Where I've been

I have been slightly overwhelmed by events as of late and thus somewhat paralyzed when it comes to my blog and Face book. I am so grateful for my new job and receive it as a gift from God's hand, yet I also find myself in the middle of a whole new set of major transitions...

For those of you who don't know, I will be working for a speech, language, and learning clinic in Dallas as a Speech Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) specifically in home health speech therapy for low-income Spanish speaking families. I am working on my Spanish and thrilled to be doing what I went to college to do!

On the flip-side of this, I am sending all three of my children to school on Monday for the first time and trying to make sense of my current and transitioning role as Mom, wife, and full-time speech therapist. I am having a hard time falling asleep due to the swirling responsibilities in my head and my tendency to "have to have it all figured out NOW!" I sway toward the "more intense than I need to be" side of things anyway, and I want to let it go...

Because the reality is, God has blown me away with an amazing job and will equip me moment by moment. I know that as I walk this path, He will illuminate the next step, and I will learn how to do this "new normal" in increments and with practice. That's where I've been lately.

Some quick updates I'll post on FB too:

Waiting for the Back to School parade through our neighborhood put on by all of the teachers at our elementary school.

At Emma's Back to School Party today... We made earrings, and beaded bookmarks, ate pizza, and decorated our own cupcakes.

Electric guitars, dogs, and hair

O.K., a lot seems to be going on all at once - this is a quick sum up...


Abby is now a teenager! She hit the thirteen mark last week, and all she wanted was an electric guitar. Much of her family pitched in to her already saved up money and... TA DA!





Truly, this is a gift from the Lord who delights in His children. It was an AMAZING deal on a very gently used guitar the band members from our church said was a great one (and NOT one we'd be able to find at her price point). She has become quite the guitar player, and we are so happy for her .



We have a wonderful new doggie which we also gratefully acknowledge as a gift from God. We have a beautiful, gentle 2 1/2 year old English Springer Spaniel named Shawnee that was given to us. She loves all of us and is pretty near perfect!





Abby and Emma, believe it or not, had their very first professionally-done haircut today! I've always cut it, and this is way better...






And here is sweet Grace working hard on a nature drawing of the flowers on our front porch.

O, and I am hoping to land a teaching or speech therapy job in the fall. We'll see how all of that goes, but I'm currently taking classes in an alternative certification program for Early Childhood through 4th grade with ESL and applying to all of the area public school districts. I'll keep you posted...


Emma and I head to camp next week - Emma as a camper and me as a counselor - Firsts for both of us. Should be exciting!

Cow Appreciation Day

For all of those within my readership who are not fortunate enough to live near a Chick-Fil-A restaurant, I am so sorry. We are seriously celebrating living back in the land of Chick-Fil-A (the home of the original chicken sandwich), and today was quite the party. Today, you see, is Cow Appreciation Day at your local Chick-Fil-A. If you walk into a Chick-Fil-A restaurant in a cow costume you made yourself, you will receive a free combo meal of your choice.

Vibe, the jr. high youth group at our church, had a cow-costume-making-party on Wed. before youth group started, and they met at a local mall all decked out in their costumes today for the big event. Yes, Grace and I had to participate too, because the #1 combo is so worth it!

Watchersee Glasses

IF NO ONE IS READING THIS, I TOTALLY DESERVE IT!

I would have given up on me too, if I were you. BUT if you are reading this, you are certainly SOMEBODY and I thank you for your commitment.

Abby has been at her first ever youth camp (first ever anykindacamp other than hanging out with the fam while her dad has been camp speaker) this week. She's coming home tomorrow night, and we can't wait to see her. She's been gone since early Sunday morning, and I know she's had an amazing time; I just can't wait to hear about it.

Sweet Emma has missed her sister terribly (which I LOVE) and has planned a whole big party for Abby's homecoming. She has totally taken this on herself and spent her days planning, making a shopping list, creating decorations, centerpieces, planning the menu, and tomorrow she'll be making dinner and dessert.

And Grace is learning to swim! She's swimming back and forth between me, Emma, and Greg with no floatie at all and doing a fabulous job. I breathe such a huge sigh of relief once a child of mine can read and swim. We are so gettin' there!

Quote of the day from Grace this morning while cutting paper with scissors:

"I'm going to make some watchersee glasses with bender sticks on them."

Love it.

How many minutes of fame?

