Cold Brew Coffee

Cold Brew Coffee has become my newest obsession. 

I've tried to drink black coffee, so many times. 

I know, I sound like a whimp, but I can't. I know I physically can, but I don't like it one bit. 

But, cold brew. 

THAT'S a different story. 

I can FINALLY drink my coffee black. 

What is cold brew coffee?

"Cold brew coffee refers to the process of steeping coffee grounds in room temperature or cold water for an extended period. Cold brew coffee is not to be confused with iced coffee, which generally refers to coffee that is brewed hot and then chilled by pouring over or adding ice"

I've had a few people ask me how we make ours so keep in mind, these measurements are just for what we have/use to make ours.

We have a French Press, like this one here.

We use whole bean coffee--365 Brand from Whole Foods "Pacific Rim, Vienna Roast" it's a big ole bag for about $10. One of the better deals that we've found.

We have a grinder like this one here--one of our most used wedding gifts--we grind the beans for about 10-15 seconds. This ends up being about 4.5 tablespoons (1/3 cup) of ground coffee (not finely ground).

Then, we pour the grounds into the french press and fill it with 4 cups of water. We just use the filtered water from the refrigerator.

Once you've put the water in, we give it a good stir and then put the lid on but don't press down the filter. Just leave it at the top.

Put it in the fridge overnight and when you're ready for your coffee in the morning, give it a little stir/swirl (this helps it to press down easier) and then press the filter down.

Get you a cup with some ice, pour your cold brew over ice and enjoy!

Surety

I would say that most of the time, people see surety as a good thing.  

It can also be vague & sometimes even a little confusing though.

Yet, surety is what I have. 

Surety that The God who loves me, love this little boy just as much. 

Surety that He has a plan and that all that has happened, is part of that perfect plan. 

 I should probably give you some back story. 

At least, as much as I can. 

The school district I work in is considered "low-income" and with that description, I've come to realize that it carries loads of situations that are heartbreaking. 

Things that I couldn't even imagine living through/enduring currently, as a 26 year old adult, that these little 7-10 year old children encounter on a daily basis. 

This IS life to them. 

This is all that they know. 

My field trip I take my kids on is the biggest outing some of these kids will take each year. 

The free/reduced breakfast & lunch they receive may be the only meals they have that day. 

Most of the time, their homework is done incorrectly (if done at all) because no one at home helps them do it, even though that's exactly what they need. 

What are supposed to be pants are wearing as capri's because their parents can't afford to buy new pants when their current ones get too short. 

One starts to realize just how much we, I, take for granted. 

It's an awful lot and it shows just how ugly my little worldly heart can be. 

Those are just some of the things that we see most often. 

Then, there are days like almost 2 months ago where a student comes into your classroom and you see bruises on them & your heart stops and you feel it in the pit of your stomach and you know. 

Maybe you've thought it in the past, but now, now you know. 

"God knows what He's doing" is what one of my assistants always says and she's right. 

She's so right. 

Surety. 

The moment that little boy was removed from his home, it was like a lamp was lit and he was the happiest, most joyful child I've ever seen. 

He was so loving, which he had always been, but in a new way. 

He was free & he knew that he was safe, finally. 

But, then, only 13 school days later he was back in his environment. 

The stress, fear, and anger were being expressed by him again and in full force. 

Once again, "God knows what He's doing" 

Surety. 

And then today, not even a full 2 months since this all began, he was withdrawn from our school. 

No longer can we know that he's safe at least 8 hours of the day, no longer can we ensure that he laughs, a lot. No longer can we make sure he's getting his breakfast and lunch. No longer can we hug on him and tell him we love him. No longer can we watch him run off the bus and into our classroom. 

Here, right now, there's so much uncertainty.

Just like the last two times, once again, she said it: "God knows what He's doing" 

There it is, the surety. 

After hugging him goodbye and watching him walk away, with his head turned towards the school looking at me the whole time, I felt such a deep rooted sadness. I knew that he didn't fully understand what was happening and I no longer know who would speak on his behalf. 

I felt such a heaviness the rest of the day. 

Then, my Mom sweetly reminded me of Dad's sermon on Sunday. 

A sermon that is fitting for all situations, but great to remember especially for this one. 

"Our God is in the heavens, He does all that He pleases"

Psalm 115:3

This sermon prompted me to ask the question: "What hasn't changed since all of this began happening with this student?"

Our lives are ever changing and we never know how/when they will change. There is so much uncertainty, and that we can be sure about (ironically so).  

But, because of what The Bible says; what realities can I anchor my life to in this lifetime, on this side of heaven? 

1. The reality of the absolute sovereignty of God. 

Once again, "Our God is in the heavens, He does all that He pleases."

