Everything is changing, v. 1

In case you haven't heard, Josh and I are headed on quite the adventure to Berlin. (Insert ecstatic squeals and a mild panic attack here.) If all goes as planned, we will have raised our monthly support and be headed overseas by the end of next year. I am starting to grasp how soon that is, how little time we may have left in Chicago.

Our first three years of marriage have been beautifully interrupted by change after change within these city limits. We have grown. Our conceptions of community and love and hospitality and salvation have been reshaped by this bustling, transient culture, by the warmth of the people who call this city home. I don't want to forget these days.

There is a sense of peace and steadiness here, in our community. I am learning that hospitality is not an event, but a mindset. It is the daily re-opening of my eyes, heart, and home to others. It is Kingdom-building. It is a wild chase, one which is taking us to another corner of the world. New friends await us in Berlin, creative souls who may or may not have spoken to Jesus before. That excites us.

We will continue to grow. We will continue to learn how to give, and in a new city we will make our home.

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Changes

New jobs. We asked and prayed, and God provided full-time work to challenge and vitalize us. 

I am now an administrative assistant and receptionist! I feel less restless, and I am invigorated by the the projects I've been given and the executives with whom I work. It is wonderfully intimidating to leave the cubicle behind, to actually be seen, to put my hands and my mind to work. Josh is also learning administrative skills at his new job, and he is enjoying overseeing creative projects. 

Last time, I talked about waiting for "the next thing." It came fast. It's kind of scary, and really quite amazing. God has been gracious to us during these transitions. The leaves are changing, the temperatures are dropping, and we are settling into a new life and a new season in Chicago.

Two.

Photo Credit: Devin Hayward Photography

Tuesday was our anniversary. We have been married for two years now! Yay! I would marvel, "I can't believe it's been that long," but actually, I can believe it. These two years have been long and full in the very best sense. We have traveled a lot, finished college, worked several different jobs and even moved to a new place. It's been busy! I love doing life with Josh. He is generous and spontaneous, always looking ahead with optimism and creativity.

Josh also builds me up. This past year, he's encouraged me to grow in confidence and to keep on singing. He even bought me a beautiful little guitar for our anniversary! I was floored! (I tried to teach myself during high school, but gave up after learning a handful of chords.) Last night, I sat in the bedroom and spent over an hour on this website, practicing chord changes and singing made-up melodies until my fingers ached and my heart was full.

I have no idea what this coming year will bring, but I'm excited to take it on with my best friend. To year three!

Graduation Weekend!

We had an amazing weekend celebrating Josh's graduation with friends and family. I am so proud of him! Once he wraps up his summer internship in August, he is free to explore job options in Chicago or abroad. Wooohooo! We are thankful for God's provision during these first two years of marriage. Now, we both have diplomas in hand and can fully embrace post-grad life. It feels pretty good!

Lately

Things we're excited about:

1  Josh and I had to purchase new cell phones because U.S. Cellular was bought out by Sprint. The ordeal was unexpected and a little frustrating, but it was a fun excuse to get my very first smartphone! I am loving my Samsung Galaxy Note 2. It's as big as my face, and it actually surpasses the iPhone 5 in several areas. Woohoo! Follow me on Instagram, if you wish.

2  Chicago is finally beginning to experience warmer weather! I am determined to eat lunch outside as often as possible this year. It's a much-needed escape from my cubicle, and heaven knows how much this skin needs to see the sun.

3  Last but not least, Josh is finishing up his undergraduate degree next week!!! He will graduate with high honors! I am so proud of him. When we first got married, he took two semesters off and worked full-time so that I could wrap up my own undergraduate degree. His sacrifice made our first year of marriage so much easier for both of us! By God's grace, we spent most every evening together (even when I was supposed to be doing homework... hehe) and paid every bill on time. Josh is an incredible man and I can't wait to see where we're headed next!

Warmin' up

Spring weather is finally creeping towards Chicago! Last Friday, Josh and I picked up some Portillo's and had a picnic at the marina with some dear friends. It was almost warm enough to take off our jackets! Almost.

Winter is melting away, and I'm ready to shove my coats and scarves into the back of the closet. It's time for these limbs to see the sun again.

Starved Rock

We love our city, but it starts to feel a little crowded and cold after awhile. A day trip out here was the perfect remedy, especially on the first warm Saturday of the season!

Untitled

I snapped these photos of our living room last weekend, before our friends came over. We receive so much natural light, even on overcast days. I've decided that one can never have too many windows.

The sun is shining bright this Saturday, warming the wood floors and doing good for our souls.  We are staying home. Fresh coffee, music, laundry, and maybe some homemade dinner... weekends are well worth the wait.

A room with a view

Our spacious room was lined with tall, tall windows. We set down our bags and stood close to the glass, never minding the chill, gawking upward at the Trump Tower and all her subjects.

You see, we may not live in Chicago forever. Last-minute hotel deals are pretty amazing.

So, we got a room.

Sugar cookie bakin'

Since we are not traveling home for the holidays this year, it is crucial that we have a stockpile of homemade Christmas cookies in our apartment! On Sunday afternoon, Josh and I embarked on our first-ever sugar cookie adventure.

It was my first time rolling out this dough (this trick worked beautifully), and we had fun cutting out the shapes!  

We used the recipe that my mom makes every year, the one that always turns out buttery-soft with a hint of almond. Even though I forgot to buy cream of tartar (whoops!), they still look and taste like the Christmas cookies I remember.

What is your favorite Christmas cookie?

Hair

Remember when I cut my hair in October? I am growing it back out, and I'm trying to do it the right way. So, I've been conditioning it well, avoiding the blow dryer when I can, and getting a trim every 10-12 weeks.

Look at how long it used to be! This was taken on our honeymoon last year. I miss you, hair.

Yesterday, I came home from my trim at the salon and had this conversation with Josh. (I was really happy with how my bangs and layers looked!)

"Do you like my haircut?  You probably can't tell the difference, but I can!"
"Yeah, I can!"
"Really?!  I'm so impressed!  Yay!"
"Yeah, it's really, really smooth and less frizzy.  It looks nice!"
..........

"Less frizzy." He meant well. (Why are you so expensive, Moroccan oil? Apparently, I need you in my life.)

California, v.4

We spent our time in Santa Barbara at the sweetest little inn. The front door was propped open all day long for easy coming and going.

We actually didn't spend our entire day out and about, exploring every tourist attraction or lying on the beach for hours. To be honest, we went out for breakfast... then went back to the inn. We took a long walk down the beach, ate lunch... then went back to the inn. We ventured outside once more to go window shopping... then went back to the inn. It was amazing, and we definitely needed the rest!

Our final adventure in Santa Barbara took place at Stearns Wharf. We left the inn one more time for a beautiful walk along the coast.

Aren't the mountains gorgeous? This scenery is much different than the beaches in North Carolina, where I grew up. The East Coast is very flat, but the West is garnished by these rolling hills.

California, we miss you already!

California, v.3

 

We took the California 1 from the San Francisco Bay area to Santa Barbara. Needless to say, it was the most glorious drive of my life. These photos hardly capture the magnificence.

California, v.2

You can't visit the San Francisco Bay area without walking across the Golden Gate Bridge, right?  We thought so, too.

 San Francisco dwellers have such a pretty view!

Someday, we'll show these photos to our kids.  I'm hoping that they'll be able to say, "But... we drive over that red bridge all the time!"

I can dream, right?  :)