Tag: Christianity

5 Mental Health Tips for the Holidays

Q'Zion6 Comments

Hello, everyone! My name is Q’Zion, and welcome to The Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen. It’s officially December, and we all know what that means; the Christmas season is finally here! And while the spirit of Christmas is in the air as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, many people find themselves more susceptible to stress and even depression during this time of year.

Let’s face it; everyone wants to feel great inside and out throughout the year, but even more so during the Christmas season. And we can all do that; all it needs is a little bit of work and preparation, and we’re all good to go! Today, I will be sharing my top 5 tips for maintaining mental wellness during the holidays. Let’s get started!

Maintain an ‘optimist-realist’ mindset.

The Christmas season is such a beautiful time of year; especially when it is Jesus’s birth that we are celebrating. And I believe that in our hearts, we all want every holiday season to be better than the last. And is it a good thing to maintain that holiday spirt? Absolutely! But we must also be sure to be realistic about our limits and those of the ones that we love as we work to throw huge family gatherings at the end of the year. This year my not be exactly like the last. People and families change. And financial situations and traditions might, as well. But as long as we keep both the optimism and the realism during this time of year, our holiday season will likely be the best one yet.

Exercise daily and maintain a healthy diet.

I know, I know. You’ve probably read this only a thousand times, and would like to do nothing more than to skip to the next heading. But a huge part of the reason why many people feel stressed or depressed around this time of year is because they aren’t putting the work in to keep their body and minds healthy. As little as 30 minutes of exercise a day (even something as simple as yoga, walking, or hiking) as well as incorporating the necessary vitamins and minerals into your diet with fruits, vegetables, dairy, grains, and protein can cause a boost in your energy and sanity.

Besides, most of us will enjoy a nice break from our diets on Christmas Day, anyway. Just remember, when we do have a craving for something sweet or savory, what matters most is that we eat everything in moderation. ;))

Plan ahead.

What gets most people into a stressed crunch before Christmas and New Year’s Day arrive is they wait until the last minute to buy gifts, prepare Christmas dinners, and put up festive decorations around their home. But in reality, that can only hype up the stress when Christmas is only one or two weeks away. Do yourself and your family a favor by planning a grocery list, putting up most of your decorations for the year, and buying gifts while sales are still here. If you do, it is sure to help your peace of mind, and your wallet.

Volunteer.

One of the best parts of Christmas is that it gives us all another opportunity to look out for one another–meaning ourselves, our families, and those in our communities. God loves a cheerful giver, and if you have the means to give, a great thing to do would be to donate your time and/or money towards an organization that you support. Most of us are blessed by God to be able to afford a fairytale Christmas (or as close to it as we can get.) But everyone doesn’t have that luxury. And it’s important in both God’s will and the spirit of Christmas that we give back to the people and communities that have given to us.

Create a personal budget.

Budgets. Are they most people’s favorite word? Probably not. But are they a weight off of our shoulders during the Christmas season? You bet! This tip kind of goes hand in hand with #1, just because creating a budget requires us to tap into that ‘optimist-realist’ mindset that we discussed.

Sometimes, as much as we want something (for ourselves and/or those we love) it’s important to be realistic with ourselves in how much we can give. So, whether your budget is 50 or 500 dollars, this holiday season, remember that the true meaning of Christmas has no monetary value. Or in other words, a million gifts cannot replace the love that we share during this time of year.

While we cannot control everything that life brings, we can maintain faith in God’s plan for us and do all the preparations that we can for Christmas Day. And I hope that with these tips, your Christmas season will be the utmost merry and bright! Please comment down below some of your productive tips for maintaining mental wellness during this time of year. I would love to hear from you!

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everyone! God bless you all and I’ll see you next time! Peace in! ♡

Monthly Wrap Up | October 2022

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Hey, hey, hey, everyone! My name is Q’Zion, and welcome to The Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen. And no, we are not dreaming; it’s really already November! To be honest, October was like a fun roller coaster ride, for me. It was super fun, but it also went by crazy fast.

Either way, I really enjoyed myself, last month, and I’d like to share some of my experiences with you guys! So without further ado, let’s get into the October ’22 monthly wrap-up!

My Life

  • It’s been a while since I’ve given you all an update on my fitness journey. While I’ve been a little slow lately when it comes to walking outside three days a week, me and Goodmommy have been finding other creative ways to get some exercise. We’ve even been following along to workouts that we find on YouTube. At first, it took some adjusting but now I look forward to adding more variety to my fitness routine!
  • I officially started National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo, and so far, I’ve added nearly 2,000 words. I plan to write about 50,000 words by November 30th. Is it a crazy goal? Maybe a little bit. But I’m so stoked about my new story, and I can’t wait to read the finished product.
  • Experimenting with photography is another thing that I’ve been working on. Lately, I’ve been working with capturing different angles and objects (such as trees, or the sunset) as well as looking at different perspectives to capture a shot. I think that October might be my best month this year as far as my photography goes, because I took quite a few gorgeous pictures!
This photo is definitely one of my faves :> All Rights Reserved.

