Java Jabber

Haven't done this for a while. . . sat down with a steaming cup of coffee I mean. . .
I can't believe how bleak mornings can look without it -
I think this just about lists it though:

1. The sense of comfort - When your alarm first goes off, my first thought is to roll back over and go back to nigh nigh. . . but thinking about taking a shower and then brewing some coffee sends some comfort to aid in the most needed moment.

2. Refreshing, and nothing else can describe it - pulling the cold coffee bag out of the freezer to grind the beans.

3. That sound - the grinder, the drip-drop/slurp sounds it makes while its brewing.
4. Smell - the ground beans, the brew.
5. And finally, the taste - silky smooth black coffee - black - Mmmmm

The best deal and taste I found for your everyday is "Seattle Mountain Blend" (for us Seattle lovers) - at Costco, in a 40 oz. bag, $8.99 - lasts us a little over a month or so.

You Light Up My World

Cost Plus, World Market
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Cost Plus, World Market - "Tree of Life Sconce"
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JCPenney
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stuff that everybody knows but I still wanna talk about . . .

Each day, I think its a goal that each of us have, to be better than we were yesterday. We don't expect any of our days to go perfectly, but somehow, we feel like we should get better and wiser over time.
The thing I most hate is stumbling on the same rock that fell me yesterday and the day before that. . . is that a consequence of unconfessed sin, I wonder? Does God give us each a "thorn in the flesh" as He gave to the Apostle Paul? I wouldn't be surprised. There are certain struggles that each of us will have for the rest of our lives. . . (and we all say, "oh goodie" and clap our hands with glee). . . yeah right. . .

And I'll share this one - my flaming tongue of terror. The tongue itself would make a fine post in and of itself. How ironic that the same thing that loves and blesses also cuts and curses. And though I am not going to try to cut off my tongue or any other appendage that helps me in sinning, it brings up the greater thing. I might as well cut out my heart if this is the case - "from the heart flows all sorts of wickedness". Leithart speaks much on spiritual circumcision, the purification of the heart. Sometimes we get it so wrong. We think that we can externally "cut off" the sin without seing that the roots of it are still there, growing more fiercely than before. Its kind of like pulling a weed and not getting all the roots with it. Do you ever notice how it comes back even stronger? Same thing with sin. We think we nip the nasty in the bud, and then it comes back to surprise us, stronger.

We think that building up our strength and immunity is the way to kill it. The trick is becoming weak and humble, so that the Lord's perfect power can show us that its already dead and we are the victors and what's left to deal with, He has already given us strength to fight it. And though we wish that it would be gone out of our lives completely, we need it to remind us that we are victors in Him.

KJS

Kirsten Joy - Happy Birthday yesterday . . .

This girl needs to move here. I've had it without her. We just have too much fun together. Besides, we'd cut our phone bills in half is she relocated . . .

Cava (french for 'hiya)

Hiya . . .(English for "cava")

I am typing with an iron burn on my right wrist. . . this was not purposeful, I just was foolishly trying to reach the dryer knob behind the steaming iron that I had just unplugged. Embarrassed by my own stupidity -


We are house-sitting for the next 10 days. . . I have been trying to be as frugal and thought through about it as possible, and its still hard. We live in two places, and I miss my bed, not having to fill up twice a week, not really having to commute to work, etc., etc., alas & anon -

My best friend has been in town this weekend. I took two days off work to be a bum & remember what it was like to really have a summer vacation (yeah, what's that?). We got our hair highlighted. . . yeah, I have never done that before, and when the bill rang up, I decided that I may as well never do it again. Its growing on me (ha ha) - she streaked it two different colors (can you guess?). Red and blonde and so it looks chic . . . Haven likes it. I am beginning to like it more as time goes on. Its just so dramatic when I really wanted it as natural looking as possible. Oh well.

Well, I am off to quickly celebrate the birthday of my BW (Best Woman - gimmicked off "You, Me & Dupree - which, I might mention, is hilarious.

Ta ta -
Love,
Shades of Red and Blonde

Wash

My sink is full of dirty dishes. . .

and now step on a soapbox (ha ha)

Do you ever feel like your heart is too? I need to wash things clean again, and vaccuum the carpet. . . everything feels so dirty.

Cleansing. Its a concept that never grows old. Why do we hate going without a shower and yet spiritually, our hearts are black? Everyday we wash our tombs and then add more sin to our hearts. I hate how hypocritical this is.

I started crying in the shower this morning. . . what a great place of confession. You can get both physically and spiritually cleansed at the same time ;)

I'll admit, its just been a hard week already. Yesterday, I just wanted to go home - heaven I mean. . . (then I was like, "I need to help populate the earth first" ;) No really though, the sin, confession and renewal process is wearing. . . I can't wait to be freed from this mortal body forever. I know I am already freed, make no mistake, but you know what I mean.

To be washed and to stay clean. . .

Swingin'

Its another one of those days that feels like Friday - and then you remember, "hey, it's the weekend!"
I just bought a ton of food for fixin's on Sunday. I am trying out two new salad recipes - they look so yummy I can't wait to make them :)

We rented Syriana last night. It was interesting, but halfway through I got dissinterested and started to clean the house instead (I think I might be a little obsessive-compulsive sometimes :)

Anyway. We are going swingin' tonight - I am nervous as heck 'cause I just frankly do not dance. But, it will be a fun time anyway.

mundane

It simply must be done, though I really don't want to do it . . . it requires work, exertion and motivation. It will produce sweat and soreness, but it will be good in the long run. . .
exercise - sometimes, its just a love/hate relationship!

I slept through my alarm again, or maybe I just didn't want to get up so early (the latter, most likely). H's alarm went off and he turned it off and went back to sleep. 10 minutes later, it went off again and he woke and said, "Huh, my alarm didn't go off at 6:30" . . .
ughh - Friday, are ya here yet?

The short of it

Its been a great weekend. Hubby took me to the Tanger outlet mall & we celebrated my birthday ~spree shopping with some extra money that we had received.
We bought a beautiful red & gold grapevine platter at Crate & Barrel (thanks to those dear people who gave us that gift card for our wedding):) I tried to find it online so that I could post a picture of it, but they have not listed it on their site.
We went to see "the Devil Wears Prada" last night. It was funny at times, overall, kind of silly but Meryl Streep did an excellent job, I must say. It was a good look at how terribly cruel the world/fashion industry can really be.

Anyway. Rest felt good and now I need to get to cooking some food for today.

Cheers, love and blessings to all of you this sabbath~