I love seasons - I love the change from summer to autumn to winter to spring - and I tire of each season as they occur, but I love them.
I also love seasons we go through in life.
Today is Ash Wednesday. While I grew up in a church that didn't really celebrate any holidays at all, I found myself at a church a few years ago that acknowledges the sacredness of God. Liturgical texts are seen as some of those that really take into account God's reverence and the texts are guidelines for incredible discipline.
When you first walk into a church like this and many voices are saying the same prayers and creeds it can be a little uncomfortable. My first thought, "Um.. is this a cult?" Of course now I would admit that I've come to love this format...
So it was three years ago that I, for the first time ever, chose to give "lent" a shot. I approached it from a different perspective than "I'm giving up chocolate" or anything along those lines - but I did say, "What are areas in my life that need improvement?" I chose something physical, something mental and something spiritual for my life adjustments and I chose things that I thought perhaps I would be able to make real changes for a long time.
It was a good experience. So this year as the lenten season begins, I find myself thankful for the opportunity for a new season to practice discipline. I'm not sure what changes I'm making - though I do feel like having time set aside on a daily basis is key.
I've been mulling over articles giving ideas and will continue to do so today. I welcome this season.
(Just one article if you're curious...)
http://rachelheldevans.com/blog/40-ideas-for-lent-2015
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Colorado
On two different days last week the atmosphere proceeded to dump snow on Denver - after several days of it being sunny and 60 degrees. Snow makes traffic harder and late night walks trudging through the deep powder may seem a bit unpleasant, but it is winter and I feel it is to be expected.
Nonetheless, only 24 hours after our second day of snow fall (Wednesday) it was back to crisp, sunny weather - and by the time Monday rolled around it was 65 degrees and beautiful.
I love how Colorado just kind of does its own thing when it comes to weather. Colorado says, "You can't put me in a box or define me by a "season," I will do what I want when I want." I think it used to frustrate me to not know what to expect, but as time has gone on I've come to find that I kind of enjoy the spontaneity of it. I love the spring-like days in the middle of winter, and I love when winter is wintery. Both are beautiful in their own ways.
I know when Spring comes it will be beautiful and it will suddenly snow a couple of times in April and people will wonder what is going on. It might even snow in May. - and quite honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if it snowed in the middle of July with the surrounding days in the 80's.
Is it hard to predict? Sure. Do I like when traffic flow changes because of weather? No. Can it be annoying? Definitely.
But I love it. I love Colorado in all of its seasons. In it's rebellious nature. ...and I just keep falling more and more in love with so many other aspects of this state. A state I feel good about calling "home."
Friday, February 6, 2015
Good Coffee
Well, I feel like the majority of working Americans drink coffee - and likely a great percentage of the world. I'm sure I could even find some statistics if I wanted to search around a little bit but right now..no. No because I am actually feeling jittery!
I remember when I would slam coffee in the morning and then all day in order to stay alert and present. I even started using caffeine pills when I worked in childcare so that I wouldn't have to leave the area to use the restroom as much throughout the day. Over time, though, I have somehow become very sensitive to the affects of caffeine. I had to stop drinking it past 3pm in order to go to sleep at a reasonable hour. While I used to drink a whole french press before that time (coffee in the morning and afternoon!) sometimes I only have one cup a day now.
That said, it shouldn't be a surprise I'm a bit jittery right now. I've had some espresso and 1.5 cups of coffee - and very little food. Probably not the smartest choice I've made in my life, but... the coffee here at Thump is so GOOD.
Coming from the land of coffee in the Pacific Northwest I found the coffee shops in Denver to be limited (aside from America's lovely* dominating coffee chain, Starbucks) upon my arrival here 3.5 years ago. Needless to say, it's been fantastic to see the craft coffee culture grow and flourish in this city.
I truly don't believe people can appreciate good coffee until they've had proper exposure and have learned a bit about their own tastes. I try not to judge the people with their Starbucks addictions or that want to drown their coffee in sickly sweet syrups and creamers, but it's hard because I feel like everybody should know the value of good coffee.
What IS good coffee?
Well.. it is a number of things. There is a bit to be said about where the beans come from, what the relationship with the farmers looks like, how the beans are roasted and then later crafted into beautiful pieces of drinkable art. Perhaps I'll share some more in depth articles from experts on the subject, but knowing where your coffee is from and celebrating the hands through which it has passed is a wonderful thing.
And with that... I want to celebrate good coffee. And natural light. Because Thump also has a lot of that.
I remember when I would slam coffee in the morning and then all day in order to stay alert and present. I even started using caffeine pills when I worked in childcare so that I wouldn't have to leave the area to use the restroom as much throughout the day. Over time, though, I have somehow become very sensitive to the affects of caffeine. I had to stop drinking it past 3pm in order to go to sleep at a reasonable hour. While I used to drink a whole french press before that time (coffee in the morning and afternoon!) sometimes I only have one cup a day now.
That said, it shouldn't be a surprise I'm a bit jittery right now. I've had some espresso and 1.5 cups of coffee - and very little food. Probably not the smartest choice I've made in my life, but... the coffee here at Thump is so GOOD.
Coming from the land of coffee in the Pacific Northwest I found the coffee shops in Denver to be limited (aside from America's lovely* dominating coffee chain, Starbucks) upon my arrival here 3.5 years ago. Needless to say, it's been fantastic to see the craft coffee culture grow and flourish in this city.
I truly don't believe people can appreciate good coffee until they've had proper exposure and have learned a bit about their own tastes. I try not to judge the people with their Starbucks addictions or that want to drown their coffee in sickly sweet syrups and creamers, but it's hard because I feel like everybody should know the value of good coffee.
What IS good coffee?
Well.. it is a number of things. There is a bit to be said about where the beans come from, what the relationship with the farmers looks like, how the beans are roasted and then later crafted into beautiful pieces of drinkable art. Perhaps I'll share some more in depth articles from experts on the subject, but knowing where your coffee is from and celebrating the hands through which it has passed is a wonderful thing.
And with that... I want to celebrate good coffee. And natural light. Because Thump also has a lot of that.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Three-hundred-sixty-five Days. Give or take a few.
So... Obviously I couldn't keep up on a daily blog post. I find this unfortunate for myself since I know that writing every day is a form of therapy, but I think as life would pick up, I would also fail to set aside the time to write.
Because I would benefit in the revival this blog, I'm doing it.
I don't know what it looks like yet, but it's going to happen. Will it be daily? Probably not, but it will certainly be weekly at the very least. I may even give some themes to the days, like devoting a day to write about the remarkable and fantastic people in my life and just focus on their loveliness once a week. But we shall see.
Perhaps this will develop a rhythm soon. And if not... thanks for having enough faith in me to start reading again.
Just to kick it off... today I am thankful for the fresh falling, fluffy snow, alliterations, the laughter of children, spontaneous interactions with friends afar through a variety of means.
How about you?
Because I would benefit in the revival this blog, I'm doing it.
I don't know what it looks like yet, but it's going to happen. Will it be daily? Probably not, but it will certainly be weekly at the very least. I may even give some themes to the days, like devoting a day to write about the remarkable and fantastic people in my life and just focus on their loveliness once a week. But we shall see.
Perhaps this will develop a rhythm soon. And if not... thanks for having enough faith in me to start reading again.
Just to kick it off... today I am thankful for the fresh falling, fluffy snow, alliterations, the laughter of children, spontaneous interactions with friends afar through a variety of means.
How about you?
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