Mmmm, my current hemisphere (?) looks like this: An oversized comfy chair in one of my favourite colours, lime green, in the "upstairs" of Bean Scene coffee house in Vernon, British Columbia. I stumbled upon the "best coffee house in Vernon" by chance. I drove into old downtown with my Aunt this morning when she came in to work at their shop for the day. All my life, one of my favourite things to do is explore. So, naturally, I wandered around the old streets, lined with artsy shops, used book stores, and fine boutiques with "rare" treasures. When I walked into the Bean, the warm and comforting smell of java beans and wooden-rustic-mixed with rich purples and greens atmosphere assured me I'd come to the right spot! The dread-locked girls at the counter were sweet, and gave me the hotest cup of coffee I've ever had in-house, and a wi-fi network password POUR GRATUIT! (amazing, considering all other coffee shops charged for internet..I'm spoiled in Vancouver ;))
The downstair's layout is a compact space crammed with odly-shaped wooden tables, bar seating at the window, and COMFY CHAIRS. Upstairs is, well, MORE COMFY CHAIRS! Brilliant! They know how to draw people in. It's like being at home but not at home. The long stairwell upstairs is grandiose, lined with an intricately-designed carpet that could have been imported from Persia. The chandelier is something out of a Jane Austen novel. Upstairs is bright and beautiful. There are 3 different coloured walls: A rustic red, country yellow, and royal purple. And then there is the most beautiful table in the middle of the room. A long dark wood (sorry, I know nothing about wood types), with King and Queen-like chairs lined with red satin. Elaborate but cozy?! The windows are streaming in sunlight, looking out over the street, bar stools to sit at. There are a number of little tables scattered around, a fireplace, and a round table (my favourite). All the different coloured chairs have the comfy-factor. I tested them out. (Goldilocks?) Oh, and classical music is playing. Oh gosh, I just overheard a little girl asking her Dad where her pink book went (as she crawls under the coffee table..) Her dad answers (IN A HARRY POTTER ACCENT) "It was blown to smithereens daaahling". !!!!!! It's the simplest things with me...
And, the puzzle piece to fit it all together is a black coffee with cinnomen on top and a delicious book. I did bring my current read: "Jesus amound other God's" by Ravi Zacharias..but, did stop on the way here into two used book stores and bought a mystery novel that I confess, may take the front seat after this blog is done. I love used book stores, and books for that matter. There's something about walking through tightly-packed and narrow isles where books are piled up to the ceiling with every genre and book you could want that gets my neurotransmitters firing. Oh shoot, am I turning into my sisters?! Yes, both Melissa and Rachel would never pass up a pop into a used book store, and it is not unheard of for either to splurge on a few rare books. I'm starting to find the value in it too, though. When you're looking for one used book in a stack of thousands, and have perused too many used book shops to count, it's a fantastic feeling to find the needle in the haystack!
I have a view of snow-capped mountains looking over a valley. I have clothes on my back, money at my disposal, family that loves me, and more time than I've had all semester to do absolutely nothing. I am well aware of how blessed I am, and am grateful for it. Not many people are this "lucky". I think. Or they don't realize what they have. I know God could take all the comforts of life away and I would still be happy. At least I have to be well aware of that and check my heart constantly to make sure I know where my real treasures lie. I've been thinking about that lately, wondering if I value my "things" or "experiences" too much. I've heard a few people say that the way to test if money (or material things) are an idol to you is how generous you are with it. I would say this is accurate. I don't see money or things as treasures to be stored up and valued over everything. I take pleasure in giving away because I've seen over and over how much God has provided for me (and people I know) and given me OVER and ABOVE my needs. He gives me "wants". He lets me play and I believe, takes pleasure in seeing me enjoy His gifts. I do my best to budget and use money wisely, but I also don't worry about not having enough, or spending a little too much on someone else to bless them.