Books I Read

While I’ve bought a lot of books, this month flew by so quickly that I wasn’t able to finish any of them. But, there are a few that I started, so I’ll be sharing a brief review of my first impressions of each one. However, you may look at my more in-depth opinion in my last book haul. Let’s go!

  • The Next Great Paulie Fink by Ali Benjamin — Basically, this novel that I found at The Dollar Tree (yes, you heard correctly) is intriguing and confusing at the same time. It’s about a small school that consists of grades 1-8. It takes place in a class of 11 students–also known as the entire 7th grade–who idolized their classmate Paulie Fink. It’s kind of at a stand-still right now. Like, I know what’s happening but I don’t know what’s happening. Either way, it seems like a pretty fun book, so I’ll likely get back into it when I’m not so busy.
  • Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul: Book I by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Kimberly Kirberger — honestly, Goodmommy was the one who ended up picking out this book for me. I really love the originality that it includes with a variety of true stories, poems, and other types of creative writing by teenagers and adults about their teenage years. There’s so many lessons in this book that I think that any teenager could learn/benefit from!
  • Savvy by Ingrid Law — to be honest, I couldn’t have read much more than 20 pages of this one (if that many) but it’s probably because beginning took a long time to get off the ground. Everything was so slow paced that it kind of lost my interest quickly, which was suprising because its one of my new books that I was the most excited about. But considering that it’s just the beginning of the book, I’ll get back into it eventually to see if things get more exciting.
  • Better with Butter by Victoria Piontek — Out of all the books that I’ve read this month, this one has got to be the cutest! In a nutshell, it’s about a shy girl with anxiety who gains confidence when she saves a baby goat named Butter. So far, the beginning of this novel has been pretty promising, and I’m super excited to see where this story goes next!
All Rights Reserved.

Series I Watched

  • One of my favorite series ever is The Mysterious Benedict Society, which is an exclusive series on Disney+. It’s about a group of smart, yet neglected kids who make a band of do-gooders to save their city from a conundrum called the Emergency. To me, this series is the perfect mix between adventure, mystery, fantasy, and the wholesome friendships that dominate a film. And what’s even cooler is that they just released season 2!
  • It’s been a long time since I’ve binged-watched this series, but I recently took a dive back into That’s So Raven. I think most teenagers and young adults can agree that it’s probably one of the most nostalgic sitcoms of the 20th century. While Raven’s Home is a decent sequel, I don’t think it compares to the original.
  • I have a lot of Disney Channel shows that I really love, but one of my ultimate favorites is Good Luck Charlie, just because it’s such a wholesome and quirky show. No matter how much I see the episodes, they never fail to make me laugh 100 times over.
  • Occasionally, I also tend to watch the show Walk the Prank. In about the 3rd or 4th grade, I used to watch this show almost every day after school. And while I don’t watch it all that much now, it’s really nice to look back at it when I need a little laugh. There’s something about childhood shows that’s just so comforting.
All Rights Reserved.

My Favorite Posts of the Month

I wrote and published a total of 13 posts, this month! Hooray! I’m honestly not mad at the number, because I think every single post I made was super good, and that’s what matters most as a writer! While I loved all the posts that I published in October of 22′, there were a few that stood out to me:

And that was the monthly wrap-up of October of 2022! Hopefully, you all enjoyed seeing the highlights of last month for me. Please comment down below, which post of mine last month did you enjoy the most? Also, what was YOUR favorite part of last month?

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everyone! God bless you all and I’ll catch you later! Peace in! ♡

Observing Two Sentence Stories

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Hey, everyone! This is Princess Q’Zion and welcome to The Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen. Today, I decided to get creative and do something a little different. I found an old post that I did a little over a year ago, in which I discussed a technique that I had learned in Creative Writing Club: two sentence stories. And I even listed a few that I’d written on my own during the 15-minute exercise that we did during the meeting.

If you’d like to view my first post about two sentence stories, please click here.

I had such a blast writing about them last time that I decided to do a follow-up (or shall I say, continuation) on two sentence stories and how you write them. So, without further ado, let’s begin.

What is a two sentence story?

I recall this being my first thought when I’d first discovered two sentence stories, and I’m assuming it was yours, as well. So, let me break it down for you. They’re basically short stories of pretty much any genre that are written in only two sentences. Most commonly, they are meant to have a funny, surprising, or unexpected twist in the last sentence to add a satisfying ending to the mini-novel.

They’re really awesome for anyone going through writer’s block in the sense that they make you use creativity. After all, it’s not always a simple task to write an entire story in two sentences. But with a little creativity and originality, they can be super satisfying to put together.

Tips — How to make two sentences count

Now that we all know what a two sentence story is, it’s time to dive into exactly how you can write them. Here are a few of my tips for how to make the two sentences count!

  • Make it simple – If you’re a writer like me, it can be tempting to want to stretch the story as much as possible. But don’t overthink it. It is called a two sentence story for a reason.
  • Use personal experiences as inspiration – As for what I can tell, it is so much easier to write a story in two sentences when they’re about something funny or memorable that I’ve experienced. Not only does it make them less of a struggle to write, but a lot more relatable, as well.
  • Go with the flow – When trying different writing icebreakers like two sentence stories, sometimes it’s best to just jot down whatever comes to mind. You can always go back and make edits later, but the whole point of short stories are to practice and have fun!

