#prayerforukraine

As many of you know, Ukraine has a special place in my heart. Since I spent the summer there in 2011, the country and quite a few of the people there are very dear to my heart. Which is why the recent turmoil in the country has left me broken-hearted. 

The majority of the revolution is happening in the capitol, Kiev, which is not near my the people I love. But Ukraine is not a big country, so this is clearly affecting the whole country. 

Please say a little prayer for a country I love very much. Pray for: peace in general, resolution, God to reign supreme in that country, no more fighting, no more death, wholeness, unity.


These are some of the people I love, and want to see protected from harm.

This is just one picture from the troublesome times.

(source)

Read more about the revolution: CNN Article on Ukrainian Revolution

15 Random Things

1. I could watch The Office all day every day and never get tired of it. I have yet to watch season 9; I just don't want it to end. One day, I'd like to have a love like Jim & Pam. That would be wonderful.

(Source)

2. Amazon.com is my online shopping weakness. I mean, 2-day shipping? Who doesn't love that? I constantly have a wishlist going.

3. Art is my love. Painting, photography, typography, computer graphics, sketching. I haven't done as much since I'm working full-time & not in school anymore, but it's still my passion. Maybe that's why my degree is in graphic design.

4. I have always loved to read. Pretty much any fiction, nonfiction, Harry Potter, any book about JFK, but I just started loving to read the Bible as it's written: a love story from God to me personally. I read little excerpts daily, and it just helps to make my day a little brighter.

5. I got a record player for Christmas last year, and I love to listen to records. I love the scratching; the authenticity of the music. It just sounds so amazing. I wish I could get all my music on record.

6. Going along with the record player, I much rather prefer music from eras other than the one we are living in. They had a better beat and were much cleaner. When I was studying in college, I would turn on the "Chubby Checker" Pandora station.

7. Traveling is one of my most favorite things to do, even if it is little road trips on the weekends. I have been to 24 of the 50 states, and Washington D.C. Outside of the United States, I have been to 4 countries. One day, I 'd like to make it to all 50 states, and visit at least every continent once. I'd like to see every ocean. Man, I have a lot of travel goals.

(Source)

8. Going along with travel, I am passionate about missions and sharing the Gospel of Jesus with many many people far and wide. I would love go back to Ukraine, but I will go wherever I'm led.

(Source)

9. I love the flea market in Nashville. I have an obsession with buying typewriters, old suitcases and old cameras. I like to buy anything there, but those are the things I'm always on the lookout for and always looking for a good bargain.

10. For most of my college career, I didn't wear make-up, and barely wear any now. I feel that make-up has taken over our generation and hides the natural beauty of women. Less is definitely more in this case.

11. Socks are the worst thing ever. I cannot stand to wear them, even in the winter time. I also don't like to wear the same pair more than one time. I always told my mom that when I grew up and I was rich, I would just throw away my socks after wearing them and buy brand new ones. I haven't gotten to that point yet.

12. One of my biggest pet peeves is cursing. There are like a million words in the English language, plus a million other languages, can you not pick another one besides those stupid curse ones? Read a book, read an article, watch the news, learn how to speak like a human being that people actually want to be around. End rant.

13. I have the dumbest/smartest dog. I got Brody for Christmas in 2005. He is an American Eskimo named after the actor Adam Brody. He'll kennel when you tell him to, and sit & lay down. But he doesn't do much else. But I wouldn't trade him for anything.

14. I have had so many different hairstyles. It's been red, blonde, brown, black, pink, blue, short, long, straight, curly, wavy. Oh, goodness. I can't wait to show my kids one day. They will laugh at me like I laugh at my mom's perm & my dad's fro.

15. I love to read blogs about adoption, because one day I hope to be able to adopt and give a child hope & life. Even though I have never met any of these people before, I love to keep up with them (I know, I'm a creeper) Some of my favorites are Under the Sycamore, Adding A Burden, Tiny Green Elephants, A Blog Full of Weldons, A Moose in Moscow, just to name a few.



I know no one really needed to know these things, but it's fun to share. And random might as well be my middle name.

working 9-5

I have just been informed that it's a long time since I have blogged... so here it goes.

I've been rather busy working 9-5, Monday-Friday. Work is good, but it can be crazy busy and sometimes a little stressful. So when I get some, I'm ready to just relax and just be chill.

