Faith > Fear

Maybe you’ve seen a cute meme or sticker proclaiming that faith is greater than fear. It’s cute. It’s catchy. But what do you do if your equation is off and you faith isn’t quite bigger than your fears? How do you begin to truly overcome your fears? How do you grow your faith?

These were the questions I pondered after leaving a young adult worship night in Los Angeles (yes, there are christians in LA, you just have to look a bit harder lol!). As we sung songs under the stars overlooking Bel Air, I asked God to open my heart and highlight areas I needed to improve.
⁣
I don’t know about you but I have fears doubts, insecurities, and negative thought processes that are holding me back from the greatness that I know is inside me. And I’m ready to let my light shine! ⁣

6 Journal Prompts to Grow Your Faith in God

Here are six journal prompts that I use to help me sort through my thoughts and surrender my fears to Christ:
⁣
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘐 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧?⁣
⁣
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘐 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘎𝘰𝘥?⁣
⁣
𝘈𝘴𝘬 𝘎𝘰𝘥: 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘦?⁣
⁣
𝘈𝘴𝘬 𝘎𝘰𝘥: 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 [𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵]?⁣
⁣
𝘈𝘴𝘬 𝘎𝘰𝘥: 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳?⁣
⁣
𝘈𝘴𝘬 𝘎𝘰𝘥: 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵?⁣
⁣
The answers may not come right away but give yourself grace and quiet time to reflect on what comes to mind. ⁣

Final Thoughts

I truly hope you find these prompts helpful. Journaling has been a therapeutic way for me to discover more about myself, my thoughts, and my faith.

What about you? Do you journal? If yes, how has it helped your spiritual and mental health?

If you enjoyed this post, please share with a friend or save one of the images below to your favorite Pinterest board so you can reference this information later.

Chronicles of Color contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Associates Program. I may earn a commission on purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.

Osprey Porter 65 Travel Backpack

As a digital nomad (and serial over packer lol), I opted for a larger size travel backpack that still fit my slim frame. Here’s the smaller 46 L if you travel light.

Compression Packing Cubes, Gonex Extensible Storage Mesh Bags Organizers

The ONLY way I carry two weeks worth of clothes and all my work gear in a backpack. I have two sets of these cubes that I use daily.

8 Travel Space Saver Bags. Pack of 8 Bags with Sizes Medium to Large. Roll-up Compression Storage (No Vacuum Needed) and Packing Organizers for Travel and Home Storage

In addition to the packing cubes above, I use these compression bags to roll long garments like maxi dresses and jumpsuits.

BUBM Electronic Organizer, Double Layer Travel Accessories Storage Bag for Cord, Adapter, Battery, Camera and More-a Sleeve Pouch for iPad or up to 9.7″ Tablet(Large, Dark Blue)

This tote keeps all my wires, chargers, and small electronics organized and safely stored.

Omni 20+ 20000mah Laptop Power Bank | AC/DC/USB-C/Wireless Battery Backup for Laptops:MacBook Pro/iPad Pro/Dell/Surface | Cameras:Canon/Nikon/DSLR/DJI Drones | Smart Devices:iPhone/Samsung

A bit pricey but definitely worth the cost for a long day of work, blogging, and travel. I can fully recharge my MacBook once or my iPhone or drone multiple times without an outlet. Score!

BESTEK International Power Adapter 250W, 220V to 110V Step Down Travel Voltage Converter with 4-Port USB Including US/AU/EU/UK/India/South Africa Plug Adapter

The name says it all. This is the converter to use to charge multiple devices during a multi-destination trip.

BAGSMART Toiletry Bag Travel Bag with Hanging Hook, Water-resistant Makeup Cosmetic Bag Travel Organizer for Accessories, Shampoo, Full Sized Container, Toiletries

The medium size bag comfortably fits my toiletries while still leaving enough space in my backpack for my clothes and gear.

Lena Menstrual Cup – Reusable Period Cup – Tampon and Pad Alternative – Small and Large – Pink and Turquoise – Made in USA

A requirement for long term travel with limited packing space. I also opted for a collapsable carrying case.

3D Sleep Mask (New Design by PrettyCare with 2 Pack) Eye Mask for Sleeping – Violet Contoured Eye Cover for Travel with Earplugs & Bag – Best Night Blindfolds

I keep one in my large bag and another in my day pack. Perfect for Alaskan summers where the sun sets at 11:00 pm or for that long overnight layover that saved you $200.

Travel Money Belt for Women or Men hidden passport and money Came With RFID Blocking Sleeves Set for Daily Use

I always have spare cash and documents with me incase of emergency. This money belt is discrete and comfortable.

There are several platforms to connect pet sitters to pet owners; however, I pet sit exclusively through Trusted House Sitters so I will only be sharing my experience with this platform.

