pura vida stateside

There was a fire in my house on Friday night----I kid you not!  It all started when I told a friend I would host her "Organo Gold" coffee party at my house.  Yes, this is one of those Amway or Tupperware or Scentsational kind of companies.  Honestly, I hate these kinds of "parties" because I feel like it pushes products on friends/captives who have to buy whatever you're selling out of pity or obligation.  I seriously don't know how I got roped into doing this, but it was probably a sense of pity or obligation that made me do it. :}

At any rate, one of the guys who was "hustling" the product (his word, not mine), thought he would help out and put a coffeepot on the stove---only it was a coffepot designed for a particular coffeemaker, not for stovetop use! 

The next thing I knew he was yelling "Fire!" and as I raced over to the kitchen, I saw that, yes, indeed, the plastic handle of the coffeepot was in flames and melting all over the stove.  While I doused it, he promptly ran away.  (Clearly he was a better salesman than firefighter. :)

The main point of my story (I told the fire story just to pique your interest :) is that the salesman was telling me about his ambitions---how he wanted to work hard in his 20's and 30's so that when he got older, he could sit back and let the "passive" income roll in.  As we spoke, I realized how little I was interested in making money.  Oh, extra money might certainly come in handy, but it's not my aim.  I love my life---raising my family and singing (worship leading) and dancing (Body and Soul)--just as it is.  

Our conversation served to remind me that "pura vida" joy is present stateside---a truth that I was somehow forgetting in the midst of day-to-day challenges and responsiblities.  Oh, and by the way, the coffee and tea products are very good!  Just let me know if you want to purchase some.  I can get you a good deal.  I have connections. :)  

(The "joy" you see above is brought to you courtesy of the Woods Praise Team.  We took pics during our retreat  yesterday. We're beginning to look out for advent "peace", "hope," "joy," and "love" already! :)