What We Do

My Dream Dinner Party List

“Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers, the believers and thinkers, but most of all, surround yourself with those who see the greatness within you, even when you don’t see it yourself.” ~ Edmund Lee 

I've been working on a Dream Dinner Party List for a while now.  This shouldn't surprise anyone.  You already know I love lists....bucket lists, 30 by 30 lists....you name it.  So I heard about this idea that you make a list of the 10 people who you would invite to your dream dinner party.  You know that I couldn't pass this one up.  Here they are, in random order.  I may have gone over the number limit.....whatever, it's my dream dinner party!

Cardinal Timothy Dolan.  This was the name that I revealed last week in a Friday Letter.  I love Cardinal Dolan.  ND Friend has met him in person, and when I think about what I would do if that happened, I honestly believe I would either faint or throw up on his shoes I would be so nervous and excited.  I absolutely love the way that he represents Christianity and Jesus and at the same time seems genuinely happy and funny and full of joy. 

My grandfathers.  Both of my grandfathers died before I was born.  But I can only imagine the kind of men that they must have been based on the children they raised--my parents, aunts and uncles. 

Both sets of grandparents on their wedding days

George Strait.  Pretty sure he's on the list of every girl who has ever ridden a horse or listened to country music.  I can only hope that he would be awesome enough to say, "Sure is good" just like he did on Pure Country, while eating a piece of bacon.  My life would be complete.

Bob Goff.  You guys have read before about how much I love this guy.  He's someone who is out there doing the good that needs to be done in the world.  He's crazy enough to believe that he can make a difference, and he does it.  I think he's the perfect dinner party guest.

Pope John Paul II.  My love for Pope John Paul II started when I was in high school "helping" one of the Hepburns with his book report on the Pope.   I remember being really upset and felling like I knew him when he passed away, and the amazing site that it was seeing his tomb at St. Peter's Bascilica in Rome. He just seemed to be so kind and caring and generous and such a great example of loving others.

Michael Jordan.  I know he's a has-been, but listen here, my 10 year old self will always love MJ and the rest of the Chicago Bulls.  He's a legend, and anyone who wants to try and and compare him wiht Kobe or LeBron can just jump in a lake.

Coach Gundy.  So I could ask him for a job.  Obviously.  Plus, he's super hot.  And he's a man.  He's 40.

 Gran and Mr. Franklin.  I was talking last week about how along with my parents, these two people had the biggest influence on my life.  I miss them every single day and think all the time about how I wish I could tell them one more thing or as them one more question.  Add to that that they were two of my favorite people in the entire world, and it is clear they were going to make the list.

Michael Phelps.   Yea yea, I know that he takes stupid pictures and apparently has a bit of a drug problem and I'm sure he's not much of a gentleman when it comes to his love life, but he's the most decorated Olympian ever. That gets you a seat at my party.

Mr. Right.  Apparently me finding this dude in real life is more complicated than I ever thought it would be, but if he showed up at my Dream Dinner Party, I would then be aware of his identity and could go track him down the next day!

Little Cowboy.  Because seriously, I think he's the funniest kid that has ever lived and the thought of seeing him go toe to toe with Bob Goff or Cardinal Dolan pretty much makes my day.

Now it's your turn.....who is on YOUR Dream Dinner Party List?

Friday Book Club: January Books

Well my 2013 reading list started out with a bang.  Not only did I read three, count them, THREE books this month (it's a record) but I loved each and every one of them!  I hope the rest of the books I've got on my to read shelf for this year are going to turn out this well!  Linking up with Friday Book Club today to share my January reads with y'all.

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller

Well you already know that I loved this book because the author, Don Miller, is friends with my boy Bob Goff.  Sigh.  Some guys have all the luck.  Anyway, this book is all about Don's life and how instead of just floating by while sitting on his couch, eating pizza and playing video games, he decided to intentionally live a life that would make a good story.  And that changed everything.  It was a great book--easy read, inspirational, and he's got a great sense of humor.  Here were a few of my favorite quotes.

"The truth is, if what we chose to do with our lives won't make a story meaningful, it won't make a life meaningful either."

"What I'm saying is I think life is staggering and we're just used to it.  We all are like spoiled children no longer impressed with the gifts we're given--it's just another sunset, just another rainstorm moving over the mountain, just another child being born, just another funeral."

"Did I really believe God could write a better story?  And if I did, why didn't I trust Him?"

"It is when people do not allow God to show up through them, that the world collapses in on itself."

"There is a force resisting the beautiful things in the world, and too many of us are giving in."

"The ambitions we have will become the stories we live."

"The story made us different characters than we would have been if we had skipped the story and shown up at the ending a different way."

"I think about the hard lives so many people have had, the sacrifices they've endured, and how those people will see Heaven differently than those of us who have had easier lives."

"What I really remember are the few times we made an extra effort to do something memorable."