O.K., so I am practically famous - and I'm feeling pretty excited about it!

The truth is we have introduced 5 new blends on our website (as of this morning), including Sunshiney Day, and Greg wrote a website blog post about them - and well, I'm in it. Yep, I am pretty excited.

And, for any of you who know my Dad, he is the one who turned our amazing blends into accessible products on our website. He did an awesome job (and it was a lot of work)! Thanks, Dad.

Check it out; I know you'll love the blends; tell us what you think!

Top Picks

KELLY'S TOP RANDOM PICKS:

Creative inspiration - Soulemama blog at http://www.soulemama.typepad.com/ I love this blog; just check it out and see if this woman's creativity and authenticity doesn't inspire you to look at the world a little more artfully. My sister first told me about this, and an artist I've recently learned about also links to it.

Thought provoking artspeak - David Taylor's blog (someone we met in college and is now a sought after conference and retreat speaker and writer on Christianity and the arts) http://artspastor.blogspot.com/ His wife Phaedra (an artist) has an excellent blog also http://phaedrajeanartmachine.blogspot.com/

Morning Devotional/Prayer book - Face to Face Volume One Praying the Scriptures for Intimate Worship by Kenneth Boa. There are so many nuggets in here, especially for those desert times when intimate worship is hard to find. I have found this book completely refreshing when everything is swirling around me.

Coffee - My current favorite Mark's Brothers Big World Coffee is our new Sunshiney Day Blend. It makes me happy. We don't have it launched on the web yet, but you can let us know via email on our website (or just plain email), if you'd like to order some. It is fabulous according to me.

Church - Okay, I know everybody loves their own church, but I really love ours -Chase Oaks Church. It has been a wonderful place to call home since moving here to the Dallas area. Today's message was powerful, and I highly recommend it if you have a little time. Several of our pastors and others just returned from a trip to Ethiopia, and I think you will be more than inspired by their story... http://www.chaseoaks.org/whats-happening/sermon-series/

Wrinkle Cream - Hey, "random" is right in the title. I'm really excited about my new wrinkle cream, because it's working really well and it didn't break the bank. Every person I've asked if I look 23 has said, "Sure" or "yes," so there you have it, pretty amazing. I bought it on my mom's recommendation; thanks, Mom. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream spf 15

Time of Day - evening when the sun and shadows dance beautifully between 7-8:30. Get out of the house during that time and watch while you go for a walk or jog. Be amazed at creation and let yourself be nurtured by it. That's what happens to me, anyway.

Thanks for indulging me, Happy New Week!

Girls Night Out

Emma and I just returned home from a stellar Half Price Books outing. Emma's reading teacher (whom we love) gave her a $10 gift card to Half Price Books to buy books to add to her classroom library.

What a cool thing to do.

In fact, Mrs. Parsons will do that for any child in her class who brings a note from their parent saying "I would love to go to Half Price Books and buy books for you."

We had a blast picking out some faves and finding the best deals possible. We bought SIX wonderful books in great condition for $9.33.

Here's our list:
A Week in the Woods by Andrew Clements
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
Hope was Here by Joan Bauer
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

We both left on a treasure hunt, bargain book finding high - all giggly and proud of ourselves.
Thanks, Mrs. Parsons.

All about Grace

A few pictures to share:


My baby girl lost her first baby tooth. I don't know why this milestone is hard for me. There's something about her WOMAN TOOTH being right there already. I mean it's the actual thing - no extra growing necessary, except for pushing its way up - she will have that very tooth when she's 22 (at least that's what we're hoping).



And for those faithful blog followers, the North Dallas tooth fairy was totally on her game!

Grace also did this recently with Legos. She asked how to spell "fire" and then placed this appropriately on the fireplace...

And a happy moment shared between Grace and the coffee beans:

random me

Abby had to dress up as a cowboy for Texas History today... Are we in Texas or what?!

And here is the mother's day picture Grace drew for me. Every time I pass by and glance at it I tear up; I'm not sure why exactly -it just makes me happy.

journal entry 5-5-09

Sometimes I need quiet more than loud,
Clouds with breaking sun-
A moment to listen so I can hear
Rather than shouting to be heard.

Sometimes it's pollution smudging my mind
Keeping me from myself,
Keeping me from You.

Can I offer quiet, perhaps silence
As my act of worship?
Sometimes that's what I need,
More than loud.