My original examples

Two sentence stories are such a blast to write. To help any of you who have never heard of this writing exercise until today, I decided to write a few more two-sentence stories of my own. I wrote a total of four in a few minutes of brainstorming, and I have to admit that I’m super happy with how they came out. Hopefully, you all enjoy them, as well.

Since this is my personal writing that I posted on my personal blog, it is considered my property. Therefore, please don’t claim it as your own or use my writing. This is just me sharing my writing experience with you, for reading purposes only. Thank you!

Hello Sun — I go for a jog in the sun on a cozy, summer day. It feels like God is smiling down on me.

What They Once Were — Some adults say they don’t like children. And I’ve always wondered “What were they 40 years ago?”

Phone Screen — I stare in agony as my phone slammed to the ground, it’s sparkly pink and blue case all I can see, before I pick it up and turn it around, my heart skipping a beat. Finally, I exhale: no cracks.

Words — What are words? They’re just swords tossed around.

Book — A good book is like a best friend. It’s there whenever you need it.

Okay, is it just me or does it make you feel accomplished after you’ve written a good short story? Two sentence stories are one of my favorite writing techniques to get my mind going, and hopefully you all enjoyed learning what they’re all about. Please let me know if you’ve ever heard of a two sentence story before today as well as which one of my two sentence stories you liked the most.

Have a fantabulous day, everyone! God bless you all, and don’t forget to smile! Peace in! ♡

Daily Habits for Mental Wellness as a Christian – PT. 1

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Hey, hey, everybody! This is Q’Zion, and welcome to The Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen.

There are so many aspects to being healthy . . . not just how much exercise you get or how healthy you eat. Are those things important? Absolutely! But a healthy body is not the only factor of a healthy spirit. That’s where mental wellness comes in. While this is a major topic on my blog, I realized that I’ve never directed a post about positive mental habits for fellow Christians. But that changes today.

As followers of Christ, there are so many ways to please God. And one thing that I know God wants is for us to be healthy–mentally, physically, and spiritually. And implementing healthy, productive habits into our daily lives to boost our mood and gain a sense of self worth is perfect for maintaining mental wellness and deepening our relationship with our Heavenly Father, in the process. Today, I will be listing a few ways that we can do so, with a scripture representing each point. So without further ado, let’s get started!

Practice Gratitude in all Circumstances

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

– 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

For me, showing gratitude as a Christian is not simply just being thankful. It’s showing appreciation–through our actions, thoughts, and words–that God has loved us enough to bless us with salvation (eternal life) and all the other people and blessings that put the icing on the cake. While anyone can practice gratitude, it’s even more critical that we practice this lifestyle as followers of Christ.

By acknowledging the things that we are blessed to have, even in the moments where everything isn’t going our way or we don’t feel our best, we can build on our relationship with God as we give Him glory for all that He’s blessed us with. And the best part is, when we show God that we are thankful, He can (and will) bless us with even more than what we have now. What an amazing Father we serve!

Communicate with God through Prayer

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

– 1 John 5:14-15

Praying should be a no-brainer for all followers of Christ. Some people say that they are happier when they spend time with their family and friends. And while our loved ones are all wonderful gifts from God, it’s important that we take time everyday to communicate with the Lord, as well, with the power of prayer.

One of the most common questions that I see about prayer is simply “How do you pray?” Well, the simplest answer to that is have a conversation with God. That could be in the form of thanking Him (another great way to express our gratitude), asking Him for what we need, asking for forgiveness, and even using memorized scriptures to strengthen our conversations. Praying doesn’t have to be difficult, in fact. Even “Thank you, Lord” is a prayer.

Instead of thinking of praying as a daunting task (particularly for new Christians) think of it like this: God has given us the gift of being able to speak to Him whenever we’d like. We can get to know more about Him and better our spiritual and mental wellness while doing so. And when we decide to take that opportunity, we are taking a huge step towards becoming the best people that we can be; both as people and most importantly, God’s children.

Get Your Exercise

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

– 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Although they are most often separated as two different topics, our physical and mental health are more connected than some may realize. For example, if you eat an apple everyday, you will most likely have lower hormone fluctuations (meaning less mood swings) and a boosted mood. While on the other hand, too much stress can suppress one’s immune system and make them more susceptible to diseases.

Our bodies are yet another blessing from the Lord. And the functions of our bodies that seem as simple as walking and breathing are miracles. And because our bodies are such gifts, we’ve got to do what we can to keep them healthy. Exercise (preferably 30-60 minutes a day) is the perfect way to release happy hormones (therefore making you feel more relaxed and accomplished) while keeping our physical health in check. But, even if you get bored during your next jog, you can always play some of your favorite gospel tunes to add worship to your workout!

