prices.

Be sure to check back everyday for the amazing item they will be offering.

And, if you are planning to make a purchase from Pick Your Plum, I'd really appreciate it if you click the logo I have provided. (I am a PYP affiliate and when my readers make a purchase, I receive a percentage of the sale:)

Life Via Instagram 0002 {January In Review}

January. Can you believe that month has already passed and that February is now upon us? January was filled with many special moments and memories, ones I hope to cherish, but I am also looking forward to the new things God is going to do this month. I am looking forward to making new friends, blogging more often and beginning to sew. I am looking forward to Grandma coming back from Ecuador, adding new items to my Etsy shop, and taking many more photos. (I know I haven't posted any photos recently...)

Take a peek at January in review via my instagram photos. You'll see photos of friends, foods, fashion and random things that made my day.

 Wanna check out my feed? Find me: @kianna_rose