Sunday Social- All about 3 {2014- #2}

I'm linking up again this week for Sunday Social!  Two weeks in a row... I'd call that blogging progress.  This week's questions all come in answers of three.  For an ordered person like me I think that's pretty grand! 

Top 3 favorite kinds of food
1) Italian. 
2) BBQ
3) International flavors

First 3 things you do in the morning
1) Talk to Jesus
2) Check e-mails
3) Get ready for my day

Last 3 things you do at night
1) Say goodnight and I love you to the fiance'
2) Watch an episode of Friends
3) Talk to Jesus

3 TV shows you NEVER miss
1) Chicago Fire
2) Grey's Anatomy
3) Here Comes Honey Boo Boo
If my fiance' is reading this he is probably cringing and vowing to put a stop to the Honey Boo Boo watching after our marriage.  What can I say?  I think she's hilarious!  

3 places you want to visit
1) Italy
2) Greece
3) Cape Town, SA 

3 people you can always count on
1) Fiance'
2) Mommy
3) Sister

I loved this week's Sunday Social.  It was short, sweet, and to the point.  
Also, it was numbered.  My favorite.  

Did we have anything in common?
Let's talk about it!  

Sunday Social {2014- #1}

I am really hoping to participate in Sunday Social a lot more this year.
This is my favorite link-up that I've ever participated in simply because I really feel like the guided questions really help you to get to know other blogs and to make new blogging friends.  

This week it's back to the beginning and it's all about the blog! 



What is the name of your blog?  How long have you been blogging?
The name of my blog is #KidsMin Calling (#KidsMin= Kids Ministry) and I have been blogging since January of 2013. 

Why do you blog?
I blog because I'm passionate about what I do.  It sounds really cliche' but it's true.  I'm passionate about kids ministry and I find that I spend a lot of time looking for ideas online.  And I remember times of not being able to find what I was looking for.  I blog because of one of my ideas can inspire a Children's Pastor or parent or volunteer, and then in turn they can change a child's life and then I have made a difference.  

What is the first blog you ever followed?
Enjoying the Small Things

What is your favorite post you wrote in 2013? 

It's hard to narrow it down to my favorite post.  How about a top 3?

A Person's a Person No Matter how Small

50 Ways to Know your a #KidsMin

A Letter to My Future Children

What are your top blogging goals for 2014? 

My top and only goal is to blog consistently and end the year with at least 182 published posts.  That would put me at an average of one blog post every two days.  Why not every day?  Well, I have a full time job and I'm getting married and about to have a life.  A girl has to have some priorities.

Top 3 favorite blogs to follow
Mix & Match Family
Kelly's Korner
Under the Sycamore

Happy Sunday to all of my friends! 

Sunday Social

Sunday Social is my favorite link-up that I participate in.  I love not only having a set of questions to guide my blog post for the day, but I love getting to link-up with other bloggers and see all of their thoughts and get a small glimpse into what their life is like.  I also love giving my readers the opportunity to truly see who I am as a person.  I love my work in children's ministry and it is a ginormous part of my life.  There are also lots of other pieces in my life that make me who I am and I want you, my readers, to know those pieces to.

This week's questions are all about value. 

What do you value most in life?

My relationship with Jesus.  

It is the foundation of absolutely everything that I have been, everything that I am, and everything that I will be.  

Without Jesus my life is empty.

What do you think is the greatest invention in your life and why?

Since I haven't invented everything I'm going to assume this means an invention that I use in my life. 

Airplanes!  They are my favorite invention ever. 

Airplanes make it possible for me to travel around the world in 9 hours instead of 9 months by boat. 

Airplanes allow me to reach people groups who could never be reached otherwise. 

I used to be terrified of airplanes and terrified of flying. 

After flying 10 times in the span of 3 months for my internship I quickly grew to love being in the air. 

What do you think is the secret to a good life?

A relationship with Jesus!

Life without Jesus is nothing. 

Life with Jesus is absolutely everything. 

What would you most like to be remembered for when you're gone? 

This is a tough one.  There are so many things that I would like to be remembered for.

Narrowing it down to the thing that I would like to be most remembered for is hard. 

I'd like to most be remembered for giving everything that I have. 

Every talent that Jesus has given me and every day of my life I want to use for Him. 

I want to make a difference on this world. 

A big difference. 

What accomplishments in your life are you most proud of?

Graduating college, my 1st mission trip, my Senior year internship, my job as a Children's Director, 

my 2013 VBS, and so many other things.  

What do you value?
Let's talk about it below!

I love making new friends!

Sunday Social- On Monday

Hello, Friends!

I've missed you all while I was away over the weekend.
I woke up Friday morning with the urge to travel, and travel I did.
I took off on Friday morning and headed home to visit my family for the weekend and to cross something off of my Fall Bucket List!

