A Summer of Shades.

I just wanted to share a few pictures of all my friends in my favorite shades!


Well, this is me first! haha I am in Dallas visiting Jeremy with Brooke!


Clairebear had to be like Miss Emma.

The next few pictures are from Wednesday Night Children's Church. It was like a fashion show!

Bethany

Taylor

Mallory

Uh-oh

Aden

The soon be rockstar.

Trisha


O these make me smile :)

Coffee Shop

Over the past four to six years, I have become what some may call a 'coffee addict.' Personally, I like to call it a passion for the great taste of coffee or simply a coffee lover. But in the end, the same meaning comes from both names... I absolutely love coffee. The smell, the taste, and even the atmosphere that a simple cup of coffee brings to a group of people. I love it both cold and hot although I prefer it hot. I also love it STRONG! My dad can not take how strong (or how Starbucks puts it...'extra bold') my coffee is.

Well, after all of that... my point is that one day, maybe in the near future or maybe in the far future, I want to open and own my own coffee shop. I believe this all started when my days of studying and fellowship with friends. I remember the time when we would all just need to get together and the coffee shop called Crescent City was the number one choice. I want my place to be like that. I want people of all backgrounds, age, and reason for coming to the shop to come!

I have this one huge vision in mind for a children level. Well, maybe I should begin with saying that I want this place to be two stories. The top level is like a children's library/ hangout area. Therefore, the children have a place to go and the mothers are able to have a cup of coffee and some free time.

All these ideas have been growing over the years... I need to write them down. haha

So the main purpose though for all of this (: the coffee shop I mean) is for fellowship. I want it to be a place where all people feel welcomed and a place to get to know others. Fellowship is about people coming from all different backgrounds and living life together. Fellowship is vital to the human life and especially the Christian walk. So many people think they can do it on their own and not need anything from others. But a simple talk or hello can change someones life. That is what is missing in this individualistic world we live in. Living life together doesn't mean you have to be doing something or getting the next big item, it means being a friend who listens and supports when it is needed. The reason I stress a place for children is because that is where it all begins. Children learn so much more from watching others and they have a place to fellowship as well as their parents; basically, they are learning for one another.

Fellowship is a necessity. That is why the purpose of church began so many years ago. Now, I feel that church is not acting the way it is suppose to lately and people get the wrong impressions there... but that can be a whole other post. I am not trying to say that I want the coffee shop to take the place of church either. All I can say, Fellowship is a necessity and most times it is needed other than Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. :)

Anyways. I have been thinking about that this week. I believe it will be a lifelong dream.

Renovations

Now, when you think of renovations... you think of completely stripping down to nothing and changing everything. Well, that is what I hope you are thinking. I think of renovating a house. Has anyone seen the house renovating shows on TV? the ones where they completely gut out the house and then make it completely beautiful inside?

I have decided this summer is going to be a time to completely renovate me. (wow, that kinda sounds selfish)... well the matter of the fact is that I have not been taking care of myself and therefore hurting others in the process. This summer, I hope to renovate my body, mind, and especially my spirit. It is going to be a battle and I am quite a stubborn person. But I know this is what is best for me because it will help my relationship with my Creator which in turn changes my life daily.

So, the summer has officially begun and I have been keeping myself busy...

First, I actually had an interview with a hospital for a Child Life Internship! I feel that it went quite good and I am praying that if this is what the Lord wants me to do, He will make it happen.

http://www.georgetownuniversityhospital.org/

Secondly, my summer job while trying to figure out my future is to babysit three children. There are two girls and one boy. The oldest, Connor, (who is a girl) is going into the fourth grade and definitely acts like a little mother. The second, Clayton, is going into the second grade and loves to dye his hair blue everyday. He is always willing to try something even if it gets him hurt! The third, Claire, is two years old and is quite the girly girl. One day after putting her bathing suit on, she was looking at herself in the mirror and says "I am just so cute!" Claire is definitely the baby of the family and I have a feeling she is going to be a bit of trouble later on in life with all the boys! The pictures are of a trip to the zoo we made this last week!

A Trip to the Zoo

Third, A group of friends and I are taking a CAKE DECORATING CLASS! It has been quite a challenge. Turns out, making a smooth cake is hard. I love to make the different designs with the different tips. I especially love to make the homemade icing. It is so delicious. Our next class is tomorrow night (Monday at 6) and we have to bring one cake iced with the extra icing to practice in class. Today, I made 6 cakes to freeze to practice on during the week and 3 batches of icing. I am officially a baker!!!

A Summer Full of Cake Decorating

Fourth, I am just relaxing and taking everyday like no other. I have no definite plans for my summer except my job, so therefore I have alot of free time on my hands. I have been reading the Twilight series and they are wonderful. I have also been exercising a lot more trying to work on that renovation!

Summer 2009

Something to contemplate: Tattoo? What do you really think??

Well, that is all for now. I hope to blog more... got distracted every time i was going to blog.