Everything Sunny Always

I did a coffee date post last month and I really enjoyed the format so I thought I’d give it another go. I see these coffee date formats on others’ blogs and they always grab my attention because coffee dates and great conversation are like medicine for me.

So let’s have a coffee date…

We might meet at Southside Espresso because I love my friend Sean’s coffee and I always try to support my friends’ businesses as much as I can.

If it’s a sunny day and the breeze is blowing we may sit up on the second floor deck. We’d set our coffee on the giant wooden spool table and have a seat in a comfy patio chair while we chat and listen to the murmur of the traffic below us on busy Westheimer. I’ll probably start with the pleasantries, “How’s your day? What’s new? What have you been up to?”

Then, I’d lean forward and ask you how your heart is doing. Not everyone is always open with what’s really going on in their lives and that’s totally okay, I like to ask anyway. I like to ask questions, not out of nosiness, but out of genuine care. I’ll listen and do my best to show you how loved and valuable you are – because you are.

I’ll be a little vulnerable with you and let you know that I have just come through a rough, emotional two months. I may share a few details but it just boils down to – it was a spiritual attack from the enemy to keep me from forging forward in my calling. He was using my circumstances and my constant mind chatter to keep me from doing what I’m called to do. But God is always so faithful to bring us through the dark times.

I have a deadline for the first draft of my book – July 24th. I go on vacation July 25 where I will sit on a beach in Destin and do nothing. That will probably be the sweetest vacation I have ever taken…a giant celebration for the hard work I’ve done, and prep for the even harder work that’s coming. I’ve already started compiling my reading list for the beachside…and it unententionally includes books that will serve as companions for writing my own. C’est la vie.

I’ve started telling people I’m writing a book. Like, as an answer to the question, “What do you do?” Their natural reaction, as would be mine, is to ask what it’s about. Which makes me realize I need to start working on my elevator pitch – the 30 second (or less) blurb that explains what your book is about but also catches their attention and makes them wanting more.

I’ve been keeping a vision journal. I’ve mentioned that to you before. I write down dreams, ideas, and visions for the future. My notebook is expanding. Have I told you I’m a dreamer?

Big visions, people. Get ‘em! It’s an exciting way to live life.

Did I mention that this cup of coffee I’m having would only be my 4th cup in 12 days? Can I get a high-five for that? Aaron and I are doing the Advocare 24 day challenge and they recommend no coffee. I didn’t stick to the rule strictly but I’m giving myself grace for the 4.

Grace. Let’s talk about that. That’s what my book is about. I’ll give you more details about the book once I have that elevator pitch worked out. But as I’m writing about it, it’s coming alive in my life. Which goes to prove, what we put out is what we receive. If we put out negativity, we live a life of negativity. When we give grace and live it, we receive it.

Something that’s particularly refreshing to my self-critical self, is that grace can be given in the huge things and the small things. I find myself really appreciating my own allotment of self-grace in the small things because there seems to be a ton of those.

For example, I really love sharing photos on Instagram but get stuck in a rut sometimes about what fun pics to post. So I decided to start posting something every day about what I’m thankful for. Well, I’m really hard on myself when I start things and don’t continue them or see them through. Let’s look at a few examples from the past:

The Marriage Bunker episode that’s coming up 3 months ago.
Being a vegetarian for only 2 years, instead of the rest of my life.
Using the dryer as a closet for a week because I never put up the clothes.

Just to name a few. But I decided that it’s not important to post a picture every day – to give myself grace for not doing so. Just use it as a fun way to be creative. What’s more important than a photo is the conscious effort of finding something to be thankful for. And I can do that without plastering it on IG.

A small example of grace. There’s tons of those small examples I’m learning that Grace is the answer to.

Well, I have lots more I can talk about but this summer heat is starting to get to me. Whose idea was it anyway to sit out in the sun in the middle of the day in summer in Houston? Oh right. Me. My bad, yo.

Let’s do this coffee date again soon, mkay? Now excuse me while I go take care of my sweat issue. Hopefully I have more luck than this guy.