Other than work, I've been trying to squeeze in time to work out, which doesn't happen as frequently as I would like, but I'm working on it. I like to hit up the elliptical for a while and then stretch real good. After I've worked out, I always feel really good, but I just don't always have time to get there. Or I just don't feel like going.

Last Friday night, a few of us girls went bowling with my friend Jason who is in medical school. It happened to be cosmic bowling, which is awesome. We had a lot of fun just catching up and spending time with him. And we got DQ afterwards, and sat in Jason's car where he quizzed us about our lives. It's the simple things in life that are oh so much fun.

Then the next night, Angela, Cacy & I went to Crossroads Bible Church in Norris City. They were having a night of worship. It was incredible. Most of the music was new to me, but it was really good. We spent the evening worshipping the Living King. It was so refreshing to be in the presence of God.

My quiet time has been so good lately. I feel like I've really been digging in. Recently I've been reading in 1st & 2nd Timothy and I just started in 1 Thessalonians.

"We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.  For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,  and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come." 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10
This is something we should strive to be as Christians. That we would become imitators of the Lord because we are filled with joy of the Holy Spirit. That we would turn away from idols of this world to serve the one true living God because He promised Jesus was coming back. And we are always, always to give thanks for one another.

1) Celebrating Ben's 30th birthday at El Ranchito.
2) One of my new favorite movies, very good, wholesome, family movie. Worth watching.
3) Watching my high school alma mater play soccer.
4) My sweet niece at 11 months old getting so stinkin' big.
5) The most recent picture of my youth kids in Ukraine. One of the girls recently graduated from University.
6) And a throwback to Seattle. I wish I was there.

the unknown

do you ever feel like your drowning? literally sinking into a bottomless pit of despair. trying to grasp and reach for air but every attempt is for nothing because you slip further and further into the nothingness that is wrapping you up.

that's where I am at right now. drowning the unknown of my future, the unknown of everything.

here I am, roughly seven months since I graduated college and still without a job of any kind. still uncertain of what I am going to do with this degree I worked so hard to get.

here I am, longing to be in Ukraine. in a place where I can't understand 99% of the people I encountered due to the language barrier, but they loved me regardless. in a place where I felt Jesus moving.

where does God want me? where would my 'talents' be best used? if you could call them that. at this point in time, I look at what other graphic designers are doing and I look at my work, and then think that I will never be good enough to work anywhere as a graphic designer.

all I know is that I have to surrender everything I know and everything I am to Jesus. because the only way to be rescued from the drowning mess is when Jesus reaches down and pulls me out. and when I refuse to let myself be not 'good enough.' but I've been seeking for quite some time and I still don't know where I'm supposed to be or where I'm supposed to go or what I'm supposed to be doing. I must need a lesson in listening.



Psalm 143
A psalm of David

Lord, hear my prayer,
listen to my cry for mercy;
in your faithfulness and righteousness
come to my relief.
Do not bring your servant into judgment,
for no one living is righteous before you.
The enemy pursues me,
he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in the darkness
like those long dead.
So my spirit grows faint within me;
my heart within me is dismayed.
I remember the days of long ago;
I meditate on all your works
and consider what your hands have done.
I spread out my hands to you;
I thirst for you like a parched land.

Answer me quickly, Lord;
my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me
or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.
Rescue me from my enemies, Lord,
for I hide myself in you.
Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.

For your name's sake, Lord, preserve my life;
in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.
In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;
destroy all my foes,
for I am your servant.

living with purpose

a couple of Sundays ago at church, my pastor talked God having a purpose for our lives. God created the heavens & the earth, and in that there was order and purpose. my pastor gave an overview of his life starting at birth, pretty much hitting the highest points. he encouraged us to do the same. because everything that has happened in our lives, has happened because God has a specific plan and purpose for our lives. nothing that happens goes without Him knowing. so here goes nothing.

