Sisterhood of the World Bloggers

Today, I've been invited to participate in the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers adventure! 

Thank you for the nomination, Emilie Anne Hendryx! 

Here are the rules:

1. Thank the one who nominated you.
2. Put up the award.
3. Answer the questions you have been sent.
4. Make up ten new questions for nominees to answer.

Here are my answers to Emilie's questions: 

1. Share a favorite memory from 2014.

God blessed me with my first radio interview in Spring 2014! I was interviewed on WGTS 91.9 FM, a family-friendly radio station based in Takoma Park, Md. Listen to it here. 

Claude Jennings, a DJ for WGTS, interviewed me about my first book, Hope in My Heart: A Collection of Heartwarming Stories, which was released in Sept. 2013. 

It was a special experience for me not only because it was my first radio interview but because I used to work for WGTS as an intern when I was a college student. I worked with Becky and Brennan on the Morning Show as their programming assistant. The job required me to awake super early to be there every morning because that show always airs live, but it was worth it! A very fun and delightful experience for which to this day I am grateful. 

So to have my career path go full-circle with God sending me back to where I used to work not to book an interview for the radio show like I used to do as an intern, but to be interviewed on the Breakaway program show was something special.

2. Are you doing a reading challenge for 2015? If so, what's the first book you're reading this year? 

No, I'm not doing a reading challenge for 2015 but I do have a stack of books I received from my favorite authors for free in exchange for an honest review. So I've got my work cut out for me this year, but I'm looking forward to it! The first book that I've decided to read this year is When Dawn Breaks by Jennifer Slattery. 

3. What are three things you are looking forward to in 2015?

Three things I am looking forward to in 2015 are: meeting my fitness goals, completing the manuscript for my next book and hopefully being able to purchase my dream camera, the Canon 5D Mark III DSLR (but if I get it as a gift, that would be even more wonderful)! 

I'd love to launch my own wedding and portrait photography business after I get the proper equipment such as the main tool, my DSLR.

4. If you could take a dream vacation where cost is not a problem, where would you go and why?

London because my aunt lives there, it's a beautiful place and I want to check out The Goring Hotel. Since my last name (Goring) is spelled the exact same way with the same country of origin, I'm wondering if we're related.

5. What is one piece of advice (or realization) you received in 2014 that you'll carry with you?

Trust God's heart even when you cannot trace His hand.

I realized that no matter what unspeakable things I have to endure and go through, things that cause me to wonder if God's forgotten about me or I wonder where He is in dark times, I must remember to as the song by Babbie Mason says, "Trust His Heart." When I do not understand and I cannot trace God's hand, I can trust His heart. Relief is found in the fact that no matter what happens in this life, God is and always will be in control and He is always working things together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

6. Share two of your favorite books from 2014 and a little bit about why you loved them.

Kept which is the debut novel released in Autumn 2014 by Sally Bradley who happens to be the lady who edited my first book. I loved Kept because it was a real look at struggles women who have been brokenhearted by the hard knocks of life face. The main character Miska, was memorable and watching her transform from a "kept" woman who was having an affair with a famous baseball player to a Christian woman whose faith in God directed her life, led her to turn away from worldly ways and brought a true man of God into her life, was wonderful to watch. The characters were captivating and the story line was smooth and filled with scenes that made you identify with the characters and want what's best for Miska and the single pastor who fell in love with her unexpectedly. It was a sweet love story centered around themes of redemption and God's grace. I'd recommend it for every man and woman to read.

Love Finds You on Christmas Morning, written by Debby Mayne and Trish Perry was a delightful holiday story which I simply adored. I especially loved the way Debby told her story, "Deck the Halls,"which was featured first in the book. It was very memorable and I loved the way Debby brought two main characters from two different backgrounds and economic statuses and merged their stories with the power of love. A very good way to show that love conquers all. It helps that I'm a hopeful romantic and stories like these play right into my heart.

7. Do you have a goal or resolution for 2015 you'd be willing to share? 

I'd love to get a literary agent, a true God-send who is the perfect match to represent my work and take me to the next level in my creative writing career. 

8. Share a verse or word that you will be carrying with you into this new year.

Trust. I know I need to trust God's plan for my life and take a step of faith even when I cannot see the whole staircase (as the great Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said).

9. What is one activity or place you hope to experience in 2015?

I'd love to visit California and experience the beauty of San Francisco, Napa Valley along with visiting the heart of the film industry in Los Angeles. I want to dine at the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants, enjoy the perfect weather and inhale the ocean scented air. 

10. Share with us something you are passionate about and how God has used that in your life thus far.

I am passionate about people. I love showing God's love, compassionate character and heart of gold through my writings and findings which I share here on my blog "God is Love." 

I want every soul to come to know the freedom that comes in knowing Jesus Christ and accepting His gift of salvation. The best thing about it is you can't earn your salvation, it's a gift and it's free! All Jesus wants you to do is to accept Him into your life and accept the gift. When you accept Jesus into your heart, He will change you from the inside out. I know this to be true because it happened to me when I was 16. But that's another story for another day! 

However, I will say that since I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart, He saved me from what could have been a tragic end, transformed me from from the inside out and since then, I've been passionate about sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with every person I meet.

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My nominees are: Diane Samson, Deidra Riggs, Katie Ganshert, Melissa Tagg and Stacy Hawkins Adams

Here are the 10 questions for the nominees:

1.  What was your favorite memory from 2014?
2. What is your greatest dream for 2015?
3. What is your favorite color? Explain why.
4. Who are your favorite bloggers? Name at least five and share a link to each blog.
5. Who inspires you the most in life? Why?
6. Do you have a Starbucks habit? If yes, share details of your fix, including how often you buy it.
7. As a writer, what is your favorite bookstore? Describe what makes it special to you.
8. What is your favorite mall? Why?
9. What is one verse found in The Holy Bible that you've claimed as your "life verse"?
10. What is your one "word" for 2015? Explain why and tell how it will help you this year. 

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Thanks so much my dear nominees for participating in this blog hop and thank you my wonderful readers for taking time to enjoy this entire blog post! :) Happy New Year!