Gardens for Breakfast

Green Smoothies - I've been cravinggg these every morning lately. Perfect for this morning especially after a lifting dayy. 
Rabbit food maybe, but my favorites as well. "Nature's Candy" as Mama Mac likes to call them making fun of me as i regularly snack on any fruit or vegetable out there.


That's exactly what they are though.

GREEN SPINACH PROTEIN SMOOTHIE


Ingredients:
1 Banana
1/2 cup OJ
6 frozen cherries
2 GIANT handfuls of Spinach
1 TBS ground flax seed
1 TBS wheat germ
1 Tsp vanilla
1/4 cup egg whites
1 serving Soy Protein 


Toppings: Shredded Coconut & Cinnamon 
DIrections: BLEND

it's delicious, I promise. 

Happy SUNNY Thursday! 
Day off for me tomorrow :) just gotta push through today.


peace n' love,
Kelly Anne

how sweet it is

"Your greatest runs are rarely measured by racing success. They are moments in time when running allows you to see how wonderful your life is"

-Kara Goucher 

peace&love,

Kelly

nothing will be impossible

"He replied, 'Because you have so little faith. Truly, I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain; 'Move from there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you'".

Matthew 17:20

I was given this at work today by one of our most wonderful regular customers, Mr. B. He is a newer customer, just beginning to grace us with his presence only a few months ago, but he definitely brings some enjoyment and laughter to our long days. A coach for a new high school team across the boarder in New York, he is a much older graduate player from Hobart. His collection of older lacrosse twigs is quite impressive, and he now wishes to have James my co-in-charge put his ever beloved custom corner pockets in each and every one :)

Anyways, Mr. B frequently jokes that if only he could adopt me to be the daughter he never had. Quite the man Mr. B is, (unfortunately i continually must remind him that both my parents are still living and do still love me as their own.) However, his gentle heart and spirit are things I do appreciate greatly, he comes to give life guidance to James and I    whole heartily as if we really were his own. He is aware of my religious background, and that I do allow my faith to have an impact in my every day life so he felt that I would appreciate this. And i did. 

The charm is a symbol of Matthew 17:20. In the front there is a mustard seed, small and simple. On the back it states, "If ye have faith as a grain or mustard seed...nothing shall be impossible unto you". 

I love this. I am very familiar with this parable in scripture and what a way to be constantly reminded that nothing is impossible. 

Though moving to Danbury has been difficult at times away from my family and friends, and having no real support system close by, I am continually amazed to find reassurance in the God sightings from day to day just like this. That this past year I was meant to move here; and that it is not impossible for there to be a greater purpose for my presence here. I still have some time. 

For now, i will continue to appreciate the little things, and find joy in everyday. I mean it's Memorial day, the "unofficial start of summer" right?? Let the season of best of days begin.

Hope everyone had a wonderfully peaceful holiday weekend,

THANK YOU to all of you who serve and have served for peace and our country,

peace&love,

Kelly

creepy crawlies

There are bugs all over my computer screen right now. I don't mind at all. Its the only source of light in the room right now besides the TV. 


I'm writing this from the couch in the family room at my parents house in Farmington :) one of my dearest life friends came home from Boston for the weekend and came to visit me at work today and suggested I come home for the night. So that's just what i did. (thank you allison) :) some extra time with Baby Mac (the lil sis) and unexpectedly my nephew was exactly what I needed after the past few weeks. With all the unknowns of life running my mind lately, it was perfect to come home to the familiar things I love. 


There's no place like home.


I later decided to go for a late night run around the Highlands. Perfect. Finally my first outdoor run of the summer, under the stars, no street lamps in one of my favorite places in all of God's creation. It amazes me how something like this could bring me so much peace, comfort, reassurance and joy. But this how I know my faith is real. 


I am loving life at this very moment. I find peace and joy in the little things of life, there is not much needed to make me happy. Running under the stars tonight only makes me think though; if I can find so much beauty and greatness in the life out here, how much more beauty and greatness is really out there. I can't even fathom. Hopefully I will soon be able to add some under-the-star-midnight runs to the list in places besides Connecticut and Pennsylvania. As for now, I will continue to savor my last few runs in the Farmington Valley. 


But, I suppose i should try to go to bed. Must get up early to drive back to Danbury to open the store tomorrow morning...everyone else though, enjoy your day off :) and to my veterans and friends currently fighting for peace, thank you, and all the most wonderful blessings.


peace&love,
Kell

Holiday weekend?

