Friday, July 11, 2008

So, how's your heart?

I figured I'd share some quotes I thought were pretty relevant from the book I am currently reading, Waking the Dead by John Eldregde.

"The story of your life is the story of the long and brutal assault on your heart by the one who knows what you could be and fears it."
"We have seized upon effiency, busyness, and productivity as the life we will ive instead. Now we are lost. Dazed. Alert and oriented times zero. Sleepwalking through life. In order to find our way out of these woods, we must return to the heart."
"It takes courage to love, doesn't it? It takes courage to trust someone with your life. It takes courage to believe what you cannot see. It takes courage to follow Christ. 'Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid' (John 14:27)."

And lastly for today: "What greater case can be made than this: to find God, you must look with all your heart. To remain present to God, you must remain present to your heart. To hear his voice, you must listen with all your heart. To love Him, you must love with all your heart. You cannot be the person God meant you to be, and you cannot live the life God meant you to live, unless you live from the heart."

I dont wan't to be on of those people just sleepwalking through life, never really living, experiencing, loving. But, like the last quote says, it requires a lot, all of us actually. Effort, vulnerability, perserverance. And there is the fact of the one who wants the oposite for us, for us to fail. And the fact that there is a lot of crud in this world. It affects our heart, and therefor our life and the way we live. Courage - I think it is hard to come by. It is risky, but I guess that's why it is called courage. As time goes on I think I've lost some of that courage, or it has atleast been tainted. I guess we are better off when we overcome that but I am finding that is not easy.

Ok, well, if you are still reading.. thanks for reading my overflow of thoughts. Hopefully it wasn't discouraging. There is more stuff in the book I found really encouraging about how underneath it all and inspite of it all our heart is good. I'll share that later.

Lastly: I am at the coffee bean. I just really love spending time at places like this. Good for thinking, unwinding, observing. My itunes is doing a great job on shuffle. My coffee is delicious. In this moment, I am content.

'cause we needed to finish with atleast one photo:

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Happy weekend all.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

spillin' the beans.

Ok, I am sorry if you are a Starbucks fan.. You may want to stop reading.
I am not. I will admit, since they have realized they have competition with smaller chains, they have stepped it up a little, but I still am not a fan of the place.

I love small places. I love places that appreciate customers, aren't so corporate, have comfy seating, actually produce good tasting coffee. I know places we have still aren't the greatest, but I am thankful there are options other than that place that is on every corner. Cheers for people who are brave enough to open something else with they way people mindlessly go to Starbucks and with the economy where it is at. I know there is stuff at starbucks that taste good and there is convenience in going there; I just expect more from my place of purchasing coffee. I would love to open a coffee shop some day. It would be super comfortable, have free wifi, lots of local art, in house roasted beans, 'for here' would come in ceramic mugs.. Ah, sounds good huh? ;)

So anyway, yesterday I ventured over to Peet's coffee, newly opened in Fullerton. I was VERY excited even though I have never been to Peet's.If you know the whole story of Peet's and Starbucks, it's a heated and intense one.. But I was excited for a new place. So, I spent some quality time there. IT was great because it wasn't super busy, had plenty of good seating, tasted good and had free wifi. You'll find me there more. The employees have some things to learn, but I'll let it slide.

yay
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Ok, I am pretty excited about this - But if you are interested I'll just let you read:

"As many as 12,000 Starbucks workers will lose their jobs when the company begins closing 600 U.S. stores this summer.
The Seattle coffee company is cutting 5 percent of its U.S. locations as part of a wide-ranging effort to boost its bottom line and its stock price.. Read More

Well, sorry for my rant.. share with me your opinion!..

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

red, white n blue.

Tradition: evening festivities at Fullerton Stadium. Kettle Corn, great people, music, usually pineapple smoothies, fireworks, etc.

4th of July is kinda a big deal, so we rang it in new years style..

pots n pans n noise!
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The actual events:

I don't know why katie is sad
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fabulous run ins
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Enjoy the show!
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