Strolling in a Sea of Sunflowers

July 26, 2017



















{Outfit Details}
Blouse: Target (here, my exact print is sold out. Love the light green available though. It runs big. I am wearing a xs here).  // Shorts: Zara (no longer online, similar super cute pair here) // Sandals: Target (here, also available in tan which I love!) // Tote Bag: Draper James (here) // Necklace: Target (here)


Happy Wednesday lovelies!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week. It feels so surreal to type this, but today I had my very last clinical day as a family nurse practitioner student. As I have mentioned before, I have been in NP school the past 2 years and it seems crazy, and wonderful, that this journey is coming to an end. God has been so faithful. As you know, many of life's biggest blessings and rewards do not come easy. However, I am fully convinced He places dreams in our hearts and when we have faith, step out on a limb, and TRUST in His plan, He helps us achieve these dreams and goals (even though sometimes they may not be the exact way we originally planned them or on our own timetable). I have had a dream of working in the medical field since I was in the 6th grade. I did not know exactly where my place in this field would be, but I had the vision in my head and passion in my heart of caring for patients. Here I am, 16 years later (whoa...I feel old! lol), and I see God's plans coming to fruition. Being patient is not easy!! It takes time but God's timing is THE absolute best timing.

 "Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4. 

I just wanted to share that with y'all because as I am nearing graduation, I have been reflecting a lot on what all of this means to me. If there is one message I have learned over my journey, it is that God is faithful and never leaves our sides. Whenever the road seems fuzzy or unclear of the direction we should go (which has happened many times throughout my journey on my career path and I know we all have our own personal journey where we experience this)... "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6).

The sunflower pictures above remind me of God's promises!! How beautiful He made the fields and how He cares for them (just as he cares for the lilies of the fields in Matthew 6)...exactly how He cares for us!!!

Last weekend, we drove to find the famous sunflower fields that have been all over my Insta and Facebook feed lately. Hubby and I knew we just had to go there to take some pictures! The flowers were even MORE gorgeous in person. It's amazing to look out as far as the eye can see and to see a sea of sunflowers....wow! A real beautiful sight & a sweet reminder of God's love! For my #ootd for our sunflower outing, I chose to wear this adorable, preppy top I recently scooped up at Target....my go-to place for so many trendy yet affordable pieces!! If you notice, 3 pieces of my ensemble consist of Target finds. Seriously, Target is the practical fashionista's one stop shop, y'all!!!

To complete the look, I paired this top with some of my favorite Zara shorts (you may remember seeing this same pair of shorts in pink in this post here) and my new pearl Target sandals. Those shoes deserve a post of their own, for real y'all (I may or may not have been obsessively posting about them on Instagram already though lol). They are SO comfortable and are a $25 dupe for a more expensive Steve Madden version. Not to mention they have PEARLS. And matched my pearl necklace. Seriously I can't even!!!

I want to say thank you for each and every one of you who reads my blog. It means the absolute WORLD to me. I appreciate y'all more than you know!!!

XOXO
Ashley

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