5K

I am running in a 5K this weekend. It won't be the Emma Creek Classic with my mom and sister and daughters, but it will be a local run supporting Big Brothers and Big Sisters and I get to run with the ladies in my lifegroup from church.

I'm excited about it. We're all staying in a hotel the night before, because it starts really early in the morning (there's also a half marathon option - maybe next year) and it's in Irving. I've been training for it with the lifegroup ladies - one of us is a wonderful but slightly insane degree in kineseology type who keeps us all working. She really is amazing - these are some of the most challenging but fun workouts I've ever done.

We've even been incorporating speed training; I'm generally opposed to speed training and have never actually tried it, because I'm a "get your perfect pace and then don't ever stop" runner. But I've been doing those fartleks (DID NOT MAKE THIS UP - it's a real thing; go ahead and google) and two minute sprints followed by 5 minute walk/slow jog patterns; AND I'm totally enjoying it.

The only bummer is that the t-shirt is bright pink (bad, bad with orange hair). Can't wait for it!

confessions

I am afraid of facebook and I don't know why.

I danced in the grocery store tonight because they were playing great 80's songs, and I couldn't help myself.

I have eaten more leftover Easter starbursts than any adult should ever admit to.

I danced in the parking lot outside of church with Grace tonight, because she was singing a catchy song and dancing too and I couldn't help myself.

I forgot to water my flowers on earth day.

I desperately need to read a book.

I want a dog.

I like eggplant olive hummus. I like all hummus. I have a real problem with hummus.

Right now I have wet clothes in the washer and dirty dishes in the sink...

Life Lessons

Recent Lessons Learned:

*Really Super Hot, freshly brewed Ethiopian Sidamo coffee (Mark's Brothers Big World, of course) is a much more pleasant sensation to drink than to feel seeping through my pants. An entirely full cup threw itself right out of my left hand and upside down onto my lap while I sat waiting in the eternal line to pick Emma up from school. I have this coffee snobbery thing against travel tumblers; I want to smell the coffee I'm drinking. I'm over it now.


*Never leave 3X concentrated laundry detergent sitting atop your washing machine. After the mega-spin cycle and a loud crash, I found my washer and dryer sitting in a blue lake ever-growing from the place where the spout used to be on my detergent. Any advice on how to actually clean that up would be appreciated. It's been several days and several mopping sessions and puddles of blue keep emerging from nowhere.

LOVE HUMILITY - LOVE IT!

Easter Fun

Passover

The girls and I went to an amazing messianic Passover Seder last night (Greg had Easter services rehearsal at church). A family from a lifegroup we've been visiting hosted it. They moved their living room furniture out to make room for three big tables for all the adults and kids to experience the meal together.

It was a lot of fun (including "silly Seder songs") - but what a meaningful time as well (complete with authentically spoken Hebrew and then English translation). We experienced the complete "long" version, but the kids never became bored - it was beautiful and the girls talked about it all the way home.

Emma said, "You know, Mom, how awful the maror tasted (representing slavery and sin) and then how the water and haroset (representing joy and freedom) helped but the taste was still there for a while. That's kind of like how Jesus forgives us, but we still sin and need His forgiveness until heaven." It was just cool to see them pondering all of the symbols and remembrances we experienced.

"This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD a lasting ordinance." -Exodus 12:14

"The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." -1 Corinthians 11:24-26

Grace's morning song

Grace sat down at her roll out keyboard and composed a song this morning. She wrote the lyrics too:

"O, Lord,
Do You like me?
If You do,
I like You too -
I mean, lo-ove You."

Here's praying that Grace will begin to scratch the surface of understanding how deep and high and long and wide is the love Christ has for her as she grows - and that indeed it is HIS love for her that compels her to love Him. May she grow to understand how it is evidenced in our celebration of Easter every year. May she know that He likes her too.

HAPPY 11TH BIRTHDAY, EMMA CAROLINE!

Part of Emma's gift this year was a cake decorated by a woman who owns a local Plano bakery. She has become a friend as we've talked start-up business together. It just so happens that she shares a birthday with Emma and was tickled to make her cake. She is a true cake artist, making each one custom and delicious. She asked a few questions about what Emma liked and made a cake that Emma loved.

We had Emma's favorite dinner of fish tacos. I gave her a pedicure after school, and Brian and Melanie, Hannah and Ethan came over to share cake and ice cream this evening. It was a good day.

