snapshots

the harbor.

we all scream for ice cream.

a hong kong classic.

truth for today

Our faith is counted to us as righteousness.

(Romans 4:20-25)

free knowledge for you, you're welcome.

In honor of my fondness for foggy London town: I learned the other day that Big Ben is the name of the bell in the Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster. All this time the Clock Tower has been neglected of it's proper name. Although I have to admit that Big Ben seems like a much more interesting label. London keeps inching its way up the list of places I'd love to visit soon, perhaps I'll have a picture of the Clock Tower to show you one day. Until then you have a free fun fact for today.

a couple more reasons

Simple emails like this one from Trace:

"I'm at the Huntsville Starbucks, it made me think of you."

So much of me wanted to blink my eyes and be at Starbucks sitting across the table from her, finding ourselves in the midst of conversation in an all too familiar coffee shop and talking about about all that has gone in the last 9 months. Perhaps you aren't a supporter of the corporate coffee tycoon, but as soon as I tried a white chocolate mocha (which I'm convinced is the healthiest thing on the menu) I knew Starbucks & I had started a relationship I wasn't going to be able to end. I confess that I used to disdain the taste of their brewed coffee, and still do most of the time, but when there's no coffee in the apartment it is usually my quickest remedy. The times I don't mind drinking Starbucks coffee at all is with my dad. Without question he will spend a few minutes at the coffee preparation station, sit down, take a sip of his coffee and shake his head saying "Whewwww, that's strong stuff" and make his way for some more milk or sugar. Dad is pretty particular about how he likes his coffee, but it's one of those endearing things that reminds me of mornings at home. All that to say, I'm excited about the conversations yet to be had at Starbucks this summer & I'm starting to wonder if I could ask Starbucks for a sponsorship in accordance to the amount of time and money I spend at their locations across the globe. I'll keep you updated with their offers.

this morning

The city has greeted me from a different window. The smog and the stacked concrete still welcoming the day in the peculiar constant way they do. This morning I am found thankful for new beginnings, and for all that has come to pass that enables me to appreciate all that is yet to come.

quotation

"A sunset is what our lives should be: quiet, noble, and unhurried." C. L. Rawlins

manic monday

3 little reasons I'm going to miss Hong Kong in June.

happy mum's day

Happy Mother's Day!

Mom, I am so thankful for you.

Thank you for your continuous support, servant spirit, love of laughter, and of course your pancakes.

Zach & I wouldn't be the same without you.

Teresa, thank you for being such an incredible step-mom.

Thanks for being a woman of prayer, quick to listen, and loving us girls so well.

You are such a gift.

[I love you both so much! Can't wait to see you soon. So blessed to call you mom.]

why i was thankful for Saturday

via bullet points:

• A slow morning consumed with reading.
• The sun decided to peak through the clouds for a couple hours.
• An afternoon spent by the harbor.
• Chai Tea Latte & a couple bites of a chocolate doughnut.
• Laughter.
• Grocery shopping without having to buy an extra little plastic bag.
• Homemade salsa.
• Dinner and a movie with J.

friday

My morning did circles around this group of verses:

"No distrust made him (Abraham) waver concerning the promise of God,

but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,

fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness." But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification."

Romans 4:20-25

Fully convinced.

Fully. Completely. Entirely. To the furthest extent. Fully.

It's powerful isn't it?

In the afternoon I went with Jason around Sha Tin, acting as the official camera bag holder while he took photos for a new project. I love how a camera gives one gumption to do things they wouldn't normally do, like stand on public seating, sit on the ground near the bus stop, climb on part of an elevated abandoned parking deck, set up your tripod in the que for the train, which we may or may not have done. It was a fun afternoon rounded off by time with friends, a great meal, and strawberry cake made by sweet Catherine.

