Project: Coffee::Gator Nation

Anyone who knows me, will not be surprised at my coffee photo for today - afterall, I might not want to post it tomorrow (we might be eating humble pie with that coffee) - but if I do, there is more where this came from - and an orange mug, too. We'll see. For today - GO GATORS!!!! It's great to be a Florida Gator. (With weak apologies to my readers from Oklahoma and Utah.) =)

The letter for today is "C"...

Coffee - black, at the picnic table by the pond at sunrise.


Caterpillar - beginning to spin her chrysalis in the basket of tomatoes ripening in the garage.


Cicada - shell left behind during molting.


Cardinals - at the backyard feeder.


Cream - a second cup of coffee with cream.
Part II is coming, I promise, but more "cheerful giving" is needed today, first.

Later...

Project: Coffee::Day 4, Part I

Today is a travel mug kind of day. It is the day that my friend Jane and I have the opportunity to minister to an elderly disabled widow by cleaning the home she shares with her widowed son and helping her take a shower. It is a privilege Jane and I have had for almost a year, and an end to this opportunity does not appear to be in site.

I was reminded yesterday that God loves a cheerful giver. I don't think that passage only applies to my money - but to every resource God makes available to me - my time, my energy. It's not always easy to be cheerful about cleaning someone else's toilets - for free - especially when my knees hurt and it is a beautiful morning and I'd love to be outside with my camera. The truth is I can't always be cheerful on my own. Sometimes I need God to pour cheerfulness into my heart for this divine appointment He has given to me.

I have so much more I want to tell about that travel mug, and my widow friend and coffee.

Later...

Project: Coffee::Day 3

I admit it. Day 3 looks very much like Day 2. Even the coffee is the same.

I actually didn't intend to take a coffee photo today. It just happened. It was late this afternoon before we returned home from church and an afternoon of shopping in "the city." While putting away the groceries, I brewed a fresh pot of vanilla macademia nut coffee, and with my iPod (music this time) and camera I headed for the backyard swing.

I had hoped for a visit from the painted bunting. I settled for a photograph of my favorite New York City Starbucks coffee mug and my new and favorite and only iPod instead.

Our youth pastor gave an excellent and challenging message to the church today. Afterwards I told him that he had reinforced the Francis Chan messages I've been listening to, and he told me that his message today was inspired by Francis Chan's teachings on the church. Cool how that happens.

Tomorrow...

Project: Coffee::Day 2

I do love my new iPod nano. I bet I've listened to 5 hours of podcasts today.

As much as I enjoy music (which is a lot), right now I am appreciating my iPod more for the podcasts I can download. Last night and today I listened to several excellent teachings by Francis Chan (pastor of Cornerstone Church in California) as I tackled chores, took walks down by the creek, or just sat with a cup of coffee.

Emily introduced me to Francis Chan's teachings quite some time ago, but my laptop is down and the audio on my desktop is wacky. Hooray for iPods.

Have you listened to any of the messages in Chan's "Living a Life that Matters" series? Wow. I stand both convicted and inspired.

By the way, the coffee is Hawaiian Blend Vanilla Macadamia Nut (fresh ground) with sugar-free vanilla creamer. Mmmmmmm, mmmmm.