5 Praise Songs That Will Make You Break Out Into Dance

also known as songs I lip sync and pretend to perform to 984982% of the time. I wish this was an over exaggeration. Most of the time when I'm in bleh mood, I've realized that praise songs are a 100% guarantee that my mood will be lifted. Secular music aint got nothing on gospel-inspired music. *snaps fingers* *flips hair*. I honestly wish I could make a video of how I JAM TO ALL THESE SONGS. Things get prettttty serious ( like So You Think You Can Dance serious) around here.

Britt Nicole - Gold

This song is my go to for just a little or a lot of upliftment. Yes Britt Nicole. Just yes.

Britt Nicole ft Lecrae - Ready or Not

One of my favorite jamalams! And my inner rapper makes a quick appearance when Lecrae starts doing his thing. It's great.

Kirk Franklin - Today 

This is honestly such a great song! I used to listen to this every single morning on the way to school and the message is fantastic.

KB - Lighter Fluid

Another gospel-rap song that is LITERALLY MY JAM. You guys. Its ridiculous how much I love gospel-rap like Bible + great lyrics + awesome beats? Yes pleeeease!

Kgotso - Modimo Urifile 

This is one is totally different from the rest because it's a South African praise song. Jamming to this is necessary any time it plays on my iPod. "Modimo Urifile" translates into "God Has Given Us". You can click here to find the lyrics/translation.


All of these songs have amazing messages, are all inspired by the Bible and are sung/rapped by God-fearing people. It's a win-win situation basically. Click the titles to give these songs a listen and let me know which one(s) you like!

What other praise songs make you break out into dance? I'd love to give them a listen

You May Have Missed:
Thrift Shopping
5 Verses For When You Can't See Through the Fog

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Liebster Blog Award!

Heyyy! So I was nominated for the Liebster Blog Award by lovely Zoe over at Bramble and Lace. Love her. Love her blog. Yes.

So basically what I'll be doing is answering her questions and then nominating some other bloggers. Easy peasy. Lemon squeezy.

1. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
LOL thats a great question. To be quite frank I don't even know what I'll be doing tomorrow, much less in 10 years but I hope that what I do end up doing glorifies God completely!

2. What song are you currently listening to?
I'm currently listening to nothing! Just the noise of my dinosaur laptop as I type.

3. What are your favourite things to do in your spare time?
What is spare time? This entire gap year feels like spare time sooo I guess I like to blog, find new blogs, read, listen to music, take photographs and cook!

4. Why did you start blogging?
At first I had no idea why I started blogging, but then my gap year started so I was like mmkay I'm gonna document my gap year. Now it's sharing my faith + gap year + lifestyle shenanigans

5. Do you have any pets?
None. I'm honestly not a big fan of animals. But when I was in the 6th grade I wanted a pet hamster real bad.

6. What do you want to do as a future career?
No ideaaaaa. I just want to be creative and make beautiful things and hopefully sell them.

7. One place you've always wanted to visit?
Hawai'i. Like can I go yesterday? I need to visit that place like ASAP. But noooo its 9489823923878929447289829283 miles away from where I live. Fantastic.

8. Books or movies?
Books! Yes yes yes I loooOoooOooOve me some books.

9. What's your least favourite food?
Least favorite. Mhhm. I don't know. One time I tried an unripe (i think) kiwi and I realize that I could have lived my life not knowing what kiwi tasted like and would have been okay.

10. When did you start your blog?
I started this shamble of a blog in February-ish last year, but didn't get serious with it till like August when my gap year started!

11. What's one thing that you can never leave your house without?
Shea butter for my lips! Ugh the feeling of having dry lips is honestly the worst like I hate it so much. And I guess my phone? But not really because  I leave it at home 848282% of the time.

So now I'm going to nominate Saher, Kendall and Adora!

And the questions are:
1. If you could eat any food forever what would it be?
2.What are some of your hobbies?
3. What's one thing you can't leave the house without?
4. Apple or Samsung?
5. If someone gave you a roundtrip ticket, or like 5, which places would you visit?
6. What's your favorite genre of music?
7. Describe your blog is one word.
8. Name three things / or people that make you laugh.
9. What's a movie you could watch over and over again?
10. What is your favorite thing about yourself?
11. What would your dream room look like?

Okay that's it from me today! #laterskaterz

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22

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Thrift Shopping!

Hi! So something you might not know about me is that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THRIFT SHOPPING. Honestly. Like ugh getting cute clothes for super cheap prices is the best feeling. It's almost become a problem because anything above like 500 shillings (5 dollars) literally makes me laugh. Like excuse me no. So ANYWAYS. Yes. Life is good. Thrift shopping is the best.

