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A dose of motivation! - http://coffeewiththepreacherswife.blogspot.com/feeds/3553884690244841225/comments/default

[-] Discuss the bold coffee promotion -- are customers taking the sticker books? (I've got mine!) -- or anything else Starbucks-related.

Weekend OPEN THREAD: Let's get the chatter going! - http://starbucksgossip.typepad.com/_/2010/03/weekend-open-thread-conversation-starter-lets-get-the-chatter-going.html

[-] I love the Michael Buble' song 'Home'.  It says so much of our lives over the last few years.  Sometimes it helps just to listen to it.... sometimes, it hurts. 

This has been one of those weeks that seem to never end.  I have not been able to catch up on my housework since we've been back from Oklahoma & Springfield.  Literally.  I thought I was caught up Monday, but then each day my house has just fallen prey to total chaos, and today it is terrible!  Every corner that I clean is cluttered again in a second.  Partially b/c my 2 year old feels the need to constantly be undoing every single thing that I do :)  And, partially b/c I cannot seem to bring myself to FOCUS this week.  At all.  It's bad.  I am not motivated on my cakes for this week.  Excited about one, but I cannot seem to focus and pull together a game plan for it.  I'm so behind right now, that I don't even know where to begin. 

There is sooooooooooo much going on at 'home' right now.  My sister's babies.  It's so easy to paint a rosy picture about how they are, but then I got new photos tonight and it just made things worse for me!  I KNOW what it's like to have a baby in the NICU, and I know that I felt so alone.  So alone.  I feel like I have so much to offer my sister during this time, but I feel like I'm failing from here.  A phone call.  Wow.  My only solace is that I know my God is there for her when I cannot be.  My sister has cried nearly each time I've talked to her on the phone, and my sister is not a crier.  It hurts.  The list continues with issues that I cannot go in to.... my grandma... Derrick's uncle... my brother... Avary... a thousand hits have fallen in front of us in the last couple of weeks and I am not certain that I can continue to put on a happy face while I am hurting to be with my family.  I've always been Mrs. Fix-It in my family.  I can't stand separation and hurt, and I've always tried to be the band-aid.  It is HARD not being there right now.  Hard. 

I know that God is so much bigger than all of this.  I know that.  I feel so consumed by everything lately that as soon as I feel like I finally get through in prayer and am able to stand, then I get knocked down again.  My emotions are getting the best of me.  And yes, I am merely venting.  That's what I need to do right now.  I do not expect any responses, and am not sure that I really want any (ha!) from this post.  I just needed to vent. 

God, give me the strength to f-o-c-u-s.   Give me a peace in knowing that you are in control, and that you are where I cannot be.  Your hands are much bigger than mine, and I am grateful that you offer them to me each day, in which to place my troubles in.  Remind me to place those troubles into YOUR hands.  I love you, Lord, and I thank you for the blessings that you shower down upon me and my family each day.  Forgive me for my complaints, Lord.  You know the needs, and you know my heart.  Be with those that I cannot, take control of our lives, of these trials.  I love you, Father, thank you for your mercy and grace. 

Home - http://coffeewiththepreacherswife.blogspot.com/feeds/2387197027154256322/comments/default

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Mugged: Single Estate Piko's Peaberry [Doi Chaang] - http://purecoffee.blogspot.com/feeds/8529824869315520759/comments/default

[-] Lisa Passe of Starbucks Global Communications e-mails Starbucks Gossip: "Sorry, I am late to this thread , but wanted to clear up the question on tea pricing. In the U.S. customers are charged by the tea sachet – not the cup size. So this customer should have been charged for either a tall or grande (both are the same price since they take one tea sachet). Canada stores charge by the cup size."

Follow-up: Starbucks responds to "Customer complains about 'ridiculous' Venti one-teabag Chai price change" post - http://starbucksgossip.typepad.com/_/2010/03/follow-up-starbucks-responds-to-customer-complains-about-ridiculous-venti-one-teabag-chai-price-change.html

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Starbucks Introduces TRINTA - http://www.coffeesage.com/archives/2010/03/starbucks-introduces-trinta/

[-] Starbucks customers who purchase a brewed bold coffee every week and track their experience through a Coffee Journey Card will receive a free 1-pound of whole bean coffee. A Starbucks veep says: "Highlighting bold coffees provides a backdrop for us to implement the Pour Over brewing method which helps ensure our brewed customers can quickly have a bold coffee of their choice after 12 p.m." ||Read "Starbucks invites customers on a bold coffee journey"

Starbucks' eight-weeks-long bold coffee promotion starts today - http://starbucksgossip.typepad.com/_/2010/03/starbucks-eightweekslong-bold-coffee-promotion-starts-today.html

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CC: Xpresso - http://purecoffee.blogspot.com/feeds/3970860880020575104/comments/default

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OPEN THREAD conversation-starter: Are you satisified with Starbucks' explanation of Howard Schultz's $12 million pay? - http://starbucksgossip.typepad.com/_/2010/03/open-thread-conversationstarter-are-you-satisified-with-starbucks-explanation-of-howard-schultzs-12-.html

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Just wanted to give a little shout out to Misty, who is such a beautiful woman!  I created these 'Beautiful Momma CakeBites' in honor of my sister, for her shower (which had to be cancelled due to her early labor), because she is the most beautiful pregnant woman I've ever seen!  Her body is just perfect; absolutely perfectly round belly.... just amazing! 

Misty, even though we did not get to carry out your shower this weekend, don't worry, you WILL have a shower!  I'm not so sure that the pregnant belly CakeBites will still be appropriate, since you'll be skinny again, but I'm honored to have done them for you, with love!  I love you so much and am very proud of you, and proud to call you MY SISTA!!!!!!  Hang in there, love, the days will become easier with time.  May God wrap you in his wings and shelter you with his perfect peace.... I love you! 

Beautiful Girl - http://coffeewiththepreacherswife.blogspot.com/feeds/6612049624803753208/comments/default