We love you, Sweetheart!

Saturday scones

Emma's birthday is Monday - more on that later - but she requested a special breakfast this morning since Greg's at church really early on Sundays and Monday is a school morning.

We made some absolutely delicious whole wheat orange chocolate chip scones. I'm not trying to toot my own horn here; I had my doubts when Emma requested whole wheat. I love whole wheat anything, but scones? What about the tender, buttery fall-apartness - is that possible with whole wheat?

Our friend Jenny who came to visit from Kansas a couple of weeks ago is from a farming family who happens to grow some of the most amazing organic wheat I've experienced. She brought a whole big bucket of wheat berries for us to grind in our mill, and I'm here to tell you I am amazed at how it turned into fabulous scones with no white flour at all.

YUM! Thanks, Goerings!

A Day in the Life - One Woman's Marketing Story

I love our coffee. I've had the opportunity to experience Greg's freshly roasted coffee for years now, and I love our coffee. Seeing as how I also love meeting new people, talking about our coffee is the fun part for me.

Sooooo, I headed out to do just that two days ago. I loaded some samples and information into our cute company vehicle (a cream colored PT Cruiser) and ventured into the unknown. Even though I enjoy this process, I don't actually know what I'm doing just yet. I've had some great conversations with bakery owners and cafes and churches, but each one is a learning experience.

I drove to a particular retail possibility that I hope we can partner with, because we share many core values. Well, I drove to the intersection where it was supposed to be. Ginormous shopping areas were everywhere, on every corner hidden behind lovely landscaping and parking. I picked one corner and drove all around watching carefully (the shops, not the road) and found myself jarred by surprising speed bumps, honked at by fellow parking lot traffic, killing the engine as I stopped my standard vehicle too quickly.

Nope, not there. I tried another corner enjoying pretty much the same experience until finally I drove to the last unexplored corner of this surprisingly crowded for the middle of the day upscale retail area.

Right as I edged out into the center of an extremely busy, multi-lane intersection, I killed the engine. I don't know how I did it; I've always driven a standard as one of our vehicles. Anyway, as I tried to get out of there (I was blocking a lot of traffic), I panicked and couldn't get the thing going until the light was yellow. All I could think was, "I AM SO GLAD WE DON'T YET HAVE OUR ROASTERY SIGN PAINTED ON THIS CAR!"

But it was all worth it, because there was my intended destination - finally. I went in and told a bit of our story. The guys I talked to were great and quickly gave me the name and phone number of the woman I needed to contact at their regional office. They loved the humanitarian emphasis and were really encouraging - I walked out of there fully inspired. I promptly sat in our cute company vehicle and dialed the number.

After a few automated opening comments, I hear...

"Please say the name of the person you wish to contact." I said the name.

"I'm sorry I did not understand you. Please try again." I tried again.

"I'm sorry I still did not recognize the name. Please try again." I did.

"I'm sorry. I did not understand you..." Yes, four times I did this until I heard,
"Please spell the name of the person you wish to contact." I spelled the name.

"I'm sorry, I could not recognize what you spelled. Please try again." I tried again - four times.

"I'm sorry I could not understand you. I'll connect you to our operator." YES, finally!
My phone hung up.

I dialed again, this time saying the name low, then high, then loudly and followed the same procedure with the spelling until I was "connected to the operator" and promptly hung up on.

This time I realized that in the opening comments, my automated friend was telling me that I could say "operator" at any point in the conversation if I needed help. How had I missed that last time? As soon as I could I said, "operator"

"I'm sorry I could not understand what you said. Please try again."

"OPERATOR" "OPERATOR!!" "O P E R A T O R ! ! !" "O-P-E-R-A-T-O-R" "AAAAAUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHHH!!" "FORGET IT!!"

Ring.

"Hello, the operator is currently unable to take your call. Please leave a message."
I'm going to try again in a few days.

Where am I?

Do you ever feel like you're having a hard time finding yourself, because as soon as you catch up with yourself, you're somewhere else?

Yes, I know that's life and everybody feels that way, but I really can't seem to remember if I left myself at the really large pile of boxes still upstairs w-a-i-t-i-n-g to be attacked or the upstairs computer slowly slogging through quickbooks tutorials or the downstairs computer getting our HSA account together or in the laundry room doing... laundry or getting Emma (who is sick today) chicken broth or trying to create files for the piles.

