Cookies, just for fun

I have a problem. Name: sweet tooth. Why are some of the most irresistible things in life actually the worst for you?

On second thought, the problem that's bigger than the sweet tooth is the AVID baker that I live with...who brings me a cookie fresh out of the oven -- every batch. And no, I don't ask her to.

So here's the solution I've come to. Eat all the goods -- and quick -- so I don't have to worry about eating them anymore. I've discovered that would only work if there weren't a constant stream of freshly baked calories in the kitchen. It also doesn't say much for self-control. Or a nauseous stomach. Or the fact that I'd like to fit comfortably inside one airplane seat, not two.

And is it wrong to want just a taste of sweet after a meal...every meal? I say no. I'm a runner! I eat salad. That's my justification. What's yours?

Jump in!

My arms are fully extended to grab hold of summer. I've officially welcomed it, albeit a few days early. Summer means lots of time outside, barbecues, day trips, windows open, and warm nights. It means big dinner salads and sorbet for dessert.

--By the way, something to try: ginger ale over mango sorbet
and fresh blackberries/strawberries (in pretty stemware). --

It's time to break out the summer tunes, fire up the barby, and invite friends over. It's time for sunscreen and tan lines, picnics, and golf. I think this is the summer I'll finally learn to play tennis. I love summer because it comes with no reservations -- it leaves you free to do anything...besides snowshoeing. Take a deep breath and relax, she's finally here.

A fly the size of a lima bean just buzzed by -- gotta go.

Crust-Free

I just finished writing an article on change/moving and had MAJOR writer's block. It's submitted, so here I sit listening to the rain outside my window -- such a lovely sound -- and reflecting on change. I'm convinced that every day we must strive for it! Even if it's in little ways, like putting your right leg into your jeans before your left.
Or sleeping with your head at the foot of your bed for a night.
Or taking a walk instead of surfing the internet.

Making a habit of change keeps us from getting crusty. I think we all naturally lean toward stale (though some fight harder to avoid it) and the only way to stay fresh is to change and grow.

Honesty and humility could be at the root of change. If your heart is to change, it will require an honest inventory of what's in there. It will require humility to admit to the cobwebs and clean them out. The same goes for relationships: if they are to thrive and remain that -- relationships -- honesty and humility must be absolute essentials.

Note to self: Let your hair down, invite Jesus in, brace yourself for pain and reward in the same breath, and don't forget to laugh at yourself.

Comments

Dear Commenters,

I've tried to adjust the settings to make leaving comments easier...let me know if it worked!

p.s. Thanks for commenting! Makes this all feel less like a one-way conversation :)

~~~~~

Dear People who don't comment,

Comment! I love to know who's reading and what you think.

xoxo

Weekend in April

Some favorite shots from the weekend:

Megan visited from California...we weren't expecting snow.

Trying to leave the house for lunch.
Decided otherwise when snow piled on our hats before we even got to the car.

BIRTHDAY DINNER!
The girls --

em, elyze, me, dawn, lauren

LOVE this picture -- making salad

Our delicious Cobb Salad

(photo by Lauren)

Melting Pot for dessert...chocolate!!

(another beautiful photo by Lauren)

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Well, mine doesn't. One of my new year's resolutions was to keep a plant alive. I started basic, with a plant that was already alive and thriving, thinking it would increase my chances for success. Here was Plant on its first day in its new home:



Looks healthy, full, alive.

I just watered it a few minutes ago and snapped this picture. Go ahead, take a look:



I had nothing to do with it. Promise. I water it regularly and even moved it from its original spot so it could get more light! Nurturing care and attention was all it got, and all it did in return was throw its leaves on the floor. Whatever. It's still alive, but I don't know how long before it's completely bald.

And for the decorators out there: no, I haven't potted it. Still waiting to see if it's worth it. Not likely.

Freedom

"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance."

~ Thomas Jefferson

Dreaming of a White Easter

Snowflakes the size of cottonballs weren't what I expected behind my curtains Easter morning.




Don't worry, the bunnies still came out to play.



An unusual Easter, indeed, but Easter nonetheless. A rich celebration, the remembrance of the weekend that shattered the barrier between God and ordinary people. The weekend we were made white as snow. This day is not a reminder only, but also a spark of what is to come. We have much to anticipate.

13And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. Colossians 2:13-15

18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. Romans 8:18-21

Oh -- and I forgot to mention -- here's Monday morning.




p.s. bear with me, my photography is a work in progress

Cross Country Road Trips

The open road: inspiring the adventurous since Karl Benz designed the first automobile in 1885. Sadly, this is not a post about a recent trip I've taken. It's a story about the recent trips others have taken, to whom I have served as a stopping point along the way.

First, there was Isaiah, moving from Indiana to California.

Then there was Missi {my college roommate}, traveling from California to Kansas with her husband and new baby girl.

Here's Missi, Maggie and me.

And THEN brother Matthew rolled through town for a night on his way from Atlanta to Seattle.

He's moving there to be with his fiancee and build a new life in the northwest! Here's the last time we'll all be together before we're SEVEN strong!

The siblings:
-Jonny, Em, me, Matt-
don't mind mom in the background taking a picture of...?

Here's Matthew and his trusty roommate and traveling companion, Kyle. Kyle's tall.

We played a hilarious game of traveling pictionary and fixed up a huge meal of brisket, mashed potatoes, fresh coleslaw, fruit, and of course, delicious banana bread! Dessert is very important around here. Matt was half here, half in Seattle -- what do we expect? He's a lover-boy.

Roving Notions

One of my dearest friends, Emily, just unveiled her most recent brainchild, the all-new blog: Roving Notions! Please do me the honor of visiting. I hope her life and writing will delight your heart as it does mine. Enjoy!

Get Your Move On

This week marked five months of life, Colorado style. Much has changed since I waved goodbye to dear old Valencia. I'll briefly mention the obvious.

I went from this:



To this:



And, well, haven't missed suburbia since I left. More on that later.

For those of you in your 20's who haven't moved, start packing. I don't mean those who haven't moved ever in life, but those who haven't moved in their 20's to a place where you have to start from scratch. Okay, I didn't have to start from scratch, but close. Moving to a new place does lots of things to you, but probably the most important is the introduction to loneliness. Sounds funny, and it is, but it's necessary. You never realize how much you depend on others' opinions until you're free of them, or until you stop caring and realize what a sham that is. When Lonely is your close friend, he makes you look yourself in the eye and admit that you don't have the courage you thought you did, but he persists until you have the courage to take a step, then another. Loneliness also warns that the Hound of Heaven is nipping at our heels. When I felt alone I knew I was cornered, and that's when deep changes started to happen.

In a few short months, I've been given back different forms of all that was taken, and with a cherry on top. My spirit is revived. The analogy I use to try to describe how life feels right now is a freefall. We've all been on the Tower of Doom at our favorite amusement park. I so often feel like my life is at the point in the fall where your stomach is in your throat and you're wondering whether the ride actually takes you straight to the center of the earth. My eyes are closed and I have a death grip on the handles, but I'm loving every minute. Adventure -- it's a beautiful thing.

As it turns out, wonderful people live everywhere, not only where I came from.

I still love the city, but the mountains have their own bit to offer, and I'll take it while I can.

iChat is a lifesaver.

Old dreams I feared were dead are in fact alive and breathing.

Trail runs.

A fully stocked kitchen (and jeans that are harder to wriggle into)...

Times to cherish with dad and mom, em and jonny.

A Savior I know so much more personally now than I did five months ago.

Move. Just do it.