I would love to be able to just sit down and write something profound. I would love to have the ability to put my thoughts into comprehensive and gramatically correct sentences. Eish I think I've been out of school for too long. There is a small yearning for the smell of new text books, the excitement of opening to the first page of a fresh notebook, and the stress of forcing the brain to be more creative and intelligent than it has been in a long time.

Then I hear about friends' episodes with university and realize that maybe I'm still doing okay with pouring tea and making strangers smile.

But it's not just about making tea, pulling shots, and baking fresh cookies and cakes at 6 am. I've learned that it takes a lot to begin your own business. So much thought goes into the preperations that one can find themselves in something quite like a maze. There has been blood, sweat, bruises, and the asking of "what are we doing?!" Yet beyond all that the laughter echos louder, the relationships grow deeper, and the experiences become wisdom.

My parents are cool. Just thought I'd throw that in there. They are probably two of the best people to work with and learn from. It still baffles me to think that we're opening a tea house within the next week, but hey. Life isn't life if you aren't prepared to change direction.

I still don't know what I'm doing with myself. Do I feel odd for not being in school yet? Yep, sometimes. Do I miss Africa? All the time. Do I want to travel to other remote places of this earth? Of course. But for now, I think God is making a spot for me to fill here in Fernie. It's a thought I really struggle with, but if He wants me here then there's no better place to be. It's just a matter of convincing myself of that...

So come by the tea house for a drink (man I could make a list as long as the Elk River of people I wish who could actually come by). I won't be able to cite Shakespeare, pages from an encyclopedia, or write even the simplest blog without error, but hopefully the love of Him will seep through this broken human, and you'll leave with a smile on your face.





In other news: I'm playing piano for a wedding that is tomorrow (ahhh!), the kids' Christmas play at church is being performed in three weeks (the leader and I still are trying to figure out who's a shepherd and who's an angel), I'm fully enjoying the new Yamaha grand piano at church (the Lord takes away, but He also gives!), and... Fernie Tea and Coffee House will (hopefully) be open by next weekend!!!

Love you all and miss you... no matter if I just saw you a week ago or if it's been over a year.