O well, I'm sure I'll end up somewhere.

In the meantime I just found out that a dear friend of mine has her own etsy shop for her beautiful hand painted cards. She has given me some of her cards as a gift, and I love them. They are truly hand painted by someone who genuinely wants to make people feel special. Kristen is someone I had the opportunity to "mentor" while she was a part of our youth group in Iowa. I always felt the most blessed by our time together. She and her husband and sweet baby girl are now here in Dallas while her hubby attends DTS. Check out her cards at thelittlestdaisy.etsy.com

May you know where you are today!

WOOOO-HOOOO!!!

I think that's how to spell what I'm excitedly yelling (just on the inside, because my children are sleeping).

We are officially UP AND OPERATIONAL. Mark's Brothers Big World Coffee Roasters has a website - and it's working! We are still finding little revision items everyday, so bear with us as we continue to tweak, but please visit us at:
www.marksbrotherscoffee.com

This is a huge step, which is why I'm having my little celebration on the inside. For all of you wonderful locals who have been so encouraging, please come see us at the roastery when you have a chance. Our hours are 10:00 - 2:00, Monday - Friday (and whenever else you see us there), and as exciting as filling coffee orders is, I'd so much rather visit with real people. We don't have our sign up just yet, but again, that's in the works. We're on the southwest corner of Park and Central Expressway - right near the Asel Art and behind Fishmonger's: 1915 Central Expressway, Suite 340, Plano, TX 75075

You are awesome; God is faithful; hills are being gotten over...

WOOOOOO-HOOOOO!

spring break fun

Fun at home

Fun at the roastery

Greg and Brian (Mark's Brothers) hard at work

Grace...

So I can tell Grace is feeling right at home when I walk into my kitchen and see this on my chalkboard...

She is a super confident artist, firmly believing that every piece of her original artwork deserves public acknowledgement and exposure. All she needed was to find my box of magnets.

And here is her most recent rendering of "how germs are shared" - her primary topic of conversation lately...

I thoroughly enjoyed taking her to the park today to enjoy the gorgeous spring weather. She was so happy to be in a sandbox full of wet, cool sand that she was inspired to skip and sing and dance while barefoot most of the time she was in it - pure joy expressing itself - fabulous!

Ammenities

This is my "I have a home, internet, and my camera all at the same time" post! Thank you for all of your wonderful comments and words of encouragement.

We are eagerly anticipating our first company in our new home: Jenny, Emmali, my Mom, my sweet sister Erika with new baby Stevenson hiding inside and precious now one-year-old Lucy. ALL AT THE SAME TIME! We'll be dodging boxes as we make our way around here, but I am so excited and I'm thinking it sounds like a seriously fun unpacking party in the making.

Now for some pictures, finally:

Here it is!

Grace enjoying her toys in her new room. We still haven't gotten the beds put together.

Abby working on homework at our kitchen table.

Emma crafting, of course, in her room.

Greg and I getting cozy in our computer nook; my arms are obviously not quite long enough to be taking self-portraits. That would be why it's all us and no nook, but that's okay we just started putting it together today.

One of my favorite spaces: our library/reading room with a view to the butler's pantry from the kitchen. This is one room that is almost done.

Thanks for your friendship; we can't wait to have you over!

Let the roots sink

WE HAVE MOVED INTO OUR HOUSE! We won't have normal amenities like internet access or home phone or t.v. for another week, but we love our home and feel so blessed to be in it. As soon as I feel a bit more together (and have internet access), I'll post some pictures.

Emma started at her new school yesterday and loved it! I was prepared for the terrible and scary first day, but instead I had a daughter who was so eager to go back she woke me up this morning at 6:15 a.m. fully dressed and ready for school saying, "You aren't up yet; it's already 6:15!"

"Yes, Emma, the alarm doesn't go off until 6:30. We don't have to leave for another hour and 20 minutes."

She didn't remember all of those details.

Abby starts school Tuesday. Grace is loving having her dress up clothes back. Greg is firing up his roaster, and my kitchen is completely unpacked.

God is good.

So the latest news is...

* We're painting, plumbing, cleaning, building in our lease space to be prepared for the actual coffee roasting to begin and to pass the myriad of inspections we keep finding out that we need.

* The girls are having a fabulous time in San Antonio spending some time with each set of grandparents - what could be better than that?!

