A Yellow Year

So, somehow I have managed to let an entire year pass since my last post. I'll be honest, I know why. There are a few reasons really but the most poignant ones are: comparison and time. Obviously, as a woman, I struggle with comparison. "Other bloggers are so much more interesting than me...they have so much more wisdom or so many more thrilling adventures..." Blah blah blah, you know how that goes.
The other reason is time. Since my last post I have been hired at a new job that is full time. I am now the Assistant Manager at Yellow Dog Bread Company in downtown Raleigh. I simply love love love my job! I get to talk as much as I want, drink really good coffee, eat way too much bread, and give people a warm place to come hang out with friends and family. It has truly been a place where I can love on the people of Raleigh and connect to the community here.
Alex works with me as well. Yes, that's right, you are reading this correctly. My husband and I work at the same coffee shop/bakery. And no, we are not in need of a break from each other.
It has been perfect working with Alex because if we had full time jobs at separate places, volunteered at church twice a month (like we do), AND tried to have meaningful friendships outside of work... I would never see him! So it works out really well to at least be near each other during our work week, so then we don't feel so starved for time with each other over the weekend. Plus, we moved out here to North Carolina to help with a church plant and to do ministry together - if we aren't good at working together then I think we should reevaluate our calling!
Watching the way Alex can act in his gifts with our customers is so touching. He really is pastoral while serving people their daily coffee. He remembers their names, their families and their stories. We were talking just the other day about how he knows his calling is to be pastoral but that being a barista doesn't mean that he isn't a pastor. Just because we aren't full-time staff at a church somewhere does not make us any less effective in ministry by bring bringing the heart of the church to our everyday lives. Alex loves and cares for these people just the same as if he were given the title of "pastor."
It is so fulfilling working at Yellow Dog together because we really do treat it as if we were doing ministry or missionary work there together. I wouldn't trade the connections I've made, the lessons in leadership that I've learned, or the fun I've had over this past year. I want to bloom where I am planted. I want to be known as a hard worker. I want to keep the humility and respect that a barista must have for and towards others. And I want to live a life on mission for God's Kingdom no matter what my vocation title is. In the meantime, we have been so blessed to be given these jobs, I don't ever want to forget that.

Anyways, so that is where I have disappeared to. I have disappeared into a world of drizzling apple turnovers.

 A world of pouring latte art.

 And a world of fun - working with some seriously amazing people.

Oh also, Yellow Dog was recently featured in The Fresh Exchange  - check it out!
And I promise not to vanish into thin air like that again...