And to continue the tradition for the past 6 years since I've been working with LU, i will be working open to close everyday for the entire thing. Splendid :) But hopefully some visits will be made by some of my favorite girls with coffee, to get me through each day.

Maybe I'll be searching for summer races. I ran too much yesterday, back to lifting this morning. If you're looking to help those arms o' steel of yours maybe this will be of some interest. 


Bi's & Tri's circuit:
Repeat Each Superset 3 times before going to the next


Superset 1
Dumbbell Bi Curls (15 lbs 12-15 reps)
Tri Extenstion w/ Dumbell (25lbs 12-15reps)


Superset 2
Hammer Curls (10lbs 15 reps)
Tri Dips on bench (10lbs 15 reps)


Superset 3
77's w/ bar + 5lbs 
Tri V-Bar push down (60lbs 12-15 reps)


with 15 reps Back extension (15lbs) between each superset to give the arms a break. Followed by 40 min cross training on the arc trainer & bike and 12 min ab workout.


doing workk. after a few days off from going down to VA i'm well rested with more than enough energy to use up. 


At least it's not all that nice out here in New England, it makes the fact ill be indoors all weekend a little easier to accept. And if anyone has race suggestions, please, let me know. Maybe a trail race? I'm ready to run another hike i think, why not. 


Happy Friday,
enjoy the next few days off for me :)


peace&lovin
-Kelly

have fun in the chaos

"Have fun in the chaos"

My dear friend Kourtney just shared this with me while talking to her about my feelings on life, and how there are so many worries, stresses and unknowns that may arise day to day at the age of growing 20's. Also how my indecisive nature never allows for clear answers on anything; she reminded me though that through all the chaos this  age of life brings we are to have fun and explore it to it's fullest. How true. 


It seems like I'm very different than most where I just want to stray from everything familiar and go out into the world and find more chaos and explore it. I mean God calls us to leave our surroundings, our family, our friends but how many of us really want to, are comfortable enough to, and ultimately really follow this calling? This has been screaming on my heart this past year. To just leave and follow the chaos.


There are so many directions in life I can take these next couple months. Complete chaos. Where to live, what to do, who to meet, how to love, and how and with who to invest my time and love. I struggle with knowing if I make the right decisions and if I have the right motives towards all my actions. 


Have fun though. 


I will be reminding myself of this daily these next few months. Take each chaotic thing as it comes, embrace it as part of God's plan and journey for me and have fun finding the joy that is always intended through everything. Have fun. 


Hopefully with the summer coming and my hours at work becoming more manageable I will be able to explore life to its fullest once again while I am still here in Connecticut. Take more notice to relax, have fun in each day and its events and in this finding some direction to the chaos of life and discovering where I am to let it lead me. So we will see. But for now in trying to puzzle out all the answers, I'm just having fun.


Happy Thursday, Have a good holiday weekend! 
(ill be workinggg)
peace&love,
Kelly

life moving forward

Hello from Reston, Virginia :)


I'm currently couch chillen with some coffee while my friend Lindsay is studying for the GRE's (get it girll) today is my last day here, until i am back to work tomorrow in Danbury, CT. But exciting things happening down here this past weekend. 


One of my best friends Elizabeth got engaged on Saturday. Yay! Lots of celebrating, with hugs and tears took place that night. Elizabeth was set up with our friend's older brother last summer and of course they hit it off - real well :) 


If you are reading this and not a current or past student of Messiah College you may think that me being 22 is a young age to be having friends tie the knot. For me yes, I would agree that I am not quite there yet, being there are too many places I still want to go, and things I would like to do. (Especially before becoming a stay at home mom as i'd like when the time comes) But yes getting married soon after college is a trend with many people I know. It's okay though :) Not having pre-marital sex is a strong value too, so i mean if you were dating someone seriously for a while, why not get married as soon as the time is right for both if you know you want to be together? ;)


Things like this do always make me think though about my future. Just the fact that there are so many unknowns as to where my life will take me, who i will meet, and what I will do. Yes it is scary at times, i will admit - especially when many of my best friends and also my twin sister have security of starting a new life with family. But for me this unknown and time of adventure is exciting none the less. I mean, I'm growing up, my lease is up in almost two months exactly, and as I am not planning on staying in Danbury, I have no idea what is next to come. Things like this always bring out my natural curiosity to it's fullest.


