Mid-Year Check In

Everybody always gets so excited about setting resolutions at the beginning of the new year, but how often do we keep up with those?

Well, here I am checking in at the halfway point (ok fine, it's a little after halfway...you get the point).

This was the list I came up with:

Finish paying off my student loans

I did this!! 9 months and a TON of work hours later...I'M DONE!!!

(Oh, and I got a nose ring...)

Memorize Romans 8 and Philippians 4

Unfortunately, I have not been as good at this as I have wanted to be. I have the first few verses of Romans 8 memorized, but I haven't made much more progress on Philippians 4 than what I already had memorized.

Get plugged into a church in Dallas

YES, I am currently attending Gracehill Community. I have had the privilege of getting to know the preacher's daughters a little better too, which has been fun. PKs unite! haha.

Figure out what the heck I am supposed to do for my taxes (time to put on my big girl panties, ughhhhh)

Gosh, this one was a pain, but I did it! My dad helped me check and double check and correct a million times, but overall, I DID MY OWN TAXES!

Start keeping a budget instead of just spending money whenever I have it

Ummmmm. Ok, still working on this one for sure.

Keep receipts for Catchlight [by Courtney.] for travel expenses

Doing better! I still need to print out some digital receipts to catch up, but then I should be good. 

Don't get overwhelmed or cynical by everyone getting engaged/married around me, but continue in prayer for those couples and be happy for them

I'm actually proud of myself on this one. Granted, I will still scroll through my Facebook occasionally and say, "Oh, more engagements and babies." But in general, I feel like my heart is in a good place. The Lord has done some cool things with my heart this past year. 

Don't rush into a relationship because of loneliness

Ha. Nope, definitely haven't done this! I have gotten to jam out to Beyoncé's "Single Ladies" at every wedding reception I've attended this summer. 

Intentionally love on the people around me (either by texts or letters or hanging out)

I would like to think I'm doing pretty good at this one. Although I never got around to mailing a couple of letters that I meant to send....whoops. Just gotta be more intentional in some areas.

Find a resolution accountability partner-someone who is going to check up on me and will make sure I'm sticking to the goals I set

Lauren Kirkpatrick has taken on this role, and I'm so grateful she has. Every once in a while she'll say, "So how's your list coming," and it's always a nice kick in the pants. Accountability is awesome. 

So here's a to strong second half of the year!!!

Why I'm STILL wearing my purity ring

Here's my purity ring. It's a little beaten up and scratched, but that's because I've been wearing it since my parents gave it to me for my 16th birthday. I wear it on my left ring finger, so people often ask me if I'm married. I simply respond with, "No, it's a purity ring," and they are usually surprised or encouraged because it's not often that you hear a single, 23-year-old woman talk about purity. 

There seems to be a trend in Christian culture that is revolting against Christian culture itself (does that mean they're Christian hipsters?...anyways, different discussion). Now, there are some parts of Christian culture that may deserve to be revolted against, but I think we have to be careful in how we broach the subject because too often the pendulum just swings in the other direction. 

You can disagree, but I think some things in Christian culture (like wearing purity rings, which swimsuits we buy, what time of the day I do my devotional, etc.) come down to where your heart is. The truths in the Bible will remain the same, but the Lord can convict us all on different levels about different things. 

I've seen several girls write blog posts about taking off their purity rings and their reasonings behind it. Granted, some of their points are valid, but I believe there are still valid points on both sides.

For instance, I'm not just wearing my ring until the man of my dreams comes to sweep me off my feet and replace my purity ring with a big ol' rock, so we can dance to "God Gave Me You" at the reception. And some girls have struggled that-the idea that life begins after you get married. 

I'm not wearing my purity ring as a place holder in my life until a man comes in to complete me. 

Some people relate to this in other ways. Maybe they are waiting to get their dream job or have kids or own their own house or be financially independent. Whatever it is that you're waiting for or striving towards, know that your life has already begun. There are beautiful things and people around you, so begin to appreciate those instead of just always living in the future and therefore missing out on the present. (Ok, soapbox moment is done...)

Back to the purity rings. I also don't wear it as a symbol of being holier-than-thou. Yes, it is an outward symbol to the world that I am making a very conscious decision to save sex for marriage, but that doesn't mean that I am automatically full of disdain for people that have not made that decision. It is a personal decision I have made off of my religious beliefs. 

So I'm not saying that every Christian girl should run to the nearest James Avery store and pick up a purity ring because you're not being a good witness if you don't. But I'm also not saying that every girl that has one should take it off because you are wrongly motivated in wearing it. Like I've said before, it's time for an evaluation of our hearts. 

Is having a purity ring (or any other religious symbol....WWJD bracelets, anybody?) becoming a stumbling block of pride? Then maybe it's time to take it off but just continue with your commitment in a more private manner. Is it something that serves as a humble reminder of a decision that you've committed to? Then leave it on and continue to stand strong. 

It's all about balance. A pendulum going too far in either direction can be dangerous.