tuxedos and tennis shoes.

Seattle is a city full of foodies and outdoor enthusiasts. Last Thursday I got invited to an open house event by Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes, a local catering company that my roommate used to work for. Let me just tell you, it was the highlight of my day. They had little dishes set up all over the place, and the presentation was beautiful. Little cups of ceasar salad with the most delightfully tender filets of salmon on top, a seared sea scallop on a bed of corn risotto with thyme, braised short ribs with garlic mashed potatoes, crab cakes with ginger plum sauce, mushrooms stuffed with sausage and herbs, gorgonzola and brie cheeses with tasty nutty crackers, little baby burgers the size of a nickel with cheddar cheese and balsamic onions, vegetarian spring rolls, a bite of mozzarella and basil wrapped with prosciutto and speared with a cherry tomato, and the list goes on and on. There was also wine tasting (I tried a chardonnay, a mélange, and a pinot gris), rosemary lemonade, AND desserts: chocolate mocha cookies, coconut macaroons, and pumpkin cheesecake. What a treat to get to taste all of these delightful little morsels, I tried one of everything! To top it off, they sent us out the door with chocolate chip cookies…this is my kind of place. If anyone is looking for a catering company in Seattle, I recommend this one.

Susie and I got off work early on Friday due to the fact that I had some banking issues to tend to, and once I got those taken care of, I gave in to the pull of the beautiful weather and hit the park. One benefit of West Seattle? Alki beach and Lincoln park are only 7 minutes away (unless you get lost, of course). I ran along the water, and it felt so good to just be out and about! Of course, as soon as I got there the sun hid behind the clouds, but I still enjoyed seeing the ferries come in and out and watching the people (and their dogs, because apparently you’re not allowed in west seattle unless you own a dog). That evening Susie and I worked ever so diligently (…) on our projects, then I made some pizza, crust from scratch! Red bell peppers, red onion, fresh basil, feta, mozzarella, and roma tomatoes. I really enjoy cooking, and we have the same tastes, so we eat together often.

Saturday I woke up to the most beautiful weather I’ve seen in Seattle yet, no joke. I was going to have a productive morning around the house, but the cloudless sky was just too much. Once again, I strapped on the running shoes, this time heading to Alki.

I jogged some and walked some, but mostly watched the people. EVERYONE was out enjoying the weather.

I saw several people on roller blades, lots of kids riding bikes, and plenty of people running and talking with their friends. My favorites were the little old couples out for some exercise, holding hands as they shuffled along quietly. And the two girls that were riding beach cruiser bikes, entirely too big for them, with their feet pulled up onto the seat because they could hardly reach the pedals. I also particularly appreciated this one pair of younger couples, moms power walking in front, dads pushing strollers, each with a 1ish year old boy, a few paces behind. I even caught a glimpse of Mount Rainier!

It's just part of daily life around here.



Fast forward to the afternoon, which I spent working on medical terminology and responding to emails at Uptown espresso. There was a group of people sitting at the table behind me speaking French, and though I know nothing of the language (other than that “plugs” are a type of meat….I think), I enjoyed hearing them talk. Other languages are really beautiful, especially French and Italian. If I lived in Europe I would definitely learn them, though in the states it’s not as practical.

That night I got to see Alki beach by moonlight; the three of us roommates went to this really great little open air Mexican restaurant, right on the water! There’s always plenty of parking along the street, so even in my big car I usually don’t have a problem finding a spot, and have yet to have to parallel park for real. Well, sure enough there was a spot right up in front of the restaurant…next to an open air art gallery packed with people. So here I am in my 4runner, having not parallel parked in who knows how long, trying to fit into this little space. I was going to pass it up and find something more roomy, but Susie convinced me, and when I tried to give up (because everyone was watching me, quite amused, and there was a car behind me looking very impatient) she just kept saying “crank! Crank!!” Sure enough, I made it in, though it’s probably a miracle I didn’t hit anything.

The random thought of the day: Isn’t it interesting how certain songs make us remember certain things? Big Trouble Gone Fishin’ always reminds me of driving to Colorado.  John Mayor reminds me of Neal Pickett, and the freebie Starbucks cd, Playing for Change, reminds me of a day last winter when we were eating at Jimmy Johns and it snowed in College Station. How He Loves reminds me of camp, The Fray reminds me of biking to class, Amos Lee reminds me of Kelsey and Europe, The Robbie Seay Band reminds me of a huge green lawn in Houston and Brian and Clif. Revelation Song reminds me of Kristen, many Chara choreographed songs remind me of Emily, Eisley reminds me of Sam and the commons. Coldplay makes me think of a bridge in the middle of Kansas somewhere, gleaming with golden sunshine. Ray LaMontagne makes me think of Sarah Elizabeth, Taylor Swift makes me think of Tiffany. Hey Juliet and Jack Johnson remind me of Victoria, and of ice skating. I could go on and on reminiscing over here, but you get the idea. Isn’t memory neat??

I’m sitting outside in a skirt and sleeveless shirt as I type this. What lovely weather!

One last little bit.

When I was at Uptown Espresso I just sat and read and thought for a little bit, one of my favorite things to do.

About what? Hoping in the eternal. Considering eternity in the face of the fleeting pleasures of the present, and choosing obedience to the one who has washed, sanctified, justified, and redeemed us. And in that, full obedience (the Langemeiers say to their kids: “Obedience is right away, all the way, in a happy way.”) Obedience is a mark of love, and love is the gift of God to his children.

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you.”

But here’s the best part:

“But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

It’s not a system of weights and balances. We don’t accumulate good works to counteract our sinful ones. We can't! By no merit of our own, as believers, we have gone from a state of eternal condemnation apart from God to one of justification and redemption. By.nothing.of.our.own! We WERE those things, but we ARE NOT anymore. Our identity has changed, we have been given a new one. Because identity isn’t something you earn, it’s something you’re given. And out of our identity flow the choices we make, the hope that we have, the things that we do.

Think about it.

Enough computer. I’m going to enjoy the day outside, sans technology.

Thanks for reading!