Understand Who You are In Christ

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

– John 14:27

Having a sense of confidence is something that anyone can struggle with, including God’s children. But the thing is, when we take a look into God’s Word, we notice that throughout the entire book, He is constantly telling us who we are to Him: the apple of His eye, forgiven, loved, saved, strong, made with a purpose, wonderfully made, and worthy to have a happy, eternal life.

While self confidence is something that can take time to build, we can’t help but be grateful when we receive all that God has called us to be. So whenever you need a little bit (or a lot) of encouragement, take time to study who God says you are. Because at the end of the day, that matters WAY more than what anyone else thinks/says about you.

Mental health is critical in our day to day lives, and we should all take time to make sure that we are taking time out of each day to maintain a happy, healthy, and godly state of mind. Hopefully, these simple yet life-changing habits will help you do just that. Please tell me some of your healthy habits (as a Christian) that you do to maintain mental wellness. Also, were any of these tips eye-openers for you?

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everyone! God bless you all and I’ll catch you later! Peace in! ♡

My favorite aspects of autumn ♡

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Hey, y’all! This is Q’Zion, and welcome to my blog, The Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen! ♡

Spring, summer, fall, and winter. The four seasons. Each one is unique in their own way; their own special events, holidays, traditions, and other characteristics that make up 1/4 of each year. While I love each one for their own reasons, autumn and winter have always had a special place in my heart. And since we’re practically in the middle of fall (already, I know) I want to explain some of the reasons why autumn is one of my favorite seasons. So without further ado, let’s get this party started!

1.) Warm and cozy colors

There’s something about medium green plants transforming into gorgeous orange, golden rod, and burgundy leaves as they float to the ground that’s so satisfying. All seasons have an aspect of nature that makes them unique, but the eye catching colors of autumn make the season stand out like no other.

2.) The spectacular weather

For me, warm weather is the least desirable weather to have. I mean, I’d rather be a little chilly than sweaty and uncomfortable, do you know what I mean? And while I love summer and winter, with both of those seasons, you either get one or the other side of weather. But when autumn comes around, the temperature is the perfect combination. Not too hot. Not too cold. Just how I like it.

3.) That homey reading atmosphere

By now, it’s no secret that I’m a big fan of all things literature. I’ll do it just about any place, at any time of the day, and obviously in any season. But there’s something about fall vibes that makes me want to read even more. And any bookworm who has spent a fall night cuddled up on the couch with their favorite snack and a comfort novel knows what I mean.

4.) One of my favorite holidays – Thanksgiving

I wouldn’t be the same person if it wasn’t for my awesome family. And during the holidays at the end of the year, we always partake in the tradition of having family gatherings, as often as possible. Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity for me to recap what and who I’m thankful for and blessed with, eat mouth-watering food, and do all the other autumn things I love with the people I love. There’s not many things in this world that are better than that.

5.) Photography is thebomb.com

Photography is one of my other hobbies that I don’t talk about as often, but I adore taking photos of sceneries, especially in the afternoon or just before a sunset. And if we’re being completely honest, autumn’s gorgeous colors makes it the perfect time to go on a photography splurge.

6.) The yummy food

Technically, the comfort of fall horderves goes hand-in-hand with Thanksgiving, but I still wanted to include it because autumn is certainly not the same me without them. I mean, who doesn’t enjoy eating a soup, a piece of turkey, or a pumpkin pie on an autumn afternoon? (Seriously though, I’m super curious!) Autumn food is definitely another thing that makes fall like no other.

7.) Napping paradise

As I mentioned earlier, the weather in autumn is as close as it could get to perfect. The sun isn’t usually out too early (or too bright, when it does peek out from the clouds) which makes it easier to take a power nap or sleep in without feeling like you’ve missed out on half of a day. And since I’m homeschooled, I take quite a bit of naps, so that’s a bonus!

8.) Simple and chic fashion

When it comes to fashion, I am all for finding outfits that are both stylish and comfy. And from classic cardigans to knee high boots, there is so much wiggle room to play with when it comes to autumn fashion.

9.) The decorations

From pumpkins, to candles, to fairy lights, to throw pillows, there are so many creative yet comforting ways to decorate for fall, both on the inside and outside of our homes. I think that autumn decor is the perfect way to set that homey, timeless vibe inside your home, which is perfect not only for fall, but also the preparation for the transition into winter.

10.) Being outdoors

When it comes to autumn, doing any fun fall activity outdoors just makes my day. There’s so much to do this time of year that it’s hard to make an excuse not to go outside. And with the awesome aspects of fall (many of which I have mentioned in this list) it’s kind of hard to do nothing when there’s so much fun we can have right outside our door.

Most of the time, it would take longer posts like this a little while for me to configure. But when it comes to fall, there is so much to love that it’s easy to find reasons why it’s so amazingly great! Please tell me YOUR favorite season(s) down below in the comments? Also, what’s your favorite aspect of autumn and/or the season that you like the most? I’m looking forward to everybody’s responses!

