Saturday Morning Brunch

This morning we took our bikes to the streets again.  This time on a brunch date (it was brunch because I over slept slept in later than I thought I would). Chris had been telling me (or maybe he was bribing me) about this donut shop he thought was really good and wanted to take me there when we could both bike.

Well, since Chris bought his bike last weekend we decided to make that donut-date happen this weekend. Dynamo Donuts and Coffee was pretty unique; they probably had 10 different donut flavors--all of which sounded amazing. Chris settled on the Chocolate-rosemary-almond donut and I got the apricot-cardamom. I don't think I had every had such a flavorful donut before --and it wasn't just in the glaze, it was the actual donut!

Some of the flavors we didn't get to try were: Maple Glazed Bacon Apple, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip, Sticky Bun, Vanilla Bean, Carmel Apple, and Spiced Chocolate.

It kind of reminded me of an ice-cream shop with the flavor combinations and the line! I'm telling you, anything is possible in San Francisco. And for those of you have not made the trek out to visit us yet, let this be one more reason to get on the plane!

Chris and I have biked together quite a few times over the past week, but today I actually brought my camera. Since I know you are all dying to see what his new bike looks like! So, here it is!

And here we are!

And just in case you didn't believe me when I said I had been biking -- here's proof! 

This morning we took our bikes to the streets again.  This time on a brunch date (it was brunch because I over slept slept in later than I thought I would). Chris had been telling me (or maybe he was bribing me) about this donut shop he thought was really good and wanted to take me there when we could both bike.

Well, since Chris bought his bike last weekend we decided to make that donut-date happen this weekend. Dynamo Donuts and Coffee was pretty unique; they probably had 10 different donut flavors--all of which sounded amazing. Chris settled on the Chocolate-rosemary-almond donut and I got the apricot-cardamom. I don't think I had every had such a flavorful donut before --and it wasn't just in the glaze, it was the actual donut!

Some of the flavors we didn't get to try were: Maple Glazed Bacon Apple, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip, Sticky Bun, Vanilla Bean, Carmel Apple, and Spiced Chocolate.

It kind of reminded me of an ice-cream shop with the flavor combinations and the line! I'm telling you, anything is possible in San Francisco. And for those of you have not made the trek out to visit us yet, let this be one more reason to get on the plane!

Chris and I have biked together quite a few times over the past week, but today I actually brought my camera. Since I know you are all dying to see what his new bike looks like! So, here it is!

And here we are!

And just in case you didn't believe me when I said I had been biking -- here's proof! 

a good clean meal

For Christmas, one of my very best friends gave me a subscription to the magazine "Clean Eating."  I'm not totally a "clean-eater" but I enjoy making good tasting healthy food and the less processed and packaged foods I eat the better.

I've tried a few recipes from my first issue and both were delicious. Last night, I made this mac-and-cheese with broccoli and white beans. And let me just repeat myself and say it was super tasty and quite filling!

Some of the recipes I've come across in the magazine are a little intense (a lot of ingredients) or expensive, but I've been able to find quite a few that are totally do-able on my budget. Looking forward to many more nights of "clean eating."

For Christmas, one of my very best friends gave me a subscription to the magazine "Clean Eating."  I'm not totally a "clean-eater" but I enjoy making good tasting healthy food and the less processed and packaged foods I eat the better.

I've tried a few recipes from my first issue and both were delicious. Last night, I made this mac-and-cheese with broccoli and white beans. And let me just repeat myself and say it was super tasty and quite filling!

Some of the recipes I've come across in the magazine are a little intense (a lot of ingredients) or expensive, but I've been able to find quite a few that are totally do-able on my budget. Looking forward to many more nights of "clean eating."

Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption

A few weeks ago I was reading a blog and came across another blog link to Kisses From Katie, I was curious and started reading a few posts and just had to keep reading. Eventually, I decided I needed to know more and got her book from the library. 

A few years ago, Katie Davis was a high school senior who took a short term mission trip to Uganda. This trip would change her life. A year later, she had moved their, permanently. In the four or so years that she has lived there, she's legally adopted 14 girls, runs a non-profit that provides education, food, and medical supplies to 400 children in area villages. She feeds the hungry, cares for the elderly and takes in the orphan (literally). 

I can't believe that this young woman (who is the age of my youngest sister) has such a solid walk with God. Everything this woman does exudes Jesus. In her writing she comes across as very humble and compassionate but when you are reading her story you can see a supernatural strength and courage. God is truly using one woman to change lives -- she may even change the world. 

Reading a few of her stories reminded me of my time in Africa, and I did start to miss it. She shares stories of meeting each one of her adopted daughters, how her non-profit came to be, and the struggles she had of leaving all the comforts of America to live across the world. Many of the situations she comes across would be hard for me to stomach. But she has this theme through out her day to day life. She just keeps loving those in front of her. And her love is very tangible. She touches, she feeds, she shelters, she fixes, she cares.

I felt a little convicted when reading the book. Guilty that I don't live in a dirt hut and give all of my resources away to help those in need. Guilty that I don't even come close. Guilty that I don't have that kind of deep faith/trust with my Savior. Page after page, I kept questioning, "God, what is my life suppose to look like, what should I be doing?"

I haven't heard His response yet, but I know I need to tell you to read this book. It will help renew your eternal perspective and tug your heart in the right direction of caring for the things God cares for. His story is the story of relentless love and redemption. Katie's story is just one example of how we see it here on earth.

A few weeks ago I was reading a blog and came across another blog link to Kisses From Katie, I was curious and started reading a few posts and just had to keep reading. Eventually, I decided I needed to know more and got her book from the library. 

A few years ago, Katie Davis was a high school senior who took a short term mission trip to Uganda. This trip would change her life. A year later, she had moved their, permanently. In the four or so years that she has lived there, she's legally adopted 14 girls, runs a non-profit that provides education, food, and medical supplies to 400 children in area villages. She feeds the hungry, cares for the elderly and takes in the orphan (literally). 

I can't believe that this young woman (who is the age of my youngest sister) has such a solid walk with God. Everything this woman does exudes Jesus. In her writing she comes across as very humble and compassionate but when you are reading her story you can see a supernatural strength and courage. God is truly using one woman to change lives -- she may even change the world. 

Reading a few of her stories reminded me of my time in Africa, and I did start to miss it. She shares stories of meeting each one of her adopted daughters, how her non-profit came to be, and the struggles she had of leaving all the comforts of America to live across the world. Many of the situations she comes across would be hard for me to stomach. But she has this theme through out her day to day life. She just keeps loving those in front of her. And her love is very tangible. She touches, she feeds, she shelters, she fixes, she cares.

I felt a little convicted when reading the book. Guilty that I don't live in a dirt hut and give all of my resources away to help those in need. Guilty that I don't even come close. Guilty that I don't have that kind of deep faith/trust with my Savior. Page after page, I kept questioning, "God, what is my life suppose to look like, what should I be doing?"

I haven't heard His response yet, but I know I need to tell you to read this book. It will help renew your eternal perspective and tug your heart in the right direction of caring for the things God cares for. His story is the story of relentless love and redemption. Katie's story is just one example of how we see it here on earth.