We sit at Starbucks now in the mornings. Read our bibles, blog, drink coffee, talk, and laugh really loud. The people at this store don’t know my name yet. I bring my own coffee because I’m cheap. But they know us. Well, they know Liz & Laura. The sun is pouring in the windows, warming the table and creating a glow around us as we study. People trickle slowly in and out. Soft jazz tunes fill the store creating a tranquil yet lively atmosphere. It’s such a great way to open the morning.

I’ve been reading Ezekiel. I don’t really know why. It just seemed to be the book I should study next. He is an amazing guy. Super brave. Super obedient. I came across a few verses today that made me think of a conversation I recently had with one of my friends about confronting people who are making bad choices in their lives. It’s so hard to confront people. At least for me. Especially when they are making sinful choices and don’t see anything wrong with them. I’ve been there. Believe me. I have made my fair share of really bad choices. Would I have responded differently if I had people in my life telling me I was wrong? Living in sin? I don’t know. Maybe.

God sent Ezekiel to confront the people of Israel who were rebellious and walking a road towards destruction. Ezekiel was my age when God called him. He says when God put him in this situation he was overwhelmed. 3:15 I sat among them for seven days – overwhelmed. God had a plan and Ezekiel, although confused and encumbered by the task in front of him, was obedient. Confrontation is HARD, God knows this. But He explains why it is so necessary.

3:19 But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.

3:21 But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you will have saved yourself.

The warning is needed. The result is not guaranteed. But as each verse promises, you will save yourself. When we fail to warn people in our lives, God holds us responsible. James reiterates this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. (James 5:20)

This doesn’t make it any easier for me. It doesn’t resolve my friend’s situation. But it does provide some answers. Warning them is the right thing to do. And even if they do not respond to and heed the warning, at least you will know that you have done the right thing. And who knows, maybe a confrontation is just the thing they need to get them back on the right track.

Me, Sue & Liz outside our house in Kansas 🙂

Some quick pics of the ombre yellow cake I made for Christopher & Susan’s reception right before I left NY. I also made Guinness, Carrot, Tiramisu, & Wedding White cupcakes!

Well, I am here in Kansas. Not exactly sure why. Sometimes I feel like I woke up and decided on a whim to move somewhere, and picked Kansas. It feels weird. I feel out of place. Or really just like I am a fun vacation with Liz & Allie and will get to go home in a few days. Back to my comfy bed, my puppy, my family, my friends, and my places to go.

We drove for 3 days and stopped to do many fun things in-between. We visited our dear friends Allie & Joel in Indianapolis, explored that city for a while then moved on to Elkhart Illinois where we stayed with Rob & Sarah and had a fabulous time. From Elkhart we visited St. Louis and went up in the arch and went to some great places there. Then we finally got to Kansas City. It is so far away here!

We unpacked, shopped, explored, went to a Royals game, made it on national television, cooked, ate, shopped some more, and just have been enjoying our fun time together. I do like it. I think it will take a while for me to get used to it. I like our house and Sue & Liz, my roomies. We have three big trees in our yard, oak, sycamore, & maple. We live on a hill. I didn’t think Kansas would have hills. We live near a miniature pony farm. I fully intend to ask them if I can walk their ponies down the road. How fun. There’s a cute little puppy who lives next door, and three annoying schnauzers on the other side. They never stop barking.

Today I made homemade mac & cheese, pumpkin spice cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and bought mums to plant all around our yard to give it some color. Its been raining and cool, so it feels a bit fallish. It will be back to 100 on Monday, so the fleeting fall feeling will be over. Tomorrow is church and then Allie will go back home to Rochester. I think that’s when it will become real.

I didn’t get placed at a Starbucks, but they are using me as a floater until a space opens up at a store. Its a little annoying to work at lots of different stores, but it will be a good way to get to know all the stores around here. And I have 40 hours next week so that’s a blessing. I’m looking forward to working again. It will at least be something normal!

I’ll take some pictures once it stops raining. Miss everyone back in NY! Come visit me soon!

I’m leaving in 3 days! Really 2 1/2. As the time gets nearer, I’ve been thinking about all the places and things I will miss the most. I put together a compilation of my top favorite all time things to be/do in Rochester NY.

1. Javas

2. Public Market

3. Esan

4. Owl House

5. Lake Ontario

6. Little Theater

7. Garbage Plates

8. Abbots

9. Old Toad

10. Apples & Cider

11. My puppy

and Papa 🙂

This week is craziness! Trying to see everyone to say goodbye. Its bittersweet. I am so excited to be moving, but so sad that I won’t be seeing many of my closest family and friends for a long time!

Today we met my grandparents, aunt, and my mom’s cousins at Stoney Brook. We grilled tons of food (mostly fake meat ick), ate a lot, hiked a lot, and talked a lot. It was fun to spend time with everyone.

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I’m packing. And unpacking. And re-packing. I have no idea what things I want to take with me and what I want to leave behind. Every time I un-pack, I throw more things away or give more things to goodwill. It feels good to be purging, but I am overwhelmed! My room is a disaster of different piles, most of which I don’t know where they should go. Pray for me! Only 5 more days to go!

Wow. Moving is insane. I am a planner. I like things to be known. Certain. This deal, moving to Kansas, has been anything but predictable. I feel like I am doing my best to be wise and do what I feel like God is leading me to do, but I am having such a hard time trusting him and I am so stressed. I have a place to live. That is certain. I have no idea what to pack to bring. Today I got my transfer with Starbucks approved, but I haven’t been placed at a store yet, so I have a job, but I don’t know where. The District Manager wants to put me in one of the busiest stores to see how I do because she would like to promote me back to manager. Which is awesome. But also intimidating because their “busy” stores make about $36K/week and our “busy” stores here only do $24K soo…that seems insane to me. I have no idea how to work at a $36K store! Oh and one more crazy uncertainty, my car died today and I will be buying a new car this week to take with me to Kansas. Insane. So yeah, quick update on my life and the state of things pre-moving. I really just can’t wait to be in the car driving towards my next chapter. The time between now and then seems so daunting because there is so much to get done, figure out, pack, plan etc. Overwhelmed. But peacefully so. God has opened every door, wider than I imagined, so I know that He will somehow give me the strength to get everything done.

Patrick & Virginia’s wedding was beautiful and amazing. The weather was great. It was out on Canandaigua Lake. The wedding was perfect, the reception was fun and the after party was EPIC. We danced the night away and then laid on the dock watching the meteor shower, drinking wine, and smoking cigars. Perfect ending to a perfect day! Here are a few pics from the day.

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