Shared Hearts

There's nothing like finding a moldy sandwich in your lunchbox. 

Yeah, it was pretty devastating. 

I may have cried (or exaggerated), but it gave me an excuse to explore various eateries around town. 

I eventually happened upon an "organic" (whatever that means these days) fast food joint. 

After paying a grocery bill's worth for a singe layer burger, Urban Outfitters and I crossed paths.

 I didn't plan it that way-cross my heart! 

Urban Outfitters makes my heart sparkle so much that you'd probably end up blind if you were to perform open heart surgery on me.

But I mean, when you subconsciously end up at Urban, it could very well be sign. 

Of what I'm sure you're wondering? 

Yeah, me too. 

Saffron pants to compliment this rockin'
( or dorky or indie or _________ )
outfit courtesy of the outrageous sale at UO

When 5/5 of your friends are at work, your only option is to rest.
In a field.
Alone.

The more the merrier, and the merrier, the hairier.

-BIE

Alexx sharing his thoughts

Currently going through the book Multiply by Platt and Chan with my darling, Alexx and our good friend Eric. The content challenging as it is about disciples making disciples. For the past month we've been trying to get together once a week but every time we'd gather, all three of us had read different chapters or sections because we rock at communication. So for the past month or so, we'd get some pretty decent discussions going but not much depth from the book since we all read different things. 

                         

But alas! The other night we met at seven o' clock and didn't leave until half past ten! And! What made this meeting different than the others, we all had read or were in the midst of reading the same section and got quite a bit accomplished! We were open with our weaknesses and struggles which was great because between the three of us, we know that there's no judgement and that we have solid accountability. 

So many happenings this week...

I seriously can't keep up with myself.

 Breathe // Enjoy // Live

This is Erika (the girl who took me to Bieber)

She is moving to across the country in a few days for college so I decided to throw her a surprise farewell party! It sounded like a great idea until I remembered how bad I am at planning events and also how hard Erika is to surprise. The day of the event I was making phone calls and while talking to her mom and dad for about an hour, they kept emphasizing how hard it is to surprise this woman because she catches on to everything and has only been surprised once in her life of 20 years...that surely encouraged me to pull this thing off! 

This is my master plan I drafted just a  few hours before the shindig.
Fancy huh?
Everyone was "going to meet at Jack in the Box (down the road from her home)"
after Engage (the young adult ministry I'm involved in).
Abby (who ended up nominating Jess for job because she can't keep secrets) was going ask Erika if they could both stop at Erika's pad before Jack in the box because her car was having "problems" and Erika's dad (automobile mechanic) would conveniently be available to answer any questions.
While Erika's family and Jess were stalling, the rest of us were at Engage pitching in money to get some pizzas and further developing the game plan. 

As we were all driving single file to her house, behind a scooter that maxed at what seemed like 30 mph, I kept receiving messages from Jess saying to hurry! Erika was apparently beyond ready to leave and escape her from her dad who was going on and on about how to change oil. Erika was walking down the driveway when we all pulled up and not realizing that we were a;; there to surprise her she asks me, 

"So, we all going to Jack in the Box now?" and I respond with, "No, we're all here for you now...surprise!" 

We laid out all the food and before I sprinkled the area with pink faux rose petals, I gave her a crown, because if you aren't aware, she has a "sass problem that's offensive in several cultures" and is basically a princess. She was FINALLY surprised (her family was dumbfounded when I talked to them) and 

Mission Farewell Princess Erika was a success. Thanks to all who picked up the immensity of my slack!

My Love and my Spirit Sister

Erika just gets me. She shares in my frustrations, she understands my doubts, she doesn't judge my weaknesses but actively encourages me to seek Jesus in the midst of troubled times.

It's one of those relationships with an inseparable bond first because our love for our Maker and His for us but also, our ragamuffin souls. 

This is sleepy Erika not letting me go.
But when she wakes up and is across the country embarking on a new stage in life,
 I hope she knows I won't let her go.

Thankful for a week of sharing

Shared hearts

Shared thoughts

Shared tears