Bon Appetit

Mornin' folks! I'm awake but not yet out of bed... So so glad that I arranged a "brunch" instead of breakfast with a friend for today. ...Needed the extra bit of snooze time! :) (It is my day off!) ;)

I am excited for brunch!!! One of my favorite things to do is discover and try new places to dine. I can go alone or with a friend, either way, the experience is pleasant to me.

...I've been wanting to try  this particular "breakfast house" for a while but when I found out last night that they're closed on Mondays, I went on a YELP hunt to find another option. Success! Well, I shouldn't speak to soon... But I've got a good feeling about this one. Go check out Yelp if you haven't, and discover something new for your taste buds and tummy! Good day and bon appetit friends!

Yum!

love xo

Grace J

No Where Else I'd Rather BE

Hey blog world!!! I am alive and well! Although  I have been MIA from blogspot for the last almost 4 months, I have still been living the day to day life!

...

I'm back! Not with a promise of a post tomorrow or the next day but just one for today!

I'm tellin ya', free time blatantly reveals what I love to do. Ok.. let me explain...

Right now, in life, I am playing the role of a focused college student. Eeek! What a role to play! No, really, it's an honor and privilege to be going to school and studying toward a degree in which will lead to great opportunity to work and live a ginormous passion of mine! Do note, I mentioned an honor and a privilege... yes, but I didn't mention anything about an easy journey or breezy courses. lol.. It's been challenging and my daily planner during the heat of the semester is practically overwhelmed with scheduled "study" sessions and test day count-downs! BUT-> it's not forever! It's a season! And I trust and believe it will be worth the hard work! :)

So, enough about all that...

Now that I've shared that blurp of info, I want to inform you that my summer Chemistry course ended three weeks ago and for the next 4 weeks of summer I am enrolled in the most simple required credit class eva!!! Muhahaha YAY!!!!! Celebration for everyone!!!!!! :) OK, but really, this is an amazing feeling. And it brings me to my opening statement. This one:

[I'm tellin ya', free time blatantly reveals what I love to do. Ok.. let me explain... ]

Yes, that one!

You see, now that I've got this summer break thing going on, and after 3 weeks of winding down, becuase, yes, I was wound that tight that it took that long... I am relaxing! I am "resting easy," as I like to call it. Ah, it is a beautiful picture. If I could paint the scene for you...

I am sitting pillow propped, in my dark, shade closed, recently dusted and clean bedroom. I've got a vanilla spice candle burning bedside for light, warmth, and scent (of course!) My attire, blue PINK sweats, favorite hoodie, hair natural; but not frizzy (there's a miracle!) I am slowly sipping a half caff soy americano from Starbucks. In the background plays a new favorite song on repeat. And I have NO agenda for my evening but to write a blog and enjoy being at home. Woah! I'm laughing about my life as I read over this paragraph because I have such interesting ways of getting from one mode to the next. Go- mode to slow-mode takes shifting through a number of gears for me. But I'm here!.. at rest. And there's no where else I'd rather be for today.

Live like it's your last,

xo Gracie J

Just a couple things I've heard and gathered thus far...

Don't fear new.

It doesn't hurt to smile.

Make friends.

Draw something every once in a while.

Expression is powerful...don't keep all the good stuff bottled inside you.

Ask questions.

Always keep your fists unclenched, unless a battle is truly necessary to wage.

God loves you more than anyone else does.

And He loves you more than you love anything or anyone.

Remember that!

God never fails.

Go to the nations, my friends. 

Disciple.

Don't hide; but face the truth.

Flattery is never better than the truth.

Give an answer when required and when its not, know its ok not to know it all just yet.

Explain and teach with your life.

Your choices are weighty.

If you can't see where the cliff drop leads, hold your breath and jump if you know deep down, "its all right." 

Trust God.

Pray!

Listen more than you talk (to God and people)

Grow...never stay the same.

Believe.

When everyone throws the towel in, don't give up on love, faith, and what is right.

Be set apart by God.

Know your role. 

You're the CHILD of the God of the universe.

Whisper

Shout

Praise

And Jump

Sing the song of the heart

Don't think it has to sound a certain way.

Be different.