I read this this morning though, and am sharing because it is definitely important in how unanswered questions should be looked at. This is taken from a book by Lisa Beamer, who lost her husband in the crashes of 9/11 

"...or I can trust that God is working everything for my 

good. I have chosen to believe God, to believe he loves me and has a plan for 

now and for eternity… The road ahead is uncertain and even scary at times, 

but I believe that God will provide what’s best for me, just when I need it… I 

try to appreciate my blessings every day" 

Through sufferings, joys, new beginnings, endings, it is important to remember that God loves you and that unknowns are meant for him to show his glory and the love he has for you in carrying out his plan. The blessings are best when they come in the unexpected at the times of the unknowns. So trust, and no matter where you are in your life right now, there is a purpose and a time and place for everything.

peace&love,

Kelly

what defines

This is one of my favorite things that I own. I made this that second semester my sophomore year at Messiah. For one of our required gen eds - which is taken sophomore year by every Messiah student, we were required to make a "Creation Project" there were no significant guidelines, just to incorporate your faith, your vision of creation and that role of God's creation in your life. 

My final project:

Inside on the glass are some of the lyrics to the song that influenced by decision in what I would make. The song is Mirror by Barlowgirl:

This song really hit me that year when I decided wether to continue to be the athlete I had always been known as and what I thought I should be, or to trust my heart and follow something else, and see God's new plan for me. 

The frame of the mirror consists of several verses that I feel are great in showing God's love for everything he has created:

This mirror always reminds me of this time of learning in my life, and my new found trust in God's plan for me. It is a constant reminder of his love, and that daily I should be finding joy in the person I'm created to be; not who I think I'm supposed to be. 

I pray this encourages you today as it does for me. The weekend is here! Enjoy it, and his creation all around us. I'll be in Virginia till Monday or Tuesday :)

peace&love,

Kell

john 13:7 - My Story (Part II)

During these months up to the season I was also reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. On January 12, 2009 - Day 32 of reading the book, the topic was "Using What God Gave You" . This was the day I made my decision to take myself off the team; only a couple weeks before the season began. 


Here is some of what I wrote down in my journal at the time from reading what Warren wrote:

Romans 12:5 

"Since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's go ahead and be what we were made to be"

Rick wrote, "When you attempt to serve God in ways you're not shaped to serve, it feels like forcing a square peg into a round hole. It's frustrating and produces limited results...the best use of your life is to serve God out of your shape. To do this you must first discover your shape, learn to accept and enjoy it" (pg 249). 

He then goes on to encourage, "avoid comparisons, resist exaggerations and seek only God's commendation" (pg254).  

"You do no realize now what I am doing but later you will understand"

John 13:7

I read this which immediately hit me hard. This was without a doubt God speaking to me. It was a feeling in my heart that what I had been doing was only hurting my body to a point that was unhealthy, and maybe now was the time I was meant for something else. While on the team I had only been comparing myself and trying to meet the standards of the sport as well as my team. 

However, after reading this I had no second thoughts at all about what I was supposed to do. Although I was extremely confused about how adamant that this was how things were supposed to be, i trusted that it was right. I went to my coach and told her my thoughts and my ultimate decision.

I spent that spring managing the guys lax team - all of the guys were my best friends and I still wanted to be around the sport I loved - and I knew it would be too hard for me watching the girls play throughout the remainder of the season. 

That spring/summer I applied for an internship with the Philadelphia Wings, a Professional Lacrosse team in Philly (part of the NLL). I drove three hours from CT for an hour interview and found out later, I was the only one selected to work with the Sales department that next year. I ended up working with them 40+ hrs a week while moving to the city and taking classes at Temple University. Although my days were extremely long and busy, i loved every moment of it. Consequently, being at work and class so much pulled me away from the gym, and my focus was starting to return to its rightful place, and I would go through weeks of being out of a gym completely.

My original plan was to just stay that fall semester of my Junior year. But the end of that fall i also learned that Lacrosse Unlimited would be opening their first Pennsylvania store in Philly that winter, about 20 minutes away from Temple. Shortly after that, before leaving the Wings, my supervisor asked if I would stay to work with them during the season. After falling in love with Philly and having no commitments back in Grantham PA, this was a given answer for me; of course I was going to stay. This was where I was supposed to be, and these two events showed me that my heart was right almost exactly a year ago. I finally understood and now felt that it had been one of the best decisions I had ever made. 

