yes.

cheerin' myself up

I will be honest: I'm not having the best week of my life. Emotionally, I've had a pretty hard couple of evenings and look forward to this week just being over. I wanted to share a few doses of personal joy from a few weeks ago that bring a smile to my face.

here is some Teavana lovelieness!

this is my new tea steeper and White Ayurvedic Chai/Samurai Chai Mate blend. the tea steeper is awesome because once your tea is done steeping, you just set it atop a cup and your delicious tea drains through the bottom and into your cup! tiffany also gave me this great idea: steep your sugar with your tea so it dissolves better.

this would be To Life white tea and a pound of the german rock sugar Teavana suggests for their teas. it adds just "a touch of sweetness" and doesn't mask the flavors in the tea. natural and unprocessed, it's great if you're going to be drinking sweetened tea on a regular basis.

aesthetically pleasant too!

julie, I was on the site today and doesn't this look good?!

Raspberry Riot Lemon Mate.

i think it looks delicious.

i mean, i am obsessed with raspberries at the moment.

it just might have to be one of the next ones I try!

Arcadian Apple is also on the list.

see? i am feeling significantly better. and thirsty.

so the last little piece of Love is this:

made by grandma.

it's been in the works for a few years

and it's finally completed.

i love it!

and best of all, it smells like her goodness.

nash needed a bath one day, in fact.

then he slept under grandma's quilt.

and smelled like fabric softner, but better!

we may no longer be giving him baths.

we might just invest in grandma's fabric softner.

i kid :)

it's so special

and she left me a little note....

♥

need to see this!

just some thoughts

first of all,

'ello!

hope you had a great day.

mine wasn't so bad...

and i've been quite productive since coming home from work... which is always a challenge for me. i'm a vegger. i get that from my mom, i think. i don't think there's anything wrong with vegging, but veggers, once they start, cannot stop... so when they get home they need to keep it moving until they leave every responsibility completed. this, i also learned from my mother. she's a hurricane when she gets home from work. then once she does her vegging she's usually down for the count!

ah, that similarity is quite amusing to me.

i'll have to share that with mom the next time i see her!

(nash is on my lap with one hairy paw on the keyboard... it's resting on the space bar.

my gosh my dog is so cute.)

so tonight tim and i will having dairy bar for dinner. that's a big yum. he's leaving tomorrow :( greek test, orientation, first round of classes. our house still has not sold.

this is how i feel about that.

i kid.

i mean, i am bummed.

but there is also a peace.

reading about the OT story about God sending a meat plague to a bunch of grumbling Israelites in the dessert gives me perspective. i will not be a grumbler. i will be thankful for this house and not complain about everything that's wrong with it in the meantime. (there is not really a lot wrong with it... i'm just overcoming patience.) i must remember, it's in God's hands.

eye of the tiger, people.

i am excited for Saturday, though.

dinner with my mom & dad in law.

monday i will see tiffany AND julie.

double yay.

i'm finally going to check out tiffany's place.

and i will be introducing julie to red mango!

last thought:

why is katy perry's cd being sold at my work?

i am confused.

and why is she half naked amidst cotton candy clouds?

is this art?

and why is the cd cotton candy scented?

am i 5?

dear unnamed famous seattle based coffee shop:

you have officially sold out.

sorry to those of you who like her.

i don't hate her music.

it's kinda catchy at times, whether i like it or not.

i'm just not sure the combination of those 3 things belongs at

unnamed famous seattle based coffee shop

tomsrrrrhere!

i dig em :)

death in his grave.

i have posted the video to this song before.

i'm not good myself at actually watching videos that people post

but if you like worship music and want to be moved,

listen to this song:

though the earth cried out for blood

satisfied her hunger was

her billows calmed on raging seas

for the souls of men she craved

sun & moon from balcony

turned their head in disbelief

their precious Love would taste the sting

disfigured & disdained

on friday a thief

on sunday a king

laid down in grief

but awoke with the keys

of Hell on that day

the first born of the slain

the Man Jesus Christ

laid death in his grave

so three days in darkness slept

the Morning Sun of righteousness

but rose to shame the throes of death

and over turn his rule

now daughters and the sons of men

would pay not their dues again

the debt of blood they owed was rent

when the day rolled anew

on friday a thief

on sunday a king

laid down in grief

but awoke with the keys

of Hell on that day

the first born of the slain

the Man Jesus Christ

laid death in his grave

He has cheated death and seated us above the fall

in desperate places he paid our wages

one time.

once and for all.

2 timothy 2:22-26

so flee youthful passions

and pursue righteousness

Faith,

Love,

& Peace

along with those who call on the Lord

from a pure heart.

have nothing to do with

Foolish,

Ignorant controversies,

you know that they breed quarrels.

and the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome

but kind to everyone,

able to teach,

patiently enduring evil,

correcting his opponents with gentleness.

God may perhaps grant them repentance

leading them

to a knowledge of the truth,

and they may come to their senses

and

escape. the. snare. of. the. devil.

after being captured by him to do his will.