Audra Krell

On Purpose

Archive for the tag “Starbucks”

03 Dec 2010
16 Comments

Last Minute – Really?

IStock_000003354900XSmall

It's 8:00 a.m. on December 3rd. 

In the past 33 days I have:

  • Completed a 55,000 word novel
  • Completed 90% of my Christmas Shopping
  • Kept the boys in clean clothes, daily school and sports uniforms included
  • Nursed a very sick 12 year old back to health
  • Wrestled with faith and fear that my son had a heart problem (It's all good, it's as big as ever!)
  • Made daily trips to the grocery store trying to keep 3 teen boys from starving
  • Consumed 34 Starbucks Chai tea lattes. (There was a day when I needed two. Sue me.)

So on this Friday morning I decided to settle down for a long winter's nap.

Thought I'd check my email first.

When what to my wandering eyes did appear?

An Ad saying "we're down to the last minute here".

I sprang to my purse and tore open the sash

only to find I'm clean out of cash.

Seems I'd been pilfered by a teen herd

but never fear folks, it's only December 3rd!

Seriously, retail giants and elves alike; I'm not buying this (pun intended).

We are not down to the last minute.

I will not succumb to a false sense of urgency. And neither should you. 

Relax and enjoy the season. It's only beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Advertisement
Posted in Boys, Current Affairs, Starbucks and tagged , ,
17 Sep 2010
6 Comments

Coffee Shop Conversations

Thank you to Zondervan for providing me with a copy of this book.

I found Coffee Shop Conversations to be helpful in showing me how to have meaningful conversations with others who do not share my faith. There is a gentleness,a respect and love in their instruction for being in relationship with others.

Early on in the book, the Finchers remind us that "walling people into categories prevents us from loving them." This is true. We cannot love people if we've made negative judgements and especially when we do it within the first seven seconds of meeting them.

Authors Dale and Jonalyn Fincher are doing great work in the area of developing tolerance toward all.

Win a $25 gift card to Starbucks by following them on twitter @Soulation. Let them know you did by leaving a comment HERE and you'll be entered into the drawing.

Posted in Book Reviews, Books, Current Affairs, Respect, Starbucks and tagged , , , , , ,
13 Aug 2010
4 Comments

Back to School Survival

IStock_000011710474XSmall
Well I made it. Monday marked the start of school for the 3 boys. We now have a senior, freshman and freshman in middle school as he likes to call himself. The emotions of "all things back to school" can take their toll, so I have made a handy acrostic to help you survive the start of school. 

Starbucks: Right after the little cherubs are safely at school, hit Starbucks or the like. You will be in desperate need of the ever popular stimulant and its positive effects. Caffeine has been proven to increase attentiveness. You'll want to be awake to watch your chick flicks, read your chick-lit, chew a Chiclet and to just be a chick.

Chocolate: It has caffeine.It prevents chick fits. See above. 

Hershey's Kisses: Little chocolate drops of love and affirmation. See above.

Organize: Your day around chocolate. If you need a reason, see above.

Object: To anyone who wants to tell you about the negative affects of caffeine. Remind her that no one likes a Negative Nelly.

Lava Cake: The perfect meal any time of day. It packs protein,fats, vitamins and carbs into one heavenly slice. Plus it has antioxidants which have cancer fighting properties.

Follow my SCHOOL acrostic or think chocolate and you'll be just fine.

Posted in Boys, Women and tagged , , , , , ,
07 Mar 2010
10 Comments

For the Love of Lent

IStock_000002764178XSmall

When I was young, the season of Lent meant managing my friends. At the end of every February I'd make mental notes like these: 

Don't invite Sally Sweet to spend the night, she's given up sugar for Lent. What's The Love Boat and Fantasy Island without a Big Gulp and a candy bar?

And later as a teen:

Please don't let Tom Foolery ask me out! I heard he's given up fun for Lent.

And then as a young adult:

Better not invite the Legume family over for dinner this month, they've given up meat for lent. Whatever would I serve them, rabbit food?

It was all about avoiding those who were avoiding the good stuff. 

Occasionally over the years I'd jump in and try to give up something, touting my omission to anyone who would listen. Finally I realized that fasting from something wasn't enough, I needed to use that time to privately grow and know God.

So this year I'm not giving up Starbucks (shocker), red meat, or my Crazy Heart soundtrack, rather I gave up my notions of what the Lenten season is. I put away past experiences and ideas and started from square one. I researched, read and prayed about Lent and believe I'm different because of it.

Most noticeably, I've learned that Lent isn't about me and my power to preclude. While it's difficult to enter into this season of sadness, joy always comes in the morning and we will celebrate with joy on Easter. 

We will celebrate God, who with his abilities and power is the only reason I can do anything at all.

Posted in Christianity, Religion, Starbucks and tagged , , , ,

Post Navigation

%d bloggers like this: