Pacific Northwest: Portland Part Two

The adventure continues with coffee shops, famous donuts, new places and exploring.

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Pacific Northwest: Portland Part One

I finally ventured to the Pacific Northwest for an extended period of time. I have been to Portland, OR as well as Seattle and Yakima WA but all only briefly. If you know me, you know I have been in love with the PNW from afar. It was time to solidify that love.
Stop one: Portland - Monday July 5th, 2010.
It's so green (meant literally like the amount of trees but also in eco friendly), people are talkative and friendly, local independent business are all over, you can walk/bike/bus/metro all over so easily, houses are adorable and have overgrown flowers and shrubs; Coffee is fresh, fair trade, served in french presses and served in such open, friendly atmospheres.
It was a great 3 days of walking, exploring, journaling, observing, reading and tasting.

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7 - Yes, taking a picture of their rolling penguin! :)


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10 - The only raindrops I saw in Portland

Hume away from home (2 of 2)

Simply put, oh the beauty.
Thank you, Jesus, for beautiful places.

Hume away from home (1 of 2)

Last weekend Colleen, Debbie, Ash, Kyle and I ventured to Hume Lake to visit Josh & Dave and to soak up a weekend away.

We were each overloaded with goodness.
Let's start with the beginning:
Taste: We stopped for tacos at the very genuine Alta Mexican Market which Kyle had previously raved about. I absolutely love tacos so this was fabulous. Not to mention they had my rare favorite flavor of Arizona Iced Tea (Half Tea Half Passion).
Smell: The mountains up there smell way different than the local ones. Way better. It reminded me of camping when I was younger and many adventures. Which leads to feel..
Feel: It's finally cooling off from the hot drive through Bakersfield. We have to soak up the mountain air. It is so refreshing!
See: The sun was just dropping below the sky line and left a dusk painted sky over the city lights below. The trees painted silhouettes in the sky. Two of my favorite things came together as we climbed the elevation.
Hear: iPod party playlist - pass it around the car as everyone picks their favorite song to sing our hearts out to. You can't help but smile when Kyle sings Taylor Swift (Don't judge - not my song choice). Then the moments where we close our eyes and just hear the cool wind pass by.
This is all just the car ride up! Gosh, there was so much that continued to overwhelm us.





















More to come..

Art, a cause and music.

I really can't keep up with how God is moving within and through Abeni (the sex industry ministry myself and two others have started here in Orange County).

We're privileged to be supported and featured at this month's Downtown Fullerton Art Walk. The PAS gallery is doing so many great things with artist, awareness, community, development and loving people. It is such a simple and great mission in the heart of a great city. I been to the Art Walk twice and love it. Both times I have run into great people and enjoyed the energy all around. This month information about Abeni will be part of the evening as well as a portion of the art sales. Once again, we are blown away by the generosity of those around us.

Come out this Friday night for live music, art, wine, snacks, a great photo booth, community and much more! 6pm - 10pm. 115 S. Harbor Blvd. #A.

It is by Grace.

"When I get honest, I admit I am a bundle of paradoxes. I believe and I doubt, I hope and I get discouraged, I love and I hate, I feel bad about feeling good, I feel guilty about not feeling guilty. Ia m trusting and suspicious. I am honest and I still play games. Aristotle said I am a rational animal; I say I am an angel with an incredible capacity for beer." Brennan Manning - The Ragamuffin Gospel.

"Grace is opposed to what is owed." Romans 4:4.

Ian just gave me The Ragamuffin Gospel as another one of the books I need to read. I am hoping to have more time to read and get through a whole book.

Grace is something that is skewed in my view so I could use a refresher in what it means in my life and how to live it out. In honestly, I am good at doing. Helping, taking on a task, being committed, 'serving'. But I am not good at just being. I feel the need to earn people's affection and show the 'best' part of me and I guess I often think that comes out in things I can 'do' for others. This causes me to seek affirmation in an unhealthy way and to have unrealistic expectations of others based on what I expect of myself. Then I am reminded of what God expects and desires and it is much different than what I've been operating in. I don't have to present myself as better to Him. I don't need to sway His view. I am a bundle of paradoxes. It all depends on the day. But no matter what state I am in He is love, He is grace and He desires to do life with me. I mean, He gave His so I could go through all this and learn what it means to accept His grace over and over.

What is Grace right now in your life?



All I know is each day the sun sets and I awake to a new day to be free, alive and me.. who ever that is.. with Him.