New Year, Better Me!

It is currently 7:55 pm here in good ole Tobias, Nebraska.
Exactly four hours and five minutes away from 2014.

Whoops, four hours and four minutes.

The year 2013 is about to close its eyes forever, and I am sitting here in my living room. In my prom dress and fuzzy socks. Drinking Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice.

The white grape kind, thank you very much.

It doesn't sound like quite the rager, and to be honest, it really isn't. But it's given me time to think, and it's given me time to look at facebook, too. And what I've been seeing is a lot of what I see every year: "It's a new year, so it's time for a new me! Hooray!"

I'm just gonna lay it out for you, okay? I absolutely HATE seeing that.

It's not because I disapprove of the idea of people wanting to change. It's not because I condemn creating New Year's resolutions. That's great! You're wanting to do something different and improve. More power to you. No, it's just two little words that I have a hard time with: "new me." Those words are frustrating because no one should feel that they have to get rid of the "old me." The "old" you--the original you--is something incredibly special because you are God's masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10, guys!). Who would ever want to trade that?

So instead of ringing in the New Year with a "new me," why not try ringing in the New Year with a "better me"? That's what you're wanting anyway, right? This New Year, I'm resolving to become a better person by falling deeper in love with Jesus and myself by writing this blog and applying God's Word to my life. I'm doing this because I want to be better, not because I want to be someone different. Strive to be better because YOU CAN. Let's be better together, while still staying the same person God made us.

And while you're being better, remember that you should want to be better for YOURSELF. Do you think I got dressed up in my prom dress because I wanted to please my parents, my cat, or my best friend Jeff? Heck no! I dressed up because it makes me feel beautiful and happy. When you're brainstorming your resolutions for becoming a better you in 2014, remember that your beauty and happiness should come before making others happy. Why? Because you deserve it.

So raise your glasses, my beautiful readers.
Here's to a New Year, and a BETTER us!

A New Year's gift from me to you. Because Zooey and Joseph, duh.

(Also: please note Joe's adorable smile and shrug at the end. I melt. EVERY. TIME.)

"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10

I Need a Hero

I've been thinking a lot lately. Well, we all think a lot, but I mean I've been thinking about a certain thing. Chivalry (noun): "the system of values (such as loyalty and honor) that knights in the Middle Ages were expected to follow"; "an honorable and polite way of behaving, especially toward women." That is the Webster Dictionary definition of it, but an Urban Dictionary definition states that chivalry is "something that is dead and should stay dead."

Wow. Strong opinion you got there, Urban Dictionary.

Often times, we refer to the perfect man as our "knight in shining armor." He's tall, dark, and handsome. He sweeps us off of our feet. He is essentially an amalgamation of Ryan Gosling as Noah from The Notebook and Marshall Eriksen from "How I Met Your Mother." (At least, he always has been for me.) Our dream man is the perfect example of chivalry: he's a gentleman, sensitive, intelligent, thoughtful, kind, and as close to perfect as a human can get.

Those are all great thoughts and expectations of what we wish to see in our soul mate, but why should they be limited to our one true love? Why does chivalry only need to be expected in those taking us out to dinner and bending down on one knee? I'm not saying that we shouldn't have those expectations of kindness and respect in those we are romantic with; we absolutely should. But there are a lot of knights in shining armor that have been overlooked, and they are the true proof that chivalry is a long way away from being dead.

Think of your dad. Your grandpa. Your brothers. Your uncles. Your best friend! They could all be your knights in shining armor (and they probably are; I mean, who else did you have as examples of what a man should be like?).

But let's kick it up a notch. Knights don't just have to be male. Think of Joan of Arc for goodness's sake! Your knights can be your mothers, your grandmothers, sisters, aunts, best friends! YOU can be your OWN knight in shining armor. Chivalry shouldn't just be sought after in men; chivalry should be everywhere! Why? Because it is another word for respect.

See? You have more knights in your life than you think. And all of those knights are part of the loving kingdom of our one true King: God. God is the heroic king that sent all of these knights in shining armor into our lives! He's given us our family, friends, significant others, and he's given us the bravest, most important knight of all: Jesus Christ. In John 3:16, we are told, "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." Jesus came to earth to fight and die so that we may live eternally in His heavenly kingdom! If that isn't the ultimate act of bravery and chivalry, I don't know what is.

We are blessed with so many knights in our lives. We have SO many heroes. Your family and your friends can be your Knights in Shining Armor. YOU can be your own Knight in Shining Armor. But the eternal Knight is Jesus Christ, and the King we serve is God Almighty.

