Hey friends!
For the next month I will be back in the great land of Michigan, at Cedar Campus, for Intervarsity's Leadership Institute (IVLI), which goes from July 6-August 2.

I look forward to this time of peace and learning and growth.
To learn more about what I and other friends from Eau Claire and other InterVarsity chapters at other schools will be doing for the next month, please visit ivli.org (:

Your prayers are dear and of great value to me and I would absolutely looove if you would send a few our way..
pray that God would make Himself and His heart known.

I won't be posting til I get back, so check back in a month! (:

I'm so grateful for you all!  Can't wait to come back with a changed heart...

Today.. today was a day of BEAUTY and little-kid kind of JOY.. and adventurous curiosity and friendship.  I'll remember today for a long time: exploring my favorite places and delighting in the light of the sun. 
This time with my sister is always dear to me.  I love that beautiful soul.

I love you, Minneapolis & St Paul.  Thanks for letting us explore.
Til next time...

driving on a summer night with the windows down, taking in deep breaths.

borrowing my aunt Wendy's hair binder.  Something about borrowing those thick hair binders, I just love.  I feel like it's a friendship bracelet or something (:  I'm dorky, but when my friend, Angela, lent me one of hers, I wore it as a bracelet every day!

sunny nights when it feels like everyone around you is on vacation or something.

quiche at cute restaurants

noticing each other's quirks

being at my Grandma & Grandpa's house late.. well, really all the time, but late at night especially, just because of the lights & familiar smell.. even if it's just quick to grab something, it feels like home.  And Grandma & Grandpa will both ask about your night (:

Being told to drive carefully by Grandma & Grandpa, and later by aunt Wendy (:

people watching.  Gosh, people are pretty fascinating.

Taylor, Emily, & Wendy.. cousins & aunt, but also dear friends, too (:

^^the scene in the above picture, because it was taken tonight in a happy summer place (:^^

We eat pretty darn well at the Speich house.  For this I am oh-so-grateful.  My parents really aren't into "crap" (: (processed foods) and I'm learning so much from them.  But this summer, my dad' s signature creation is kind of an imitation "Lara" bar, if you've heard of them.  We seem to always keep refilling our stock, almost on a weekly basis because they're just so de-lish and we can't seem to get enough of them around here!  I was wary of them at first because the dates imitated raisins a little too much and I despise raisins, but now even I can't get enough of em! (: They're really good for you, too.  So if you're looking to eat healthier, are bored this summer, or what have you, you definitely gotta try these bad boys!

Here's what you'll need:
Lindt's 3.5 oz. 90% cocoa dark chocolate bar
unsalted raw almonds - 2 cups
coconut flakes, unsweetened - 1/4  c.
flaxseed, ground - 1 tbs
fresh dates - 16  oz.
unsalted almond butter - 2 tbs

* it is recommended to add your choice of additional flavor
to the dates mixture; goji berries, dried blueberry, or dried
cherries.* mmm!

First, you'll need to remove the cores from the dates.  This is easily done with a spoon.  Set the dates aside.

Then in a food processor, chop chocolate, almonds, coconut flakes, and flaxseed, until evenly ground, but not too fine.  Once chopped, divide the mixture into two separate bowls

^^^Put half of the chocolate-almond-coconut-flaxseed mix back into the food processor, now adding 1 tbs  peanut butter and 1/2 of the dates (8  oz.).  Chop until evenly blended, but not too fine. Put mixture on a wax paper  lined cookie sheet. Set aside.

Take the other half of the chocolate-almond-coconut-flaxseed mix and put it in the food processor.  Add the other tbs of peanut butter and half of the remaining dates (8 oz.).  Chop until evenly blended, but not too fine.  Add this  mixture to the other half on the lined cookie sheet. 
(Doing this one half at a time prevents the mixture from clumping and thus not blending evenly.)

Place flattened mixture in freezer for an hour or so to allow it to firm up.

With wax paper still over the top, cut into bar size pieces.

Store bars in tupperware in layers with wax paper separating each layer so the bars don't stick to each other. Store in  freezer to keep bars firm.

