Cozy Earsnacks to get me through

Guilty I am indeed!

As of late I have not come here to write my thoughts and have been one of the poorest of all bloggers. I honestly wish I had more time to blog and although life was in fact more hectic a few weeks back then it is currently, I have found ways to occupy my time that I feel could be appreciated by most who read this.

After getting through half of my final semester of college and making it to Spring Break which then resulted in a total of about a 20 hour road trip with my boyfriend (split up among a couple of days and pit stops of course), I found myself as a Maid of Honor in my sister's wedding. In the course of one week, I had crossed about 6 state lines, ventured more deeply into the states of South Carolina, Maryland, and Virginia, and I had experienced the excitement of my oldest sister finding out the sex of her first baby (I'm going to have a nephew) and my middle sister marrying the most amazing man I could have ever prayed for her to have. So you would assume that life is pretty good and I have a lot to be excited about - of course I do! However, how does one deal with the excitement of all of these things when the current boyfriend is headed out of the country and separated from me for a month and a half. Let's just say that my last few days in town with him were phenomenal but a bit surreal. Exactly two weeks ago he saw me off to the airport as I headed back to sunny FL to finish up my college career (not much left as of now), and he headed to vacation and travel for a bit. The first few days were rough and now that I find myself having gotten through a third of this journey already, I have had much quiet time to be pensive, read a lot, journal, do a daily devotional, and figure out how in the world one person can make you so madly in love with them that distance is painful no matter how valid the feelings truly are.

So here is some inspiration I have found through reading, journaling, listening to a lot of music, and drinking much coffee.

When you're going through a difficult journey, here are some indispensable things to get you through:

1. Scripture reading/Devotions

(a) Psalm 61:2 "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I." (b) Psalm 73:25-26 "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (c) 2 Corinthians 12:9 "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

(a) "Rather than take away tomorrow's trouble, worry voids today's strength." -Max Lucado "Come Thirsty" (b) "Be patient. God is using today's difficulties to strengthen you for tomorrow." -Max Lucado "Walking With The Savior" (c) "Satan is loosed for a season, but the season is oh-so-brief...Just a few more scenes, just a few more turns in the road, and his end will come." -Max Lucado "When Christ Comes" (d) "From God's perspective, anonymous seasons are sacred spaces. They are quite literally formative; to be rested in, not rushed through—and most definitely never to be regretted. Unapplauded but not unproductive: Hidden years are the surprising birthplace of true spiritual greatness." -Alicia Britt Chole

2. Reading Books (a) "Grace for the Moment - Inspiration for each day of the year" (morning and evening edition) -Max Lucado (b) "Right People, Right Place, Right Plan" -Jentezen Franklin (c) "In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day" -Mark Batterson

3. Fun and Random Earsnacks (a) Billie Holiday (Favorites: Embraceable You, I'll Seeing You, The Very Thought of You) (b) Chet Baker (Favorites: My Funny Valentine, It's Always You, The Touch of Your Lips) (c) Vampire Weekend (Favorites: Horchata, I Think You're A Contra, Giving Up The Gun, Taxi Cab) (d) Discovery (Favorites: I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend, So Insane, Can You Discover, Orange Shirt) (e) Ella Fitzgerald (Favorites: Someone To Watch Over Me) (f) Yael Naim (Favorite: New Soul) "

4. Worship Earsnacks (a) Rita Springer (Favorites: Worth it all, I Have To Believe) (b) Rick Pino (Favorite: Your Love is Like) (c) Kari Jobe (Favorites: I'm Singing, Healer, Everyone Needs A Little, You Are For Me, Be Still, Beautiful) (d) Jason Upton (Favorites: The Cross, In The Silence, Freedom)

5. Tasty Treats (a) Chai Tea (b) French Press Coffee (c) Eight O'Clock Coffee (d) Jell-O Dark Chocolate Mousse (e) Quaker Granola Bars