Remembering John...

Tonight I'm sad... I lost a friend who I never actually met.

John Breaux was a familiar face in our community. He was an older man who we'd see around town picking up trash, collecting carts, holding the doors at stores, and giving free smiles and hand shakes at my church. John was different... he was bold yet so quiet. I had never heard him speak, and I think all I've ever said to him was "hello". John let people know the best, yet simplest message by writing "Jesus Loves You" in the snow. I was intrigued by this man and who he was.

John was walking on the side of the road with his bike (a usual sight) when he got hit by a car this afternoon. Here's the article on the Daily Camera website.

This simple man touched my life, and I know that my life isn't the only one that was touched.

Compassion, humility, truth, love, kindness, friendship... thank you for being an incredible example, John Breaux.

I can only imagine how eager our God was to tell his son "well done, good and faithful servant" after John's step into Glory.

A dog roasting marshmallows? Awesome.

I put this sticker on the back of my car this afternoon. It reminds me of my dog, Anna. Anna isn't smart enough to roast marshmallows without burning them... but we'll just pretend. It also reminds me of the time my friends Ian and Michael roasted a marshmallow on the biggest stick they could find. Ohhh camp memories...

The cold weather can't keep us inside!

Bjorn and I were getting a little restless being cooped up in the house for 2 days. So, we went digging for layers... and more layers... and even more layers of clothing and walked to the library.




This proves that even the freezing temperatures won't keep us in!


Friends from my Bible study and I got together last night for a "fun night". Welp, the night lived up to its expectations... it was fun! Everyone brought pints of ice cream. I brought Ben and Jerry's Oatmeal Cookie Dough. With all this ice cream talk... here's the recipe to an awesome hot fudge sauce. So good!

Ingredients

• 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate chopped (you can use morsel if you don't want to chop chocolate)
• 1/2 cup very strong black coffee (instant works, just add a rounded teaspoonfull of it to a half cup of hot water)
  
• 3 tablespoons salted butter, cut into pieces
• 4 tablespoons (three turns around the pan) heavy cream
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional... but good!)

Directions

In a heavy saucepan over medium low heat melt the chocolate and the coffee; once melted remove pan from heat and stir in the butter, cream, and cinnamon.

Psalm 139:7-12

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, ^[a] you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

New Year, New Memories, New Belgium.

Don't you love weekends that are relaxing, spent with friends, and full of laughter? And don't you hate it when they're over? That's my current dilemma.

A bunch of good friends and I spent yesterday afternoon at New Belgium Brewery up in Fort Collins... We sat, talked, enjoyed each other, and sampled some free beer. Does it get any better? Really?

I was in an artsy "black and white photo" kind of a mood...

The Hula Hooping in front of the brewery was hilarious...

That wasn't it. Oh no, I got even MORE time with MORE good friends! I was simply... content.

That's right, count 'em... I got four different sauces with my dinner.
Completely unnecessary.

Happy Birthday, Audi!

My friend Andy... He calls me Annie...

Choose joy this week!

...I'm not pregnant...

I'm not pregnant. Which is good, considering my circumstances. But someone is pregnant... my sister in law!

That's right, Quincy is going to be a big sister and Roma is going to be a bigger sister!

Baby #3 is coming sometime in late September.

Be praying for Eric and Danielle as they celebrate and process this big surprise!

Thankful for the weekend...

...yep...

Kevin and I just saw Gran Torino, the Clint Eastwood movie. At first I was a little skeptical... I thought it was just a movie about some cynical old man hating his Asian neighbors. But I ended up liking it -- it was a neat story with a lot of heart. Go see it. Don't bring your kids... unless you want them saying bad words and racial comments.