 So anyways the outfit. Its actually embarrassing how cheap I got these pieces at. The white spaghetti strap top was basically free, and the kimono, which I got two of, was 200 shillings (2 dollars). The jeans I've had forever and the shoes I borrowed / took from my mom.The GORGEOUS bag and silver rings I got at Maasai Market, my favorite place to shop. Obviously I was very pleased with my purchases. Can I just say that my sister and I's combined bargaining game is the strongest thus far? Just ugh yes.

Am I fashion blogger yet? No? Okay.

Also, on a fashion/clothes related note, I read this post on modesty and it struck a chord with me. All of a sudden I get it. I get why modesty is so so important especially as Christians. Our bodies are to be treated as temples. And I'm all for modest fashion to be honest. I'm more aware of the things I wear if that makes sense. ANYWAY that's a whole other post :)

Shout out to mother dearest for complying to my 'pls take my pictures' request. And I think she did quite a fabulous job!

Also, I'm really feeling like Habakkuk 3:17-18 is my verse for my gap year. Mhm

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines. though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. Habakkuk 3:17-18

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5 Scripture Verses For When You Can't See Through the Fog

I feel like I've talked too much on how frustrating my gap year has been so  instead of whining and internally ugly crying about it, here are 5 verses for when YOU (but basically I) can't see through the (metaphorical) fog. I'm pretty sure I need to make these verses into watercolor prints to remind myself on the daily. That's seriously how much I need it yo.

Exodus 14:14

The Lord will fight for you, you only need to be still. 

I feel like God is seriously teaching me on how to be still because I'm definitely not used to it. In high school I BARELY had time for myself, (#stressfordayzz) much less to be still so hey, I guess this my time to be still.


Proverbs 3: 5

Trust in the Lord will all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Yes. YES. AND YES. I've been learning *ahem* forced to learn to trust in God with everything [uni stuff, basically what I'm supposed to be doing with myself] and even though it looks like the fog isn't quite clearing up, I'm okay. I'm trusting that the God who knew me before I was formed in mother dearest's womb has everything under control.

Jeremiah 33: 3

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

 [I seriously love how the title of this chapter is "Promise of Restoration" YES. YES YES] *fist pumps for dayzzz*


John 15: 4-5

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

I really like the version which replaces "remains" with "abide", DEFINITELY learning that as well. APART FROM HIM I CAN SERIOUSLY DO NOTHING. NOT EVEN LIKE 0.1 THINGS. none. also why I am shouting?

Philippians 4:19 

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

THIS. THIS. THIS. YALL. I'm tearing up. He will meet ALL my needs. Yes. Okay then. *more fist pumping* God is good.

I'm on such a blogging roll it's almost too ridiculous. But yeaaa what are some of your favorite verses that remind you that God is in control? I hope your day has been great yo. Like mega super fantastically blessed. That is all. #laterskaterzz

You May Have Missed:
On Travel and Nostalgia
The Truth About My Gap Year: Part I
Happy New Year + Some Other Shenanigans

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On Travel and Nostalgia

I dont know if the twisty part on the journal is bothering me or nah

You know that feeling of traveling to a place for the first time. The feeling you have when you're getting your luggage and there are mobile network ads welcoming you to so and so place. You drink in the sights and smells of the airport arrivals section. The constant noise of conversation and rolling luggage trolleys. It makes daydream about all the places you'll visit, the faces you'll see, the smells, the noises you will hear, the photographs you will take. But most of all, the adventures you will have and the memories you'll treasure forever.

YALL. I've been having some major wanderlust rn. Like my best friend, Tee and I are basically like "mmkay let's do Lamu Island, hop on over to Mozambique and then skip to Madagascar" as if we have all the money in the world. #brokebestfriends #struggles #ugh

Are there any places you want to visit like yesterday? Like if someone gave you a round trip ticket or 5 to go anywhere, WHERE WOULD YOU GO?

Blessed is he, whose help in the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them - the Lord, who remains faithful forever. Psalm 146: 5-6

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Wildlife Weekends

It's actually appalling how even though I have a planner and write "WORK ON BLOG POSTS PLEASE" in my day to day shenanigans, I never actually do that. Awks. Does anyone else struggle with this?

 So here I am sharing photos from this weekend a hella long time ago. We had a family friend visit us so dur we took him around Nairobi. First off, the Giraffe Center!

   Kelly didn't want anything to do with us despite our attempts to cajole her into coming closer with yummy giraffe snacks.

Yea, Kelly [on the left] was still giving us side eyes and shady looks, but Ellen [on the right] did her thing, strutted up towards us and had all the giraffe snacks she wanted. And everybody loved her.

   
    But why are giraffes so beautiful and majestic and tall? In other words, God is too amazing with His        creation.

