Hello Christmas

Momma always says "once August is here, Christmas is next month".  A couple of things... the older I get, the more I quote my mom AND she's 99% right. Ya know she can't be 100% right although I'm still in search for that 1%... trust me, it's there somewhere :)
Wow, has this year FLOWN right on by!!!  Full of wonderful and challenging happenings for sure but it seems like yesterday we were saying "next year for our Peru trip..."  and low and behold the Peru trip is HERE!!!  We leave a week from today... eeekkkkk!!!!  Very exciting with some anxious nerves thrown in there.  When we started this adventure we knew it was going to be rocky and bring a good amount of challenges but can I use a cliche here... "we had no idea"  :)  We've had a few questions asked over and over so let me see if I can explain... no, it is too much, lemme sum up (name that movie and you're my best friend)

Compassion Peru

1.  Are you affiliated with Compassion International?
No.  This name developed years ago when our church in Houston Tx created a ministry called Compassion Katy. We loved the idea of showing compassion and God's love on the area God calls you to.

2.  Are you being sent by a church?
We understand this question because in our society/culture we are used to being sent from one body of believers... that's just the way it's been done.  We are not being sent from one "church" but from THE church that God has placed around us. We are extremely blessed to have brothers and sisters in Christ who are behind us in this amazing adventure. We are with a mission agency World Outreach Ministries, funds can be sent through them for tax deductible purposes.

3.  What are you doing?
Ultimately, our desire is to point others to Christ. Wherever and whoever that may be. This will happen in different ways. We are partnering with other Christians in outreach projects to help in whatever ways we can.  Give food, water or clean/paint a house. Work with the disabled/elderly or build a house.  We are open to God's leading in how and where we will serve, we do know each person we come in contact with will be a divine appointment. God works in each of our lives in many different ways. Our stories intertwine and the goal is to bring others the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ and the joy of living with Christ filling every part of our lives here on earth.

4.  What is Kawi Roasters?
I'm glad you asked :)  Kawi developed with the idea of supporting our passion for missions. We have plans but we trust God will direct our steps! We have a desire for Kawi roasters to support not only us but hopefully others who are walking this road with us.  Coffee has been a part of our story for many years in one way or another and we see God paving the road for this to be an amazing opportunity to reach others with His love!!!!

5.  How do you raise support?
We technically haven't up until this point. We pray about where and what God would have us do and then we set out to do it. No, we are not independently wealthy, we just trust God will provide what He wants to and then we will pay the rest - even if that means paying it off. This is not the traditional way we realize this but... we know this is OUR calling, if God presses on others to give then they will and... they have! We have been abundantly blessed by our friends and family who have hearts to see the kingdom of God grow! We realize there are so many needs and our desire is that you give where God leads you. Serve where God leads you, if that's with us than wonderful, if not then wonderful... just do something!  God will provide for us and for you!!!!  <3

Hopefully this will help clear a few things up and now that everything is clear as mud we ask...

PLEASE PRAY FOR US!!!!  We know prayer is the key!!!  God is so good, He is faithful, He is sovereign in all things!!!!  We rest in Him!!!!

Sweeping away the cobwebs

Our front porch seems to be the breeding ground for cobwebs. I sweep them away and look back up and "poof" they're back! Then I stare at them every time I go in the house until I have time and remember to go out there and sweep them away again.  This morning, I woke up to a brand new day! One that was fresh and unused. One that I hadn't been able to mess up yet.  Ya see yesterday was a little rough. I allowed my spirit to get down and my tears just wouldn't seem to stop so like a child... I put myself to bed BECAUSE I knew today was coming!  My faithful husband was up early this morning and headed out the door so I went and sat on the front porch, talking to him as he left. He's assuring me "we can do this baby, we are tired but... God's got this this!".  After kisses and hugs and "I love you" he headed off to work. Little funny (not funny) side note to our life... our awesome thoughtful son decided to pull up beside dad so that he wouldn't have to worry about moving a vehicle before he left for work, the slight problem with this was that Jeff had to climb through the passenger side to get in :)  OK... back to the moral of the story...  I said goodbye and I'm sitting there with my coffee and the most beautiful sunshine was coming through the trees and....  shining bright on the most cobwebs I had ever seen!!!!  I did what any good mom/wife would do, I went and got my phone so I could take a picture :)   THEN I went and got the broom and started sweeping.  As I was sweeping those cobwebs, ya know what else I was sweeping away???  Doubt, fear, anxiety, questions of worthiness... all of these things my mind filled with yesterday... just swept them right out in to the yard.  They don't belong clinging on to the side of my brain, they are ugly!

Here's to a new day friends!!!!  God's a big God and He has mighty plans for you today!!!!!!
Go get a broom and start sweeping!!!!  <3

Married 22 yrs and we've learned.......

... that we still have so much to learn!  I'm ok with this because in order to learn, it takes time and effort. When it comes to marriage those are things that I've come to enjoy.  We feel every once in a while we have to get to know each other again. Ya see, life changes you.  It's ok... just role with it... choose to love this person even if "he just isn't the same as when I married him". I don't know anyone on this earth who can stay exactly the same and yet also go through all of what life hurls at us. It just isn't possible.  This has become so fun to me. Spending time with Jeff, finding out his likes and dislikes (you'd think I'd know right... but trust me... they change haha). 

We took a short trip to B'ham to do a coffee shop tour. This is our third city to do this in and we absolutely LOVE it!!!  We are learning how to coffee shop hop without drinking a ton of coffee (although admittedly, I had too much... but I knew what I was doing ha).  