Makes about 20 bars.

haha, oh, Dad!

So, this crazy weird thing happens to me when I wake up in the morning and see sun...
I freak out.  I do a little happy dance in my head and it makes me just want to cry.  haha I just don't quite know what it is about that glorious sun, but I'll tell ya what, I am one very very HAPPY camper today!

Thanks, God.  You know what gets to my heart.

Some happy songs for your morning, too. (:

*and we are soaked in all the grace that we've been given, unchained from all that we have done.
Your mercy's rising like the sun on the horizon, we're coming home.*

Last night for a wee little bit, mr. sun decided to shed some of his rays on us Minnesotans.  This was a glorious sight for my heart and soul.  And we were having my sister Paige's boyfriend, Isaiah, over for dinner to get to know him.  I like that kid! (:  First dinner out on the deck this season!

p.s. I just have to say that my mom was there haha but she wasn't keen on having her picture taken last night, so I promise I am not neglecting her!  She is the mastermind behind most of this delicious food, too!

If you are bored this summer, want to eat healthier, or just like good food, then you should consider the following recipe:  it's a Quinoa Salad, as seen on the right of that massive heap of grilled veggies (: ... so fresh and light and DELICIOUS!  And really good for summer, I think!  Here's the recipe:

Ingredients

1/2 C. dry quinoa
2 C. vegetable broth
1 can garbanzo beans (drained and rinsed)
1 C. cherry tomatoes cut in half
2 avocados diced
2 C. spinach
1 bunch cilantro
1/4 C. onion
2 small cloves garlic

For the dressing:

Juice of 2 lemons
zest of 1 lemon
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
2 tsp. olive oil
1 tsp. agave nectar
1/2 tsp. cumin
dash of salt & pepper

Directions:
1.  Make your quinoa first.  Soak the quinoa in a pot in the veggie broth for about 15 minutes.  After that, turn on the heat to medium high and let the quinoa come to a boil.  Once it boils, reduce heat to medium/low and let quinoa simmer.  Stir every so often, and cook quinoa for about 20-25 minutes just until the liquid absorbs.  You don't want it completely dried out, so when there is just a TINY amount of liquid left in the pot, remove it from heat and put a lid on it.  Set it aside, and make the rest of the salad.
2.   In a food processor, add your spinach and cilantro.  Make sure to wash your greens.
3.  Process your greens until they are finely diced.  You can do this by hand as well if you don't have a food processor.
4.  Add the greens to a bowl, and set aside.  Next, take your onion and garlic and finely dice those (I do this in the food processor too), and add to the greens mixture.  Next add your chickpeas and stir until everything is combined and coated.  If the quinoa is cooled, you can add it to the chickpea mixture next.
5.  Make your dressing by whisking all the ingredients together.  Pour over salad, and mix until combined.  Add in tomatoes and avocado and mix.  Set in fridge for about 10-15 minutes before serving so the flavors set.

Enjoy!! (:
Seriously, you guys, it is soo good.

My dad works for a graduation service company (he deals with selling things like caps, gowns, and class rings).  This means that as far back as I can remember, in the springtime, he recruits family and anyone we want to invite with us to help him pack up the graduation gowns after high school graduation ceremonies.  This has actually been one of the most enjoyable things for me.  Always creates great memories. (:  Plus, it always means going to the cities, which is one of my favorite things to do.  Gosh, I love the cities!  So proud to have grown up nearby.  I can't decide if I like St. Paul or Minneapolis better, but tonight we found ourselves working a graduation in St. Paul- my two sisters, sister's friend Madeline, dad, and I. ..then at Mickey's Diner for a bite afterwards.  Always a good decision.  If you're ever in St. Paul, I would absolutely recommend the legendary, Mickey's Diner.  Oh yes.  Those pancakes I had... 
It is always a cool experience.  And I sure love the people I was with.  Just a good night.

hey, Minneapolis & St. Paul, I like you a lot.  I am glad you are one of the places I call home.

Come back soon for a visit!
Please?
for the sake of my freckles, my aunt Wendy, and my mood.
 :)