Sweet Dreams

I like Pinterest,

because it puts pictures to my dreams.

Newest dream...

have a cupcake cafe.

Because you can't be

stressed & bake at the same time.

Adventure

I'm craving one.

Pictured Perfectly.

I used to picture my perfect job:

working at home,

sitting at a finely decorated desk,

with a large screen computer,

staring out my window at a picturesque setting,

writing.

Comfortable,

safe,

using my talents.

But God has been challenging that lately.

With so many needs,

injustice,

persecution.

So many helpless,

so many lost.

Maybe He's calling me to the streets

instead of a life of shelter;

to a life of active advance,

instead of to a life of quiet retreat;

to a life of community,

instead of solitude.

to a life that makes so very little of me & my talents

in order to make much of Him & His glory.

Matthew 28:19 haunts me.

"Go and make disciples of all the nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you."

Sick.

Yesterday I drove an hour (without getting lost, thanks to a talking GPS!)

to spend the morning with my grandpa.

He had been thinking about what we should do for the day,

so he took me shopping. Antique shopping.

You've probably guessed it by now.

My grandpa is dying.

I mean, we all are,

He's just on a fast track.

(But then, he always was-he's an amazing runner).

But that's the most amazing part.

You would never know.

He is the most positive, lovely man I know.

He spent the day giving to me.

Gifts, time, macaroni and cheese,

A running watch.

An article about running back when he was in in the KC Star

(told you so).

And I spent the day memorizing,

the way he breathes when he hugs me,

his arm in mine,

his singer's voice.

If you need a book to read,

Read "Tuesday's with Morrie."

And when you're done,

you'll understand.

In the meantime, pray for my Grandpa.

The leukemia has moved to his right lung,

and he starts chemo again Monday.

A Hobby of Mine.

I love to read.

Give me a book, some juice (I'm trying to lay off the coffee), and a head lamp (really great for camping&reading I found out), and I'll be content for hours.

Or I like this combination, too. A book, a swimsuit, water, and a towel. That's a good one.

Or...A book, a blanket, bug spray, and the Heritage lake. Probably my favorite.

So far, this is my summer reading list. Some are purely for fun, others out of duty, and others because I have to for the Gateway class I'm mentoring. Ready? It's lengthy.

1. House Rules, by Jodi Picoult. I already finished it, and absolutely LOVED it.

2. Keeping Faith, by Jodi Picoult. Again, finished. I read this little guy in 2 1/2 days.

3. So Long, Insecurity, by Beth Moore. I'm halfway through this one, it actually pertains to reality.

4. Once a Runner, by John L. Parker Jr. I bought this one from Borders, which is a big deal. I couldn't resist the words from a writer at Runner's World. He said, "The best piece of running fiction around. Beg, borrow, or buy a copy, and you'll never need another motivator." I was sold.

5. Emma, by Jane Austen. It's a classic, enough said.

6. Grimm's Fairy Tales.

7. Cry, The Beloved Country, by Alan Paton. For class.

8. College Matters to God, by Rick Ostrander. Same as above.

9. The Maltese Falcon, Dashiell Hammett. Class.

10. The Mirror Crack'd, Agatha Cristie. Again.

11. The Bar on the Seine, Georges Simenon. And again.

Well, that's the list for now.

If any of you readers know of a book that you loved, and think is list-worthy...tell me!