"according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will" (Ephesians 1:11)

From the greatest evil that was ever devised by men, came the greatest good--the death and resurrection of Christ. 

Sometimes His sovereignty is mysterious and confusing, but He is good. 

My significance, my security, my identity, my purpose, and my hope in this life, is Christ alone. 

My little student's significance, his security, his identity, his purpose, and his hope in this life, is in Christ alone. 

He is absolutely sovereign & absolutely ultimate. 

Praise God for His sovereignty. 

As my assistant so confidently says, "God knows what He's doing" and that we can be sure of. 

Join me in praying for this sweet little boy and all that he has endured already in his short life and all that he will endure in the future. 

Here's to you, 2015.

2015 has been a doozey.
According to Merriam-Webster, a "doozey" is something that is "unusually good, bad, big, severe, etc." and I feel like all of those words are fitting for this pervious year.
So many things have happened--good things, even some great things, mixed with some mundane and even sad things. Through all of these "happenings" I am thankful that The Lord's mercies are new EVERY morning and not only each year & that His grace is sufficient for people such as me.

Rather than sharing resolutions with you, I want to share some of the many, many blessings that The Lord stowed upon us in the last 365 days.

January:

What better way to start off the year than going on this girl's bachelorette trip to Nashville!

It was so fun ringing in the New Year with this group of friends. 

March:

 Amber & Evan's Wedding at the beginning of March

I helped host my first big wedding shower

Jason & I were a part of the Easter Cantata at church

April:

We celebrated this lady on her bachelorette trip to Orange Beach

 I had my first experience doing true yard work!
Other than cutting the grass, I've never done much of anything yard related.
Cat, my Mom and myself took a full morning-afternoon to spruce up our yard and I have to say, I really enjoyed it. It was SUPER HARD and quite a bit of work, but those end results are so worth it.

May:

 We celebrated God's goodness through Lakeland Presbyterian's 25th Anniversary!
This was such a fun day celebrating all the The Lord has done through LPC and how it's grown so much over the past 25 years.
It's so neat because we've been there for 20 years now so we've actually seen/been a part of the growth of this church--this is home, this is family for us.

 This link will take you to a really neat video one of our church member's made for the celebration

Pastor's of the past & present

This year, on Mother's Day, Mrs. Emily went to be with Jesus.
This woman was something else. I am so thankful & blessed to have known her.

My sweet husband got Employee of the Month for the PPSD

Mary Claire graduated from Nursing School

We celebrated Blair on her bachelorette trip

This long time bestie of mine got married

June:

Our annual Ship Island trip to celebrate our Coco!

Aaron & Blair got married, finally ;)

On a fun side note, we went to a total of 13 weddings this year alone--and were even in some of those. 

July:

Thanks to a few generous women in the church, I was able to start my new hobby, cross stitching

 Jason's 2nd Annual Griswold Family Beach Trip

Celebrating my 26th Birthday

August:

I started my 4th year of teaching & Jason started his 5th.

I got braces, for the 2nd time.

 We enjoyed a weekend in Memphis for the Moon River Festival--it was amazing!

September:

Mary Claire and I participated in The Walk to End Alzheimer's in memory/honor of our Dad's Mom, Innie.

Marked 3 years since Jason & I had our first date at this same restaurant

This sweet previous student of mine came to visit! Highlight of my school year.

October:

My handsome hubby celebrated his 37th birthday

3rd Annual BYOP & our first Halloween to actually be at our house. It was so fun having Trick-or-Treaters! Our neighborhood Trick-or-Treated on Friday night because the weather Saturday night was supposed to be terrible

We went to our first wedding held on Halloween Night

November:

We killed it with our Chewie & Darth costume for the Reformation Celebration at church

Jason & I celebrated our 2 year anniversary
(picture is from our honeymoon before we swam with dolphins)

 We got this sweet little Mia girl.
The day after Thanksgiving we rode to Brookhaven and got our first dog!
A little toy poodle.

 She has been a lot of work but so much fun.
She's becoming more and more enjoyable each day.

 Not to mention, she's adorable.

That face!

Oh, and she loves herself a good something to chew on.

December:

We participated in our 2nd Christmas Cantata at the church

 Christmas Eve Service at the church

Our 3rd Griswold Family Christmas together & the first year to have every. single. person. there.

It was fabulous. 

As you can tell from all the pictures, we had a year!
I am looking forward to 2016 and all that it has to bring.

I'll end this post with Scotty Smith's prayer from his blog "Heavenward":

 This is what the Lord says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Jer. 9:23-24 (NLT)

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of a new year, and thank you for all the grace you lavished on us in the past year. There wasn’t a day you didn’t send new mercies and sufficient grace (even when we ignored them); and you steadfastly delighted in us, even when we delighted in anything else but you. Because of Jesus’ finished work, your love for us is irrepressible, immeasurable, and inexhaustible. It’s also the passion and power you use to make us like Jesus. We worship and adore you, for so great a salvation.