That summer after leaving the city and going back home I took up to working out again but in a new way; long distance. I entered my first races, placing and winning in them, and learned that this was the way my body was supposed to work. I quickly discovered that I had an outstanding ability to run for miles without ever wearing out. I loved it; and did it for love instead of for meeting standards and being something i was not. And without a doubt do I still love it :) 

So, that is my story explained to almost its fullest. Of course my customers get the short and sweet 5 minute version. But of course I enjoy sharing how I have learned that God always seems to end up directing life for the good and his purpose so that is why I'm sharing here. Everything happens for a reason right?

Hope you enjoyed getting to know me a little better,

Have a good night - peace & love love love,

Kelly

What do i know - My Story (Part I)

Good morning, good morning,
Happy Thursday - weekend is so close but of course so far away - and considering i have a few days off to road trip down to Virginia to get away and see my best of friends :), my patience is definitely wearing. 


But, since I have a sufficient amount of time before going into work today, i decided i suppose today's the day to share my story. 


I manage a lacrosse store so of course i am asked daily if i do/did play. When i tell people I grew up playing in Farmington, and then went on to play only my freshman year at Messiah they are instantly filled with curiosity as to why I only played for one year. Well here's the answer, and a part of my life that has greatly influenced who I am today.


I applied to Messiah to go to school for youth ministry (early on in hs i decided I wanted to be a highschool youth pastor) and although at the end of senior year i decided to un-declare that as my major and go to Messiah undecided, it was still the school that I wanted to go to, and ultimately the only school I applied to. Their lax program was less intense DIII program (i didn't want it to consume my time there) and while also in hs I had spoken to the coach at the time about recruiting. 


The summer before my freshman year of college, they decided to bring on a new full time coach - a graduate of Messiah who played on the women's team during her time there as well. She was intense and had high hopes for completely turning the program around. And although I was a little intimidated at first by this I was of course excited and knew it would be for the better. 


We started practicing that fall ball and I loved it, the girls became my best friends. Throughout middle school and high school i was very competitive and concentrated a lot on sports (field hockey and lax) and always loved working out so when I started her new workouts including getting in the weight room for the first time I was super excited. 


I continued to play, run and work my hardest, and on the side declared Sport Management as my major. Since I had grown up working at Lacrosse Unlimited and loved it, and had a passion for sports I figured this was what was best for me. However, with this major came a requirement of gym and fitness classes as well. 


We began preseason in the winter and I quickly learned I needed to do some work with strength building. Once I had stopped playing field hockey fall of my senior yr of high school, I started running a lot more and lost the strength in my legs that I once had from running constant hills and squatting for hours while in game play. I was now much smaller than the other girls and am more built like a long distance runner - not only was I turning purple at practice but I was lacking the power I needed for college level game-like situations. Although I pushed the team in our runs, it was not the same in field play. That's when I decided I needed to work hard and build my body to how I thought it had to be. 


I continued to follow the team lifting and running workouts throughout the season. But since I was also still balancing the full course-load college life on the side didn't go to extremes to become the player I wanted to be. That's when summer came and things changed. 


I began researching all kinds of workouts that might help me become more powerful. Plyo's, lifting schedules and interval/hill running workouts consumed my life that summer. I also learned that I LOVED running longer distances (which didn't turn out to be a bad thing you'll find out) I was also balancing 3 summer jobs on the side to save money; so i was consistently busy and worn out. I would wake up at 4 or 5 to get high intense workouts in before work - everyday. I was always on the go and never giving my body rest.


Sophomore year started and fall ball began. Everyone noticed I had done some work which of course boosted my spirits, I had lost some weight and gained muscle so I knew my workouts had paid off. We began lifting workouts once again, and I was ready - my competitive spirit was ready to start a new season fresh As that fall went on though some bigger problems quickly began. I continued to wake up early to do team lifting workouts, and would practice with the team after class. However at the same time I also began my required fitness and workout classes for the Sport Management major and would also do running workouts after practice because I missed the runner's high I used to get from just running - what I always loved most. I was doing better on the field though, and that made me excited for the season. 


However, consequently, i began loosing A LOT of weight from working out literally all day, almost everyday. Since I do have healthier eating habits and prefer fruits and veggies over anything else, really I could not consume enough calories to make up for what I was using for my energy. At my lowest I was down to 97 lbs i think. What also happened from doing too many plyo's and hill workouts, I got tendinitis in both my knees and had to take some time out at the end of fall ball. 


