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.

as of late

I have been crazy busy at work as of late.

We are in the process of moving from our current location to the new location up town. Our new building is not quite ready yet, but it should be within the next week or so. We have gotten a lot busier these past few weeks with a lot more jobs to do. So we are trying to get them all taken care of before we move.

I recently celebrated my 23rd birthday. Honestly, I don't feel too much different than 22. I'm just a little bummed I can't sing T-Swift's "22" anymore. I got some new TOMs for my birthday and my plane ticket to NYC.

Speaking of NYC...Another one of my friends from college got married. And he happened to be getting married in NYC. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity to go to New York and see my friends. So my friend Becca flew from Texas and my friend Allyson flew from West Virginia, and the three of us met up in NYC. We stayed with Becca's uncle who happened to live only five or six blocks from the church our friend got married in. Friday morning I flew out from STL and went to New York. I got to eat dinner with my grandma's first cousin. She's such a sweetheart. She even took me to dessert at Cafe Lalo. It was delicious, and so great to spend time with her. Saturday, me and my friends explored the Chelsea area of the city before the wedding. Then we went to the most beautiful little ceremony in the city. I'm so glad I went. After the wedding, we walked around the city some more and even walked to Times Square, and had some dinner. The next morning, I had to wake up super early to fly home. I was  actually home in time for church.


Since then, I've been working like crazy and working out when I get the chance. I got another day off this past Monday for Memorial Day. Mom, Ang & I went shopping in Marion and Carbondale. It was relaxing and nice to just be chill. I got some new tops and a new bathing suit. Just getting ready for summer time.

1. "Baptism Sunday" at LCC, over 35 people baptized into the faith. Praise the Lord!
2. celebrating Cinco de Mayo at Taco Bell with my best friends
3. doing a little freelance designing for a friend
4. birthday TOMs
5. my baby cousin graduated 8th grade & was valedictorian --- his speech was about a rubik's cube
6. Kleinfeld's in NYC
7. Flatiron Building in NYC
8. art in the park in Madison Square Park in NYC
9. wedding dates
10. the dates with the groom!
11. Times Square in NYC
12. leaving NYC

exploring & working

A couple weeks ago, I went to Missouri with my parents. My dad likes to go kayaking on the St. Francis River near Fredericktown, and he wanted to take me and my mom to see it. So two Saturdays ago, we went to check it out. There was still snow on the ground. It was beautiful. The beauty was an incredible reminder of God's wonder and majesty. It never hurts to be reminded of it. On the way home, we stopped through Perryville, MO and found an incredible pizza place, Galati's. It was really good. I highly recommend it if you are ever in that area.

My job has been going really well. I'm still learning all the printing lingo and jargon. Because I'm pretty well-versed in the computer end of the business, especially the Mac platform. But we've been pretty busy, which is good for business. So I can't complain.

We've been planning lots of events for the youth. Last night we had our youth leaders meeting. The spring banquet is going to be EPIC to say the least. We're already talking about camps, and summer mission trips. I'm so excited for all the things the youth are going to get to do. God is so going to rock some faces off of these youth kids. It's going to be awesome.

Here's a few pictures from our trip to the river & a few pictures from the past couple of weeks :)

1) new pizza place in Perryville, MO called Galati's — this is my extra cheesy smile for deliciously cheesy pizza
2) I got candy & a balloon at work for doing such a good job one day :)
3) helping Jackie paint at her new house
4) my new JFK book, "The Quotable Kennedy," I got at the antique mall in Marion this past Saturday. it's filled with some interesting stuff.

valentine's day

Well, something big has happened since my last blog post.
I got a job! A real, big kid job. I got to work from 9-5, pretty much Monday through Friday. And it's almost like a graphic design job. I'm doing some designing, but mostly typesetting at a Print Shop in town. We make copies and trophies and awards. I'm still learning the ins and outs of it all, but it's interesting.
Still working on designing for the girls conference this spring. We are almost done with that. I can't wait for that to get here. I think a lot of junior high and high school girls are going to get rocked by it.
Recently, I made my mom a logo for her photography company. She's a pretty accomplished lifestyle photographer. I get to be her assistant sometimes. Basically, she has recreated her image. She just got a new website. She takes pictures of babies, seniors, children, families, and couples. Pretty much, she does it all. Go check it out: Sycamore Grove Photography.