the life & times of 

Evan Whitlock

I was born in 1990 in southwestern Indiana, but my family lived in southern Illinois. the town I was born in had the closest/nicest hospital to have a baby in when I was born. ever since then, I lived in the same old little bitty town with my parents and older brother.
we went to church about 7 miles from our house. we enjoyed going to church here, but all the kids went to a different school than me.
in 1995, I started kindergarten. school was my favorite. I was really good at it :)
January 1998, I accepted Christ as my Savior and I was baptized. I had grown up in a family of Christians, but I knew I had to make a decision for myself. even then, I wasn't quite sure what it meant.
fast forward to junior high, we had switched churches where I had more friends and the atmosphere was more of what we needed at the time. you could say I was athletic/outgoing: I was very involved in soccer, gymnastics & cheerleading with quite a large group of friends. within the two years of being in junior high, I lost four people very special to me: one close friend, two great-grandmas, and one young cousin. this was a very hard time in my life. at the time it seemed like the world was crashing down on me and God had abandoned me. God used that time to draw me closer to Him & to rely more Him.
then I went to high school, four years of soccer, studying, Christian friends, working hard to get into college.
I went to college in the same town I was born in with the intent to be a physical therapist, mostly because I knew they made a lot of money and because I was super skilled in science & math. but after two years of taking classes in my major, I realized that this career path was not meant for me. so after countless hours of prayer, I changed my major to graphic design, because art had always been one of my passions. while I was in college, I found some of the greatest friends ever through SCF (student christian fellowship). these people were incredible and I know God placed them in my life specifically to help me get along in school.
in the summer on 2011 between my junior and senior years, I went to Ukraine as a missions intern with CMF (christian missionary fellowship). here I learned about God's heart for other nations and how missionaries live and function. I felt like this was where I felt the most at touch with God.
this past spring, I graduated with my degree in Visual Communication Design basically graphic design. since then, I have been in a place of searching out God's will for my life.

I think God used everything in my life for a specific purpose and without every single thing that happened I wouldn't be where I am today. and even though some things weren't exactly pleasant and didn't go the way I would have planned, God had a plan and has yet to let me down. He is always there for me. I don't know where I'm going next, but God still has a plan and a purpose for me regardless.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 

Jeremiah 29:11

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:6-7

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.
1 Corinthians 14:33

life filled with art

"beauty is in the eye of the beholder"

my newest painting is an expressive painting.
I took a self-portrait and made it into an expressive work.
I worked quickly and without much thinking.
everything from the first layer is gone, except my eyes.
in my opinion, my eyes are my most distinguishing feature.
so I wanted them to stand out.
I used some very thick strokes & strong colors.
a few reactions:
"creepy"
"dark"
"disturbing"
"interesting"
it is now hanging in the painting house with a great black frame.

last night was the opening of the student art show at UE.
I had two pieces that got in.
one giant painting, which is like Jackson Pollock's action paintings.
one digital photograph, which is of a sewing machine in Ukraine.
my parents came over to be at the reception.
it was nice to see them.
many of my friends came over to see my stuff.

typical last first day

today marks an incredible day in my journey as a college student. it is my last first day of classes. just one semester left. eeeeeek!! somebody pinch me. it can't possibly be here already.

as expected, today was the typical "syllabus" day. nothing fancy, nothing over-the-top. just all my professors going through their expectations and requirements for the semester. as well as getting to know the students in their class. in one of my classes, my professor asked each of us what we want to be when we grow up. now, my last name starts with "W" so that means I had the longest time to think about what I wanted to say. as many of you know, I have really been struggling with what I want to do after college. after my summer abroad, I feel as though God is calling me into missions of some sort. though, I'm not quite sure where or for how long. so that's something I could be doing. considering I am a 'Visual Communications Design' major, I would really like to do something with art, specifically graphic design things and photography. I think working for a magazine, designing layouts would be awesome.

so the moral of the story is... I have no idea what to do after I graduate in May. maybe I'll move to NYC and get a job with a magazine. maybe I'll move to Ukraine and work as a missionary. maybe I'll move to Kansas City and do graphic design work for IHOP and being an intercessor. it doesn't matter what I do, as long as I am out there loving on people and sharing the good news of Christ with them.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

don't waste your life fearing what will come next. God has an awesome plan for everything that will happen. sometimes it feels like His plan is for you to fail, but that is so not true. I know I feel like that an awful lot, but I have to constantly remind myself that God is good, and awesome, and incredible, and always has my best interests in mind. some days it will feel like you are in the lowest valley, but God uses those valleys to bring you back up to the mountain top. just trust in Him. He knows what's up.