That winter before preseason started I had a lot of things to think about. I knew my body wasn't healthy and I either had to figure something out with my competitiveness and constant mental desire to be better or physically take myself off the team. This was one of the hardest decisions of my life. I spent A LOT of time in prayer and scripture, trying to figure out what God wanted me to do. The girls on the team were my best friends and my stronghold, so much of my daily life was invested in this. I was completely torn, and the season was coming soon. Definitely a fight between my head and heart like I had never experienced before.




(part II) to come this afternoon,
peace&love,
kelly

truth for tuesday morning

What distinguishes those of us at the starting line from those of us on the couch is that we learn through running to take what the day gives us, what our body will allow us, and what our will can tolerate. 

- John Bingham (runner, writer, speaker)

post to come later tonight, leaving for work right now.

happy day, peace&love

Kell

p.s. encouragement

"Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks, finds. And to him who knocks it will be opened."

- Matthew 7:7

peace&love.

brown hair and bright eyes, such a beautiful blue

Good morningg, wake up, run.


Workout:
5 min warm up treadmill run
1.5 mile run treadmill @ 10:06 (a lil unhappy with this time)
15 min cross trainer


Leg Pyramid Workout
20 squats (10 lbs each leg)
30 lunges (15 lbs each leg)
45 sec wall sit
60 sec jump rope (MY FAV NEW THING TO DO! Been putting this into my workouts a lot lately)
45 sec wall sit
30 lunges (15 lbs)
20 squats (10 lbs)
Hamstring curl (30 lbs 15 reps)
Glute Machine (of course im a girl) (45 lbs 15 reps each leg)


REPEAT ENTIRE THING TWICE


finished with 15 more min on the cross trainer. hopefully i feel this tomorrow.


Happy Friday! SO close to the weekend. Messiah Women's Lacrosse had made it to the DIII NCAA Sweet Sixteen and are making their way to CT to play at Trinity tomorrow :) I will be sqeezing out of work for a little to go back home to be there. can't wait to see my girls. and GOOD LUCK! each of you.


p.s. my mother informed me yesterday i'm no longer allowed to move back home. my lease ends july 31st....i wonder where the world will take me? thrilling of course :) 
maybe somewhere it will be worth for me to invest in a new camera and finally start shooting again? let's hope.




all the love today,
Kelly

HIIT

HIIT = High Intensity Interval Training

I'm trying to find a race, if anyone would like to help me out...will travel for it if need be :) thank you. 

In the meantime, 

My co-manager Sir James, and I got into a convo about plyometrics today at the store - i used to be way into plyos in high school and the start of college while I was still in my field hockey build. Once I started working out for lax at messiah though i became too intense with these work outs and ended up injuring my knees - so that was the end to that. 

However, I want to try again. Hopefully some time off was all that i needed, because when I work out I love to get my heart rate going as much as I can - runner's high of course. And these help me add the variety I need in order to not get bored with running. 

So:

Newest HIIT/Circuit Workout:

(approx. 1 hour workout time)

warm up run 5 min on treadmill

Sprint intervals on bike (20 min)

Min 1-10 ~ 1min 130 RPM/ 1min 90 RPM alternating (Levels 6-8)

Min 10-15 ~ 30sec 130RPM/ 30sec 90 RPM alternating (Level 7)

Min 15-20 ~ 1min 130RPM/ 1 min 90 RPM alternating

Jump Rope 1 min 

Rest 15 sec

Mountain Climbers 15 sec

Rest 30 sec

(Repeat set for 5 times)

Ab workout ~ 10 min

Step/Jump ups (on 2~3 ft block):

Left leg first for 15 sec 

Right leg first for 15 sec

     (Repeat, so 1 min full)

Rest 45 seconds

Repeat set 5 times

Cross trainer cool down 5 min 

try it? hope you like,

now if only i was tired so i could fall asleep. 

peace&love, goodnight,

Kell

me.

Cook to love.

peace&love,

Kell.

you're gettin high on your own supply

"When you run in the morning, you gain time. It's like stretching 24 hours into 25. You may need to sleep less and get up earlier, but if you can get by that, running early seems to expand the day."

- Fred Lebow, Founder of the NYC Marathon

Truth.

Monday morning, wake up, run.

4 miles @ 27:44

followed by 30 minutes cross training.

Gotta find some 5ks (and +) to do this spring/summer - and i need to find new head phones asap so I can do my first outdoor adventure of the season. (Philly half kara-liz??)

