Gracias a Dios

Thank you Lord for traditions,

little people's giggles, 

and Fridays.

for fried salami

and Friday nights well spent

I'm grateful for sweet packages from folks I love 

and relaxing nights that smell like fall.

for my family apron

and the joy that baking gives me

for guy friends that make us laugh for days

and a Young Life team that doesn't give up

Gracias for fresh flowers on the drive

and my little mountain town.

#thankful for hashtag club

#younglifejtown 

for outrageous birthday parties,

sugar highs,

and pinatas during class

Thank you Lord for friends to do life with

and cool water to swim in.

for nights in the city, 

popcorn at the movies,

and hands to hold during the scary parts

for a new coffee "lounge" in town

and iced coffee

Thank you for students who love me well

and showing more of Yourself in everyday life.

What are you grateful for today?

My Coffea Story

It all started with Joe Wiltse.

It was 2008 and he wanted me to come with him 

so I could have "the best hot chocolate ever."

After parking in the hospital parking lot we went inside

to the Great Plains Coffee cart.

And I drank the best hot chocolate ever.

My life hasn't been the same since ;)

A year later Great Plains became Coffea

and moved locations.

It quickly became a place of quiet rest,

genuine connections, and excellent drinks.

Coffea is where I have listened to 

hundreds of stories over mochas.

It's where I have planned countless bible studies.

I've cried tears with close friends 

while sitting in our favorite cozy chairs.

In Coffea I have been invested in and prayed over

by two women whom I love.

I have done homework and written club talks

sitting at the tall table.

It has been the pre-road trip coffee stop

too many times to count.

Coffea is where I sat teary eyed hearing 

all about new love while we sat with our feet

tucked under us on the couch.

It's where I have sat alone talking to a friend

in Ghana over skype countless times.

I have sat across from girls I love,

listening to them, laughing with them, praying with them,

and just sharing life.

In Coffea we dreamt up a road trip to Nashville

over weeknight coffee chats.

I've arrived at 6am to enjoy time with friends 

and get into the Word before the workday begins.

Coffea is where I first let the idea slip out

about teaching abroad.

It's where I freaked out through the whole process.

It was there that I talked with my parents over the phone

about what I would say if Doulos offered me a job.

I've met across from many selfless people at Coffea

who support me financially and prayerfully.

 After moving to the Dominican Republic 

I have met with friends at Coffea,

this time with me on the other side of the computer.

Now I run through the doors to hug dear friends

I have missed immensely while away.

Thank you Coffea.

For serving great drinks.

But even more than that,

thank you for providing a lovely space

for life to happen.

This week Coffea's fall menu has started.

That means my favorite drink,

the butterscotch latte,

is being served again.

Sadly, I can't drink one until December.

Go enjoy one with someone you love today

for me, okay?

PS. thanks for the invite Joe.

What is your favorite thing about Coffea?

Do you have a favorite coffee shop?

My Liam

I love Liam a lot.

Anyone who knows me

knows that.

We lived 20 blocks away from each other

for the first year and a half of his life.

Now we live with an ocean between us.

blah.

But we make it work.

We have been facetiming weekly

since I moved to the Dominican Republic,

and it has been SO MUCH FUN.

We make faces,

I sing songs,

he shows me his toys,

I ask him questions.

It's good.

BUT this week things changed.

Ian had to answer the phone quick, 

so Liam was in charge of the iPad.

This is not uncommon 

and normally we would play with toys at this point.

But instead

Liam points the camera at himself and says,

"Where are you?"

I respond, "I'm in the Dominican Republic."

"What are you doing in the Dominican Republic?"

"I am teaching kids at a school."  I answer.

Oh my goodness.

This may not seem huge to you,

but it was the most important conversation 

I had this week!

I was talking with a friend the other day

and we were sharing about the lies we have been believing lately.

"I think deep down I still sometimes believe that 

I am missing out on watching Liam grow up."