"We don't know how much we are capable of loving until the people we love are being taken away, until a beautiful story is ending."

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Holy cow, guys.  I could not put this book down.  And I mean, I spend over three hours one Sunday reading  all but the first 50 pages (which I read the night before).  This is a sort of miracle for a girl like me who is not a fast reader and who has a super short attention span.  And because it was a fiction book, which I basically just don't read.  But this book, well, it was amazing.  I don't want to give too much away, but it's a love story about two teenagers with cancer.  I know, I know, that sounds sappy and pre-teeny, and Taylor Swift-ish.  I promise that it's not.  It was awesome.  So awesome, that I gave it the coveted and illusive 5 ranking on my Goodreads.  That don't just happen, folks.  Buy it.  Read it.  Love it.  Thank me later.

Seven by Jen Hatmaker

College Roomie got me this book for my birthday and she.did.good.  I absolutely loved this book!  In fact, I liked it so much that I've already had it sent to two other people--Dr. Kyra and Cousin SameMiddleName because I thought they would enjoy it as well.  The basic idea is that the author decides to rebel against excess and focuses on something different each month....from food to media to stuff....and she chronicles her journey.  You'll love this book.  Jen Hatmaker is hilarious.  I mean completely hilarious.  She reminds me a lot of ND Friend, who is one of the funniest people I know.  (You do have to overlook a couple of pages of hippy nonsense where she gets all free range, no antibiotic anti-ag preaching, but other than that, I had no complaints!)

Jesus, may there be less of me and my junk and more of You and Your kingdom.

I want to live gratefully, humbly, hopefully.

For whatever reason I was born into privilege; I've never known hunger, poverty, or despair.  I have been blessed, blessed, blessed--relationally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically.  My life is so happy it's almost embarrassing.

I won't defile my blessings by imagining that I deserve them.

Until every human receives the dignity I casually enjoy, I pray my heart aches with tension and my belly rumbles for injustice.

I have come to see tha tthe great tragedy in the church is not that the rich Christians do not care about the poor, but that the rich Christians do not know the poor.  I long for the Calcutta slums to meet the Chicago suburbs, for lepers to meet landowners and for each to see God's image in the other.  I truly believe that when the poor meet hte rich, riches will have no meaning.  And when the rich meet the poor, we will see poverty come to an end.  (Quoting Shane Claiborne)

Obedience Isn't a lack of fear.  It's just doing it scared.

In a culture of hero worship and conspicuous rainmakers, this concept struggles to emerge, but the story of God's people comprises a billion little moments when an average believer pressed on, carried through, stepped up.  In the quantity of ordinary obedience, the kingdom truly advances.

The discomfort is where the magic happens.

What would the early chruch think if they walked into some of our buildings today? .. They'd wonder if we had read the Bible, or worry it had been tampered with since their time.

Sometimes vigils are for waiting, when your struggle has been voiced and God's hand hasn't moved.

Nobody Gets To Watch The Parade

"Most great adventures work that way. You don't plan them, you don't wait to get all the details right, you just do them."  ~Bob Goff

I love Bob Goff.  You know this from my raving about his book, Love Does.  Seriously, this guy is a genius and I wish there was some way that I could move to California and pitch a tent in his front yard and just follow him around every day.  No, seriously.  I do.

So imagine my delight when I was reading a book last week, and it turns out that the author is friends with Bob Goff.  Even better, dude told stories about Bob Goff.  (I could have just said Bob there, but I think there are some people who just have to be addressed by both names.  George Strait.  Michael Jordan.  John Lucas.  Bob Goff.)

The one that stuck with me was the story of Bob Goff and his kids starting a New Year's Day tradition of a neighborhood parade.  Bob Goff's kids were bored one New Year's Day, and Bob Goff relaied that it was probably the most boring day of the year.  So he asked the kids what they might like to do.  One suggested a parade.  And, becuase Bob Goff is the most awesome person on the planet, a parade it was.  Bob Goff's kids went door to door to invite the neighbors to join in the parade and end up in the Goff's yard for a picnic.  That's how it started.  And now, it's an annual tradition. Involving over 400 people. Some neighbors who have moved away plan vacations back just to be part of the parade. See why I want to pitch my tent in this dude's yard?

Now, there was only one rule about the parade.  Nobody gets to watch.  That's right, no spectators allowed.  Why?  Because Bob Goff says that it's more fun to be in a parade than to sit by and watch the parade.

Well, isn't that a metaphor for life?  It's more fun to be in the parade than watching.  There should be no spectators.  Instead of lining up and watching other people do things--have fun, make a difference, chase their dreams, dance like a crazy person, fall in love--we should be right there in the middle of the parade with everyone else.  Sure, it's easier to be a spectator.  It's not scary, there's no risk, you don't have the chance of failure or getting hurt or getting laughed at.  But we were created to live, not to spectate.  We were created to be out there marching in the parade.  And hopefully wearing a funny hat and carrying balloons.