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everyone! Don’t forget that regardless of what you may be going through, we are all beautiful and wonderfully made. And that’s something we can all be thankful to God for! Peace in, y’all! ~ Q’Zion ♡

The Quirks of Being an Ambivert ♡

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Hello, everyone! My name is Q’Zion, and welcome to The Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen! ♡

I already know that some of you may be looking at the title of this post and asking yourselves, “What is an ambivert?” Well you can wonder no longer; an ambivert is a person that has a personality that has the qualities of both an introvert and an extrovert. In other words, a person who is ambiverted is both an introvert and an extrovert mixed into one.

I’ve seen so many people write about “The Struggles of Being an Introvert,” which I can relate to considering that I’d still consider myself about 60% introverted. But I’ve never seen a post like that about being an ambivert. So I thought, why not write the first?

Here are a few of the unique parts–or as I like to call them, quirks–of being an ambivert. Let’s get going!

You’re talkative around certain people, but quiet around others.

This is a habit that I have noticed throughout the past few years. Around my close family and friends, I love to talk and make conversations. But when I’m around strangers or people who I don’t know as well, I tend to be quiet (sometimes even a little shy), but I talk more as I get to know them better.

You like making new friends, but too much socialization can be draining.

Whenever I get a chance to interact with people my age, I’m almost prone to take that opportunity. And I can spend quite a while in that environment feeling at ease. But after about three hours, I’m ready to say my goodbyes and have some quality alone time–which is most likely gaming or reading. In other words, I enjoy socializing, but only for so long.

Sometimes, you often find it difficult to choose whether to stay home or go out.

This is a biggie for me, especially since I’ve had this urge to go out more often, lately. Like on one hand, I love being in the comfort of my own home; home truly is where the heart is. But lately I’ve definitely been itching to do something–even if it’s just a stop at the grocery store or a drive around town. I used to be the type of person who’d do anything (but not literally anything) to stay at home. But now, it all depends on the day.

You like trying new things, but when it comes to life, you don’t like change.

Okay, okay. Let me explain. When it comes to things like baking (and taste-testing) a new recipe or trying a new hairstyle, I’m all for it. But I can also be really picky when it comes to the things that I’m used to or have already prepared for suddenly changing–such as new instructions on an assignment or a canceled appointment.

You think that the word “introvert” or “extrovert” don’t describe your personality.

Honestly, I think this was the main thing that convinced me to consider myself an ambivert in the first place. I have qualities of both introverts and extroverts, just as much as I relate to both. Calling myself one or the other is like only acknowledging one half of the qualities that make me, me.

You enjoy working solo and in groups.

What else can I say–it’s not only relatable, but also one of the most common qualities of most ambiverts. To be honest, whether or not I want to work independently or with friends all depends on the assignment and how I’m feeling that day. Sometimes, working alone can make a project more boring. And other times I want to be in control of every detail; I guess that’s just the perfectionist ingrained in me. But I will say that whether or not I’m working alone or with others, I am pretty good at adapting to either work environment.

Honestly, I think being ambiverted is really underrated. Seriously, though. When’s the last time you’ve heard someone say “I’m an ambivert?” But to be honest, I think that fact alone makes me and all the other amazing ambiverts out there that much more unique–and if you ask me, that’s a really good thing!

Many of you probably know that when I was younger, I considered myself an introvert. That was until I reached my teenage years. But what about you guys? Would you describe yourself as an introvert, extrovert, or an ambivert? Also, has your answer to that question changed over the years? Feel free share your responses in the comments!

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everybody! God bless you all, and I’ll catch you later! Peace in! ♡

Monthly Wrap-Up | September 2022

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Hey, everyone! My name is Q’Zion, and welcome back to my corner of the Internet! Oof, I just realized that it’s been 5 days since I last posted. I’m so sorry, y’all: it’s been a really busy few days! But thank God I got through it with flying colors! And I’m back with my monthly wrap-up of September of 2022.

Today I’ll be discussing some of my favorite moments from this month, with some of the novels I’ve finished and films I’ve watched sprinkled in between. Okay, okay–enough of the chatter. Let’s get started!

My Life

  • My birthday was this month, and I’ve got to say that it was the best birthday ever. (But just wait until I say the same thing next year.😂) My favorite gift was probably my second ear piercing! I got my first one when I was a baby, so being able to experience getting a piercing for the first time was an experience that I’ll never forget. You can look at my 2022 birthday post here!

  • I realized that in the past few months, I’ve been reading (and actually finishing) more books! In fact, ever since I joined Book Club last year, I feel like I’ve started getting into the swing of things again when it comes to reading every month. And that’s a huge relief, because I could never imagine my life without books!
  • Goodmommy and I spent a lot of time in the kitchen, this month. As part of our fitness journey, we’ve been experimenting with flourless cookie recipes, and so far we’ve made peanut butter cookies, dark chocolate oat cookies, and fudge chocolate cookies, which were made from hot chocolate mix. While the peanut butter cookies were my favorites, they were all fun to bake and taste!

  • I’ve had at least one club meeting for each of my clubs now (which are Creative Writing, Glee, and Teen Driving Club). Even though most of the clubs are way different then what I was anticipating to join, this year, I couldn’t be happier with my choices! They make school days so much more, eventful, if you know what I mean.