I was given a sweet cameo of Jesus from Mr. B, a dearest customer of Lacrosse Unlimited of Danubury on Sunday. Ill take a picture tomorrow. Best gift ever? I jumped with excitement of course since that's what i do. 

Full work day 9:30-9 today and it still amazes me how even that is not enough time to get everything you want to get done, done. Welcome to life i suppose, almost officially my first full year outta school. Weird. Where will the next year take me...TBD?

goin to bed - DAY OFF TOMORROW! Goin home to see my babymac (Heather lee) and baby sit the little man. funstuff (of course) :)

happy days, happy week,

peace & loveee,

Kelly

cookies

as promised,
Salty PB Cocoa Oatmeal Cookie Cups

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
2-3 TBS Cocoa powder


1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup white sugar 
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup PB
1 egg beaten
1 tsp vanilla


1/2 cup oats


Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350*
2. In a medium bowl blend the flour, baking soda and cocoa powder
3. In a separate larger bowl mix the oil, butter and sugars
5. Mix the flour into the larger bowl until well blended and then add the oats
6. Spray a mini muffin pan
7. Roll the dough into ~1 1/2" balls and put in each muffin space
8. Bake for 8-12 minutes (you'll have to watch) 
9. test taste




:) 
peace&lovin,
Kell

from emptiness to everything

Food for thought to end the weekend:

A poem carried by Chuck Swindoll on friendship;

I saw them tearing a building down, 

A group of men in a busy town, 

With a hefty blow and a lusty yell, 

They swung with zest, 

And a side wall fell. 

“Are these men skilled? The kind you would hire if you had to build?” [I asked] 

He looked at me, and laughed, “No, indeed! Unskilled labor is all I need. 

Why, they can wreck in a day or two, 

What it has taken builders years to do.” 

I asked myself, as I went my way, 

Which of these roles have I tried to play? 

Am I a builder with rule and square, 

Measuring and constructing with skill and care? 

Or am I the wrecker who walks the town, 

Content with the business of tearing down?

'

Let May officially begin. Lots of life decisions to be made in the next couple months. Hopefully i can find some races to start training for to help keep the stress levels at bay. 

Salty PB Cocoa Oatmeal Cookie Cup recipe to be posted tomorrow. 

peace&love,

Kelly Anne 

p.s. "the most important thing in communication is to hear what isn't being heard" 

- Peter Drucker

don't make it easy

Hello hello,
Laid back morning, rainy Thursday up in CT - sometimes it's needed.
For today, enjoy.

"Hard to love" Lee Brice

The weekends almost here,

peace & love :)

-Kell

so bless my heart and bless yours too

This woman can sing.

"Hold On" - Alabama Shakes

that's all my sharing for tonight
(ABDC night @ 10!)


peace & love,
Kell

When Life Comes Unraveled

My home church in Avon is currently doing a study on the book of Job. If you are unfamiliar with the story; it's about a man devoted and completely faithful to God who has everything (possessions, family, health etc...) taken from him and goes through extreme suffering. Sinking into a deep depression, the book is about how faith is paramount when the in-explainable may occur and when life struggles hit hardest.  


I want to share Psalm 73 - it goes greatly with Job's story. Today it is reminding me that God is always near, at the hardest of times - and my faith in Him, his being, his strength, is what brings and provides me with peace and reassurance. 

Psalm 73 (NLT)

Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure.

But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.

For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.

They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong.

They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.

They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty.

These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for!

They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others.

They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth.

And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words.

“What does God know?” they ask. “Does the Most High even know what’s happening?”

Look at these wicked people— enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply. 

Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?

I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain. 

If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to your people.

So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!

Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.

Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.

In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors.

When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning. 

Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside.

I was so foolish and ignorant— I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.

Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand.

You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.

Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you.

But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everything about the wonderful things you do.

my prayer for you tonight :) that you are blessed with wonderful things in your life.

peace & love,
Kelly

Happy May Day

Yes, I'm a day late but my May 1st was well spent back home in Farmington due to my day off. Baking, sleeping, and eating was the full (super thrilling of course) extent of it. 




Cupcakes for Dad's Birthday :)

Lemon Champagne Cupcakes with Pink Lemonade Frosting

(and some Pinnacle Whipped Cupcakes with Cotton Candy frosting for my dearest friend Kimberly's special day this Friday)

yum yum yum
p.s. Happy May!
-Kell