Book Club Friday: July Reads!

"Love does things.  It writes a letter and gets on a plane.  It orders pizza and jumps in a lake.  It hugs and prays and cries and sings."  ~Love Does

It's time for Friday Book Club!  Well as I confessed yesterday, it took me an extra 7 days to finish my two book goal.  Given the fact that one of these books was over 500 pages and I had zero free weekends in July, I'm calling that a success.   I cannot say enough about both of these books--they are amazing and I would highly, HIGHLY recommend them!

Oh, sidenote, today is your last day to enter my Tiffany's Favorite Things Giveaway!)  With that, okay, let's get going here.

Love Does by Bob Goff

I learned about this book from SoulMate Friend.  One night, after talking about life and what not, she told me that she thought I really needed to check out a speaker she heard at a conference.  Enter Bob Goff.  I googled this dude and ordered his book, Love Does.  OH.MY.GOODNESS.  This guy is amazing.  He's the kind of person who makes you want to quit your job, sell all of your stuff, and just go make a difference.  Because every story he tells is about him making a difference to someone.  Whether it is helping free children who are imprisoned in Africa, or helping a stranger pull off the perfect proposal, or sitting in front of the Dean's office every day for two weeks until he finally got accepted to law school.....this guy has had amazing experiences.  I'm not kidding you, I bet I dog-eared 50 pages.  I narrowed my favorite quotes down for the blog....

"Maybe God is doing some inexplicable things in your life.  Each of us gets to decide every time whether to lean in or step back--to say yes, ignore it, or tell God why He has the wrong person."

"It's about going to extremes and expressing the bright hope that life offers us, a hope that makes us brave and expels darkness with light.  That's what I want my life to be all about--full of abandon, whimsy, and in love."

"I used to be afraid at failing at something that really mattered to me, but now I'm more afraid of succeeding at things that don't matter."

"Most great adventures work that way.  You don't plan them, you don't wait to get all the details right, you just do them."

"It seems what God does most of the time when He has something to say is this...He doesn't pass us messages, instead He passes us each other."

"I'd rather trade all the religious jargon for the chance to invite one person into experiencing Jesus."

"I would say probably the majority of us are just-us people, folks who don't get capes or stained-glass windows.  We just get the opportunity to do what God wants us to do without a lot of fanfare."

"God delights in answering our impossible prayers."

"God says to ordinary people like me and you that instead of closing our eyes and bowing our heads, sometimes God wants us to keep our eyes open for people in need, do something about it, and bow our whole lives to Him instead."

"You see, the problem with my plans is that they usually work.  And if they don't seem to be working, I force them to work and get the small results I aimed for."

Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada

The story of how I cam across this book is kinda funny.  Back in 2010, College Roomie and I stayed with my friend Mo when we went to San Francisco to run Bay to Breakers.  She's pretty much the epitomy of cool....she is a partner at a law firm, she lives in a penthouse suite, she owns more pairs of Jimmy Choos and Manolos and Louboutins than anyone I know.  So, when I saw this book laying on her coffee table, I felt like I had to read it and hope that some of the cool would rub off.  Now, 2 years later, I finally read it!  Sheesh, Tiffany.

This book is about German resistance to the Nazis during World War II.  (Please note how smart you sound when you get to say that to people who ask what you're reading.)  The book is so well written--extremely detailed and you really learn so much about all of the things that were happening in Nazi Germany.  It's fascinating.

It's based on the true story of a working class couple who began writing and dropping anti-Nazi postcards all over Berlin.  What they did was small and insiginificant.  It did not make a difference.  And it cost them their lives.  But they stood up for what was right.  Throughout the book, I kept on asking myself....would I do it?  Could I stand up for something that was right even if I knew it would not make a difference?  I hope the answer would be yes, but I worry it might be no.

"You ought to know that it doesn't matter if there's a handful of you against many of them.  Once you've seen that a cause is right, you're obligated to fight for it.  Whether you ever live to see success, or the person who steps into your shoes does, it doesn't matter.  I can't very well sit on my hands and say, Well, they may be a bad lot, but what business is it of mine?"

"It doesn't matter if one man fights or ten thousand; if the one man sees he has no option but to fight, then he will fight, whether he has others on his side or not.  I had to fight, and given the chance, I would do it again."

"If everyone thought like that, then Hitler would stay in power forever.  Someone, somewhere has to make a start."

Man 1:  "At least you opposed evil.  You were'not corrupted.  You and I and the many locked up hereand many more in other places of detention, and tens of thousands in concentration camps, they're all resisting, today, tomorrow..."

Man 2:  Yes, and theyn they will kill us, and what good did our resistance do?"
Man 1:  "Well, it will have helped us to feel that we have behaved decently till the end."

"They sacrificed their lives in a purposeless battle, apparently in vain.  But perhaps not entirely purposeless, after all?  Perhaps not entirely in vain, after all?"