Hey, friends!
I want to first apologize for not updating in quite a while.
I think I'll be taking some time away from this blog of mine to fully embrace and experience God's love over and underneath, inside, and in between, like this song that has been dear to me since early high school says.  Gosh, these song lyrics still get me deep down even after so many years, every time!  
I also will be spending time thinking and praying about what the purpose of my blogging is, and what I would like this blog to look like.  I hope to come back with God's inspiration and love to pour through my words! (:


In the mean time, you know what would be wonderful?  If you could pray for Eau Claire.  I will be heading back to school this upcoming Wednesday, if you can believe it, to embrace the many new students who, like me, need Jesus.  Pray for their hearts.  Pray for His love and nearness.  Pray for strength and wisdom of upperclassmen who are seeking out those new students to love them like Jesus would.  And please pray for His overflowing.  Because, gosh God loves that campus. 
#ineauclaireasitisinheaven (:

I hope this song blesses you and refreshes you! 
p.s.  Sidenote: I feel a little bit like this post is not making sense.  I hope it does, but at the same time, I feel like it's sorta all over the place.  ha. I apologize if you are confused with me at the moment. (:
So now here's a random picture that I just like: (:

I've always always loved the movie Swiss Family Robinson. 
In fact, when my family went to Disney World back in 2006, all I wanted to do all day was go to the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse. <<(I included a dorky/funny pic of my sisters and I when we finally got to the treehouse for your viewing enjoyment :)) and since my family's
name is Swiss, it only seemed right that I name this post "Swiss Family Speich" (: because it kind of felt like we were this past weekend.  My parents have been talking about doing a boat trip as a family for a long time, and my mom even graciously postponed it for after July so I could be there, so it was great that it finally happened.  My parents rented a houseboat for the weekend, and off to Lake Vermilion, Minnesota, we went! 
Family vacations are funny things.  They are mostly wonderful, but also come with their bumps.  When you get everyone together in a close space for an extended period of time, there is bound to be tifts.. and there were tifts.  We definitely saw each other's good, bad, and ugly, and my mom took a pretty nasty fall on a rock while we were trying to tie the boat up on the first night, but all in all, I am so so grateful for this time I have with my family.. work and school and life aside.. to just be with them.
What a truly wonderful and refreshing time.

^^^ May I just say my parents are rockstars??  They whipped up pancakes and omelets and percolated coffee like no one's business.. I'm so thankful for them. ^^^ 

^^^ This was my favorite night.  We saw in the distance these odd looking boat garages all lined up, and so I asked my dad if he and I could cruise over there to look at them and take some pictures.  It was just beautiful!  They were each so unique, and I loved that moment with my dad. ^^^

^^^ okay. so.  We fished quite a bit this weekend.  The Speichs really don't fish much, as much as we do enjoy it.  But we had it in our heads that we would catch our Sunday night dinner.... yeah.  So, Paige did well and caught that fish, which she affectionately called "Frank."  And I caught that thing I'm holding, which I named "Julia," because Frank needed a wife.  My dad so lovingly laughed at me when I was serious about keeping her to fry up and my mom asked if Julia is what I used as bait. oh family. ;) ^^^

I have been avoiding processing through what happened within me at IVLI.
I have been avoiding my journal and just won't even crack it open.
being home has been a tough transition this past week, and I don't know why I am so afraid to look within myself at what God has done and ask him about what he wants to continue to do, but I have realized one thing..
one very important truth, that keeps popping up in my head that I learned from IVLI:

we need to rest IN God and not FROM him.

I have been resting FROM him.

I don't yet know what this means for me and what I need to change and how to actually rest IN God, but

hey, he spoke this to me!  Even in the midst of avoiding him;
He speaks!  He pursues.  He convicts.  He wants my heart!
Over this I rejoice.
And realize my need for his forgiveness.

And also would like to ask you to join me in looking within yourself to see where it is that you may be resting from him, instead of in him.
He wants your heart, too, friend.

Because this song just gets me.

Goll, each picture has a story to tell and a face that impacted me.  IVLI is where God met me.
I treasure this time in my life that I had with these beautiful people.

"If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.  Remember that this nation is your people.
The Lord replied, 'My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'"
Exodus 33:13-14
mm.

you should read Exodus 33.