I sadly admitted.

As per usual, I stated the truth.

I am NOT missing out on watching him grow.

I have the joy of seeing him daily through 

iMessage, facetime, snail mail, facebook, and Skype.

And I will choose to embrace the great opportunity that is!

The day after Liam and my conversation,

I accidentally facetimed Ian in the morning.

In an awkward and overly excited exchange of "HOLA!!!"

Liam met the Kindergarten Family

that his Auntie Morgan teaches at a school in the Dominican Republic.

I love this kid.

Thank you for letting me gush about him.

Who are the kiddos you love mucho?

I love Liam, Hanalei, Wild, and Xiomelis, among many :)

Gracias a Dios

Thank you God...

for people who come alongside teachers well

and kids who eventually stop crying.

for a Kindergarten Family that is so excited to learn

and for teacher friends who are in this with me.  

for celebrations, "Friends", porches, 

and Pumpkin Spice Lattes.

I'm grateful for pink birthday cupcakes

and the crazy silly way 5 year olds eat.

for the reign of Coca-Cola 

and the small reminders that I live somewhere different.

I'm so thankful for a spunky, sweet, and sneaky bedtime visitor

and the coziness of my home.

for rich colors, coffee, and "cardigan weather".

for a community that shares well 

even when the nearest Walmart is a plane ride away.  

I'm ever grateful for Liam and the way my family 

helps me have the chance to watch him grow.

for lamp light, good jams, and cozy decor 

that makes this space a restful place to work.

What have you been grateful for this week?

fear and panic

Sickness is here.

Full force.

This island, Hispaniola, has been struggling with 

a mosquito born illness called Chikungunya

for the past year.

It has hit Jarabacoa hard for the past few months.  

There is a rash, fever, and lots of joint pain.

It is not good.  

It is not deadly,

but it is not good.

Fear is here.

No one wants to feel crappy.

Every mosquito bite is worth a freak out.

"They" say 90% of the island will get it before it's over.

The joint pain can last for months.  

Panic is here.

Every little wrist pain makes us wonder.

Was that the first sign?  

Every little skin blemish makes us anxious.

Is that a rash?  Do you think that's a rash?

oh no, just my normal skin...

The thermometer is our new best friend.  

I've never felt this way before.

So anxious about health.

[that shows how blessed we've been]

Day after day after day

a different person is in tears about physical pain.

It has been scary to watch and experience with them.  

[It has been days since I first wrote this post,

and now it almost seems over dramatic.

But it is honestly the way I felt for several weeks.

While most people have been feeling better 

and less cases have been appearing,

the residual pain is still rearing it's ugly face.

I am feeling 100% well at this point

and trusting that this too will pass.

Please continue to pray for my friends 

that are still feeling pain.] 

Gracias a Dios

Things have been a little cray cray.

There has been a lot of:

friends and coworkers sick with Chikungunya,

lesson planning,

gathering with friends,

spraying every inch of skin with bug spray,

and eating avocados, mangos, and waffles.  

Life has been good,

filled with adventure and routine.  

But I've also felt funky and a little bit off.

It's not super easy to adjust back to life here.  

But it's good and there is SO MUCH to be grateful for.

Thank you God...

for super silly neighbors who make us laugh daily.

for a cozy living room to do life in.

Thank you for the color of chinolas 

and friends to call mine.

for Sunday sermons in bed

and the amazing smell of my candle.

for the peace that organized books give me.

Thank you Lord for 

night-before-first-day-of-school-skype-dates

that are made up of:

1/3 me sobbing

1/3 Kaia and Kayla speaking truth into me

1/3 prayer 

for calmed anxiety and paint.

I am so grateful for this Kindergarten Family 

and the ways we are showing Jesus to each other already.

for Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade in the DR.

Thank you God for GATHER summer 2014,

a full house,

dancing,

and wonderful friends with big smiles :)

Gratitude does the heart and mind good.

What are you grateful for??