It's Our Birthday Linkup: After One Year...

After One Year of ministry with The Quiet Place there are so many stories to tell. Being apart of what God has done through this blog he put into my heart to create has been amazing. Writing here has allowed me to express my love for my sisters in Christ and all women. It has been a blessing to be able to share my heart and my life with you here. An honor that you have been able to learn with me and grow. It has been an unexpected journey in friendship and business, one from which Britney and I have both grown. Above all I can't even begin to tell you of the numerous things that God has done in my heart as both a writer here and a reader. I am thankful for all of those who have contributed time, effort, money, words, and skill to The Quiet Place. Who were willing to write a guest post when they received an unexpected note from me. We honestly couldn't have done it without you. I have learned a lot this year from our guest posters and I am very thankful for that. God has touched my heart through all of you and I know that he is doing glorious things with the words you have bravely shared with us.  I pray that all of you, contributors and readers alike, no matter where you find yourself, know that God is with you there. That he always love you, and is always waiting for you with open arms. His love is vast beyond measure, his grace abounds, his mercy is unending, and his forgiveness never empty.  This is the great God we serve. And HE loves YOU!   Here's to One Year Best Friend!

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If you have read The Quiet Place blog, or have contributed, make sure to stop by and link up with us! Just Click the picture for details! So now, may the God of peace make you His own completely and set you apart from the rest. May your spirit, soul, and body be preserved, kept intact and wholly free from any sort of blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus the Anointed. For the God who calls you is faithful, and He can be trusted to make it so. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Share Your Story Linkup: Right Here

I have to say that there hasn't been a time in my life where I feel God has not met me where I am at. I've been through a lot of hard times, I've struggled with a few different things over the years. Yet, no matter what it was, how badly I was feeling, or if I was right or wrong, God has always met me on my own level.

Right now I feel treasured by my lord who has brought himself down to a level where I can understand him. Where he lifts my chin, wipes off the tears, looks into my eyes, and says "Hillary I understand what your feeling, I see what your dealing with, and I am going to help you. If you follow my lead, your going to get through this." There is nothing more encouraging to me than the assurance and steadfast love that God provides us.

Ladies, we are not alone in our weak moments. We have a God who is present with us. We have a God who sees us, AND who hears us. When we take the time to confide in God, he builds us up.

Don't forget to confide in him.
He waits eagerly for you.

Genesis 16:13

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”

Deuteronomy 4:23-24

Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

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I want to here your story!

The Circle Linkup: Favorite Recipes

I just saw this linkup and I knew that I HAD to write a post. :) After all, I do love to bake. My favorite recipe is "Moist and Chewy Brownies" from "Baking Unplugged" by Nicole Reese. They are seriously the BEST brownies ever! I make them quite often and everyone loves to eat them. I must provide a special thank you to my best friend for buying me the dessert book for my birthday. I LOVE this baking book and I recommend it to anyone looking to do some basic baking. You can buy it on Amazon at the link below.

Baking Unplugged

"Moist & Chewy Brownies"

Ingredients

1 C. plus 1 tsp. unsalted butter

2 C. sugar

4 large eggs, at room temperature

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 tsp. salt

3/4 C. unsweetened natural cocoa powder

2/3 C. all-purpose flour

Preheat the oven to 350'F. Butter and flour a 9'-square baking pan. Melt

the butter in a medium saucepan. Remove the pan from the heat. Beat in the

sugar until well combined, about 1 minute. Beat in the eggs, vanilla, and salt

until smooth, about 1 minute. Beat in the cocoa powder and then the flour

until smooth and uniform, about 30 seconds.

Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes,

until a wooden skewer inserted 2/3, toward the center comes out with only

moist crumbs clinging to it. Let the brownies cool in the pan to just warm before

serving plain; otherwise cool completely before frosting with ganache.

Cut in 2 1/4" squares.

Summer Recap Linkup

The summer is sadly coming to a close and while I am resistant to the end of sunshiny days and summer nights it has come the time to recap my summer bucket list. So without further ado, here it is...

1) Go to the Beach - I haven't been to the beach in probably at least five years. So I think its about time to get myself there. 

I finally made it to the beach! :D Beach Day

2) Make a new friend - I have recently relocated to a new town near Grad school and have had to leave my friends behind. So this summer I would like to make a new friend here.

This summer I welcomed two new roommates and I am glad to say that I have made two new friends :) 

3) Send Letters - I miss my distant friends and I love to write them letters. This summer I hope to send them each at least one awesome letter.

I have written One letter which is good but I don't think I can check this one off just yet. 

4) Lend my time - I would have said volunteer, but I'm not sure i'll do that. So I'll keep it real and say lend my time. This summer I want to lend my time to someone or something of good cause. 

This summer I have been taking a couple of classes and I lent my time to one of my classmates to help her with homework.

5) Seize the Day - Sometimes being here in my school housing, it is easy to waste the day away doing meaningless things like watching television. This summer I want to get away from the television and my computer and spend my time doing other things that involve enjoying the outdoors. 

Success! Seizing the day. 

When my BFF was here we seized the day! We spent some time at the mall cooked dinner and went to the movies! It may not sound all that different from normal but for me it really was. 

I am glad to report that I have been seizing the summer days as of recent and it has been an awesome experience. 

I Am Grateful Linkup

Linkup with us! - http://www.agirlsmitten.com/

A Grateful heart. Tonight I am definitely feeling grateful. 

I am grateful for a God who sees me. 

I am grateful for a mother who loves and cares about me, who wants the best for me. 

I am grateful for an amazing father who has always seen the best in me, who has believed that I can do anything I work hard towards. 

I am grateful for a sister who is also my friend, who encourages me, and has demonstrated what a woman of God looks like. 

I am grateful for a brother with a thoughtful heart, who is generous, and who cares about others. 

I am grateful for an extended family who is kind and caring. 

I am grateful for friends who encourage and support me, and are always willing to pray for me. 

Picture Credit Katrina

I am grateful for the opportunity of education and to someday work in a profession that is in the business of helping people. 

Thank you Lord for all the blessings in my life

Though I don't always show it, I am grateful.