* 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...
Friday, February 20, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
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.
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.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
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!
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!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
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!
It was truly huge and delicious. I have a serious Thanksgiving afternoon feeling right now...
Yum!
Friday, January 16, 2009
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?
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?
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
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.
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.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
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."
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."
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