I went to the FAIR!  I've also made smores, painted pumpkins, and decorated my house.
But let's face it... clearly the fair is the most important thing on the list.
Why do I go to the fair?  Let's be honest... for the food!
While I was at the fair I ate some delicious Fiske fries, a pronto pup, a caramel apple, and a piece of chicken on a stick.
Really this is a fairly mild list.  I missed out on my funnel cake and my doughnuts.
There's always next year.

I hated not blogging over the weekend, but I'm also happy that I didn't.
I've always said that I wanted to make sure that there was never a day when I put my blogging over actual people.
Putting blogging aside to soak up some love from my family was sweet bliss.

With that said, I'm back and busier than ever!
Yesterday's Sunday Social looked super fun, so I thought I'd go ahead and throw in my answers to another all about the blog social.  Today, I'm talking all about my blog's first.

What is the first blog you ever followed?

Enjoying the Small Things by Kelle Hampton

What was your first blog post about? 

My first ever blog post was about why I was starting #KidsMin Calling.  Feel free to go back and read all about it here.  

Who left your first blog comment?

That would be one of my sweet friends, Franchesca on my post: "A person's a person no matter how small." 

Who was the first blogger you ever met in person?

That would be my sweet friend Audra Kate! 

She blogs over at Southern Girl in Heels and Pearls. 

This girl is hilarious and she is the real deal. 

We were roommates in college and became best friends fast! 

What was your first blogging milestone?

Reaching 5,000 pageviews.  

I really couldn't believe it.  

I was speechless. 

Speaking of milestones, we are 1/3 of the way to our next giveaway!  

#KidsMin Calling has passed 100 followers on Twitter!

To help us reach our giveaway we need 20 more likes on Facebook and almost 4,000 more pageviews.

We can do it!  Hop on over and like us on Facebook and share your favorite posts via social media for your friends and family! 

Check in tomorrow to see a post on my Resource Room!

I promise you, you don't want to miss this! 

#KidsMin Calling only has 2 spots remaining for our guest bloggers in November on why you are thankful for children's ministry.  E-mail kidsmincalling@gmail.com if you are interested.  

Sunday Social: All about the Blog

Happy Sunday, Everyone!

I know my blog has been quiet the last couple of days.
Family comes first and I've been spending my days soaked up in family.

I was able to slip away for a few minutes to answer this week's Sunday Social questions.

What is the name of your blog? 

#KidsMin Calling

What do you love most about blogging?  

I love just being able to write about something that I'm passionate.  Children's Ministry is so important and I love being able to share my own ideas.  I'm praying that my blog can give someone an extra piece of encouragement or that extra idea that helps us bring little one's closer to Jesus.  

Why did you start blogging? 

I hear so many times how creative and neat my ideas are.  One of my volunteers suggested that I start blogging and putting them out there for everyone else and next thing I knew I was starting a blog.

What is something you'd want to tell someone just starting out in blog world?  

Who am I kidding?  I am someone just starting out in the blogging world. 

I'd love to hear your advice.

Biggest blogging learning experience you've had. 

Interact, interact, interact!  

I love making new blogging friends and discovering new blogs by interacting with others.  

What are 3 blogs you love?

Under the Sycamore

Enjoying the Small Things

Southern Girl in Heels & Pearls

Sunday Social: All about Fall

It's time for another week of Sunday Social and today we are talking all about fall! Fall is quite possibly my favorite season.   I'll be saying that again at winter, spring, and summer because let's face it I love every season.   When the seasons change I'm reminded constantly of God's goodness and faithfulness.  "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens."  -Ecclesiastes 3:1 With that, let's get social. 

1. What is your favorite fall activity?

What isn't my favorite fall activity?  I love them all from the simplest crunch of walking through leaves to steaming mugs of hot chocolate in my hands.  I love the pumpkin picking and painting (I don't carve... I'm not into messy) and Friday night football.  I like walking out of my house in the morning to feel crisp air on my face and yet still being able to walk out of the house at night in tights and a cardigan.  Pretty much every fall activity- they are all my favorite.  

2. Do you follow a football team? If so, which one and why?

My blood runs garnet and black!  I'm a Carolina Gamecock and proud of it. 

Why?  It's a Stewart family thing.  

Why is the sky blue?  It just is.  

Here's Sister and I sporting our Gamecock pride yesterday. 

Yes, we know USC lost.  You can't win them all. 

3. What is something fun about fall in your area?

Festivals!  I absolutely love fall festivals!

As a Children's Director I planned our Fall Fest last year and loved every minute of it. 

Check back in October to see what I am planning for this year!

4. What are your favorite fall staple outfits?

Fall fashion is my favorite!  I love getting up on crisp and cool mornings and layering on my tights, boots, cardigans, and scarves.  Throwing on a tunic/dress with skinny jeans and some dark boots puts me in a happy place.  I love a classic fall look that is actually really comfortable too.  

5. What things are you looking forward to most about this coming fall season?

Experiencing sweet holidays with my boy.  

