and the Japanese Pickled Cherry Blossom Tea is pretty good

SAKURAYU
ep in pa: have you tried this and do you like it?

Tuesday nights for the past couple months, Drew, an astute English teacher named Judy, and myself have been hosting an open group. By word of mouth, each week about 20-30 bright postgrads and young urban professionals find their way to our meeting spot, a Feng Shui-observing Japanese coffeehouse that's not entirely visible from the university sidewalk.

The folks who come make it a great time. Most are mid-twenties to mid-thirties and smart, thoughtful, representing a spectrum of worldviews. In this area there is a Family presence and a number of student fellowship groups, so we get some of those brothas-n-sistas joining up which makes for a colorful mix.

First, Judy gets everyone talking and acquainted with games. She's an experienced and clear teacher, a true asset to our meeting. Next, I get the tunes rockin, ones they know like Hey Jude and My Heart Will Go On, and bilingual hymns. Finally, Drew brings out the main course with an engaging discussion time. He's become quite adept as a small group facilitator. So we all three exercise our strengths.

Titus, Jon & Mike come along. HOUR ONE we try to keep them coloring, reading, contained at the very least. HOUR TWO Disney babysits.

Keep our Tuesday night group in your prayers, if you would!

I almost forgot to mention, the last picture is from rainy Friday night in our living room. We invited everyone over to watch The Hobbit on a projector screen. See that's a bunch of orcs, dwarves an a hobbit fighting in a forest fire. Smash hit.

counting the graces

thank you Father for

kids playing together kindly, creatively, for much longer than usual

four hours alone in Starbucks to pound out a scholarship application paper and application

candles lit

Drew in a laughing mood, cracking up at everything

realizing an important way to show care in Chinese culture-- go pick up your friend in person

kids eating salad

the most beautiful spring days

a house overfilled with nice people

news of a new baby

preserving a life that was nearly lost
first-ever cup of cherry blossom tea

you keep giving gifts even when I mostly ignore you for awhile