Coffee is an international love language! Yes, I do realize there are some who do not like coffee... I forgive you. We have visited quite a few coffee shops in our nation and around the WORLD and there is such a cool common bond... it's internationally understood.

Over a year ago, my awesome other half decided to try his hand at roasting coffee. It was an experiment at first that turned into a "wow, I think we can do this".  Just in case you are wondering... roasting coffee in a grill might not be the best way to go UNLESS you are ready and fast with the water hose (which he was thankfully!).  Let's just say that batch was ultra dark :)  Live and learn for sure! We did purchase a roaster that has not caught on fire as of yet haha.  We have now started a side business selling fresh roasted coffee!!!!  Of course we have TONS of dreams of where this COULD go but.... one step... one day at a time.  Today, I would like to introduce you to...

Kawi Roasters

We are roasting Peruvian beans right now and as a coffee drinker, they are my favorite! In the future I may start a blog for Kawi... but not today :)

ALSO.... we have set dates and plane tickets for our next Compassion Peru trip YAY!!!!!  So much fun stuff going on... I need more coffee..........   :)

Today is Monday. This time in life is very busy. Today I choose to be thankful, grateful, and count my many blessings (not material...).

New Seasons

One thing I love about Alabama is, we have seasons. Having lived in Houston and North Florida for so many years I gained an appreciation for seasons.  Admittedly, I'm not a cold weather person but I appreciate it!!! Without the cold season... summer seems VERY long to me.

Yesterday I was blessed to have lunch with some friends. She had the cutest center piece on her table. She told me it was made by a friend. In this moment my heart sunk a little... another friend I've lost touch with. Seasons of change. We had a wonderful lunch, full of stories, food and coffee. Bringing me back to the PRESENT!!!!  Change is ok even when it feels like "the end", it's mostly a beginning.

I came home to a friend sitting on my front porch eating her lunch. It was such a welcome sight to see someone "at home" on our sweet little porch.  We had a special time of interceding for those in our lives right now who are hurting and struggling. We sat underneath an amazing tree in our back yard, it's branches span out across the back yard.  A canopy of shade for summer. Right now it is just beginning to bloom so the sun was shining through and it felt amazing!!!  With the occasional cool breeze, it was the perfect combination. As we were praying, I kept seeing this one little yellow flower. So pretty. Seasons of change. I picked the flower and thanked God for it. Thanking him for His creation and His plan. Trusting in Him! Spring is a season of hope for me. A time of new life springing forth from what seemed to be dead.  Taking a deep breath of blessing and exhaling praise to our Father, we soaked in His presence!

I spent the afternoon baking a cake for a friend's birthday. Another process God always uses in my life. Baking. A combination of so many ingredients, thrown together they make an amazing tasteful treat!!!! We enjoyed an evening of dinner, games, cake and tea. (not sure how I didn't get ONE picture) Seasons of change. Friends God has brought in our life for such a time as this, we are so thankful! All in all, it was a day of reflection even though it was busy.  Change is hard but necessary. It makes us appreciate life. Whatever season you are in, I hope God shows you glimpses of who He is... right where you are!!!! <3

Rainy day musings

So, how's it going??? How are you fair'n lately???  I wish I could sit down with each of my friends and seriously have a long chat, catch up... find out what God is doing in your lives.  Since I can't... I have to settle with writing out my happenings and trying to make sense of my feelings and thoughts. This, is not an easy task for a scattered brain like myself. Imagine we are sitting on the beach with an awesome cup of coffee (I do have a couple of friends who don't drink coffee - God love em - so, y'all pick your drink) and I'm filling your ears with stuff as we listen to the waves crash on the shore....

God's awesome isn't He?!?!?!!!!!  This journey keeps me on my toes and most of the time I love it. The craziness of being a wife/mom is enough to make one color their hair. HA I know a lot of y'all do but I've chosen not to. There are some days when I get a "wild hair" I think "I'll just go color my hair some weird color".  I don't drink... give me a break :)  Take that craziness, throw in relationships, (a faulty attempt at best) working, ministry... etc and like everyone, it can get overwhelming. Here's where I struggle... I feel like all that life offers right now is still in the "normal" range. No major accidents, deaths, hospital stays... it's "simply" life. This is where I find myself challenged. I excuse away the fact that I'm completely and totally on my last thread because "how could I be with all of these blessings???".  Finding a balance of counting my blessings but also realizing when I need a break has always been VERY hard for me. Today... I take a break, not because I want to really but because my body said "nope, not moving".  I've dealt with this for years and it did used to get me so down I would spiral even further down into a physical tunnel of doom. Now, I recognize... stop. breathe. take a bath.  This isn't always possible and there are times when pushing through is necessary but when it's possible... I listen.  This past week end Jeff and I were blessed to take a wonderful get-away to Chattanooga. It was exactly what the doctor ordered. This week has been blessing after blessing so you would think my body would be well rested and ready for battle. Ha, well... I thought so too but nope. It's ok though... here's what I want to tell you... KEEP MOVING FORWARD!!!!  Each day will not always be what you expect (um... most days won't be what you expect). It's ok! Rest in the Father's plan. Today, I've had so much time to pray and seek God in quite a few things happening around me, time to be sassy to my sweet momma <3, time to take a bath... to soak in His presence. Because tomorrow... tomorrow is a new day, tomorrow I'll get up and hopefully my brain and body will agree that it will be upright and functioning BUT if it's not... that's ok too. God knows and sees all, He's in charge!!!!

I'm not fond of one way conversations but this blogging thing isn't a "chat" haha  I look forward to touching base with you and hearing what God has been up to... because you know He's ALWAYS up to something!!!!!!!  <3