warm water

warm bed. warm hands.

warm thoughts. warm sand.

warm water; in a glass, not a bath,

no, no ice, it’s plenty nice

just warm.

cold water sweats and 

warm water gets cold;

lukewarm is consistent,

doesn’t make my brain freeze

or tongue blister. if you please,

i like my water warm.

cold is refreshing, true,

if it doesn’t crack a tooth

with climate change and

lukewarm won’t cool me down 

but i know it can swish around 

my mouth with ease.

hot can be cozy, can relax,

until one sip too hot, too fast

and everything tastes like ash for days.

lukewarm won’t warm me through 

but it’s safer than being burned to

crispiest crappy you’ve ever seen.

“i’d rather you were either 

cold or hot, instead of neither

here nor there.”

and i’m scared 

because cold means sweating 

and hot means playing 

with some kind of heat I

probably can’t handle.

warm bread. warm butter.

warm cookies. warm supper.

warm water; 

it’s familiar, not the best

it’s the middle of the rest

i guess

i’m scared of going all in 

to find that

cold warms up and hot cools down 

and in order to maintain

i have to change,

consistently choosing discomfort.

i like my water warm.

warm breath. warm breeze.

warm coffee.  warm sheets.

but warm life?

warm life...

not cold, not hot,

just meh. maybe not.

recently taken

(Tribal Cup with Marty and Andy)

(Anna and I tied for the win in an ugly sweater contest. Plot twist, I actually had no idea there was a contest.  I genuinely thought my sweater was cute.)

(Some of the faces I get to work with every day.)

Basic November Thinking

I’ve been reminded of how much God actually, really, truly loves me lately. (Which means I’ve had a lot of reasons to be thankful lately, but it’s November and my inner non-conformist can’t write that sentence without cringing and imagining poorly drawn turkeys.) 

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been given more little notes and food presents than I thought possible.  Honestly, that statement is true of this entire semester, though. My sweet friend Lydia left a note in my backpack to tell me how God’s light and peace has been especially evident in my life this semester. Another friend, Maggie, gave me a card filled with encouragement.  Someone else, who chose not to leave her name, left boxes (YES, PLURAL BOXES) of Larabars on my desk with a small card that brought me to tears.  I’m overwhelmed because I know I don’t deserve any of this, and God continues to show His love for me through the people around me.

For whatever reason, He has blessed me with more community than I ever asked for that show me love in ways I have never experienced.  It’s a constant flood. Between the girls living on 4th floor with me, to the mentors that open their home to me, to Tanner and even some of his friends...guys, I feel like this crew of Christians is beyond anything I could imagine and it doesn’t even touch Heaven!

God continues to teach me, too.  My class is just wrapping up classes on Theology and 1 Corinthians. My last paper for 1 Corinthians was on head coverings and, can I just tell you, it rocked my world.  I’m finally beginning to understand and wrap my head around the concept that the Biblical metaphorical headship of a man “over” his wife does not contradict the concept of equality.  Being created as complimentary beings does not place one sex over another. I love it!

Anyway, that’s where I’ve been at for the last chunk of time.  ✌🏼