As my 3 year old gains coordination, my husband and I have had a lot of fun trying to teach her new activities.  Forward somersaults, balancing, and jumping all included.  One such game that has been introduced is hopscotch.  Of course everything in our home reverts back to a Curious George reference (who knew that darn monkey had done SOOOO many things!).  Thankfully, there is an entire episode where George conquers the most epic hopscotch ever so Samara thus loves to play the game (season 2, episode 36, just in case you are dying to see it for yourself.  I know you are).

Think of this as a slightly altered, not-really-the same-at-all, cyber-version of hopscotch.  This is https://experience.tripster.ru/experience/Saint_Petersburg/sights/ called a blog hop.  I was featured (along with a couple other people) by a friend who reads my blog and I then get to feature a couple of the blogs I follow* to introduce you to all that is wonderful in blogs-ville.

*On a side note, I realized how many blogs I follow where I don’t actually know the people and have had minimal interaction, if any at all.  I think I need to work on that, seeing as many of those I follow are for future hopes towards networking.

So my friend, Stephanie Reeves, included me in her blog hop last week.  My husband and I met Stephanie through working with the youth at our church in Orlando, Fl.  She has three amazing kids, two of which were in the youth group while we were leaders.  The entire family is awesome but of course, there was a minor detail with Stephanie being a Raiders fan and Kyle being a Broncos fan, but you know…minor details ;-)

Stephanie, who has worked as a writer and editor for Cru, as well as a teacher, currently has two blogs: Compelled and That Senior Year.  She says, “Compelled is a mish mash of thoughts. Most of the time I use things I come across in everyday life to draw a spiritual parallel. Sometimes I talk about parenting; sometimes I talk about current events.”  And That Senior Year is chronicling her eldest’s final year in high school.

For this particular Blog Hop, each writer will answer four questions about their blog and their writing.  Then I get the opportunity to introduce you to a few bloggers that I adore (and think you should too)!  Ok, so here we go.

1.What am I writing or working on? Sooo…I just submitted my manuscript for my first book (insert happy/nervous shriek), Getting Past the Start.  With the first step (or 20) completed and waiting for the next round of edits to come back, I am currently researching for my next book which focuses on the idea of being sanctified and how that shapes our identity (you’ll hear more about it as I process my thoughts/frustrations/excitement).

Then I have this wonderful blog that serves as a melting pot for my thoughts/frustrations/excitements (see above).  It’s called simply living the life because I focus on everyday issues that I encounter as a wife, as a mom, as a mentor to youth, as a young woman trying to achieve her goals, but mostly as a daughter of God.  Sometimes the posts are serious and (hopefully) thought provoking and sometimes they drip with sarcasm (my attempt at humor though it may or may not translate as well as it does in the voice in my head).

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre? I think that I have a unique ability to reach a pretty broad spectrum of people.  I have a sincere passion to reach the group dubbed YA (young adult), which includes teenagers and college kids, but I feel that many of my viewpoints can be equally appreciated by older generations (no, I did not just call you old. I promise).

God’s been grooming my heart and has begun to lay a true passion for understanding our identity in Christ.  This is something relevant for every person, of every socioeconomic background, of every race, of every generation.  I pray that I do it justice in my method of communication.

3. Why do I write what I do?  My husband (and all other members of my family) would be the first to tell you that I am a verbal processor.  Sometimes it comes out as what I unattractively call verbal vomit.  Those are moments when my brain is processing something beyond what I understand but I can’t contain it so I begin to verbally think through each and every aspect of it.  Sometimes, that’s how I write and sometimes, it’s the start of an idea that I then write about once I have processed it to a greater extent.

I write because I can’t contain it.  I love sharing insight as God grants it to me and I long to reach the masses with His messages.  I try to keep it real and approachable, but more than anything, true to the verity that God has revealed.

4. How does my writing process work? see above.  Seriously though, many times my blogs are a digital print out of my thought process at that particular moment.  I don’t edit much (if any) to keep it true and real.  It allows me the opportunity to fully develop a thought as it’s happening.

For the books…I’m honestly still figuring that one out.  I’ll let you know when I know ;-)

Okay, now that you know a bit more about me and my writing, let me introduce you to a couple people:

First up is one of my favorite guys in the world, my dad, Charlie Shinn.  Yes, I am slightly biased but I love how he shares his heart on his blog, Integrity Dad.

First and most importantly(by his emphasis), he is saved by the grace of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  He says, “I find that each day comes with the opportunity to walk with integrity following the example that Christ set for each of us 2000 years ago.  I seek to be a man of integrity, not to position myself above those around me for it is only by His grace that I even take my next breath.  But I seek integrity to be an example to others and to do all that I can to place a smile on God’s face.  My heart’s desire is that one day I will hear Him say “well done, good and faithful servant”.

Next up is my friend John Fournier.  We got to know John and his wife while working with the youth.  He has an
incredible way of engaging you right where you’re at, which makes him an incredible youth leader. John is a transplant to Orlando from New England, a new husband and father, an avid sports fan, and a broken man trying to live an uncommon life through the
grace of God. He has a heart for helping others and it is evident by his passion for serving in youth ministry.