Purpose

I'm currently sitting in a hotel room on a beach in Mexico. A small opprotunity that was offered in passing became reality and here I am. The question that has rolled over and over in my head is "What do I think I am doing?!" I like to have a purpose. A purpose for a vacation. A purpose for a finishing my Masters. In both of those things I do not see a purpose. Today I wondered, what if sometimes there is a purpose, I just don't know what it is. What if this spontaneous vacation is a time of healing. What if the Masters has a beautiful purpose that I am completely unaware of. (Besides the purpose of forcing me to grow up in some areas that needed some attention.) It's not like God told Job why he was suffering. All that to say...my thoughts today have humbled me in rememberance that I do not know (nor do I need to know) everything. As much as I may want, I may not always know the purpose of where I am at.

The ocean is huge. In case anyone forgot or has never seen it...it almost looks likea painting at first sight because of the vast size. In thinking about purpose, I've realized that surrender is necessary. Surrender that God is the only true god. Surrender that my life is His. The size of the ocean in its overwhelming size reminded me the more I willingly surrender my life to Christ, the less tired I will be from fighting.

Green Apron Moments

Working at an international super power coffee shop has its ups and downs. I often find myself complaining to friends and family about the hardships and woes. There are times though I find myself thinking "I really do enjoy this job sometimes..." Some recent highlights include..

• A potential drug deal involving a guy in blue and black leggings, swapping of envelopes and me trying to get the license plate number of the car (after unsuccessfully jump starting another customers car).
• Our beloved golf pro just left for Florida for three months...he will be back in March...he made sure and said 'good-bye' to all of us.
• Making up rapper names for the night crew...McDub-no-pickle; T-bone; and mine... Bumble Bee (I know, not too tough or gangsta...just wait till you hear the raps though).
• Talking about the difference between believing and knowing God with a very existential, fudge-brownie loving customer
• Being asked by (multiple) customers how my big paper was going. (It's done, thanks). That in itself was pressure to finish the paper!

I feel like the highlights shared show a weak glimpse into the shift of a barista at my store. I do have so much fun with the people I work with. My abs are now stronger because of the laughing that goes on...fun times, hard work...and lots of spilled milk.

Thursday.

I'm sitting at a coffeeshop trying to slow down a bit. Norah Jones is one of my favorite vocalists of all time and she is playing overhead...such a sweet moment. I am good. Tired, but good. The sunset was beautiful tonight. Thank you Lord, for moments like these.

full yet drained.

My heart is full and my eyes are tired.

I just had a lovely weekend with two of my favorite people in the world (I have a lot of favorites for you worrying). Granny and Grandpa and I enjoyed dinner with the Arnold's, ate lunch at a restaurant decorated like a train station, and then I had to leave. It is always so sad leaving family!

Last weekend I babysat for some friends who were on a retreat. On Saturday afternoon the kids and I joined another babysitter and kids at the park for some football. Upon meeting the youngest who was five years old he looked at me and said "You're puny!" Trying not to be insulted I inquired "What do you mean by puny?" He explained "You're so puny I bet you can't hold a phone to your ear! I bet you fall in the holes in the phone!" Pth. What do you say to that?!

feelin good...

i've got the post-work jitters....

i am
home doing homework with josephine
drinking hot tea
browsing the internet with susan looking at jeep libertys

i had
good conversations tonight at work
an egg salad sandwich and black ice tea for dinner
a productive morning studying at Newport Coffee

i will
be going to bed soon
wear my black jeans tomorrow
possibly dress up as a Disney princess on Saturday...
which one do you think i'll be? :)

Fall Break '09

Fall break is in full swing here at Trinity. While some of my friends are at a retreat at camp...I've decided to fully embrace the Fall break-ness and...break. So, in the midst of studying for a mid-term on Monday I find myself watching football bundled in blankets on the coach. But please, don't ask me anything about the games, I just keep the games on while I work on the computer and rest. Soon I'm off to work and I'll tell people "Yeah, I watched some football today..." as if I know what I'm talking about. I hope they don't ask too many questions!

All I know is...Go Arkansas, Oklahome & Georgia (as I said...I don't really watch, I cheer for my friends and family)!

Check it off!

After months of being on the "to do" list...I finally just purchaed my ticket home for Christmas.

Dec. 22 2009 - January 1 2010.

Get your party hats everyone!