What is a Pet Sitter?

A pet sitter is someone who often lives as a guest in the home owners house with their pets while the host family is out of town. Some home/pet owners prefer this arrangement because their pets can maintain their normal routine at home and the house is occupied and secure during their travels. Travelers like myself appreciate this arrangement as well because we have the comforts of home (wifi, washer/dryer, kitchen), free housing during our travels, and the company of furry friends during the day.

What is TrustedHousesitters

I first heard of TrustedHousesitters.com in 2019 and secured my first pet sit a few months later. Just this year, I’ve pet sat in four different states and will soon be headed to my first international pet sit!

TrustedHoustsitters (THS) is a paid platform that connects pet owners with pet sitters online. Both parties pay an annual fee to have their house or profile listed on the site and are reviewed and verified through the platform. Through THS, I have the opportunity to apply fir petsits worldwide.

The best analogy is this: TrustedHousesitters is a platform like AirBnB, but instead of paying for the room, you offer your time and care of their pets as compensation. They get free pet care, you get free lodging. It’s a win-win!

To be clear, THS is a platform for in-kind pet sitting services; you do not get paid to petsit on this site and travel to the sit location is covered by you. If you are looking to get paid as a petsitter, I’d recommend another platform like Wag or Rover. But if you are looking to cut out some expenses while you travel or is you work remotely and enjoy a change of scenery, then TrustedHousesitters would be a great fit!

How much does TrustedHousesitters Cost?

As mentioned above, both home owners and pet sitters pay to utilize the TrustedHousesitters website. There are three tiers for membership; I have just the basic plan and it is $126 per year. The homeowner membership starts at $126 per year and the combined membership starts at $189 annually (if you want to petsit and also list your pets/home).

Click here to use my 25% discount for any membership package.

Where can I petsit with TrustedHousesitters?

TrustedHousesitters is available for homeowners worldwide so the opportunities are endless! However, the platform is most popular in the following areas. In parenthesis I’ve included the number of open house and petsitting gigs in each region at the time of this post so you can get a better idea of the opportunities. There are new listings daily!

• United states (886)
• United Kingdom (630)
• Western Europe (164)
• Australia (177)
• New Zealand (24)
• United Arab Emirates (22)
• Canada (21)
• Mexico (8)

There are always a handful of cool sits in other countries too like Thailand, Singapore, Japan, South Africa, the Caribbean, Panama, Costa Rica, Sri Lanka, and Oman, just to name a few.

How long do I have to pet sit?

Each listing is different and the timeline and duties for each listing will vary. For example, you can currently stay one weekend in Santa Monica, California, one month in Perth, Australia or one year in Greece.  You can search based on duration of sit on the site and apply to the opportunities that best fit your schedule.

What do I have to do as a petsitter?

It’s important to note that as a petsitter, your main responsibility is the care and safety of the animals so most duties relate to pet care: feeding, walking, cuddling, brushing etc. There are sometimes light household tasks as well including receiving packages, checking the mail, watering plants and skimming a pool.

Any extra duties beyond these should be outlined in the homeowners online request. Some homeowners may have a garden that needs to be tended, a lawn that may need mowing or a rainwater system that may need monitoring. From what I’ve seen on the site, additional requests are usually stated upfront and instructions are provided in the sitters welcome guide before the petsit begins or you will be walked through the tasks with the homeowner on a video call or at the house before their departure.

Recap: So you live in a stranger’s house for free?

Essentially yes … welcome to the internet! Haha. Remember the AirBnB analogy? Petsitting doesn’t seem so farfetched considering most of us have used AirBnB to live in a stranger’s home before. This way just includes furry friends to spend your time with!

Most times I have a video call with the home owner during the interview process before confirming the sit (this is highly recommended, especially for international sits). Additionally, if my travels allow, I try to meet with the homeowners before they depart so we can walk through the house and discuss the pet care needs and routine. These details are usually provided in the welcome guide (and if not, ask!) but I find it easier to sort out and remember while in person.

Interested in becoming a pet sitter? Let me know any additional questions you may have in the comments!

Key Park Information
Location: south central New Mexico
Nearest City: Alamogordo, New Mexico
Park Hours: 7:00 am – 9:00 pm
Park Reservations Required: No
Entrance Fee: $25 per vehicle
Visitor Center Hours: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Campgrounds: No
Wifi: No

Situated between the cities of Alamogordo and Las Cruces, New Mexico, White Sands National Park is a 275 square-mile hidden gem in the Land of Enchantment. Literally!

The entire park is comprised of white sand dunes formed from eroded gypsum crystals. Here are ten kid friendly activities to enjoy at White Sands National Park (formally known as White Sands National Monument) in New Mexico.

