- Jen 5 Comments

Blog-tember Day One // Introduce Yourself

Ahh, September. The month when it finally (maybe?) starts to feel like fall. As much as I always dreaded going back to school, September has always been one of my favorite months. There’s pumpkin everything, pretty leaves, fall decor, my birthday…doesn’t get much better than that!

Today I’m linking up and joining in on Blogtember! The goal is to blog about different prompts every day in September. I may not end up blogging every day, but since I’m just starting out, I thought this would be a good way to get in the habit of blogging, and to get to know some other bloggers. So here goes!

11225455_10204086933310108_5163207848788284405_n

I am…

…a list maker. Hence why I’m introducing myself by way of a list 😉 My phone’s notes app is full of lists, and I also have planners, notebooks, notepads, etc. full of lists: to-do lists, goals, blog post ideas, grocery lists, projects I want to try, places I want to go, names for my future children, and yes, even a birthday wish list 😉 What can I say, I like to plan ahead!

…a coffee addict. Whether I make it at home or go out and get it, I have at least one coffee a day, sometimes more. My favorite is a plain iced latte or a peppermint mocha, but I’m not picky!

…an introvert. Give me a book or a podcast and the house to myself for a couple hours and I’m happy. I love quiet evenings at home with my family, and I much prefer getting coffee with a friend over a group event.

…learning to be creative. I’ve never thought of myself as a creative person; my sister has always been the artist/craftsman in the family who could make anything she dreamed up, while I was happy to just have my nose in a book. But I’ve been trying to do more creative activities, like embroidery, coloring, and now writing, and I’m having a lot of fun!

…a reader. I’ve loved to read since I was four years old. I read anything from mystery and suspense to historical fiction to contemporary Christian. I love a good story! But I am trying to read more for learning than for fun. Personal growth, Christian living, business, etc. I love being able to learn by reading, whether through a story or something a little more practical.

…a not-sure-what-I’m-doing-yet college grad. I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in 2015, but I still don’t know what I’m going to do on the career front. I have dreams of someday working in the the pro-life movement or with adoptions, or to own my own business of some kind…but for now, I’m trying to enjoy the season of life I’m in and not to miss the opportunities to grow and prepare for whatever’s next.

…most importantly, a follower of Jesus. I don’t always get it right, but I always want to be learning and growing. Learning more about Him is way more important than learning more about anything else, and that’s what I want my blog to reflect.

Here's a grainy selfie of my sister and me for good measure ;)
Here’s a grainy selfie of my sister and me for good measure 😉

What about you? If anyone out there is reading this, please say hi and introduce yourself! 🙂

- Jen 2 Comments

5 Reasons to Love the Final Five (and Olympic Gymnastics)

5 Reasons to Love the Final Five (and Olympic Gymnastics)

I don’t know about you, but the Rio Olympics have taken over the TV at my house for the last few weeks! My favorite event is the women’s gymnastics, and it was so much fun to watch Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, Madison Kocian, and Laurie Hernandez blow the world out of the water and win medal after medal. With the girls now making the media rounds here at home and still taking social media by storm, I’m reliving the memories and sharing why I think they’re awesome!

  1. Their work ethic and dedication. These girls have put in many, many hours of hard work leading up to these Olympics. They have dedicated their whole lives to their sport, and there’s something satisfying and inspiring, even for a casual observer like me, about seeing them succeed in such spectacular fashion. All their hard work and sacrifice has paid off, and their reward is absolute excellence and dominance. And, of course, a few medals 😉 I can only imagine how awesome they must feel, knowing that all those years were worth it! 
  2.  Their personal stories. All five of these gymnasts have incredible stories. From Simone Biles being adopted by her grandparents and given a second chance, to Gabby Douglas coming back for her second Olympics despite a slightly rocky beginning to her gymnastics comeback, to Laurie Hernandez’s making the team at age 16 in only her first year competing at the senior level, to Madison Kocian’s dazzling uneven bars routine earning her a spot on the team. Then there’s my personal favorite comeback story: Aly Raisman’s. She suffered a major disappointment being on the losing end of a tiebreaker for bronze in the all-around competition at the 2012 London Games. Now at 22 years old, she’s the oldest member of the team (the other girls call her “Mama Aly” or “Grandma”), and she’s at the top of her game. This year, she came back to win a silver medal in the all-around. In a sport where it’s rare to compete in more than one Olympics, she blew everyone away and did even better than last time. Redemption at its finest!5 Reasons to Love the Final Five (and Olympic Gymnastics)
  3. Their friendship and camaraderie. I loved seeing the genuine friendships between the girls, on and off the competition floor. You could tell from their reactions that they were all excited when the others did well, like when Laurie Hernandez took silver on the balance beam, ahead of Simone Biles’ bronze. They’ve been living and training together for over a month, and I imagine it would be one of the greatest experiences ever to share such an awesome life event with girls who have quickly become your best friends!5 Reasons to Love the Final Five (and Olympic Gymnastics)
  4. Their awesome leotards. Okay, this might be kind of superficial, but I think they have the best-looking leotards at the Olympics. Is there anything better than red, white, blue, and bling? I don’t think so.5 Reasons to Love the Final Five (and Olympic Gymnastics)
  5. Their historic victory. This team was the first from the USA to win the team gold medal at back-to-back Olympics. Gabby and Aly were part of the gold medal-winning team in 2012, and this year’s team won by a huge margin. Not only that, but at least one medal in each event (all-around, uneven bars, balance beam, vault, and floor exercise) was won by a member of Team USA. By the end of competition, they walked away with nine (9!!) medals: four gold, four silver, and one bronze, making them the most-decorated women’s gymnastics team in US history. Not to mention that Simone’s four gold medals tie the Olympic record for a female gymnast at a single Games.They are truly the best in the world, and their records will be tough to beat in the years to come. They are champions in the truest sense of the word.

I love the fact that, despite their status as Olympic champions, these girls still seem so relatable. I wish we could be friends in real life! But even if we never meet them, there’s still a lot we can learn from them about dedication, work ethic, and striving for excellence in everything we do. So go out there, work hard at what you love, and don’t forget to celebrate with your friends along the way! And if you get a chance to wear some red, white, blue, and bling, definitely take that chance 😉

Photos by John Cheng, from the USA Gymnastics Facebook page

- Jen Leave a comment

Welcome to Grace to Grow

Welcome to Grace to Grow, a blog about learning and growing with grace through each season of life.

Welcome to Grace to Grow, a blog about learning and growing with grace through each season of life.

Hello and welcome to Grace to Grow! I’m so glad you’re here!

Writing a blog is something that has been on my heart for a while now. I graduated from college a year ago, and since then, I’ve been wanting a place to document and share some of the things I’ve been learning. God has been showing me a lot about seasons of life, and my desire is to grow into each new season with grace, to respond to all the changes life brings with a cheerful heart, and to trust in His faithfulness. I want to always be learning and growing with intention in my faith, in my personal life, and in my preparation for the future.

Some of the things you can expect to see here are posts about what God is teaching me, quotes that inspire me, books that I’m learning from, lessons I’ve learned throughout college and post-grad life, dreams for the future, and other fun things that bring me joy, like embroidery and adult coloring books 🙂 I would love to have you join me so we can learn and grow together! Leave a comment or connect with me on social media via the buttons to the right; I would love to hear from you.

What about you? What season of life are you in right now, and what has God been teaching you?