Summer, Oh Summer.

Sighing in the air.

Wistful, humid breeze.

Welcoming sun.

Insistent heat.

Whispering wind in branches.

Drizzling,drizzling rain.

Freedom from books.

Boredom from challenge.

Comfort of family.

Overpowering numbers of unoccupied people.

Fun with friends.

Loneliness, no social events.

Anticipation of new adventures.

Dread of change.

Fear of pain.

Excitement of growth.

Grief of losing old times, as they slip away.

Here come new times, fresh stretches, clean slates.


Hope you enjoyed my little tale of summer! How are YOU feeling about the advent of a fresh season?

Come here, little girl

 Sisters are a gift, little girls a treasured element of God's wonderful world...



There's something about little girls that is special...of course, all kids are special, but a really girly little girl has a unique and heart-tugging aura.

We babysit a family of six kids, five of which are little girls. And they are all between the ages of ten and two...so yes, lots of little girl. What strikes me the most is how unique each one of them is. They may be within a year of each other and grow up in the exact same place, but they each bring their own smile, laugh, and sass every day. They are best friends, but I can see each of them struggling a little bit sometimes...one feels left out, another wants to be in control, one just feels like no one can hear her. (which is probably true because someone else is screaming) It touches my heart to see those moments of raw exposure and vulnerability in each of them, because I remember feeling some of those same emotions.

It can take many different forms- little girls are so insecure. One claims to be the best singer, another the fastest. And at the root of it all is this desire to be treasured and loved like none other. They  long for Prince Charming or Kristoff.....or in the Cunningham's case, Zac Efron.


Trust me, little girl, I grew up with five sisters, not to mention I have an OLDER brother, which you don't....it can be so, so difficult. Girls are sometimes extremely selfish. Not to say boys aren't, but girls seem to have a unique way of finding those places to really hurt someone.



I have news for you, little girl. Jesus can fill that. He already does treasure you far more than any prince has ever done for Cinderella or Anna. Jesus is the ultimate love story, but He's even more than that. He captures the essence of your soft, innocent heart, the part that hopefully never dies as we grow older. The deep longing for adventure, freedom, and utter joy.

He loves every part of you. He knows those desires. He knows your dreams, because He put them there. He believes you can achieve them. So keep dreaming, little girl. Keep seeking adventure, with a reckless, wild passion for life. But always come back to the arms of the one Who treasures you. Always return to Jesus, Who will cultivate and grow your dreams far beyond all you ever imagined. Always return to the one Who loves and treasures you beyond all else.

 He's always here. He's always waiting. He treasures you, little girl.

Reckless love, Wild freedom

                       The joy of the Lord is our strength. 

I spend a substantial amount of my time driving, usually alone. Which isn't a bad thing...it's a lot of thinking, processing time. Which happily ends up being a lot of time with Jesus. Which is often precipitated by something I'm listening to. 

It amazes me how God speaks to us through music. Because music is incredible...it's so spiritual, and a part of the musician's soul. So how could it not bring us closer and deeper into the One Who created and formed that very soul? 

The other day I was driving....I don't remember where. I heard just a snippet of a K-Love song (and I really am not a K-Love fan) and this phrase really stuck with me for some reason. The joy of the Lord is our strength. Maybe this seems utterly simple to you, but I just had never viewed this as literally as it is. Making Jesus happy is what we live for. It's enough, it's a fully fulfilling goal simply to bring Him pleasure. That is our mission. That's all. 

I look for strength in everything BUT that, it seems. I look for strength so that I can summon enough righteousness to make God pleased with me, but that isn't what He wants. He wants my heart to just be overflowing with the pure JOY and EXCITEMENT of bringing my King pleasure. 

And so what I should be doing is asking Jesus to change my heart. To make it pure and innocent and simply longing after Him. Because what more beautiful place to rest in than the joy of a loving God as He looks at me and says, "You are enough. I am pleased with you." 

Praying you can rest in that overwhelming love that is ours. Praying you can live with a freedom that is bordering on recklessness.....because that's Jesus' love. Reckless freedom because of a wild love. 

~Anna

Oh so Granola

Summertime is on it's way, folks. As far as it may seem, one more school year quarter will fly by. And with summer coming, all kinds of opportunities for hiking and camping and all that summer jazz that we love. And so, though we're all about busting stereotypes, it is pretty fun to look at what makes a hipster turn....

Or in this case, what makes granola a style and not breakfast? :)


Here's a top checklist if you're looking to be granola this summer.

1) Find some chacos

These are definitely a must for those Colorado hiking trails. Plus, they're super comfy and much better for your feet than foam flipflops. Just maybe check your local thrift stores, cause these sure don't come cheap. 

2) Kavu. 

Yep, your purse won't cut it if you're going for the hipster/hiker vibe. Not only does the cross-body add a "happy trails" feel, but these are also remarkably convenient and a quality find if you check the right places. JC Penney seems to sell them a bit lower than the outlet. 

                                       But seriously, I doubt you'd regret one of these. Pack it with some all-natural peanut butter and a pathfinder hat, and you'll be going strong.

3) Colorado logos

I know, some of the rather uppity coloradoans can be a bit hard to swallow, but their home state is nearly synonymous with granola style. Climb a 14ner or summit the incline, and grab a shirt or sticker to prove it. Than stick that on your pathfinder car.

4) Kombucha

Not that necessary, but definitely adds to the all natural vibe. It does take some getting used to though. :)

Synergy is the most 'official' brand, but I've heard lots of praise for Clearly Kombucha as well.

5) Last but perhaps most important, embrace that free spirit "go with it" mentality. This is at the core of hipster and granola culture.

And for good measure, throw on a pair of cargo shorts and a drawstring hat. 

{Happy Spring to all}

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Jesus Cares

With spring slowly awakening after its long, cold winter rest, beauty suddenly meets the eye on every side. As a momento to this riveting, delightful season, I have composed a small piece of poetry. I hope you enjoy it!


                                          The World Awakens:



                           Rosy dawn , wrapped in sunlit glory, gently begins the day

                              Precious little birds blink sleepily in the morning light,
                    Then they joyously sing away, losing themselves in their sweet music.
                 
                             All the merry woodland creatures frolic among the trees,
                 Delighting in their Maker's world; the brook, the flowers, the breeze.

                     



So, I may not be a born poet, but it's somehow satisfying to work at clearly expressing your view of the world. Doesn't this small scene of woodland life just soothe the soul? I think the merry little creature's contented spirit, their "joie de vivre" contrasts so starkly with America's preoccupied,
wanting mindset, that it actually appeals to me to be one of those happy little animals, without a care in the world. However, as inviting as it seems, I will always know in my heart that we humans have been created for so much more than just a care free, enjoyable life. We are created in order to glorify the Lord of the Universe; the Potter who so skillfully molds the clay. So, it would never do for God's prize handiwork to be completely care free. In reality, we should be so completely contented, so wonderfully satisfied, in our sacred purpose, that our mindset is the direct opposite of "care free".
Instead, we are created to "care" for one another, and to care so much about God and eternity that we devote our entire existence to Him. Close your eyes for a moment and imagine a world without cares. i agree, it's completely wrong. No cares means no friendship, no love, no sacrifices- in short, a care free world would be a world stripped of all that is good. Of course, cares sometimes bring pain. When you truly love someone, when you care about them, you do anything for them. You make sacrifices, you forget yourself, and you do everything in your power to make them happy, to wipe their own cares away. In the end, then, a "care-free" life would never do. It would never do because, after all, God cares. He cared so much that He let sinful people he had made kill His only Son. And, even after all that He bore for us, Jesus Cares.