Time for Saturday- it looks like there is going to be sunshine!

thursday

Another day of productivity. Filling out forms, writing emails, and grocery shopping. I'm sure by now you are fully captivated by my activities, but rest assured the best part of the day was family dinner which included friends we've had the joy to know recently and some over the past few months. It's so neat to see how our introductions that started in an English class, have grown into genuine friendships. I'm thankful for the way that we can come together, with all our different experiences and perspectives, and have a greater understanding of one another without judgement or expectation. Thankful for their honesty, for their questions, for their knowledge, and for their patience as we ask questions as well. These dear friends are teaching me so much.

wed nes day

Wednesday I spent almost 10 hours straight looking at my computer screen. I have a whole new respect for people who work with computers for the majority of their day. I think I am just too fidgety to sit still that long. After dinner, I realized that I was being counter productive by trying to press myself to type any longer. So I pulled out a canvas I bought months ago, brushed the dust of my paint brushes, pressed play on You've Got Mail (confession: I watch this movie at least once every 3 months. I have a repeat problems with movies I really enjoy.) and took my time creating something new.

tuesday

Tuesday started out with a to-do list and a cup of coffee. I love a list, as I've mentioned a time or two. This love can get out of hand sometimes, hence the reason for consolidating into one to-do list for the next month that includes all things big and small to be done. All that to say, the morning yielded much more productivity and a sense of calm knowing how to best allocate my time in the weeks ahead. In the early afternoon I headed out into the city placing a couple check marks by requested souvenirs from Hong Kong. And after my scavenger hunt was done, I still had about an hour until I was supposed to meet Jas for dinner at the Turkish restaurant. Considering the crowds were only growing thicker in the midst of the markets, I decided that time would be well spent with a book and a cup of Turkish tea rather than frustrated at being ricocheted in between shoppers in a frenzy. When I reached the restaurant, it was empty apart from one of the brothers that runs the restaurant. He invited me to sit down and a conversation started that left my heart heavy for this friend. In respect to his situation I won't go into detail, but shortly after our conversation started Jason arrived and the conversation continued into a place of real honesty. I was so thankful that no other costumers had arrived and that my bookmark didn't move that afternoon so that conversation was able to happen. Those moments of sharing life with people on a genuine heart level, those are priceless. It was there that my heart was reminded of what I've been reading lately about not only being hearers of the truth but doers. For in the union of those two things, we are not left the same. But to step out in faith seems risky. For it is not always logical, it is definitely not always comfortable. What would it look like to risk loving people well? To risk asking hard questions, to risk going out of your way, to risk feeling misunderstood, to risk not being loved in return, to risk in light of the love that satiates the heart of every believer. In all honesty, I think it's hardly a risk at all. If our hope is secure, our purpose set, our portion enough- the risks I listed above seem to be erased. And in that knowledge, there is such freedom to love well without reservation.

two three.

Welcome to 23 Ash!

I hope your day is wonderful.

Thank you for being such a great sister to me and MC.

Thanks for always laughing with me/at me- we both know how accident prone I am.

Thanks for understanding.

Thanks for loving Christmas time with me (and ALL the ornaments on the tree).

Thanks for trying to teach me how to shoot a basketball.

Thanks for riding skateboards with me down Jane Drive. Sitting down on the skateboard of course.

Thanks for your honesty.

I am so glad you're my sister.

I love you.

Can't wait to see you soon!

a week in my shoes

Somewhere along the way of sharing my thoughts & things, I stunted myself from sharing more often. Perhaps it's been circumstantial, perhaps it's been uncertainty, most likely it's been a combination of the two plus a desire to share something worth reading. Not that my thoughts are more valuable than the next, surely there are thousands of other blogs that spur you towards creativity and a deeper level of thought. But whether I recognize it in the moment or after the moment (sometimes that stubborn resolve causes delay), I'm learning each day and being transformed in the midst of it all to look more like Christ (2 Corinthians 3:17 & 18, Romans 12:2). The seemingly mundane, laughter shared with friends, formative decisions, sleepless nights, and everything in between is part of that process. And that transformation is worth sharing, not because of who I am but because of who Christ is. I know I'm far from having it figured out, but if for some reason you are still clicking over to here read: thank you.

Here's to round 2 of 'a week in my shoes'.