HUGE Steps!

Hey everyone,

I don’t know about you guys, but I just started back to school today. I have to admit, it was a little scary at first. I started a new online school and I wasn’t sure what to expect, how it would work, what the teachers would be like…let’s just say I had no idea what was going to happen.
My teachers are super nice! They have already been helping and guiding me through both of my classes and making sure I understand everything. Now I’m actually excited about the next class in a week!

I wanted to share this to let you all know it’s okay to step out of your comfort zone. If you didn’t, what would you be missing? I think these two classes, besides having just started them, are really going to push my knowledge and understanding. I believe they are going to make me step out of my comfort zone. And I’m okay with that!

Writing was a BIG step for me! I never anticipated my writings to be more than silly fan fiction that only I and maybe some of my family would read. If you knew me before I started writing, you would not have imagined that I would be a writer. At eight-years-old I would literally refuse to read or write anything! But low and behold four years later, I was writing my first book.

That was a HUGE step for me.

Another huge step was public speaking.

I’ve never been good at public speaking. I would always get really nervous about getting up in front of people, even at my small church. I would start getting cold sweats, my chest would tighten and my hand were like ice. And any time I went on stage, it felt sort of surreal. Like you feel like you’re in a dream. It NEVER helped!
But I started a class…Apologetics. For those of you who don’t know, apologetics is the study of defending the Bible…and it’s a speech class. I didn’t know this until the first class when they asked me to come up with a five minute speech on the spot.
I was so nervous. But you know what? I got up there at each class with one or two new speeches and I spoke to the class. Granted it was a small class, only me and three other students, but it was a HUGE step and accomplishment for me! Now I’m not as scared when I need to speak publicly! I actually believe I’m starting to enjoy it!

I think we all have problems with stepping out of the comfort zone that we have grown fond of. But imagine all the possibilities of when we do step out there and stretch our limits. I never imagined myself as a writer. And I’m not the greatest writer. But I’m trying and improving and enjoying myself! And that’s what matters the most!

So be brave! Step out of your comfort zone! You don’t have to do anything MAJOR, life changing type stuff. You just need to expand! You’ll be amazed at what happens!

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” ~Isaiah 40:29-31

2013 International Christian Retail Show

Today was our last day here in St Louis, MO at the International Christian Retail Show. It was an awesome experience and I hope that I got word of my books out there! I’ve handed out 250 book cards (info cards with the book picture and the details) and I’ve handed out probably 100 or so business cards. I’ve made connections with some higher people, and there are lots of possibilities for us to expand in the near future!

I had fun meeting with other authors, especially being able to give some of them my books! I hope that they will find it interesting and hopefully they will help spread the word of them!

Though tomorrow is the last day of the show, we will not be there tomorrow. Sadly, we have to go back to work. But, I can promise you that I will be finding more time to write from now on! I can now see how big of a career I could have in this industry!

Blessings to you all! Please look through some of the pictures from the book show!

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Busy Busy Busy!

Been super busy but I’m hoping to find some time to write here soon! And I’ve got some ideas that I want you guys to help me out with! Keep watch for a post that will tell you more!

Author, Photographer