Alex's Keys......and Starbuck's

I can't remember the last time I wrote, but that doesn't mean God hasn't been working! I've just been sharing His stories through other means, I guess.

The other day I was headed to Anytime Fitness to do my therapy and work out in their fun new facility. I walked up to the door, fumbling through my key chain to find the little device that allows members to unlock the door. Shoot...I had grabbed Alex's keys instead of mine. No one saw me at the door, so I had to turn around and go back home to get the keys.

We don't live far, so it wasn't too much of an inconvenience. After exchanging keys for my own, I headed back....and Starbuck's was on the way to the gym. :) I was having trouble waking up that day, so decided to grab a "tall" cup of coffee on my way over. (For all of those who say WAIT! coffee dehydrates you! I say, WORTH IT!) haha.

Anyway, since I wasn't done with my coffee when I arrived at the gym, I sat in the car to finish. When I was almost done with the cup, I saw my neighbor in my rear view mirror walking his dog. I quickly finished and got out of the car, calling his name.

Health and fitness was our first topic of conversation, given where I was headed, and he shared with me that he had quit smoking years ago, and more recently even quit drinking! I told him "Well then the next thing to do is start coming to church with us!" :) It opened up a great discussion that I had been hoping to have for a long time.

We said our farewell and went our separate ways.

While I was doing a workout video inside the gym, a lady poked her head in the door of the room, and I told her to join me. We had a good talk afterwards. More than once has God given me opportunity to make relationships just through going to the gym!

After she left, four women (not dressed for working out) were walking around the gym. They came to the room where you can do individual video workouts, and I turned around and said "That's the best part of this gym!" They were intrigued, as three of them are owners of different branches. I shared with them how grateful I was to ATF for allowing me to have a membership that paid by the month, since we spend half the year in the Philippines. One of the women said, "Are you the one with the bracelets?" ATF has been selling our bracelets at two of their locations for a couple years now, and one of the trainers uses them as rewards for her clients.

I was able to share with them the story of why and how Threads of Hope got started. An awesome opportunity.

My day wasn't done yet! It was off to the thrift shop on the way home. While I was standing in line, the older gentleman in front of me turned around and said, "You don't look Filipino....or Filipina." (I was wearing a hand-me-down shirt from my son that said 100% Filipino.) I laughed and told him why I had a shirt like that. He had a friend who had moved to the Philippines, and so the conversation continued.

Then he asked if I was on Facebook. I gave him my name and the Threads of Hope website. He said, "I'm an atheist, and don't believe like you do, but we can be friends on Facebook!" haha...whatever it takes. :)

All those conversations were made possible by grabbing the wrong keys, and stopping to get a coffee. :) God is amazing how He orchestrates opportunities into our lives!