Alright folks - I still don't know who that coffee cup was from.  Please tell me - I know whoever you are, you read my blog, because you knew to have that inscribed on it.  I love it and constantly wonder who it was from... you are so thoughtful, and wonderfully mysterious, but please now tell me so I can give you a HUGE hug (hopefully - assuming you're in this state) and tell you personally how much your gift means.


Tonight, the words are hitting me all new again - thank you for keeping them constantly before me - God, let my love for you cast out my every fear!! Give me a love that tastes of courage.

Truly feeling so spoiled, and loved. :)

My very first Glassy Baby. 

"Tradition: to transmit, to hand over, to give for safe-keeping."

Thanks to Kim R, I now know garnets (my birthstone) signify eternal friendship and trust.  And their name comes from "granatum" meaning seed.  I love that.  

Thank you Kim, I'm laying here just staring at it and re-reading your card. Your friendship has meant the world to me for years.  I'm such a lucky gal.  :) 

I'll be 25 in one week. :)  

TWENTY-FIVE!? 

It will be a good year.  And a good day.  The end of much and the beginning of more.

"Brown paper packages tied up with string." 

(still not a "Christmas song")

Rosemary Grace,  I think you should make this. :)

(Toni - aka Rosie - sewed me a very pretty cross-stitch of my middle name a number of years ago, I've treasured it ever since.  And if you've been in my room, you may have noticed it on the shelf beside my bed.)

My evening: The Sweet Life in Paris (thank you, Esther), and a cup of hot chocolate. The perfect way to ease an aching body. :/

Humbling: He gives away freely, something more costly than anything I have ever earned, owned or deserved. 

Love. Grace. Freedom. Redemption. Relationship. Intimacy. 

The hours are winding down to my architecture midterm and I have dozens of buildings yet to memorize, so this will be short.

I must say though, I got so blessed today. Court started my morning off by giving me a beautiful mug she'd bought me. Worship was wonderful. The message today was the Word of God straight to my hungry heart. And then Kate Hallstrom walked up to me with a bag and handed me a blanket. I couldn't even believe it. She said "I think of you whenever I look at it, it's yours." You see, it sincerely is the most incredible blanket... it is beautiful, and cosy and everything wonderful wrapped up. Every time I have come to their house of the past several years I have told her how wonderful that blanket is. And the store she got it from stopped making them.

So blessed. Yesterday morning at work too, all my favorite regulars came in... one who doesn't come in all too often, but I just love seeing his face. I'd told my manager as we were opening, "I hope Brett comes in today." Several hours later, my face lit up to see him. THEN, he came back in, brought his wife and children so I could meet them. John, a weekday morning regular (my other favorite) came in- I've NEVER seen him come in on a Saturday. Another regular (we see him every day), brought his little daughter in and on their walk she picked me a Pussy Willow branch and brought it back in to me. Little things like that just seemed to light up my whole morning. I am so grateful for all these amazing little gifts I've been receiving.

Thank you ALL.