Mornings

Mornings are good. . .that's why we say Good Morning, right?!

Now, not all of you agree because I know there are a lot of night owls out there (almost all of my students), but I'm proudly part of the morning club and here are a few reasons why:

- There's nothing like knowing you have a full day ahead of you

- One of my favorite Bible verses mentions the morning, Psalm 143:8

- Working out in the morning (walks, bike ride, gym, swim) helps me make healthier choices throughout the day and is a great time to pray

- It means I went to bed on time the night before and feel well rested

- Breakfast! I just love breakfast - waffles and bacon with lots of syrup, fresh fruit and scones, Dutch pancakes made for loved ones, so many excuses to have sweets start off my day. . .so much so that I've been know to say that I would serve breakfast for dinner at my wedding one day - we'll see about that :)

But who am I kidding - I usually just have a bowl of cereal, and I'm so content to do so. Lately I've been making batches of homemade granola. After making it 4 times (I can't believe that much granola has entered my tummy!) I've decided it's high time I pass the recipe on to you all. It's easy, cheap, and healthier then the stuff you buy at the store.

So, go to this lovely website for the granola recipe of your dreams. Get creative with what you add. . .I put flax, walnuts, and a mix of dried fruits (cherries, blue berries, craisins, and golden raisins can be bought in one package at Trader Joe's) along with the other ingredients. And I learned after several batches that I prefer to add the dried fruits after the oat/nut mixture has been baked.

Oh, and fun fact - I know Whitney, the blogger and granola maker. . .she goes to my church in Berkeley, is new to the faith, and is such a treat to know!

What is one reason why you like. . .or dislike. . .the morning?

Blake Garden

I was able to pull away from campus for a bit today, so refreshing! I finally made it out to Blake Garden, thanks to a dear friend's recommendation - wow, what a find. Blake Garden is this incredibly beautiful and peaceful garden with amazing views of the bay, about 10-15 minutes from where I live. There are lots of great benches and quite places to reflect on life and the goodness of God through it all. . .at least, that's what I did there! Part of my time was spent reading a page or two in "Desiring God" by John Piper. Here's a quote, that basically sums up his main point:

"Christian Hedonism is a philosophy of life built on the following five convictions:

1. The longing to be happy is a universal human experience, and it is good, not sinful.

2. We should never try to resist our longing to be happy, as though it were a bad impulse. Instead, we should seek to intensify this longing and nourish it with whatever will provide the deepest and most enduring satisfaction.

3. The deepest and most enduring happiness is found only in God. Not from God, but in God.

4. The happiness we find in God reaches its consummation when it is shared with others in the manifold ways of love.

5. To the extent that we try to abandon the pursuit of our own pleasures, we fail to honor God and love people. Or, to put it positively: The pursuit of pleasure is a necessary part of all worship and virtue. That is:

The chief end of man is to glorify God

by

enjoying Him forever."

Lots to chew on, which is what he proceeds to do for the next 300 (eek!) pages. What do you think of the progression of his 5 points? I have seen this to be true in my life. What about you?

In other news, I had so much fun "skyping" with a college roommate who is a social worker with the International Justice Mission in India this morning. Oh technology!

And my parents are en route to Holland right now. Slightly (ok, very) jealous but also so happy for them.

Well, that's it for now. I hope to post again soon, but you know how that goes. Oh, and if you'd like me to take you to Blake Garden just let me know, I'd love for you to experience this Berkeley treasure as well!