This morning in my devotion I was reading Hebrews 13. I got to verse 8,

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

And that just made my heart so happy to have that reassurance. Because Jesus will never ever change. He was at the beginning of time and He is right now and He will be forever. And nothing about His character will ever be different. He is just as patient and kind as He was then. That is incredible to me. Forever I will trust in the fact that He won't change on me, no matter how often I change.

I'll leave you with some iPhone pictures from my week.

1] I'm never up before the sun, but I had an appointment in Evansville last week and happened to see this fantastic sunrise, and I was reminded of God's beauty and majesty.
2] my awesome friend Allyson sent me these mustaches that attach to your bottles while you are drinking to make it look like you have a mustache, hehe
3] my dad delivered flowers to me at work on valentine's day
4] my sweet Hallee Jae is the only valentine I need, who is now 9 months old
5] I love cheesy valentines, like this Harry Potter one I found online
6] a close up of my pretty flowers

living life

Recently, I have been just here.
Working on a little project for a girls conference at the church. I'm pretty much in charge of all the graphics that we'll be producing for it. I've been working with the youth leaders pretty closely.
For the month of February, I will be teaching the junior high Sunday School class at church. This past week was my first week and it was pretty interesting. I had to bring out my authoritative voice, and I didn't even know I had one. Other than that, I think it went pretty well. I remember being in junior high — it was awkward, weird, and so was I, which will help me relate to them.
I have been looking for a job, but alas, I still have no job.
Contemplating a trip to Florida to see my snowbird grandparents sometime this month.
Recently, I've had a lot of really good time in the Word. Most of my time has been spent in Hebrews. Focusing on Jesus being the ultimate sacrifice and the new Most High Priest. Thank goodness Jesus came to be the last and final blood sacrifice so we no longer have to make a yearly sacrifice. Jesus died once and for all, and He is now seated at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf day and night. How great is that?

"The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself."
Hebrews 7:26-27



A few pictures from December until now.

1) watching fireworks with some of my favorite girls at church
2) still getting matching sweatshirts, even though we are getting old
3) remembering my sweet great-grandmother AnnaBelle who recently passed
4) girls night at the Ellis' house usually means Coca Cola in glass bottles
5) I've been listening to some pretty good music on my new record player I got for Christmas
6) my baby niece Hallee Jae getting so stinkin' big
7) Brody sitting in the snow, rather than going into the barn where it is warm
8) reading glasses, because I've had a lot of time to do just that — read

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

17 days

there are 17 days left until graduation.
wow, I can hardly believe how fast this semester has flown by.
it feels like just yesterday it was starting.
my classes are going well, but it's getting to that point in the semester when things are piling up and I have a million and one things to do.
today, I spent the day in Louisville, KY on a field trip for class.
we went to Power Creative, a graphic design firm.
it was so awesome.
they are on a huge campus with so many designers.
my favorite part was the huge in-house photography studio.
plus a giant prop room full of awesomeness.
I think I would pick that to do if anything.
however, I don't think I'm qualified to work there.
their main photography guy used to work for National Geographic.
and their photography intern is from SCAD (really awesome art school).
so I don't think I stand a chance.
but I would like to be taking pictures all day every day.

also, new in my life, I'M AN AUNT!
my brother and his wife had their baby girl yesterday morning at 12:19AM.
her name is Hallee Jae Whitlock.
she weighed 9lbs 2oz, and was 22in long.
there were a few issues right after birth, so she's been in the NICU.
but things are looking better.
she has already won me over and stolen my heart.
I already know that she will be super spoiled, especially by me.
now that I know her name, I can start buying her things with her name on it.

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.