Splashing the cool water

This years focus:
Splashing cool water on people.
more on this to come....................

A Weighty Issue............

***warning, this post may be triggering..........................read at your own risk***

Also, I would like to add to this, that you should not feel sorry for me, but for the poor man who obviously needs some lessons in not being a bigot!

So, I am tearfully recovering from what I think was one of the most hurtful experiences that I should ever hope to be a part of. About a year ago, Adam got a customer at his other job who was a real peach of a woman. Literally. She and her husband own a fruit farm. She mentioned that they were going to sell it in the next few years. So of course our vivid imaginations ran wild at the fact that we could someday own a fruit farm. An apple orchard was actually more what we were always thinking............come'on, our names are Adam and Eve:) Over the last year

we have cultivated a relationship with the woman, we even sell her grape jelly in our shop. Not in an attempt to buy her farm, but simply because we met. And I am not sorry that we did.

Out of sheer curiosity, today I called her to ask a few questions about the place. She said I better ask her husband. So I asked the asking price, which, after that I should have stopped, because the truth is, there is NO WAY I would pay that even if I had it! But I figured I would just ask a few more questions......

after I finished with them, I said, thank you for your time, we just thought we should know a bit more as we enter into prayer about this.

Wouldn't it just have been great if that is all that was said? Wait, it gets really interesting from here on out:

He said, "well, I have something to say to you. I won't even consider selling it to you with how obese you are. If you can lose about a hundred pounds, I might consider it. But I just can't sell it to someone who is as obese as you are. Now, I am sorry if that hurts your feelings, but I just have to be honest with you."

I think I have a pretty grown up beef with these comments. I understand that he thinks his farm is a lot of work. And I also understand that it is not good to be extremely overweight. It is hard on your body and it does make life more difficult. But, I believe that I am a very hard worker. There are many days each week when I do not even sit down. I am baking, cooking, cleaning, and waiting on customers for the entire time we are open at the shop, sometimes up to 10.5 hours. Now, every day is not like that, but some are and I think that is hard work. I am tired at the end of the day. I don't even get paid for what I do. If I am blessed enough to have kind customers give me tips, they go in my gas tank. I know that it will be easier as I continue to lose weight. But I have to keep taking it slow, or I will just do what I have done my entire life, and that is put it back on and then some. Weight issues are not always about deeper issues............I have worked though a lot of my deeper issues, now it is time to make good choices. I don't eat for comfort anymore. That is a huge thing! I just need to make good choices when it is time for a meal. We have been working on that. It is working. I have gone down one size in my jeans in the last month just from the changes we are making. I think that is great! I am going to keep going. But am I going to do it because of what he said? No. I am going to continue on and hope and pray that all discrimination will end someday.

I sure am glad that God doesn't look at us the way the farmer guy does. I am glad that he sees our hearts. That he knows our thoughts. That he loves us anyway:)
and...........

I hope the farmer watches who he say this to, so he doesn't have a lawsuit on his hands.

Randominity

Yep, I am pretty sure that is not a real word, but hey.......

So, 2 weeks ago we had "church" at the coffeehouse with my dad, step mom, brother, and the twins, this is what we discussed:
Maddy shared and talked about what Jesus looks like. (1peter1:8)
Haylee talked about how important we are to God and that he wants us to take care of what he has made.
Then we all said one thing that we thought we could do to help:
1. Be less selfish
2. Love your neighbor
3. Meet practical needs
4. Spread the word
5. Feed the poor
6. Pick up litter and Recycle
7. Give
8. Be wise with your money
9. Count your blessings

I think this is amazing. This is the church (us, as believers, in action).

John 16:31-33 says
"Jesus answered them, "Do you finally believe? In fact, you're about to make a run for it--saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I'm not abandoned. The Father is with me. I've told you this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world!"

Rest

This picture is of one of my god-daughters. Her name is Grace. She was aptly named. She loves unconditionally. She takes care of people. She is beautiful and an absolute joy to be around. She is smart and confident. I hope to be like her when I grow up:)

Matthew 11:28-30 says, "Are you tired? Worn out? Burnt out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you will recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

These are red letters. These are Jesus' words. Today, I am laying it down again, at his feet. I am remembering, that nothing is going to happen to me, that Jesus and I cannot handle. I am going to learn the unforced rhythm of grace! I am going to live free and light!

Dear Lord, may my friends and family bring their burdens to you today, and know that they can find rest in you.

It was a Merry Christmas:)

Well, 2009 is going to go down in the books as a great Christmas. It started out with a ton of rain and a lot of hoopla ab out some snow.........and ended up with the Packers kicking the pettuties of the Seattle Seahawks.
All in all, it was wonderful. We ended up staying at my mom's for 3 nights. We drove a bit, ate a bit, saw a lot of family, talked a lot, watched too many episodes of What Not to Wear, and got to encourage one another. Back to the real world tomorrow though. Back to making lattes, soup and scones. I hope you are all well.

Email and noisy neighbors

Today I realized that I have 1500 unopened emails. Yeah. 1500. I also have like 3000 in my spam. So, what do I do about that? As I searched through all of them, looking for names that I recognized, I noticed only a few. So if you have emailed me, and I haven't responded, chances are I didn't notice the email you sent me. Sorry Shari:) Weird. I think I will set up a new address.
The store next to us is doing construction. They have been for quite some time now. Anyway today, they were going through the ceiling to put in a vent system. Yeah. the ceiling. It all seemed so unreal, the whole place was shaking and the pictures on the wall were almost falling off. And then, okay, I am going to stop the rant on this one. It is over. No need to beat that dead horse.
Hope you have a great Tuesday.
Jenny, Stefano will be here soon. Don't worry.

Snowed in.........

This is actually a picture of one of last years' snowfalls. My camera is in need a a new battery so that is not allowing me to take a picture of all the craziness that is happening outside today. But, at some point, I will get a new battery and hopefully the snow will stick around:) I talked with our former pastor yesterday for almost 2 hours. I love him. But he still thinks we are sinning by not going to a traditional church. I don't get that. If we are effecting people positively and fellowshiping with like-minded believers, how are we possibly sinning? WE ARE THE CHURCH! As a christian, YOU ARE the church. The church is not a building you go to 2 times a week for equipping and corperate worship. The church is talking about Jesus and being his hands and feet in everyday life. I am just going to keep praying that he will understand that he is not right about everything. Not that I am either, but the truth is, we feel that God is calling us to this, not to that. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

What does a building have to do with "church"? Anyway, I am going to get a lot of work done now, of things that I normally do not have time to do. Thank you Lord for the snow.

:)