And now, in response to the words you spoke through Jeremiah, this is our prayer for the upcoming year. May it be a year filled with getting to know you better and better, and serving you more and more passionately. The lust for praise and power, riches and relationships, comfort and control will be unrelenting. But Father, we want intimacy with you to seize our hearts, schedules, and energy.

May knowing you—in renewed and fresh ways, compel us to love mercy, work for justice and walk humbly with you this year. May we dance and suffer, work and pray, serve and love, all to your glory. Pour out your Spirit in our churches, and give us an invigorated love for our particular church families, as messy as they may be.

May we live each day this year confident of your great love for us in Jesus, surrendered to your sovereign purposes and providences, and filled with longing and hope for the Day Jesus will return to finish making all things new. 
So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ merciful and mighty name.

Reads for 2015

Since starting this post on Jan 5, 2015 I have only been able to read 12 books!
If you know me at all, you know this is about half the amount that I would have like to have read. But, that's life--and right now, life is busy, busy, busy.

(Each book entry is made to where you can click on the title and it will take you to Amazon.com where you can order it if it happens to interest you!)

"On The Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness: The Wingfeather Saga Book One" Andrew Peterson--Oh my! Just the beginning of this enchanting, four book series. Here we have a set of 3 children, 2 brothers and a sister who live quite the ordinary life. Yet, adventure comes and they find that there's much more to their quest little town and family.

"North! Or Be Eaten: Wild Escapes. A Desperate Journey. And the Ghastly Fangs of Dang. (The Wingfeather Saga Book Two)" Andrew Peterson--Just as with most series, this one was better than the last! This one is full of ups and downs and great adventures. In order to survive, the Igibys must flee to the safety of the Ice Prairies, where the lizardlike Fangs of Dang cannot follow. Along the way, they encounter monsters, thieves, and the Fork Factory. Janner & his siblings learn though, what conquers all.

"The Monster in the Hollows: The Wingfeather Saga Book Three"  Andrew Peterson--So far, the third book is my favorite one. Oh my goodness! There are some parts in this book (which I just can't share because I want you all to read them) that had me in tears, parts where I was laughing out loud. I just get so captivated by this story! It never fails. I have high, high hopes for this final book.

"The Warden and The Wolf King: The Wingfeather Saga Book Four" Andrew Peterson--What an end to a series! This book had me weeping at the end of it. It was such a beautiful picture of Christ and how he fights for us and how he wants to save us, at all costs. READ THIS SERIES!

"Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe: A Daily Guide to Scripture-Based Prayer" Sharon Jaynes--I bought this book because I wanted to spend a month intentionally praying for Jason. This was a great guide with some really good points. Each day, you literally pray for your husband from head to toe, in different ways that all have scripture that coincide. I really, really enjoyed it. I actually ended up using it again for another month.

Percy Jackson & The Olympian's Series by Rick Riordan
Yes, yes another series--it's my OCD kicking in! This one is so fun and easy to read--I always loved Greek Mythology growing up and that's one of the main things that drew me to this series. I guess in some way, you could say there's some mini history lessons throughout these books ;) In all honesty, this series was almost a little too juvenile, but I did enjoy it over all. I will say, they progressively got better as reading on!
The set includes:
The Lightening Thief
The Sea of Monsters
The Titans Curse
The Battle of the Labyrinth
The Last Olympian 

"It Starts with Food" Dallas & Melissa Hartwig
If you've heard of Whole30--this is where it came from. This was a very insightful book. It had very easy to understand explanations of why/how certain food effect our bodies. I really learned a lot from them and tackled the Whole30 and felt amazing. It's definitely worth a read and a try if you want to gain control (emotionally, physically, psychologically) over the foods you eat and feel better than you've felt in a long time. It's been awesome.

"Teach like a Pirate" Dave Burgess (not pictured)
This was our summer reading for school (as teachers) and it was such a great book. Dave Burgess has it together and his outlook/insight on teaching and education just made me want to run and hug him. I loved so much of what he had to say. Not only that, he gave a ton of real-life, applicable ways to implement his ideas into any classroom. He really got me thinking. It was the perfect book to read to start off my new year with my kiddos.

Out of all of my reads for 2015, the Wingfeather Saga was my favorite. They were SO GOOD & appropriate for children and adults a like. If you want a fun, entertaining read that has a deeper meaning for the adult readers, you'll want to snag these books up ASAP!

My goal for 2016? Double my reads from 2015!

My reads for 2014 list can be found here.