If God took it all away, I would still praise Him. And even more than before. Not to look spiritual, or in the hopes of gaining it all back and more. I would praise Him because He would still provide my needs and because I know He still loves me no matter how much or how little I have. And because He is my CREATOR. And how could I ever worry about what I have or don't have when the maker of the world, who made me, knows me and loves me and has promised to take care of me forever. Who has told me where I will go one day, and reminds me of the reason I am here on earth. In a funny way, when I remember that, everything else seems to fall out of view and nothing seems as important as my faith in Jesus Christ and relationship with Him.
I really, really love today.
(and this is a little capture of my surroundings..)
The downstair's layout is a compact space crammed with odly-shaped wooden tables, bar seating at the window, and COMFY CHAIRS. Upstairs is, well, MORE COMFY CHAIRS! Brilliant! They know how to draw people in. It's like being at home but not at home. The long stairwell upstairs is grandiose, lined with an intricately-designed carpet that could have been imported from Persia. The chandelier is something out of a Jane Austen novel. Upstairs is bright and beautiful. There are 3 different coloured walls: A rustic red, country yellow, and royal purple. And then there is the most beautiful table in the middle of the room. A long dark wood (sorry, I know nothing about wood types), with King and Queen-like chairs lined with red satin. Elaborate but cozy?! The windows are streaming in sunlight, looking out over the street, bar stools to sit at. There are a number of little tables scattered around, a fireplace, and a round table (my favourite). All the different coloured chairs have the comfy-factor. I tested them out. (Goldilocks?) Oh, and classical music is playing. Oh gosh, I just overheard a little girl asking her Dad where her pink book went (as she crawls under the coffee table..) Her dad answers (IN A HARRY POTTER ACCENT) "It was blown to smithereens daaahling". !!!!!! It's the simplest things with me...
And, the puzzle piece to fit it all together is a black coffee with cinnomen on top and a delicious book. I did bring my current read: "Jesus amound other God's" by Ravi Zacharias..but, did stop on the way here into two used book stores and bought a mystery novel that I confess, may take the front seat after this blog is done. I love used book stores, and books for that matter. There's something about walking through tightly-packed and narrow isles where books are piled up to the ceiling with every genre and book you could want that gets my neurotransmitters firing. Oh shoot, am I turning into my sisters?! Yes, both Melissa and Rachel would never pass up a pop into a used book store, and it is not unheard of for either to splurge on a few rare books. I'm starting to find the value in it too, though. When you're looking for one used book in a stack of thousands, and have perused too many used book shops to count, it's a fantastic feeling to find the needle in the haystack!
I have a view of snow-capped mountains looking over a valley. I have clothes on my back, money at my disposal, family that loves me, and more time than I've had all semester to do absolutely nothing. I am well aware of how blessed I am, and am grateful for it. Not many people are this "lucky". I think. Or they don't realize what they have. I know God could take all the comforts of life away and I would still be happy. At least I have to be well aware of that and check my heart constantly to make sure I know where my real treasures lie. I've been thinking about that lately, wondering if I value my "things" or "experiences" too much. I've heard a few people say that the way to test if money (or material things) are an idol to you is how generous you are with it. I would say this is accurate. I don't see money or things as treasures to be stored up and valued over everything. I take pleasure in giving away because I've seen over and over how much God has provided for me (and people I know) and given me OVER and ABOVE my needs. He gives me "wants". He lets me play and I believe, takes pleasure in seeing me enjoy His gifts. I do my best to budget and use money wisely, but I also don't worry about not having enough, or spending a little too much on someone else to bless them.
If God took it all away, I would still praise Him. And even more than before. Not to look spiritual, or in the hopes of gaining it all back and more. I would praise Him because He would still provide my needs and because I know He still loves me no matter how much or how little I have. And because He is my CREATOR. And how could I ever worry about what I have or don't have when the maker of the world, who made me, knows me and loves me and has promised to take care of me forever. Who has told me where I will go one day, and reminds me of the reason I am here on earth. In a funny way, when I remember that, everything else seems to fall out of view and nothing seems as important as my faith in Jesus Christ and relationship with Him.
I really, really love today.
(and this is a little capture of my surroundings..)
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