* Greg's truck currently has a flat tire which he and his brother Brian did not notice until the back of the truck was loaded with lots of cedar wood they ripped out of our lease space. Hmmmmm, tricky.

* We have a beautiful bright red, shiny roaster sitting in our "shop" just screaming to be fired up. Pictures to come...

* There are bags of amazing green coffee beans sitting oh so close to our roaster just screaming to be roasted.

* The house is waiting to be closed on and then cleaned, re carpeted, and painted.

* I am having the most wonderful opportunity to connect with old friends. We had dinner the other night with Charlie and Meredith and their family who were our dear friends and Greg's boss while we were in seminary.
I had lunch a couple of days ago with one of my best friends from college, Leslie, who was also a bridesmaid in my wedding. Our lives have taken us collectively to Iowa, Kansas, Indiana, Georgia, and now here we are both in the Dallas / Fort Worth area.

* I better get a move on in case Greg needs a ride somewhere...

Score: Greg 1 Kelly -1

So, life has been fairly surreal for the past few months... A little intense, we're a slight bit off normal - you know all that. In light of this, I keep forgetting things like how old I am, what day of the week or month it is, etc.

On Valentine's Day, I had no card for my amazing husband; and I figured he didn't have one for me either until...

I walked back to the bedroom and found one laying on my pillow. I opened and read...


I would totally throw myself on a bee for you.

Totally.

The front had a picture of a cute, rather nervous looking little bee (with a ferocious looking stinger, however). It was so romantic I almost cried, and I did laugh. He wrote other wonderful things in it too which are just for me, and I will not share them.

I love my husband.

Let me introduce myself...

Has it been awhile? Time flies when you're house hunting and starting a new business.

The thing that has most occupied my thoughts and prayers (and stolen hours of my sleep) over the last weeks of my blogging void has been house hunting. No, the house in Kansas has not yet officially sold (please keep praying), but due to God's grace and loving family, we were able to start looking for a home of our own even while we wait upon the one we're selling to close.

We found a great deal on a foreclosure in a wonderful neighborhood with great schools. The closing will be at the end of Feb., and then we can get in there and paint, replace carpet, etc. It has four bedrooms - Abby can't wait; she's been sharing with a very chatty Grace the whole time we've been here- a great layout, and great space for our whole family. It also happens to be really close to our wonderful family and business partners (Brian and Melanie). The neighborhood has a lovely pool and three great parks within walking distance, several jogging/bike paths, three big ponds with catch and release fishing... More to come with pictures once we actually close.

Tomorrow we are taking the girls to spend several days with grandparents, so Greg and I can spend some much needed time together and spend some much needed time preparing for home move-in projects and preparing to function as a coffee roasterie in our lease space.

Lots of excitement and stresses... Can't wait to sink roots down!

GLUTTONY

We just ate at the famous and old TIP TOP CAFE in San Antonio. It was recently featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives on the Food Network. They are famous especially for their HUGE chicken fried steak.

It was truly huge and delicious. I have a serious Thanksgiving afternoon feeling right now...

Yum!

True Story

What you are about to read is absolutely true:

I made a new friend the other night. I dropped the girls off at youth group and kidzone and hung out for a little while at church. I met this sweet lady who runs the kidzone stuff full-time, and we absolutely hit it off. Her candor and outgoing personality were a breath of fresh air. Anyway, she went to A&M and met her hubby there and has a 7th grade daughter...

I found out she's 36 and said, "O, well I'm 34." She invited us to her life group, and the whole conversation was great.

Greg and Brian are still in Florida, so I laid in bed by myself that night almost asleep while all of those random elements of the day meld together in swirling thoughts. Suddenly I thought, "I don't think I'm 34. Sheesh, how old am I?" I tried doing math in my semi-conscious state and figured out that I'm actually 35.

So the next morning, I emailed my new friend about the whole funny thing. She chuckled and emailed back. Later that day while I told Greg all about it on the phone, he quietly said, "Um, Kelly?"

"Yeah?"
"You are actually 36, and I just turned 37."
"NO WAY! I counted, Honey; I know I'm 35."
"Well, no, you're actually 36."

Can you believe it? He was right! So, I emailed my new friend again thinking she should have fair warning before really inviting us to her life group.

She loved it actually and told me to give her my birthday, including the year, so she could keep track of my age for me. Then she made a comment about how she wouldn't make any comments at all about my education at U.T. compared with hers at A&M.

