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.

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.