---

Ten Family Friendly Activities to do in White Sands National Park

1. Sledding on the sand dunes is one of the most popular activities for children and adults alike. You can bring your own sled or purchase one at the Visitor Center for $20.00 (cash or card). Sleds can be returned at the visitor center for a $4.00 return credit back. Or feel free to pass on the joy and hand the sled off to a family nearby when you are finished sledding in the snow-like dunes.

2. Walk along the boardwalk to read the history and formation of the dunes. The boardwalk stretches 0.4 miles and is wheelchair/stroller accessible.

3. Stop at the visitor center to view the native plant garden and explore the interactive museum. You can also see the schedule for park activities and get your group signed up for a ranger led tour.

4. Become a Junior Ranger. The Junior Ranger activity books (available at the visitor center) are perfect for kids who have a sense of adventure and a curiosity for the outdoors. Inside the activity books, you’ll find age appropriate activities for your child to complete throughout the park. Be sure to return to the visitor center once all activities are complete to be sworn in as an Official White Sands Junior Dunes Ranger! How cool!

5. Have a picnic! No better way to enjoy a nice day than with good food, am I right?! Throughout the national park, there are 62 covered picnic tables, some with grills, for you to enjoy with family and friends. Travel Tip: check out this cooler to keep your lunch chilled for the day.

6. Fly kites in the pristine gypsum dunes. Let’s bring back the childhood nostalgia with a good ol’ kite! On a good day, the winds are perfect for flying. Be sure to bring a kite with a long tail; those are my personal favorites!

7. Take in the views along Dunes Drive. This 16 mile round trip loop takes approximately 45 minutes to complete but you will definitely want to add additional time to stop for hiking, sledding, photography and enjoying the sights.

8. Horseback riding is permissible if you bring your horses in a trailer and obtain a horse permit from the ranger station.

9. Enjoy a photoshoot. The pristine white sand in the world’s largest gypsum dunes for a beautiful backdrop for photography and videography lovers. So you know I had to set up my tripod and get some pictures! Check out some of my video footage here.

10. Backcountry Camping is an option for the avid outdoors person, as long as a camping permit is obtained. There are ten backcountry camping sites that are available on a first-come, first-served basis. NOTE: at the time of this post, Backcountry camping is not permitted due to distancing restrictions. The National Park Service (NPS) is conducting a phased reopen approach and has plans to re-offer this service sometime in the future. Check the NPS site for the latest updates.

White Sands National Park Hours of Operation

White Sands National Park is open daily year-round except for Christmas Day, December 25. The park opens at 7:00 am each day but closing hours vary by season and on holidays. On select days when there is a full moon in the summer, the park stays open late until 11pm.

The Visitor Center is open daily from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm when the park is open, regardless of season.

During the winter and occasionally throughout the year, the park may be closed unexpectedly due to unsafe road or extreme weather conditions. Visitors can be kept up to date on the White Sands National Park facebook page. Additionally, there may be road closures due to missile testing at the neighboring White Sand Missile Range. I would encourage you to check the park closure web page  before arrival to confirm hours of operation.

Park Entrance Fees

There is an entrance fee of $25.00 per vehicle to enter the park. This pass is valid for seven consecutive days if you plan to explore the park on more than one occasion. Don’t forget to ask for a park map.

White Sands National Park does not require reservations for general park entry. However, some activities (backcountry hiking, horseback riding, commercial videography etc.) require permits and may be associated with additional fees.

Park Amenities

Onsite near the visitors center, there are indoor restrooms and a water bottle filling station. Once inside the park, there are vault restrooms, trash bins, and picnic tables for public use sporadically along the Dunes Road route.

There are no food or gas options at white sands national monument (besides what may be sold at the visitor center) so be sure to fill up and grab snacks before heading into the park.

Where to Stay Near White Sands National Park

White Sands National Park does not allow for RV parking on site. The following campgrounds/RV parks are within a one hour drive:

• Oliver Lee State Park, about 24 miles southeast
• Aguirre Springs Recreation Area, about 39 miles southwest
• Lincoln National Forest, about 40 miles east

Hotels and Airbnbs can be found in the nearby towns of Alamogordo (13 miles) and Las Cruces (50 miles) for standard lodging.

I included White Sands as a day trip along my road trip route from Houston, Texas to San Diego, California. For this trip, I stayed at an Airbnb in El Paso, Texas since I had a few points of interest to see in New Mexico and west Texas.

Final Thoughts

Enjoyed this post? Save one of the images below to your travel Pinterest board for future reference and planning.

 I would love to hear your thoughts. Have you been to White Sands National Park before? if not, what activity are you most looking forward to enjoying in the park?