Food, friends, and an adventure...

Tonight my friends the Gelbands and I ventured to the River Market area in downtown Kansas City to try the Blue Nile restaraunt. It has great reviews online and is fairly popular. I've never really had any African food other than West AFrican cuisine so wasn't sure what to expect. I went into this adventure thinking it would be rather tasteless and bland food. This turned out to be a rather false stereotype. I'm not sure where I got that idea from but it was proven completely wrong tonight that's for sure. The flavors were very pungeant and strong and very tasty.We ordered the sample platter and shared it 3 ways with some to spare.

My personal favorite was the lamb which worked out well since the other two friends I was with didn't share the same love! Another specialty was their fresh juice. Bob and Megan got the Mango juice which I did try and it was fabulous. My mouth waters just thinking about it's tasty goodness! I branched out and ordered the ginger pinneaple juice. It was good and reminded me of a similar drink in Mali at the San Toro restaraunt that was Da and Ginger juice. Love that burn going down! I would totally order this beverage again but would be hesitant to suggest it to someone else unless they'd had a ginger drink before. 
Then it was off for an after dinner walk down to the river. It was fun to explore and take random pics of the setting sun. I couldn't get over how fast the water was moving and swirling.  Guess they don't call it the Mighty MO for nothing! 

Megan and I reenacting the sign we'd just read about Lewis & Clark.

                                      The Gelbands...my neighbors and friends.

                         Thanks for painting such a beautiful sunset for me God.

   Your work is beyond words.

Time spent with friends is never wasted time. Thanks for the fun memories Gelbands!

Because I can...

Today I woke up without an alarm...just because I can.
Today I only chose to spend 2 hours at work...because I can.
I had a leisure lunch and chewed and savored every bite...because I can.
I read a fiction book and drifted into a fictitious world while laying by a clear blue pool...because I can.
Today I checked email and facebook in the middle of the day...because I can.
I excercised in the middle of the day and  peed more than once in an 8 hour time period...because I can.
Today I went to the grocery store in the evening because I wasn't too tired from the days events...because I can.

Today marks the last Friday of Summer 2011. It's been a good day!

A prayer

Psalm 5:3  In the morning You hear my voice, O Lord; in the morning I prepare [a prayer, a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart].

I have confidance that He hears my voice, desires my prayers and will speak to my heart. I will navigate through my day with boldness knowing I have given Him control.  This is part of that whole "letting God all the way in" thing. (See grattitude list 3 #613.)

What others perceive as nothing...

A friend recently made a statement that I can't seem to get out of my mind.

We were all gathered in the living room, stomachs full from sharing a meal together and engaging in quiet conversations about the week. The hi's and lows...Joyful laughter sprinkled in our joking and sharing of life. 

We discussed how not much is written about Jesus during his childhood. We know he was left at the temple when he was 12 and spent time listening and talking to the priests and rabbi's but from that time on until he turned 30 and started his ministry, there really isn't much recorded. That's when the statement was made...and my heart heard this message again. The message that seems so hard to understand and get through my thick headed, "I have to work to prove myself" mentality. 

"While alot isn't recorded about Jesus childhood we know He was learning and growing and preparing for great ministry. You may be in a season where it appears to others as if you are "doing nothing" but it is okay to be in this place. This place holds value and is a time when God trains, and teaches and encourages us."

It is okay to be in this place. YES, YES, YES!  It was almost as if God was saying, Brooke, I've been trying to tell you this the past few weeks. It's ok to relax and be still. Spend this time sitting, being, and basking in all things Me.

What others perceive as "nothing" is you and Me.
This makes me smile! He wants me....prideful, selfish, cracked, broken me to come and sit...to be still and find him in every moment.

The Love Tank...

This summer I'm filling the "love tank" back up.   I don't know how to teach and not pour my heart and soul into the lives of those kids. I can't separate teaching without showing them love daily..it starts at 8:30 when I greet them at the door and is a constant throughout the rest of the day. It appears in the form of a smile, a gentle response, a pat on the back, a high five, a compliment and a way to improve, a reprimand spoken not shouted, and a lesson on being truthful and honest each day.  The more kids you put in my classroom, the more love I automatically pour out. I have no say in this matter...it's just simply how my heart works. 

This is rewarding but tiring work!  I read one time that a very high percent of teachers throw in the towel before their 10th year. I remember laughing at the notion of people giving up so easily. Oh to take back those words and thoughts and see it for what it truly is. In my 23 year old naievity, I had no idea the kind of journey I was about to embark on.  I've dealt with everything from abuse, homelessness, druggies, alcoholic families etc. You name it..I've probably brushed shoulders with it.  I was talking to a friend recently and she said, "How do you do it year after year?" And I responded... "How can I  NOT do it? How can I not be an influence for positive change? What if I'm the only one who responds to them this way or greets them and smiles at them each morning reassuring them of their value?

So, this summer I'm filling up my love tank so that when August 17th rolls around I'll be ready to pour out once again.

Forget the Fear...

I recently read the following words on Holly Gerth's blog and couldn't help but want to share it. It resonates so deeply with me.  Courage does not mean the absence of fear....it means pursuing  your dreams in spite of your fear! There is hope in this..even for me.

4) Forget the Fear. Sometimes we think we're "Waiting on God" when really we're just waiting for the fear to go away. Here's a hint: It's won't. The enemy will tell you that courage means the absence of fear as you move ahead. It doesn't.

Faith means feeling the fear and moving ahead into into God's will anyway {remember Jesus sweating drops of blood before He went to the cross?}

http://www.holleygerth.com/

Grandma Trip 2011...

I didn't waste any time this year in getting into the "Summer Vaca" mode. The first weekend in June I packed up the car and headed on a road trip with my mom to see my grandma who lives in Anoka, Minnesota. It's a quick 7 hour drive straight up I35. It helps that there is an outlet mall on the way...yes, we stopped. Yes, we found some great deals! but the purpose of this post isn't to digress into what amazing shopping deals we secured so I'll continue documenting the grandma trip details.

Everything about grandma's house is well..just perfect! She has lived in this apartment for 21 years. (I can't even imagine being in one place for that long) She's got this quiet, calm contentedness about her that runs through the core of who she is. She's got the softest skin and a smile that lights up any room. We laughed until we cried and talked about the good old days in Africa. I asked Grandma about how she fell in love with my grandpa and was mesmerized by what a great love story it was. I loved hearing how God changed her heart and made her ready for such a great adventure to Africa. How lucky was I that they came and lived in Mali and we got to see them growing up?!?!!


While grandma is in a transition phase of life and preparing to go and live with her son Gary at his house...she maintains a positive attitude, is embracing this change and is at peace. I'm so happy she has a good place to go where she will be getting some good care and attention. And now she'll have someone to play skipbo and scrabble with instead of playing by herself. It's a WIN/WIN situation!