6. What is your favorite fall holiday? Tradition?

Thanksgiving.  It is such a special time in my family and I have so many memories of my precious family during a holiday where we all have had so many things to be thankful for.  The family all gathers around the table to eat a wonderful meal cooked by Mom & Sister.  After the meal we all stay put because we know what's coming.  Everyone from the youngest to the oldest gets to say everything that they are thankful for this year.  With close to 20 people around the table you have moments of laughter, and moments of true thankfulness.  Every year at least 3 people cry as we thank the Lord for his faithfulness to our family again and again.  It's a beautiful picture of life.  

Sunday Social

I'm linking up again with Ashley and Neely for this week's Sunday Social.  

1. What do you miss most about being a kid?

The ability to take naps whenever I wanted!  I only wish that I had realized at age 5 how wonderful those delightful mid-afternoon rests really were!  I would give anything for nap time now!  Other than that, basically nothing... I have a job that lets me act like a kid whenever I want to.  

5 year old me.  Wasn't I adorable? 

2. Did you have a nickname growing up? What was it?

I was the nickname Queen growing up.  I don't know what it was about Mary, but no one seemed to call me that.  I was more likely to respond to MES Pot, Mary-Mollie, Mary Beth, Mary Elizabeth, and for one person only Mo-Mo.  I promise you though, call me Mo-Mo now, and I will ignore you!  

Cutest MES Pot on the block! 

3. What was your favorite thing to do at recess?

Honestly, I know I played at recess, but my recollection as to my favorite thing to do is pretty shady.  If I had to take a guess at what it was now, I'd have to say the swings.  I'm imagining me wanting to touch the clouds and fly up into the sky!   

4. What did you want to be when you grew up?

A princess!  Isn't that obvious?  What little girl didn't? 

When I got old enough to realize that I couldn't actually be a princess (Except in Daddy's & Mommy's eyes) I wanted to be a teacher for the longest time.  Then I went through this phase in high school where I didn't know what I want to do, but I knew it was going to be something in full-time ministry.  Fast forward 8 years and here I am... Full time #KidsMin and loving it! 

5. Did you participate in any school activities?

I went to band camp!  Seriously, I know its hard to believe, but I was a Band Geek.  I was in the Color Guard and I had so much fun!  Flipping those flags and dancing on the field was what I was born to do in high school.  I mean, not to brag, but I was the Captain my Senior year of High School.  Outside of school I served as a leader in my youth group and sang on the youth band.  Basically, I spent my school years surrounded by music.  I also had a brief (4 year) stint with the rec league soccer team in elementary school.  

Soccer years- Notice my bow.  
My mom kept me a stylish soccer player. 

6. What is the funniest thing you did as a kid that your parents still remind you about?

Since my mom tells this so well, (She told my boyfriend the 1st time I took him home) I asked her to write about this herself.  Take it away mom!  

I will never forget my Mary Elizabeth's surprise and shock as she opened one of her Christmas presents at the young age of 5. She was given a "Children's Dictionary" as a gift from her Aunt. After opening this gift and looking briefly through the pages, she came to me and in a very low voice announced that her Aunt must really love her because she had someone put all the words in alphabetical order just for her. She was literally shocked that someone would do that for her.

Telling the Christmas story. 

Sunday Social

Today, I'm linking up with Ashley and Neely for my first Sunday Social. 

1. What is something you've always wanted to do but are afraid of?

I've always wanted to sky-dive.  Cliche' I know, but something about the thought of jumping out of an airplane gives me the biggest thrill, but it also gives me the biggest fright.  Something about it sets my adrenaline racing, but then my brain takes over and I realize that I'd be jumping out of an airplane.  Into air. And I realize how insane that sounds.  

2. Where do you see yourself in five years?

Where do I see myself in five years?

Let's just put it this way.... I see myself doing what I love. 

Full time ministry- Sharing Jesus with my sweetheart(s). 

3. What are you looking forward to before the end of 2013?

I'm looking forward to something, just not something I'm willing to share with the world.
(Insert coy smile and batted eyelashes here)

4. What are your hopes for your blog?
My hopes for my blog... To actually write in it.
I am pretty sure that I am the world's worst blogger!
My goal is to become more scheduled and more routine in my blogging.
I mean seriously, how hard is it to come up with at least 1-2 things to write about every week.

5. Do you always see yourself living in your current town/city?
Definitely not.  I was born to travel, it's in my blood.

6. What is your morning routine?
I don't have one.  I'm the world's worst morning person.  Meaning, I'm not!
I have no morning routine.  I consider getting out of bed, getting work clothes on, and getting to work on time a win.  Breakfast? Maybe.  Devotion? Maybe.
I think that the only morning routine I have is hitting my snooze button... A LOT!

Hope you enjoyed my first every Sunday Social!

Now it's your turn!  Pick a question and leave your answer in the comments!