Books I Read

  • Guts by Raina Telgemeier (link to review) – I’ve been a fan of Raina’s books since I was eight years old, and after finally getting my hands on the triology of her Smile series, I have to say that it didn’t disapoint. From the protagonist’s quirky character to the elementary school nostalgia, this book is the perfect gift for any tween or teenager–not to mention the perfect new addition to my growing graphic novel collection.
  • Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullay Hunt (link to review) – Although I love to read more than most things in this world, I’m hard to impress when it comes to giving a book five stars. But Fish in a Tree is one of the few novels to win that award. From the lessons of friendship, self-esteem, and being yourself, to the character development, iconic quotes, and heartfelt moments, this novel is officially one of my new favorites.
  • From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks – I don’t want to reveal too much about this one because my review on it isn’t out yet . . . but this was SUCH an inspiring book! Zoe reminded me so much of myself, and the pace of the story was just right to keep things moving without being hard to follow. It’s so hard to believe that this was Janae Marks’ debut novel. In fact, her second novel, A Soft Place to Land, is now on my TBR (to be read) list!

Movies That I Watched

  • An Unlikely Angel – This film was such a beautiful reminder and demonstration of how God gives us second chances. Overall, there were a lot of funny and tense moments in this movie–a bit of an emotional roller coaster for the protagonist as we follow her on her journey to learning how to be a mother. If you’re a Christian who likes sweet movies that are perfect for family movie night, I would highly recommend watching this film on Pureflix.
  • The Mystery of Her – To be honest, I was really excited to watch this movie as soon as we turned on the trailer. And for the most part I liked it . . . that’s kind of all I’ve got. This film was about a teenage girl who tries to find herself after loosing her memory in a car accident. At first, it was good, but it slowly became more and more confusing. The end was pretty open, so it kind of left it up to you to imagine how the girl’s story ended. Not my favorite kind of ending, but it was an okay movie overall.
  • Grace Unplugged – This. I absolutely LOVED this movie. The main character, Grace, is a newly-eighteen-year-old girl who dreams of becoming a pop star–like her father, who was a rock star that threw away his fame to sing at their local church. I really appreciated how this movie showed young audiences–especially Christian teens–what it means and looks like to go down the wrong path. But there were also some amazing characters in the film that helped Grace get back on track with pleasing the Lord–and finding herself in the process. This film is definitely a must-see for any Christian teen/young adult.
  • The Way Home – To be honest, I didn’t watch the first half of this movie because I was busy watching YouTube videos and playing Roblox lol, but the second half was super emotional and pretty good, overall. And considering its about a community working together to try and find a missing two-year-old I expected that from the beginning. The ending was super heartwarming, and the fact that the film is based on a true story made this movie that much sweeter.

My Favorite Posts of the Month

So, we wrote a total of 11 post this month, 12 including this wrap-up, and I’ve got to admit that although I didn’t post a lot, I’ve written some really awesome posts, this month. I think I deserve a little self-pat-on-the-back. Anyway, here are some of my favorite posts of the month.

If you’d like to check out all the posts that I’ve written, this September, please check out THIS LINK!

I hope you all enjoyed reading what I was up to for the entire month! Overall, I really enjoyed myself these past thirty days, and I pray you all have, as well. And speaking of prayer, please send your prayers for all the victims of Hurricane Ian around the world. Your kind thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

What were your favorite parts of this month? I would love to hear your responses in the comments!

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everybody! God bless you all and have a splendid weekend! ~ Q’Zion ♡

Imagine A World Without Music – Words of Wisdom #22

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Psalm 150: 1-6 -- New International Version (NIV)

1 Praise the Lord.

Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power;
    praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
    praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,
    praise him with the strings and pipe,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
    praise him with resounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Could you imagine a world without music? That means no instruments. No melodies to listen to when you get home from school or work. None of your favorite singers or musicians. No singing in the shower.

For most people, music is a part of everyday life. In fact, many people use music as a way to get through the hardest of moments in their lifetime. And considering that many of us consider the blessing of music a part of life, it’s really difficult to imagine what life would be like without it.

In today’s episode of Words of Wisdom, I will be touching on the subject of music, the reason why God gifted us with music, and what life would be like without music for followers of Christ. Let’s get started!

Why Did God Give Us Music?

I can’t necessarily give a direct reason as to why God blessed us with music–although I’m eternally grateful either way–but I can share a little bit of how I feel when I listen to music, and how it influences me on a regular basis.

When I listen to music, I feel an indescribable happiness and sense of peace; as if in that moment, all the bad things in the world have faded away. I often use music to relax after a long day or worship the Lord, and I believe that gospel music is an outlet for us to build a closer relationship with God. Songs such as “Because of Who You Are” let us discover more about who God is and what He says in His Word; this means that we can learn a lot about the Bible by listening to godly music. Awesome right? (But remember, reading God’s Word is still important.)

Further more, have you ever been in a tough spot in your life, and then all of a sudden a song came on that tells you exactly what you need to hear? Almost as if God himself is speaking to you through a melody, telling you that it’s all going to be alright? It’s always been amazing to me how a simple melody can carry 1,000 words. And I think how music can be one of God’s ways of communicating with us makes it that much more powerful.