Chivalry is not dead. And with Christ as our hero, it's never going to die.
Better update your facts, Urban Dictionary.

Ella Mae Bowen may be holding out for a hero to sweep her off her feet, and you may be too! But remember that we are already in God's embrace. Enjoy! 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16

And on the Seventh Day...

Because Sunday is the day of rest, we're going to chalk up Rule #5 and have, in the words of Mr. Dursley, "No posts on Sunday."

Have a beautiful day sitting around drinking tea, being enveloped by a flood of Hogwarts acceptance letters, discovering you're a wizard, whatever it is you do on Sunday.

Regardless, have a beautiful day!

Rules are Meant for Breaking...Except Now

Katharine Hepburn once said, "If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun." In some cases, that may be very true. But in other cases, like mine, I'd say it's not. No offense, Kate, but I think I'm going to take a rain check on that one. At least, I'm going to for this particular rulebook.

You see, I've been getting some questions about what exactly I mean by a "year of singularity." To me, this means a year without considering getting into or really entering a relationship. Having a boyfriend. You know, the thing that Nicholas Sparks and Nora Ephron practically make their living off of? Yeah, that. A significant other. But, back to my point. Now that the definition is established, let's chalk up the first guideline, shall we?

Rule #1: No romantic relationships.

Now let me be clear (if you read that in President Obama's voice, bonus points to you): this does not mean that I am shutting out the male gender completely. That would be crazy! Dates are fun. They are opportunities to get to know other people and have a good time doing so. It's a healthy part of life, especially in college. I'm not saying no to dates, I'm just saying no to a relationship. That being said, I'm going to have to be open and communicative with guys about my intentions, and I can hope that they will do the same for me. Therefore:

Rule #2: Dates are great! Just communicate intentions openly and accurately.

However, there must always be a priority of growing and maintaining my true relationship with Jesus Christ. How can this be done while living and dating without losing my focus? The answer is simple: live a more Godly life. Through taking more time to read and learn from the Bible and applying it to my life, it will altogether be easier to go about my activities and studies in the right, Christ-like mindset. 

In 2 Thessalonians 2:14-15, we are told, "To this he called you through the gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by spoken word or by our letter." In college, it can be hard to stay close to what has been taught to us in church. But through prayer, worship, and focusing on following Christ's example, we can remain close to what we were taught and what we believe. This has to be done if we wish to achieve healthy, Christ-centered relationships, whether it is with Jesus, our friends, classmates, and those we see as potential life partners. Thus, if I am going to date (and live, for that matter), it should be with intentions that do not stray from the love and teachings of Christ my Savior. So:

Rule #3: Strive to live (and date) with a more Christ-centered mindset.

With these rules, it could become difficult remembering to live in the moment and to let go and let God. Rules inherently create a sense of boundary. A feeling of being restricted and unable to do what one wants or desires. The difference with these rules, though, is that they are going toward a higher purpose of me leading a full and happy life. A life with a focus on my true priorities: faith, family, friends, and my future. These rules and this project will, I believe, lead me to something greater and essentially, someone greater. It's time to get in touch with what matters. With that here is...

Rule #4: Romans 12: 2 "Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-His good and pleasing and perfect will." 

This project is the renewal of my mind, and from that will come the renewal of my heart and spirit. It's time to get back to things that belong in my heart at this moment, and following the above rules will guide me on my journey. That, along with the love and support of my family, friends, and beautiful readers, will be truly instrumental in this journey.

So thanks but no thanks, Kate. I think I'll stick to my rules this time around.

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good and pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

Ch-ch-ch-Changes

David Bowie, guys. He's pretty much a classic. Don't tell me you've never heard his song "Changes"? Please. If you've ever seen Shrek 2, you know what song I'm talking about. And if you haven't seen Shrek 2, then you just need to stop reading this right now and go watch it. Because you are seriously missing out. Just kidding, you should probably still read this.

But alas, Shrek 2 is not the topic of today's post. It's not even about David Bowie. It's about changing. For the better. For the worse. Without your knowledge. Because you said so. Some people argue that we are changing every day. Others say that we never really change; we just discover who we truly are. I'd like to think it's a little bit of both. Our changes that we encounter in life, whether voluntary or involuntary, help us develop into who we are meant to be.