Look for the people who haven't felt love lately and when you find them, give to them. 

Take care of your body. It is a gift. It is the temple. It houses the Spirit. When its gone from this earth, so are you.

Drink water. Lots.

Exercise.

Let your heart rate be high because of intentional cardiovascular exercise and not because of eating too much McDonalds, Taco Bell.. etc.. and the like.

Don't go alone.

Be inclusive and not exclusive.

Help when you see a need.

Rest adequately. That means sleep 8hrs if possible.

Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold means they're both of great value. So treasure!

If you can, go to Haiti.

Respect your elders.

Seek wisdom.

Hold on to hope. It's not the end yet!

God keeps his promises. 

Do you?

...

:)

Seeing results

Good old fashion hard work pays off.

That's it!

Back to work ;)

Psalm 66:6:

 He turned the sea into dry land,
  they passed through the waters on foot—
    come, let us rejoice in him.

To rejoice is to be glad. 

To be glad is to be pleased and/or delighted.

Delight is joy. 

What makes you glad? 

What makes you smile?

What do you run towards?

What brings laughter? excitement? exclamation!? 

Today my boss's 4 year old son came to visit him at work. Now first of all, this is the cutest little boy you can imagine. Now, when he approached the front glass door and caught glimpse of his dad standing behind the counter, this little boy struggled to open the oh-so-heavy door with his oh-so-little 4 year old strength and he rushed straight to his dad with the most excitement I've seen in I don't know how long, as he shouted/screamed with all happiness, "DADDY!!!!!!!!" His father was just in time to meet him half way. This followed with a huge hug and an enamored kind of respect and love for who his dad is. His dad didn't do anything, exactly, in that moment to promote this incredibly focused attention. He was just being who he is and when his son caught a glimpse, he rushed into his daddy's presence, and gave him all the attention he could give, so much adoration and all the honor he knows. 

Will he obey his dad tonight when he's asked to go to sleep or take a bath?

I don't know.

Will he stop crying or whining when his dad asks him to stop?

Will he respond well to discipline?

Who knows. I'm gonna say, probably not every time, unless he is different from any other 4 year old I've ever known. 

But guess what, 

in that moment of rejoicing...

It doesn't matter about the mistakes past or to come. 

His dad loves being loved on.

And loving him back! 

As we are created in God's image it parallels in my mind, my Heavenly Father- GOD loves when I run to Him, with all the love I have to give...because He is who He is- Faithful. Truth. Great Present and Active God who Lavishes His Love On Me. And I can not complain ...I've got to run into his arms and love him.

Grace

lights off, lights on, lights off, lights on...LIGHTS ON!

How often do I look at my job as an opportunity?

Personally, every work day I am given roughly 200-300 shots to make a person's day.

Wow! That's over 1000 opportunities a week!

Now, that's just while I'm at work...

What about all my other weekly encounters?...

Let's say 2 gas station clerks/wk?

The grocery store casher-outers? baggers? carriage pushers?

The 10-15 neighbors I walk by or drive past?

The let's say 40 other people I work out with at a class at the gym...3 times a week...

Man, this list could get quite lengthy.

I mean, come on...theres still stop lights, 4 way stops, classmates, teachers, and don't get me started on the stranger you find yourself waiting in a long line next to.

The more I think on this..the more crystal clear something becomes to me...

I am overwhelmed with opportunity!
Opportunity to spread joy, give encouragement, bring a smile, a laugh, or a warm fuzzy! :)


How 'bout with a wave!? a joke! intentional kindness?


I could hold a door, verbalize a compliment...


I could just be honest.


I could be sincere. 


I could give, share, or embrace. 


I could love.

Now on the deep side of the matter, I have clearly at least 16 hundred opportunities a week to quite possibly: 


save a life, 


change a mind, 


or inspire a human spirit. 

Which, by the way, that last one about the "human spirit" haaappens to be  the mission statement of the company I work for...And I don't think that's a coincidence.

It is time to cease opportunity.
  Coulda, woulda and shoulda won't do a thang.

I've got a lot to give. Nows the time I stop hoarding the love and pour it out.


Jesus said it so well... “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5)


Let your light shine. ;)

Your playing small does not serve the world