over a cup of tea

garbage talk

agoodcup — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 22:22:40 +0000

Moving is a busy time but taking breaks is crucial and a good excuse to keep a blog from extinction. Please excuse the random ramblings.

Looking for useful distractions from kitchen packing this morning, I called the City to take care of some moving details. When I was transfered to Solid Waste and Recycling, I requested a small garbage bin for our next home. The helpful person on the other line seemed sure that it is not the size I want. She started explaining how small it is… asked if I realize it’s about one third of the regular bin… etc, etc. She sounded concerned that I would not have enough room to dump my trash! Wait, she doesn’t even know we are a family of six, lol. I had to assure her I know how small it is, and that we’ve been using that size for a couple of years now. She still didn’t sound convinced, but since I have the last say here, she obliged and said, “well, you could always call us when you change your mind.”

I also requested recycling bins, and yes, I had to reaffirm that I would only be needing two. It would freak her out if I tell her we don’t fill our tiny trash bin to the top.

Which gets me thinking, how much trash do we accumulate on a weekly basis? Are we really entitled to creating so much waste… because we pay $$$ for it to go away? But is there really an away? Does it not bother us because it magically disappears on the curb?

Would we still create this much waste if we have to take it to the landfill ourselves? Or if it stays in our backyard?

When the next blog whim comes along, I’d like to mention some things we’ve done to lessen our impact, say goodbye to much junk, and minimize trash. In the meantime, I have some cleaning up to do. Moving is a lot of work, but also quite exciting.

lazy composting

agoodcup — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 22:04:15 +0000

To compost or not to compost, that was the question.

As renters, there were issues to consider, but for me there was one other thing: the red worms. Sorry, just not ready for them (nor have I convinced the other half.) Yet I always get this nagging feeling when I toss produce peels, tea leaves and other compost worthy items in the trash can.

Imagine my excitement when I found out that there is a bicycle-powered composting service right here in Minneapolis. Naturally, I signed up right away. A couple of days later, the materials I needed were at my doorsteps. Now I am a proud composter! The family is on board, which makes me really glad that the kids can participate in the process. Thank you, Randall, for providing this kind of service to a unique market. VeloVeggies, you make my kitchen dwelling easier… and much greener!

declutter ramble

agoodcup — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 00:24:16 +0000

Earlier today, a nice couple picked up what used to be our love seat. Freecycle anyone? We now have an empty spot in the living room that the kids were just excited to claim their own. Not much later, the little boy woke up from nap and asked, “Mommy, where’s couch?” Argh, I couldn’t make him understand. Yet. The piano is next. My husband and I both agreed to who it’s going to. It would be a blessing to a musical couple who’ve been dreaming of a piano in their living room for their little boy’s sake.

Coming up is our third move in four and a half years and in the process we’ve definitely let go of a lot of what we used to own. Two years ago we gave away bigger furnitures and a whole lot of other stuff, and we’ve never looked back. We moved to a smaller house, and never missed a thing.

Surveying the boxes stacked in the basement and more books in the garage made me realized we still have a lot of um… stuff. Therefore, the decluttering continues. Recently, we found out we have to move again… two years from when we settled in and made this house our home. The purging continues, but this time it is truly ruthless. Who wants to haul around boxes of things that would barely get used (if ever) anyway?

Layers and layers have been peeled off. It is so liberating not to be attached to things. We are learning and being sharpened in the process. For what, we don’t know yet! We are more excited in this journey than ever before even when the future’s details are not yet unraveled. As long as our God is before us, we will walk confidently and not fret.

to truly live

agoodcup — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 18:53:32 +0000

Don’t know about you beloved, but I am so done with life lived half-heartedly for God. Me, making “good, sound” decisions apart from Him. What does it truly mean to die to self and live for Christ? Can it be done without it being uncomfortable?

So here’s me ernestly seeking God in every area of my life. For the ideal living I desire does not exist apart from Him. And the daily To Do list? I am scrapping that for a better one:

always seeking God, in all things.
starting the day with: here I am Lord. Send me.
exercising gratefulness.
tapping into love, walking in it.
practicing compassion.
meditating in His Word, hiding it in my heart.
glorifying Him in all I do, even in my thoughts.

Beloved, this is my time to shine.

kimyal new testament launch

agoodcup — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 23:50:06 +0000

I was simply overwhelmed as I watch this video. How many versions of the Bible do we have access to? How many Bibles do you have at home? It is so easy to be casual about it, isn’t it?

God, that I may never take Your precious Word for granted again. Let me meet Your written Word with such zeal every morning.

Oh, beloved, we have so much work to do! How many more tribes out there long to read and hear God’s Word in their native tongue?

Kimyal New Testament launch in Indonesia from United Bible Societies on Vimeo.

hello again

agoodcup — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:56:49 +0000

been feeling this tug to blog again for a while now, but life has other priorities.

this time, it is strong. i better get it started, or else i’ll never know.

so here goes. yet intentional.