 Ellen is obviously still in the running to becoming Kenya's Next Top Model. LOOK AT HER ON HER MODEL STATUS. Check out those eyelashes!

Ellen in all her neck glory. What even? She wasn't even trying too look this good.

 All of you potential tortoise lifters have been clearly warned. 

       Then we hopped back into the car and drove to the Nairobi Animal Orphanage woo!

 We got there at feeding time, so lil' Simba was just chilling with his 12 kilograms of beef.

     
  Oh hey Nala, what's popping?

                 Talek the spotted leopard has the most amazing grey eyes like whurt. He also has the best room at the orphanage.

                               

I haven't really been feeling bloggy (is that even a word) lately... so yeaaaaaa. I'm gonna peace out right about now.


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The Truth About My Gap Year : Part I

I've been so productive today, I decided hey, I could probably throw in some blogging into all this productivity! I'm 6 months into my gap year, and to say it hasn't quite gone the way I would have wanted it to is an understatement.

Y'ALL.

I had all these goals and was so mega super pumped up about this gap year. LOL. Jokes. It's basically that quote that says "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him about your plans" by Woody Allen.

Some of my goals for this gap year were:
- Two internships; the total number of internships I've done in my past 6 months add up to a nice round number of 0.00.

- Get involved in music; I still do not own a musical instrument despite having the ability to play the piano, flute, violin and a dash of guitar. Fantastic

- Be adventurous; this is the vaguest of all vague gap year goals. I still have no idea what that means. I guess it could mean anything right?

- Get healthy/ work out; what is healthy? Who is work out? I am currently not acquainted with any of these terms.

- Improve photography skills; THE ONLY GOAL that I've somewhat achieved. My instagram game is much better. I feel like my artistic side is just poppin' at the moment. My eye for interesting colors and compositions is just YAAZZZ.

- Be consistent with everything [walk with Jesus, taking care of mom]; also another goal that I've SOMEWHAT achieved. I still really struggle with having a daily quiet time, especially in the mornings. I'm not a morning person, but that's not even an excuse.

But on a serious note, I'm sorta bummed about all the things I haven't achieved in my gap year, but on the other hand, I'm trusting God to come through for me all the time! Like okay so what if I haven't done 2 internships yet and I'm half way through my gap year? God has promised me in Jeremiah 29:11 that He has plans for me to prosper and not to harm me, plans to give me a hope and a future. So really its all good in the hood.

This is a long text post, so I guess I'll do a part 2 on it! :) Thats all for now.

You can catch up with all my gap year posts here:

Why I Decided to Take a Gap Year
The Gap Year Grind: Volume 1
It's a Beautiful Day Not to Be in High School
The Gap Year Grind: 5 Lessons Learnt So Far
The Gap Year Grind: A Guest Post

You May Have Missed:
Happy New Year + Some Other Shenanigans 
10 Thoughts I Had Whilst Watching Exodus
Film Adventures

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. Psalm 100:4-5

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Happy New Year + Some Other Shenanigans

Hello! I haven't really felt any motivation to blog, just because I didn't think I had anything to share? ANYWAYS.

My Christmas and New Year's was so so so fantastic! I was surrounded with fambam and one of my BEST FRIENDS from middle school and his mom! Much fun. Such wow. Yes. So I basically spent all my waking hours hanging out with S and my sister Kiki and catching up on all the shenanigans we hadn't been up to for the past 5 years. According to my calculations, we STILL have not caught up on all the shenanigans. Can I just say 2 weeks are not enough time to catch up with people even when you hang out with them all day errday? Ugh.

Highlights from the holidays

- Artcaffe waffles. We want to marry you. Like yesterday.

- Singing loudly whilst walking on the roads. yes.

- Hanging out at New Life. 

- Mall shenanigans. 

- Maasai Market! :D

- Hanging out at home

- Too many selfies, hilarious videos and voice recordings. Literally. TOO MANY.

- Harmonizing all day errday. and also FAILING at harmonizing 600% of the time. Fantastic

I seriously wish I could handcuff these two to myself, but that's probably illegal and like.. apparently they have lives to live? Okay? Whatever.

Much cute. Such wow.

Can I just say that puberty was so good to all of us. Because in middle school we looked horrible. like for real. Like ugh no.


SO YEA. I'm too lazy to actually talk about what my family and I got up to over the holidays. Just know that shenanigans, A LOT OF LAUGHTER and food were involved. MMKAY. I hope your holidays were fantastic and that you spent some well-deserved time with your families :) Also, I'm 900% sure I've overused the word "shenanigans" but I really can't help it. It's become a part of who I am.

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of God. Psalm 92:12-13


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