A Girl and her Tree - Snapshots

I found a tiny tree,

just perfect in size;

I showed to my shadow,

who quite agreed with me.

The ornaments from Grandma;

reminders of dancing years past;

I found a little corner for it all,

while the vinyl record went 'round.

A graceful dancer struck a pose;

And a reminder of the exciting future.

Frosty waved as he went by,

the little holy manager.

The Greatest Thanksgiving Lesson

The greatest Thanksgiving lesson I've ever learned was this:

Being thankful is a big thing this time of year. And don't misunderstand me, I'm thankful for many things! E.g. 8 days until we get a Christmas tree, 5 days until I see one of my best friends after a long time apart, 39 days till Christmas, 31 days till we've been engaged for a year, and of course, 198 days until...the wedding!! So as you can see, there so much I'm thankful for. But, being thankful inside doesn't show it. 

Actions speak louder than words. Thanksgiving is giving thanks. Giving is an action. This next week leading up to Thanksgiving, I challenge you to show it outwardly to those around you. Tell someone you're thankful for them. Do something unexpected for someone else. Blessings abound, so bless others.

Bailiwick Snapshots

Coffee Shop #3

Salt City Coffee Roasters is new on the Coffee Shop scene. So far everything we've tried, we liked!!

Been there a handful of times...on a mommy-daughter date, and even for John's birthday! Although he got lemonade as he isn't a coffee person. The poor dear.

So much to choose from!

This time mom wanted hot coffee so she had their Costa Rica roast, and I had my favorite there, 'Cuselandia! It is cold brew, milk, and salted caramel. It is quite delicious! I've also had their black cherry mocha which is really good. All in all a great stop when we are near by! 😊

A Letter to Married Couples

Dear Married Couples of Many Years,

Love. Something we share every day. As we begin to make plans for our wedding, and marriage, love is constantly "in the air". I find myself watching other couples enjoy each other and their married life. I used to watch the young ones, the ones who were just married, but more and more I find myself watching you. The ones who've been married for decades upon decades.

Has it been easy? Hardly! Yet you've stuck together through it all. Some of my favorite couples at work have been like this, and they enjoy each other's company. They come have coffee and chat for an hour before going out about their day. One of my favorite couples from church came in for a waffle cone (and lunch!) the other day. Feeling inspired about my waffle cone post, they headed out for a tasty treat.

I loved watching them. Always giving each other their full attention. Holding hands; putting her arm around his waist; sharing an ice cream cone; enjoying the front porch bench. Same at church, he plays the piano and she smiles wide as she closes her eyes to listen to him. He always makes sure she is taken care off. Always looking out for one another. Just being together. It is beautiful.

John has learned that quality time is one of my favorite things. I can tell I'm loved when he just sits there on the couch with me while we watch a movie, or play a game, or I read a book. That's when we have a thought or a question come to mind that spirals into a deep conversation. Some of the time we just figure out how to resolve an issue, or what we can do that is best beneficial to the other.

Love is a subject you could never write enough about. There are not enough words in the heavens to cover all the aspects and facets of love. This is a snapshot of love, the love I'm excited to share with John. Knowing in the life ahead it'll be hard, but every night when the day is done, we can end it by being together. Remembering the love we share by God's grace and glory.

So thank you to you, the older couples I see daily, weekly, monthly, or even once a year. Your love for each other is shown through the time you spend together. I see it in your eyes for your spouse. I see it in the way you put your arm around the other during service, in line, for no reason except to say "I'm here and I love you."

Thank you for your example,

Moriah

"And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."

Philippians 1:9-11

Coffee Shop #2

Today's coffee shop is the Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters! This particular one is at Destiny USA.

So many beans to pick from!!!!

Hmmm, what do I order?

That sounds adventurous! A White Knight, which my handsome knight did not like the taste of when he sipped it. 😉 I did though!!!!

We went back the next day, and found out it was a White Chocolate Mocha. Since it was late in the evening, I got a cup of decaf. Then I asked the barista what her most adventurous favorite flavor shots were, and settle on a decaf with marshmallow!!

Then we added two new kinds to our coffee collection. We love their Blueberry Cobbler. This time we tried Moose Run and Dark Chocolate. Since it was the 9th, we got the $9.99 a lb. deal!!!

All in all, a hit in my book!

Waffle Cones

Sizzle sizzle,

The aroma fills the air.

Waffle Cones are needed,

We have none to spare.

Noses turn to inhale

The sweet aroma,

Stomachs growl at the thought

Of freshly filled

Waffle Cones.

A cup of tea!

After a long day at work, a cup of tea is a nice way to relax. I decided I needed something out of the ordinary, so I went with my new cup and a tea that suits it perfectly.

Now what tea is this? This is my childhood tea. This the tea of Mma Ramotswe and Mma Matuski of The #1 Ladies Detective Agency. This is a tea that'll last through the ages although it lacks the traditional tea leaves. 

So as the evening progressed, I sipped my tea, and felt like a lady with my tea from a (New York!) Master Tea Blender!

Coffee Shop #1

Cafe Kubal on James St in Syracuse is where they really began to rock and roll out their coffee!! The girls, mom, and I went there for coffee and cookies. The kids got chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin, while we got chocolate iced coffees. It was a delicious treat!!!

Journaling Again!

(I apologize for forgetting my blog again! I have some ideas about topics soon!)

One of my favorite things to do is journaling. I've written in many over the years. Words here and there to daily paragraphs to just quick jots. I haven't written much of anything recently, whether through blogging or journaling. Sometimes it is daunting to think of a paragraph to write or how in the world do you fill a page. So when I saw this journal today, I snatched it up!! It is a pocket sized journal with a page a day. You write down your favorite moments from/throughout the day! I am so excited about it! As John and I slowly start planning our wedding, and head towards marriage, I don't want to forget all this time we are enjoying engaged! So I am excited to resume journaling, and hopefully blogging. Remind me if I forget to do either! 😉