Monday, October 26, 2009

A Cozy Relationship

A rainy, gray, cloudy afternoon
or
A sunny, blue sky, crisp afternoon?

You think the choice is easy right? Of course you ALWAYS choose sunshine and blue skies. It always makes for a better day. Welp, not when it comes to my cozy relationship I'm about to let you in on.

Do I have your interest now? What relationship Lindsey? And cozy at that?! Facebook doesn't say your "in a relationship".

Welp friends scoot on in closer and I'll let you in on a little secret :)
We've known each other just over a month. My neighbor, Jen, introduced us.
It was love at first sight.  The first time we hung out wasn't ackward at all, we actually spent the entire day together! It's only gotten better and better every time! We usually see each other 5 to 6 times a week. I can't get enough! OK so are you ready to know?! I'm sure you're dying to see a picture! Well, lucky for you I just happen to have a few!









This my friends, is Remedy. A coffeeshop run by Knoxlife Church located on W Jackson Ave in Old City. You see, I lived in Sweden for 2 years before moving to Knoxville. In Sweden, I found a cafe on literally every corner. Since moving to Knoxville I've been on a mission to find a cafe comparable to the ones of Sweden. From friendly folks, great direct trade coffee, incredibly comfy chairs with chill music provided by the barista's own ipod this is my new home. The aesthetics create a sense of hominess and warmth. I'm reminded of the old TV Show "Cheers"... this is a place where "everybody knows your name".




The tagline for Remedy is...
Coffee is good... Coffee and Conversation is better.
I totally agree.
My drink of choice... a hazelnut latte. My nook of choice?
For Conversation with friends the red chairs pictured below. They're in the back and super comfy.
I've had a great time over the past several weeks catching up with old friends and having incredible conversations with new ones.

On another completely different side note: Just behind those chairs is a big open space where Knoxlife Church meets on Sundays. However, a couple Fridays ago it made for one glorious game of Monopoly with some super fun folks I'm blessed to call friends!








Now this, is the heart of my "cozy relationship". I affectionately refer to it as the "upper room". This is my nook with the Lord. It's a small loft area above the barista counter. You can reach it by walking up the stairs found in the back left corner of the shop. I always sit in the left big ol comfy chair you see. I literally lose all sense of time up there (like I've had to start setting an alarm on my phone if I have somewhere to be). Reading the Word, Journaling, Worshiping the Lord through music, or better yet just sitting and listening to the Lord... this is where it happens. Here, it doesn't matter what the weather is outside. The rainer the cozier, the bluer the sky the home-y-er :)

I will warn you... this relationship is NOT perfect. The biggest problem being I often come here with the intention of being productive. It rarely happens, because with every person that walks through that door comes a friendly smile and a unique story.

I am blessed to hear many of these stories. More often than not, I leave Remedy with a heart filled to the brim and a to-do list with nothing checked off. I'll take it everytime. And this my friends, is my cozy new relationship. I would love to introduce you personally. Just let me know when you are free :)

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

My Sis is getting married!

Many of you may know my younger sister, Allison. This summer she got engaged to a great guy, Mike Brooks. The wedding is planned for next summer.

This past weekend all of us (mom, dad, bro, bro's gf, sis, sis' fiance, cousins, etc) all went to boone, nc for Appalachian State's Homecoming. Friday night we had girls' night... pedicures & dinner together. Then on Saturday my sis and her fiance and I set out at 8:15am on to take Engagement Photos. It was super fun! It makes me wanna be a photographer even more so.

I found a great Bed & Breakfast hidden up a random street in Boone. We took most pics there. Then a few downtown at a red brick building and then lastly ended up at the house I found with a fence I liked. Here's a few of my favorites.....














Monday, October 5, 2009

Hook?

Those who don't know, I'm at home in Hickory, NC raising support with Campus Crusade. Lord willin' it will be quick and I'll be back in Knoxville at the University of Tennessee's campus to continue doing what I love.

But today I'm in Hickory. It's rainy. My dad's at home sick from work. I'm sitting downstairs with him working on thank you cards which he's watching TV. We come across a classic, "Hook", with Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman. I used to LOVE this movie! Yes, me and my dad started watching it.





As I watched, I quickly realized I STILL loved it!
Here's why...

I love the classic war of good & evil.  I love the adventure in the movie of Peter remembering all the things of NeverLand. Remembering what it was like to be Pan.... imaging food (which turns into a food fight.. awesome), learning to crow, and most importantly finding his "happy thought." I love that the lost boys have no care in the world. They have faith in Peter Pan. They follow him with complete abandon.

It makes me think of my relationship with the Lord and these two passages....

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:1-4

"At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. " Luke 10:21

How often I can get caught up in Theology and breaking down every part of a verse to "understand" the God I serve more. Now while I enjoy that and know there is without a doubt, value in it, I think often times I can make it too complex.

It's crazy how the Lord can use a movie of fairy tales to remind me how He desires for me to just run to Him... to trust Him with faith as a child would their parents when they were younger. Before the "real world" begins to distract. Oh that I would love & trust with reckless abandon...

Thanks Father

Juicy and Delicious; These are some bite-sized morsels of my life in Sweden.