coffee corners//not by my strength

A new morning.
A new day.
A new beginning.

I'm just going to be straight up real here.

This summer has been one of the most trying seasons of my life.
My stress level has gone above any reasonable amount by about two days into it.
I have lost sense of who i am because I have become so lost with work and the responsibility that has come with it.
I have become completely consumed by a constant strain of worry, fear, and uneasiness.
And as much fun as I have had already these past few months, they are just a smattering of small amounts among my time living with, what feels like, the weight of the world on my shoulders.
//
Okay okay, so that does seem a little dramatic for just a summer job.
But, still being honest, jobs have always come easy for me.
I took pride in my work done well and never doubted my skills as a employee.
But this summer is entirely different.
I have been tested in every area of my life that, only Lord knows, needed the most attention.

Patience.

Forgiveness.

Control.

Humbleness.

Contentment.

Love.

Yesterday was the breaking point that came with a complete breakdown in the company truck and my fingers tingling with the thought of just throwing in the towel right then and there.

My heart has constantly been whispering one single question this summer....

Why me?

And I still have two weeks left.

//

//

//

Yet, here I am, making me some breakfast, donning my fluffy blue robe at 7:30 in the morning on a Saturday, and literally rocking out to the Jeremy Camp song blastin' on the radio.

All of who You are reaches the darkest parts
Lifting the weight and erasing the scars that had a hold on me
Here I am bearing all, tearing down every wall
So amazed by Your grace and the way You're still holding me

My God, You are the unchanging love
My God, Your heart sends hope from above
The great Creator, beautiful Savior
I've been redeemed
There is life now from Your victory
You are my God
You are my God

When my hope starts fading out
You are where my strength is found
I know I won't be alone

My God, You are a beautiful love

Let me emphasize that bit one more time...

When my hope starts fading out

You are where my strength is found

I know I won't be alone

You guys....

My heart is literally soaring at those words right now.
Like sprinting across a field right now and taking off into a full-on flight as I type these words.
....Best way to describe it at the moment bahahahaa.

My words may seem calm right now, but I was just dancing around the kitchen in my jammies a few minutes ago during this song soooo........just keep that image in my mind as you read on.

As much as I am dreading these new few weeks and have no idea what to expect...
I AM EXCITED! Because right now, the Lord is teaching me to lean on Him during this time of trial.
//
My energy level is currently running on empty. My back is a knotty mess of stress. My eyes now have permaent bags of darkness underneath them.
But only through the strength and grace of God, I am going to be able to finish out this summer strong.

Again, this may seem like the most trivial and smallest dilemma in the grander scheme of things.
I know many more people who are going through so much more than learning to get through a tough summer job.
But God is making one thing quite apparent to me, and I encourage whoever may have gotten through this rambling and long post, to apply it in their own lives today.

Moral of the story:  

Our own strength will never get us through craziness called life.

This kind of strength can only come from the King of Kings, Creator of the Universe, and our Father. 

These trials in our life, we are like a damaged and wounded solider coming up from the battlegrounds, waving a flag with the littlest amount of strength we may have left.
But not a flag of defeat.
A flag of determination, willpower, drive, courage, valor, persistence, and God-confident assurance.

Because...

There is life now from your Victory. 
You are MY God. 

p.s. In other goose-bump prompting news....

Tom left a note for me yesterday before leaving for a week with the boys.

And of course, only through pertinent God-ordained words.

//

Oh goodness, does our Lord work in the most mysterious ways, that's for sure.

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.  Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen."

-Ephesians 3:20-21   

 //

Cue the goosebumps once again.

thrifty thursday//distressed&plaid

Oh hey.
Guess what?
It's Thursday.
//
ONE DAY AWAY FROM THE WEEKEND BABYYY.

Oh. And time for a little thriftiness.

holding a piece of heaven. 

mhmm yep right thurrr.

...im sorry. but that red eye sore just throws off the whole shoot for me....

#myeyes #theyburn

shirt//thrifted. 3 dollas.

shorts//previously jeans. distressed by moi.

sandals//target

bag//thrifted

sunglasses//F21

mocha//brewed...by angels...I'm sure of it.

south bend specs//

Obviously, its been much too long.
Let me just say.  I don't think I ever anticiapted how much time flies when most of it is spent working and the rest is trying to savor just a few sweet summer memories.
...
Full time livin' is tough, folks. Real tough.

I get quite sad when I think about this lonely little blog space getting all dusty and cobweby, waiting patiently for its guru to return, and spark up some creative juices.

But have no fear, because I am back baby!!

...

Until I'm swamped with work again.

But here is a little peek on some of my summer adventures not spent in the office thus far.
 I call it...

South Bend Speculation.

Catchy, right?

Over the Fourth, the famjam and I packed up the camper, loaded up the car, and headed east towards South Bend, Indiana for a family friends' wedding.
...
Let's be honest....I had never even heard of South Bend before this trip.
Sure, its holds the well known Notre Dame and is the home state of my favorite fictional book series (nerdy eeeek!).
...Indiana just hadn't been on the top of my list as the Seven Wonders of the World.

But a road trip is a road trip and sometimes you just need a change of pace every once in a while, even if its in Amish country (for real though....it was).

The trip mostly consisted of breakfast by bonfire, coffee on a percolator, books upon books upon books, and just total relaxation. It. Was. Heaven.
One night, however, we decided to venture out into downtown South Bend and see what the city life had to offer.
...
Out with the Amish thoughts. And in with the cutest little town you have ever seen.
Just...look.

Now, do you believe me?!

Again...CA-UTEEEE!

We walked along the streets for hours and taking picture after picture.

Eventually our tummies started rumbling so we started focusing our attention more on trying to decide which cute little cafe we should eat at (yet another hour passes...)

The debate was over as soon as this sign appeared. You had me at chocolate.

Mhmm yep, decision made.

We walked inside to see chocolate fountains, chocolate delights, and chocolate candies surrounding us.

 //

There was also a chocolate coffee bar. Whaaa......

The cafe wasn't all fun and sweets though. We browsed through their dinner menu and found ourselves going back and forth on so many delicious-sounding entrees.

My choice? The cherry pecan chicken salad with rasberry vingerrette.

And a dark mocha to add to the yumminess.

Came with a chocolate covered stirring spoon and a cherry on top.

//Holy chocolate heaven//

 

After dinner, we continued on our downtown exploring.

Came across this cute little park so obvi....

Decided to do a little thrifty outfit shoot.

(To be continued...)

Andddd almost became road kill while trying to get a pic of the string street lights.

Worth it.

Of course....Cue fireworks.

South Bend, Indiana.

You have stolen my <3

granola bars/cookies/poopies

**This recipe calls for an aquired set of taste buds.
To me, these scrumptious granola bars tasted like a healthier version of a chocolate chip, coconut, vanilla, banana cookie.
...
To the rest of my family...

How rude.

First, gather up all the ingredients.

This recipe is inspired by Undressed Skeleton again, however, I tweaked the ingredients to work with what I already had lying around in the kitchen.

//

Let's be honest. Too poor to be affordin' all the organic stuff.

Aldi's girl. All the way.

-1 cup coconut flakes

-1 large banana

-1 cup oats

-1 tablespoon pure vanilla

-1/2 cup chia seeds

-1/4 cup almond milk

-chocolate chips. I am not one to judge on your desired chocolate fix. 

Don't forget to preheat over to 350!

Put all ingredients (besides almond milk) in mixing bowl.

Stir on medium for a few minutes. Mix it. Mix it real good.

Then, slowly add in the almond milk to moisten it all together

Mhmmmmm moisttttt granola....

...trust me, it smells better than it looks.... 

Take mixture out of bowl and spread into square on baking sheet with a spatula.

//

Or, just toss that useless spatula aside and get your hands a little dirty. Works much faster.

perfect.

 Then, sprinkle and gently press some chocolate chips to the top of the granola until satisfied.

//

Proceed to add a couple more.

Then, bake in oven for 11-13 minutes or until the sides begin to look a little crispy.

Cut bars into even squares, rectangles, circles, stars, or even hearts if your artistic abilities are up to par.

 Let cool.

ENJOY.

(or take my sister's side and poo poo on the poopies. Your choice.)

thrifty//megan

Meet Megan.
She's pretty cool.
She learning how to long board.
And makes yummy coffee drinks as a barista.

She's an awesome singer.
Likes soy milk.
Part Asian.

Been besties since the 9th grade.
Lovingly refer to each other as "Wombies".
And has a heart of gold for letting me use her as my muse for the lastest thrifty styles.

Also...boys? Back off.
Or you shall undergo a very lengthy and unpleasant interview with moi.

shirt//forever 21

necklace//forever 21

shorts//DIY from goodwill. "orginally little ugly farmer pants"

shoes//heartbreaker

oh hey! It's me!

...

On the cover of the newest Little House on the Prairie novel...

skirt//wet seal

shirt//thrifted. goodwill

belt//thrifted. goodwill

A tick was then spotted crawling up the hem of my skirt.

Thus promptly ending the photo shoot.