What Would Life Be Like (for Believers) Without Music?

As followers of Christ, music is a huge part of our faith. I mean, one of the best parts of church every Sunday is the music during praise and worship. But, how would our lives change if music never existed? This is a solid question to ask because of how much music is involved in the celebration of our salvation in Christ.

But the truth is, whether or not music is involved in our worship, we can still praise the Lord. Just think about it: music is only one way that we can worship as followers of Christ. Praying, reading the Bible, loving our neighbors as ourselves, giving, fellowshipping, and being obedient to God are all ways that we can worship the Lord. Music is like the icing on the cake when it comes to giving God the glory . . . but it’s far from the only way to do so.

In fact, I think that’s one of my favorite things about being God’s daughter; there are so many ways to express the love that I have for my Heavenly Father.

As Christians, the first thing that may come to mind when we hear the word “worship” is singing our favorite gospel hymns on Sunday morning. And it is true that music is a great way that we can deepen our faith; after all, God himself loves music and named the instruments for us to praise Him with. But worship comes in more forms than one. And that is something that could never change: even in a world without music.

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everyone! God bless you all, and I will catch you next time! ♡

6 Things I Love to Do on the Weekends [REPOST]

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A/N~Hey y’all! It’s Q’Zion! My goodness, was this Friday busy for me. But thank God that I have a three-day weekend since the 5th of September is Labor Day! Anyway, because tonight is the start of the weekend for me, I though I’d repost this list of things that I like to do to make the most of the end of each week. I hope you all enjoy it! ♡

Let’s face it–we all sigh with relief when we go home and/or get finished with work on a Friday. We have a whole 2 days ahead of us to relax and enjoy our weekend. Personally, I’m a HUGE FAN of my weekends, and I do as much work as I can throughout the week to make the most of every Saturday and Sunday. And since the weekend is coming up, I thought it’d be a cool idea to share some of the ways that I like to spend my short vacations. So what are we waiting for? Let’s get into it! 

⒈ Go to a Library ♡

Okay, so this one may be a little obvious since most of my followers know how much I love to read. However, reading is one of my favorite activities to do on a weekend. I have a whole 48 hours to start a new book or maybe even finish one that I’ve been procrastinating, for some time. Don’t you just love that feeling when you sat down and finished a book that you haven’t picked up in a while? I sure do!

⒉ Binge My Favorite TV Show ♡

Throughout the week, it’s easy to forget about some of my favorite TV shows, or simply replace watching them with schoolwork, family time, and the occasional naps. When the weekend comes along, I usually spend a couple hours catching up on the new seasons of the shows that I love. And if a new movie just came out on Disney+, it’s not a surprise if we have a family movie night, too.

⒊ Go to Church ♡

One of the perfect ways to start my week and be refreshed before school starts on Monday is fellowshipping and learning the Word in the House of God. Praise and worship, seeing my family and friends, and socializing with other believers is always a blessing and one of the best parts of my week. It makes me feel happier and closer to God when I listen to His Word.

⒋ Fun in the Sun at the Beach or Pool ♡

Due to COVID-19, it seriously has been a while since I’ve went to the beach or the pool. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that I love changing into my bathing suit and having some fun in the sun. Since spring is here, and summer is not too far from now, it’s the perfect time of year to hit the beach and go for a swim.

⒌ Bake a New Recipe ♡

Although I don’t get in the kitchen often (at least not to cook or bake) Friday nights and weekends are the perfect opportunity to learn a new recipe and spend time with Goodmommy. For me, cooking can be so relaxing and satisfying. The fact that you can whip up some ingredients, place it in the oven, and take it out to see a masterpiece is always super rewarding. Especially when you get to eat your creation, when your all done.

⒍ Have a Picnic ♡

Is it just me, or does this remind you of that one scene from Tom and Jerry? LOL 🍓🍉🌭🥤

Honestly, I’ve only been to a picnic once in my life, as far as I can recall. But I must say that I love to eat in nice weather, especially in a screened-in patio or on a balcony. You get to admire the sunshine while eating your lunch. Picnicking seems to be pretty similar and great for spring time. Especially on a weekend!

Weekends are a time for us to take a break from work and school and focus on family and the hobbies that we love the most. Therefore, we might as well make the most of every second. Hopefully, this list gave you some inspiration for how you can spend your short vacation.

What are some of your favorite ways to spend the weekends? Feel free to comment down below.

Have a beautiful weekend, everybody! God bless you all, and I will catch you next time! Peace in! ♡

Monthly Wrap-Up | August 2022

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Good morning, afternoon, day, or evening everybody! This is Princess Q’Zion, and welcome back to my blog! Well, September is almost here. And that means that August of 2022 is about to come to an end. It almost feels like this month went by a little too fast. But, it was a great month–thank God–so I can’t really complain.

Here is a wrap-up of how I spent this August. Let’s get started!

