Insanity Doesn't Run in my Family... it Literally Gallops!

My family is absolutely crazy and amazingly wonderful! Living in a home with seven kids gives an automatic guarantee that you will never be bored.

These are a few things I love about my family!

* I love the way my little siblings laugh at my ridiculous sense of humor.

* I love that brothers will not let me go to sleep without a goodnight kiss!

* I love the way my jaw aches when Marian gives me a "whopper kiss!"

* I love the way people look at me when I say that I have six other siblings!

* I love the memories of piling on the end of mom and dad's bed talking about anything we please.

* I love the fact that my mom and sisters are my dearest friends.

* I love the way my dad is always there to protect, love, and hug me!

* I love going to the beach and having my brothers get yelled at by the life-guard....over and over again!

* I love the fact that my parents are the fan-club for each one of us!

* I love our early morning family devotions... Dad preaching to his own little church!

* I love the way everything my parents taught me, pointed to Christ!

* I love the memories that we have made together... big and small, I will always cherish them!

We may be crazy and psychotic at times.... but I am so thankful for my family and the incredible support and love they have given me! No matter where I am or what I am doing, I will always treasure my family and the craziness that we share!

Steering Wheel or Spare Tire?

"Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?"-- Corrie Ten Boom

I read this quote and was humbled. So often I use prayer as spare tire rather than my steering wheel.

In the last year so much has changed for me! Life has become so much more complicated than which outfit to wear and what haircut to get. My decisions today are affecting the rest of my life and I find myself needing God more than ever!

When trials and confusion are all around, it is easy to run to the Lord for help. Yet, when the sun is shining and all is well, we can begin to think that we've got it under control.

I believe in the power of prayer. I know that God is listening and I have seen Him answer so many prayers.

Our cars have been faithfully used by God many times throughout the years. Friends have often said, "If the Soderbergs' need money, don't drive with them!" God has used our cars many times throughout the years to provide for many needs. There was the time that $2,600 in income taxes were due... Our poor Volkswagen was hit by an un-insured teenager who's dad promptly gave us the exact amount we had been praying for. Or the time a lady randomly backed into our gold torus car that paid for the school books mom had been praying for.

The Lord has shown Himself so faithful to us... I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything!

To think, that I, Helen Soderberg, can talk to the creator of the world, still amazes me! To know that Jesus, who died and lives for me, cares about every heartache and fear, is beyond my imagination!

Thank you, Lord, for prayer!

Sometimes when life seems gentle and blessings flood my way,

I turn my gaze away from You and soon forget to pray.But when the sky grows darker and courage turns to fear,My anxious voice cries upward with words you long to hear.Lord, I need You when the sea of life is calm.O Lord, I need You when the wind is blowing strong.Whether trials come or cease, keep me always on my knees.Lord, I need You. Lord I need You.

Lord, help me to remember I'm weak but You are strong.I cannot sing apart from You, for Lord You are my song.Although I'm prone to wander and boast in all I do;Lord keep my eyes turned upward so I depend on You.Lord, I need You when the sea of life is calm.O Lord, I need You when the wind is blowing strong.Whether trials come or cease, keep me always on my knees.Lord, I need You. Lord I need You.

Coffee!!!!!

“If the weather had emotions, this day was raging. Swish, swish… swish, swish… windshield wipers have a way of rubbing the dreariness in. Dark, damp, and dismal…Rain showered down, almost tearing apart a once beautiful world. Swish, swish… life seemed to echo the sadness of the day. Glancing about her, Nancy could not find anything to lift her spirits… driving to another day of work, same as yesterday and the day before. Just as the upcoming mortgage was looming in her mind, Sagle came into view and with it the lights of a small coffee shop. Glancing at her watch, Nancy gave her first smile of the day… she had time! Envisioning a steamy mocha she decided on decking it with peppermint, and what harm could a little whip cream do? She turned her blinker on… perhaps life could go on after all!”

Dramatized as this “story” may be, the truth remains… there is something amazing about coffee. Something about it warms more than people’s hands and bellies. Even with the economy heading down the drain, people are still willing to pay the price of a small luxury... coffee!

Pour espresso shots, steam milk, add flavor, and serve with a smile: a Barista's life may sound pretty repetitive. To me, being a Barista is so much more than just making a delicious cup of coffee; as a barista, I get the awesome responsibility of making people happy as well as providing their great cup of Joe.

One day a guy drove up to Java Bear and asked, "How do you always stay so happy?" I smiled at him and thought to myself, it's my job to be happy! I love that aspect of being a barista because I love to be happy. Just because I go to work doesn't mean I am automatically happy. There are days when I am driving to work and the last thing in the worlds I want to do is smile, let alone make other people smile. Yet, when I walk into the shop, just like sweeping, wiping the counters, and making the coffees, I know that I must put on a smile and be the best barista I can be. This can be a blessing, because I get to be forced into being happy, whether I want to or not, and so far it hasn't taken but two customers before my smile is genuine and I stop my acting.

I love making people smile, always have, always will. As a barista, I am given just a minute and a half to make a person’s day better than when they drove up; I accept this challenge whole heartedly!

A Blog?

Why on earth am I doing a blog? Hmmm... Good question! I recently saw a friends blog and thought "oh... that's cool!" As one of those very obnoxious personalities... often referred to as a, *cough* "Copycat," I thought I should give it a go, too! Needless to say, here I am... blogging!