Today, my family and I helped move my oldest brother, Neal, to his new apartment. He left a place that he called home for two years and started at a place completely new. That's gotta be a bit of a scary change, right? In the least, it's drastically different than what he's known for so long. Imagine your first day of college: moving in day. You're in a new place with your life packed away in boxes, literally at your feet. You unpack, make yourself at home. Then when it's done, you have a moment of just sitting there asking yourself, "Okay, what's next?" I can imagine that Neal felt the same way today.

Every change is met with an unknown. You can plan to change or have it occur spontaneously, but either way there will be a time where you honest to goodness have absolutely no idea what is coming next. Sometimes you even feel that way without any change at all. The good news is, there is always one thing in our lives that stays constant: Jesus. In Hebrews 13:8 we are told, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." What a comfort it is to know that no matter what changes we go through in life (starting at a new school, moving into a new place, starting a year-long blog and life of singularity), Jesus Christ will always be there, just like He always has been.

I am embarking on a new journey that could very well change my life. I'm making a HUGE change! I don't know where it's going to go, who it's going to bring me to, and I certainly don't know what God has planned. But I do know that I have Jesus as my constant friend and true love to guide me along the way.

Change is inevitable. It's good. It's healthy. It's part of what makes life fun, exciting, interesting, and yes, sometimes even scary. But in those scary, "What happens next?" times, Christ is there. I'm going to remember that as I make this new change in my life. you should remember it in all of your changes, too.

Now, please excuse me while I go watch Shrek 2 and rock out to Bowie.

If you have good taste, you will follow suit.

...Oh look, a gift just for you. Now you don't have to go and search YouTube for it. You're welcome.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8

Hello, My Name is...

Oh, hello there.

...I'm not really good with this kind of stuff...you know, blogging. I, gosh, I'm not exactly sure how to introduce myself. If you're here, chances are you already know me. I mean, you must know me a little bit. But in the off-chance that you've stumbled upon this by some random miracle, then hi, I'm Desiree.

*Changes cup of coffee from right hand to left in order to shake yours.* It's nice to meet you.

I'm not exactly sure how long you're intending this visit to be. I mean, you're welcome to stay for just five minutes or you can stay here the whole year! That'd be great, too. It's whatever you like. Regardless, I'm going to be here for the next 365 days. And gosh, who knows. Maybe after that, too!

You see, I've started up a project. Maybe it's because Christmas was just yesterday or that 2014 is right around the corner, but I feel like it's time for something new in my life. And after thinking of it for a while, I'm finally able to pinpoint it: love. Not love in the romantic, Nicholas Sparks kind of way. But a love that is found in the beauty of everyday life and who has given it to us. 

I've gone through a lot of changes in the past year. I've graduated from high school (a milestone that was in the making since Seventh Grade), I've started my schooling at the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln (go Huskers!), and I've officially begun my journey to becoming an independent and successful woman.

And let me tell you, it's been a crazy, fun ride. But it's also been scary.

So now that 2013 is almost over, I've started reflecting on why I've been scared in the past twelve months. And I've come to the conclusion that my heart has not been in the right place. Throughout the year, my heart has been worried by schoolwork and change. It's been aflutter with the thought of entering a new relationship. It's been broken after leaving said relationship. Still, 2013 has been a pretty great year, but I want 2014 to be better. In 2014, I want my heart to be happy and overflowing with boundless love and confidence, no matter what the year throws at me.

Which is why I've devised the year-long challenge of finding love and creating a strong and lasting relationship. With God. With my family. With my friends. With my school. With myself.

WithOUT a boyfriend.

In previous months and even years, I told myself that I wasn't going to worry myself with finding a guy and entering a relationship. "Whatever happens is going to happen," I always told myself. "I'm going to fill my heart with Jesus before I fill it with someone else."

But to be honest, I cheated. I cheated a LOT. I made excuses and let my head wander from where I intended it to be. I lost my focus, which is what put me into a whirlwind of emotion and uncertainty. Now, it's time to get that certainty back.

And 2014 is the year! I'm going to focus on what truly matters: faith, family, friends, and my future. When it's time, the fifth "f" (the fellow) will enter my life and my heart will be full and willing to make room for someone else because I am already strong in my other relationships.

So. 2014 is the single year. It's my year to fall in love with me. It's my year to fall deeper and deeper in love with Jesus, with no other man.

Shakespeare once wrote, "Love is merely a madness." And that's absolutely accurate. But the madness doesn't stop there. Love, life, and the people in it are all madness. Here's my year of all of it. The crazy, fabulous, weird, and wonderful madness. 

So yeah, I'm Desiree. Welcome. Please enjoy your stay, however long it may be.

"She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future because her hope is in ME." Proverbs 31:25