When "For Here" Doesn't Work

Remember how I wrote a whole post about asking for a "for here" cup? Yeah, me, too.

Yesterday, I went to get more fizzy water. I think I'm the only human that I've met that calls it fizzy water. In fact, that may be the case for the coffee shop people, too. Because when I asked for fizzy water, the lady responded, "Oh, yes! Your fizzy water!"

Which, to be honest, made me quite happy.

I made sure to ask for a "for here" cup. A couple of times. To my dismay, she pulled a plastic cup and filled it with ice.

Despair came over me.

Oh, how sad.

It was too late.

And I had a giant, plastic cup.

And it's not even the composting one!

But. Fret not! This coffee shop, being the best coffee shop in town, allows me to bring my own cup. Let's be honest, though. Most places do that. And usually they give you a discount.

So, I was able to get a refill. Of fizzy water. They didn't charge me because I had my giant plastic cup.

Today, I brought back my giant fizzy water cup. And my cold brew bottle because I almost always get the same things.

And they filled up both. No charge for the fizzy water.

So, folks, I think what we have here is an "official" fizzy water cup. Because, you know, the second R in the 3 R's is reuse. Reduce, reuse, recycle. They're in that order for a reason.

Peace.

Here's my coffee shop view.

Single-Use Plastic

I'm not a big fan of single-use plastic. It makes my heart a bit sad. Maybe a lot sad.

The past two days, I've gone to the local coffee shop (because, you know, local is better) and gotten fizzy water. Learn my joy of fizzy water. Read my previous post. Both times, I made sure to clarify that I wanted a "for here" cup. That means glass.

You see, I struggle with staying somewhere and using a plastic cup. I see no point in getting a plastic cup if I'm staying somewhere.

Anyways, here's my point: if you're staying, ask for a 'for here' cup. Opt for the thing that can be washed. Save some of the planet.

Peace.

Fizzy Water

One of my favorite drinks is fizzy water. Well, wait. The real word is seltzer water. Er, the real name is seltzer water.

This, besides cold brew coffee, is my favorite drink during the summer. No sugar like pop, but more of a "pop" than water.

Also, economically, it's about 25 cents. That's nice.

I'm sure to ask for a real cup to be used whenever I get this at the shop AND I'm sure to not get a straw. It's amazing to be able to help the environment through fizzy water.

Thanks for joining me.

Peace.

Four Hour Blog Post

I wrote this post over four hours. I was able to see Jesus move in mighty ways.

My student did this. It applies.

Have you ever just felt something and not really understood why? I feel sad right now. I’m not sure why. Sometimes we feel things and we don’t really know why. That’s my case. And, you know what? That’s okay. It’s okay to feel things, even if you don’t know why you feel them.

Anyways, that’s how I’m feeling tonight. And that’s okay.

For those of you who don’t know (that’s a lot of y’all…I forget to tell people things), I’ll be traveling to China and Hungary this summer. I’m trying to travel as environmentally and economically and sustainable and minimal as possible. It’s hard, you know? Like really hard.

Oh, and I’m traveling in a hiking backpack.

And I’ll be gone quite a hot minute.

And did I mention I want I have some food problems and need to bring some food? Oh, yeah, that’s a thing.

I’m nervous. Not like in a bad way, just that healthy oh-my-gosh-I’m-traveling-and-nervous feeling. Flights still bring me a bit of nervousness, but I know Jesus is in charge. Language is language (that means…hard to comprehend when you don’t know it). I do know, still, that Jesus is greater.

And I think that may be the root of my sadness. NOT that Jesus is greater. If anything, that is the encouragement to my soul. The nervousness may be the cause of the sadness.

I’m nervous.

But I still trust my great God.

I still trust that I will be taken care of and I need not be afraid.

I’m thankful for the opportunity to see education and help promote language development.

BREAK.

Can I tell you about my great God?

So I was writing this post. Imagine that, right? Contemplating emotions and things because that’s important. Thinking about family and leaving and nervousness and boxes.

Because someone needed to come pick up boxes.

Then she came to pick up the boxes.

I enjoyed her personality, asked her to stay a bit and chat, but she couldn’t.

Bummer. But our conversation made my sadness a bit better and my joy a bit more. It’s amazing how that happens. Also, she chooses to follow Jesus. There’s something to that, let me tell you.

Skip four minutes forward.

Skip. Skip. Skip. Skip.

I get a message, asking if the offer was still open to stay and chat and what my favorite gas station drink was.

Snapple. Always Snapple.

Then my new friend came! We talked about all good things: life, liberty, the pursuit of Jesus. Giving and sharing. Receiving. Life experiences and favorite animals, family and hobbies. For those of you wondering, no, I didn’t ask favorite color. My saddest regret.

It amazed me. It was like Jesus heard my small prayer and immediately answered. He did. What a mighty, humbling, relational God I choose to follow.

Then the conversation ended because you can’t talk until forever.

Notes.

I’m thankful.

I’m thankful that I serve a God who hears my cry of sadness. Even if I don’t know why I’m sad.

I’m thankful for people who follow Jesus.

I’m thankful for people who can speak truth into my life.

I’m thankful.

Peace.