Life Updates

So, I’ve officially gotten through my first month of high school . . . and now that I’ve got back into the lingo of doing my school work every day, I can officially say that I don’t think it’s that different from junior high. For me, entering high school was kind of like turning 13; I felt a little bit more mature and like I was starting a new chapter. But there have not been any drastic changes in my life. And to be honest, I’m super happy about that, because I love my live as it is.

Towards the end of this month, me and Goodmommy have began walking outside three days a week to increase our stamina. We originally started due to a fitness assessment for my HOPE course–but we loved it so much that we decided to walk outdoors regularly. And even though we practically just started our fitness journey, I’m already feeling healthier and happier, every day. Oh, and speaking of my family, it’s been a while since I’ve gave an update on Peace–my betta fish–to you guys. Honestly, I think Peace gets more and more energetic every day. Here’s a picture of him.

This was one of the only clear pictures that I could get of Peace today because every time I come up to the tank, he wiggles so fast that it’s so hard to catch him being still lol. But can we talk about how Peace’s colors have gotten even more vibrant compared to a month ago? Let’s face it: Peace simply cannot take a bad photo.

Books That I Read

A majority of the reading that I did this month outside of school was actually around the first week of August. Because in reality, being a freshman is practically the same thing as having a part-time job. Anyway, I’m just happy that I was able to finish a few books, this month, since it’s something that I’ve been working on, recently. Plus, considering that my birthday and Christmas are both right around the corner, I have a sneaking suspicion that I’ll be getting some new books very soon. 😉

  • Frozen II: Forest of Shadows by Kamila Benko – After a year-and-a-half’s pause halfway through this 416-page novel, I finally finished it. I have to admit though that once I resumed, I literally could not put this one down!
  • Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney – In my opinion, Rodrick Rules is the best out of all of the DoaWK movies, and I think the book was really good, too!
  • Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney – This book was the inspiration of the Dog Days film. And I’ve got to say, it’s probably one of the funniest additions to the series (although none of them compare to the original, in my opinion.)
  • Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down by Jeff Kinney – Greg–the protagonist of the series–was mainly just rambling throughout the course of this book. Nothing super exciting happened, since it was literally Greg just jotting down his random thoughts. But overall, it still included some funny moments and made me smile, so I’ll count it as a win.

Movies That I Watched

Pureflix–which is basically the Christian version of Netflix–had been a little disappointing for the past couple months. Like, it was really hard to find something that was actually good to watch. Me and Goodmommy were even thinking about trading it for a new streaming service–even though we really didn’t want to.

But thank God, Pureflix finally had a good comeback this month! So to make a long story short, we binged the new additions throughout the entire month, and we found some really good Christian films! Here is a list of all the movies that I watched this August, and a few of my takeaways from each one.

  • The World We Make – I think we actually saw this film at the end of July, but I still really wanted to include it because I absolutely loved it! Interracial couples are kind of marginalized in the entertainment industry. But I’m glad to see that they’ve gotten more representation within the past few years. This movie really touched on the subjects of racism, racial prejudice, grieving, and what true love really is in a really tasteful way. I definitely recommend it for everyone!
  • Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters – A relationship between a father and his daughter is probably one of the most precious of them all. I thought that this movie did a really great job of portraying the ups and downs of that relationship. This one is a strong recommendation of mine for other teenagers–especially teenage girls, because the two oldest daughters in the movie are both facing things that many girls will likely find relatable.
  • Miracles From Heaven – This tear jerker of a movie–which just so happens to be a true story–is a must-watch for the entire family. Even though me and Goodmommy watched it about two times before re-watching it this month, we still both ended up crying, once again. No matter how many times you watch it, it’s going to affect you, and that’s what I love about this film! PLEASE don’t sleep on this movie–it is truly a ✨ masterpiece. ✨
  • Why We Breathe – All I have to say about this movie is- eh. Although I appreciated how the movie included a well-represented black character and the tastefully-addressed issue of domestic violence, I didn’t really like the main character’s personality. Sure, almost every protagonist makes some mistakes, throughout the course of a plot, but I feel like the main character in this film made several mistakes without redeeming herself. In conclusion, the film was a good idea, but the execution was far from stellar.
  • Play the Flute – Although I thought the start of this one was kind of slow, it became a favorite of mine about halfway through. The plot of teenagers who doubt the concepts of Christianity changing their ways and developing their relationships with God was a really satisfying watch. The themes of peer pressure, making our lives count for God, and what it means to “play the flute” (Matthew 11:17) gave me a better understanding about both the Bible and life itself. If you’re a Christian teen, Play the Flute is definitely a must-watch.

My Favorite Posts of the Month

Well, I published a total of 18 post on my blog, this August. Pretty good! These are some of my personal favorites, for this month.

Aaaaannnnddd, that’s all for the wrap-up of August 2022. Honestly, creating a recap of my entire month was unexpectedly satisfying. I would really appreciate if you all would let me know what you thought about it. You never know: monthly wrap-ups just might become a new tradition, on The Joys and Trials and a Christian Teen.

What was the best part(s) of this August for you? Also, is there anything that you have planned in the last few months of the year that you are looking forward to? Feel free to share your responses in the comments.

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everyone! Peace in, and I’ll catch you later! ♡