Wasn't that nice?

Emma

Greg and Brian left somewhere around 4:30 a.m. to get to the airport for their 6:30 flight to Florida today. They'll be learning all about using our new roaster and running a coffee roasting business and things like that and then be back here on Saturday.

The last few times I've gone on a 3 mile run, Emma has come along on her bike. She rides on the right side of the street while I run on the left, and I tell her she's doing great and she shouts back that I am too.

As we came upon our last major hill somewhere in our third mile today, I heard the birds singing beautifully.

"Hey Emma, you're doing a great job; the birdies are cheering you on!" I shouted.

"No," she replied confidently, "they're cheering you on, Mom."

So, anyway, I battled tears the rest of the way back.

Thoughts and Ethiopia

I'm feeling the need to do a little thinking in print. I have conflicting, swirling thoughts competing for my undivided attention. We all battle with those, but I know whichever thoughts win will have a powerful impact on my attitude, emotions, and general outlook right now.

1) I am REALLY tired of having most of our earthly possessions in storage! We are so well-provided for as we share a home with gracious, loving family. However, Grace came jubilantly out of her children's class at church this morning talking of nothing but the upcoming indoor swim party for all of the children and their families next Saturday. Grace's big box of clothes did not make it to our current shared home. In the whirlwind of the move, it somehow made it to the back of the storage room with all of the other boxes. Her swimsuit is in there - along with all of her dresses and skirts and anything else I didn't specifically pack into a suitcase for her when we moved. This is not a great time of year to be buying a new swimsuit. Just an example of little almost falling apart moments for me lately.

2) I am looking forward to getting into our own home and putting our roots down with things like our own address and neighborhood, inviting people over, etc. Our home in Kansas has not yet sold, because our renters/eventual buyers have yet to sell theirs. I'm occasionally getting into a blue funk over this waiting period. It's interesting how much of my identity can be wrapped up in my own home.

3) I recently received a letter in the mail from the Ethiopian director of the Dakota 1 project in a village where we sponsor a precious little girl named Ethiopia through World Vision. She will be 10 in May. This is a high risk area for AIDS. We receive wonderful letters from Ethiopia as well as her yearly report card and picture. The letter was expressing this man's concern over the economic crisis he has been made aware of in America. He wanted to let us know that he is praying for us and is humbled by and deeply grateful for our continued financial support. Our support provides things like clean water, clothing, food, shelter, medical supplies, and education (none of which is lacking in our lives, I might add).

4) We had the opportunity shortly before we knew we would be moving so quickly to send a special gift to Ethiopia. I honestly had forgotten about it until we had a forwarded letter from Ethiopia's village arrive here in the mail. The letter was from Ethiopia letting us know how thankful she was for the $45 USD that supplied a goat for her family and several items for the World Vision office in her village. She included a picture of herself beaming and standing next to her beautiful goat and one of a joyful Ethiopian World Vision worker holding his new items for the office. Tears of joy and shame leaped to my eyes. So much there for so little impact to my finances.

Anyway, as you can tell, it all depends upon my perspective. Gifts, rights, grace, expectations, needs?

In Ethiopia's words at the end of her letters: "May the peace and grace of Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you all here and there."

Texas winter

I just went for a 3 mile run on January the 8th in shorts and short sleeves under a brilliant blue sky with bright sunshine in my face. I LOVED IT! We'll see, of course, what tune I'm whistling come July, but for now - this really makes me happy.

Greg is in Austin today visiting an artisan roaster who shares the values we do and is a part of an importing co-op we're really interested in. I just say it's nice to go to Austin whatever your reason is, but I'm thinking he'll have a good time learning more from someone already in full-swing business. Thanks for all of your encouragement, by the way. More to come as soon as we know more...

MAJOR UPDATE

For a MAJOR UPDATE on our future lives, please see my husband's blog - http://www.holmesblend.blogspot.com/

I'm excited and slightly nervous and all the other things you might expect after reading. I figured instead of trying to explain it all again, I'd send you there. Now, finally I can post about this new journey of ours...

PHYLLIS

Just want everybody to know that thanks to my sweet sister and brother-in-law (Erika and Darin), my directionally-challenged days are over. I HAVE A GPS!!

Her name is Phyllis - Emma named her after watching Prince Caspian. She's very friendly and helpful (Emma and Phyllis). Let the life transformation begin...