Pumpkins, Fall, Breaks, and Baking!

What is better to do on fall break than bake a perfectly delicious pumpkin loaf? 

I dearly love to bake and I don't have the ability in college so every time I come home I take advantage of the kitchen! My first baking adventure was a gluten-free pumpkin loaf with streusel topping. 

It is a super easy recipe, has very little sugar (which could be replaced with another sweetener), and is gluten free! I will be making this again in the future :)

I ate it for breakfast this morning with a warm cup of coffee. Let's be honest, I will probably eat it for breakfast tomorrow too... and Sunday. Okay, it will probably be gone by Sunday.

More baking adventures to come in the next few days! 

My Today :)

Today was a lovely summer day complete with friends, family, fun, worship, and baking; my most favorite things!

It started out with a trip to Six Flags with my cousin, Hunter, Trent, Joel, and some of their friends. Six Flags is always fun. No matter how hot I love the thrill of the roller coasters and the talking time I get with friends.

When I got home I decided to be productive. I finished loan applications, job resumes and applications, and organized my pictures/files on my new computer!

I was going to write more graduation thank you notes but I ran out of stationary. I was going to the store to get more and had requests from Hunter and Avery for brownies with ice-cream and hot fudge. That sounded way more exciting so I went with it.

I came home (and happened to be alone) so I turned on my worship music and baked brownie for their delightful dessert.

Today was fun, productive, and full of things I love most! I like summer.

I try.

The summer sounds like the perfect time to do all of those things you have always wanted to do, right? I know that as school comes to an end I am making a list of what I plan to accomplish with the time I have all summer. Usually the summer goes by too fast or those plans just go unfinished.

This summer I am going to focus on what is most important to me and whatever else falls into place will be great :)

The big one this summer is to workout. I have often tried to run(or jog... or walk) consistently and right when I start to build up my side hurts and my lungs constrict.... so I give up. I never had the motivation to push through. I get too weak. I feel like I am going to collapse. I try. I really do.

Every time I go running I hear a voice (God's encouragement) in my head whispering, "don't push yourself too much. just do what you can." I want to get better though. So I push aside the voice and keep going. Run faster for longer. I end up just burning out though. Now that doesn't get me anywhere.

Here is to starting fresh.

The last time I went running (yesterday) I listened to His voice. I would push myself a little but not too much. When I was getting tired but knew I could do a little more I would just repeat "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength... Whatever I have, wherever I am I can make in through anything in the One who makes me who I am." (Philippians 4:13, NKJV and The Message).

I was able to run/walk off and on for 2.5 miles. I am pleased with that. I will improve but I will do it moderately. I am excited to see the change over the next few months.

Honestly, one of the things I am most excited about in college is having a fitness room. I cannot wait to have workout equipment at my disposal. I have friends I will be able to go running with too. This summer I am really motivated to workout more so it will be normal in college.

Aside from working out, I am going to work on my baking skills this summer. (Yeah, those don't sound like they go together do they? Oh well!) For Christmas, my parents gave me cake decorating tools. I would really like to put those to use and learn more! Hopefully that will happen!

The last, but most definitely not least, goal for this summer is to spend as much time with as many different people as possible. I have friends that I know are always there and if we have no other plans we all get together. This summer though I am going to be purposeful about making those friendships stronger and building friendships with those I never did. Leaving for college in just a few months is really what has pushed me to do this. People are important to me and I don't want to be forgotten nor do I want to forget them.

So, those are my summer goals. Hopefully I will have frequent and positive updates!

{24 Days of Thanksgiving=Day 21}

"These are a few of my favorite things..."

Baking. One of my favorite places to be is in the kitchen. I love making messes and experimenting. I love making old recipes and attempting new ones. I am not an artsy person nor a musical person but the place where my creative juices start to flow is in the middle of mixing and making and baking.

Playing games. I think games can bring such happiness! I absolutely love playing any game... from cards to Settlers of Catan to Monopoly to charades to dominoes to (insert a game). I'm such a game person and I really don't know why much other than it is exciting and a fun way to interact with other people.

Personal Worship Time. In my personal worship time is where I really feel that God meets me right where I am. The other night I was home alone baking while listening to worship music. I have to take advantage of a quiet house to really get special alone time with God. It doesn't have to be a specific way or a specific place. God tends to meet me right where I am. Baking is a great place to do that. So while quietly worshipping and floating around the kitchen to mix up some Thanksgiving goodies I spent time talking to God and listening for His response. I felt so much strength infused into me after that night. It is amazing how impactful just small amounts of quiet time with the Lord can be.

These are just a few of my favorite things that I am thankful for that I have been able to experience this week. I love how the Lord cares about the small desires of our heart and wants to provide that for us.