Bird, Bag, Bike, Boneless Chicken...

Well... gotta say it's been a good one.

I saw a crow pick up a whole chocolate chip cookie in the parking lot today and carry it off... that was

impressive. But it also started a chain of events...

I walked into the classroom of one of the kids I see on Thursdays. Now I want you to think of your favorite smell... I can say my favs are clean laundry and yellow cake baking. If yours is the permeating, intoxicating smell of cookies baking... close your eyes and imagine what I must go through every Thursday. Yes... Every Thursday is Bruin Bakery day and I fight to keep from buying a warm bag of cookies. They make it hard... first the nostalgic smell and then the "cashiers" are just the sweetest kids. I couldn't resist today. Darn bird.

After work I purchased a friend. I think she will be with me for a long time to come. She will give me confidence and style. She will carry my heavy burdens and protect my treasured possessions. The one that proceeded her was eaten... by a ravenous dog (names have been changed to protect the innocent... but ALLY is completely guilty so I'm throwing her under the bus). I was in a long time of mourning... There were none who could replace her. But then I spotted her today... I almost took out an old lady to reach out for her. We walked through the store together and bonded. She is perfect. I almost buckled her in when we got into the car. But she assured me she would be ok. On the drive home, I daydreamed of all the places we would go, the things we would see together. It's the beginning of a wonderful thing.

Feeling a little crummy after eating 3 chocolate chip cookies so I decided to go on a bike ride. Guessing it was about 7 miles. I didn't quite make it to the beach that I wanted to get to... maybe someday I'll make it all the way there (and back). Made it through Robinson Preserve... it's absolutely gorgeous there.

Then I made dinner (didn't really ask for a play-by-play, did you?) I modified this recipe. I didn't have all those chicken breasts... or much mozzarella (I used string cheese)... or frozen spinach (I used fresh). But it is DEFINITELY a recipe worth trying! Only 410 calories for a dish that is smack yo momma good (except my mom... that's rude).

Why all this non-sense? I'm really impressed if you read the whole thing... I would have skipped most of it myself. But as I sat down tonight to reflect over my day I thought, "It's all meaningless..." That is, without the one who gives us meaning. Maybe I got a little over-zealous over a bag, I was tempted by a nasty bird, and indulged in 2 (ok, 3) cookies. I had a great, beautiful day today. But my life has no life without Him. At the end of the day, when I lay my head down I can be assured that there is a God in heaven that loves me more than I can fathom. He is jealous for my time and energy. Not like middle school crush kind of jealous. Like crazy love... like make you do crazy stuff just to be with the person of your affection. He Loved... He gave (John 3:16).

So... here you go. Crank up your speakers and indulge in His love for you. If you feel far away from God, if it's been a while since you talked to Him, if you don't even know about this whole God thing, if you think God is this big cosmic police officer ready to taser you because you have been bad ... I dare you to explore who He really is. I pray that you'll begin to get this insatiable hunger to know more. If His love is an ocean... we're all drowning.