This morning we all woke up early and saw my housemate Sarah off to the next chapter of her adventure and then, since we were up, Ashley and I decided to go to Amelies and hang out for a while, drink some French press, and eat some yummy treats.  Since Ashley is also moving in a week I have jumped at every possible chance to spend time with her.  It’s sad to have two such dear friends and house mates move away but I am so excited about what they are going to do that it is hard to be sad for long.  I just know that I will miss having them involved in my every day life.  But really, if we’re all going to live these crazy amazing lives for the Kingdom then we’re probably going to be spread all over the world, that’s just how it works.  Thank God for technology that allows us to stay in such close touch and still semi-involved in each others lives even from a distance.    And for planes, trains, and automobiles to take us to visit.

I’m learning more and more that a big part of life is treasuring the people who are around you in the moment and then releasing them to move on when it’s time, hoping that they do the same for you, while still loving on and supporting them from a distance as you are able.  It is so worth it to invest our hearts, lives, prayers, time, laughter, encouragement, tears, money, time, energy, enthusiasm, time, conversation, trust, and ideas in the people around us.  Yes I know I said time three times, it is a big investment that we choose to make.  Such investment makes parting more painful but if it wasn’t painful would we really love each other?  And it all makes Heaven so much more sweet to know that there is a place where we will never be parted again.

On that note, yay for awesome French bakeries that have (of course) french press coffee and some delectable gluten free treats!  Oh, and beautiful light, let’s not forget that.  To give you the complete ad, they are located in NoDa and open 24/7.  It doesn’t get much cooler than that.

This was Ashley’s treat of choice, a Key Lime Tart. My mouth is watering just looking at the picture.

And my treat, succulent Almond Tea Cakes (made with almond flour) in almond and lemon flavors.

I made her put on her glasses indoors because I wanted to get one of her with those sweet aviators in this amazing light.

We were journaling and hanging out with Jesus, comparing Bible translations, and just being together, it was quite pleasant. (this is a fun picture I took on my phone – my fingers look SO weird! – I thought the reflection in the French press was sweet)

My friend Caitlin joined us after a bit (I didn’t manage to get a picture of her then but this is her from the 4th of July).

Then I headed off to another coffee shop – Rush Espresso – to meet another friend for the afternoon.  I got there a bit early and ended up eating lunch there and working for a while before Kay arrived.  This was my delicious lunch – the very dill-y chicken salad, I think it’s called the Perth as a sandwich but they are so sweet and modify it for me.  I love the people at Rush, they are just grand.