An Ode to Joe

Thank God for coffee.

I cannot believe that two short years ago I used to think I hated it. Now I'm a lost soul if I don't have my cup every day at Noon. I've perfected my concoction of instant coffee, cocoa powder, and french vanilla coconut creamer to such a level of awesomeness that it should be on a Starbucks menu. Of course, It's hard to decipher whether I'm really in love with the actual drink or the  caffeine buzz I get afterwards. Either way, I'm in love. Even on the 111 degree days of brutal heat I still have to have my steaming cup of coffee (some days there are a few ice cubes to cool it off a bit though).
This little ode brings me to question whether I am a bit on the obsessive side about this coffee thing. But, whilst sipping the last drops from my coffee mug, enjoying the feel of caffeine pulsing through my veins, I really couldn't care less.

Long live coffee!!!!!

Happy 4th of July!!!

It's tempting for me to just think about fireworks, hot dogs, and patriotic cake decorated in strawberries, cool whip, and blueberries when I think about Independence Day. But lately I've become more and more aware of how blessed we are to live in a nation that is FREE. That's really what tomorrow's holiday is all about: having the courage to stand up for freedom. It's a biblical idea--that's what Christ came for--it is for freedom that Christ came to set us free. 
I am so thankful for the courage, diligence, and fortitude our founding fathers had to break away from the only home, life, and government they ever knew and begin life on foreign soil all in the name of freedom.
Today, this freedom we're so blessed to live out is threatened and not such a promised idea. That makes the freedom I already have as a citizen of America even sweeter. 
I love my country. I am so thankful the Lord placed me in America at this time in history. I am so blessed. 
God bless America!