Coffee, Grilled Cheese, and Breadsticks.

Yes, I am categorizing this past Sunday by the some of the food I ate. I could include the 3 orange slices and the half a bagel, and the burrito I ate for dinner, but that would of been a little superfluous. :) Sunday began well. I got up and left around 8 to pick up Jessica for Church. We went to NewLife Lincoln Park. NewLife began with Pastor Mark Jobe, and he was the one who preaches Sunday Mornings at Lincoln Park. I was fed once again. This is twice now I have been spiritually fed. After church there is a Coffee Connection, where I had some apple cider and orange slices. Jessica and I talked to a girl we met at the 20 something small group. Afterwards we walked to Savor the Flavor. A local coffee shop and ice cream parlor. We sat drank coffee and then...I had one of the most amazing Grilled Cheese sandwiches I have ever had. I had a cheddar, pepper jack, bacon, sun dried tomato, sandwich with a side of carrots. How amazing is that. Oh and it was on multi-grain bread as well. So we talked, had lunch, and then left to go to our friends house to watch the Bears game. OMG it was a depressing game, but a great time with friends. We decided to be the cast of Community if we all go to a Halloween Party. I would be Brita. So basically I have to dye my hair and curl it. But, we would not have an Abed or a Senor Chang, very depressing. Anyways During the game we all talked about anything but the football game. It was a little too painful to discuss. But, I had some breadsticks when the pizza was delivered.

After the game I dropped a few people off at their house and then Jess and I went to dinner at Chipotle. Yummy in my Tummy:) We had a good time talking, and laughed at me trying to get into the bathroom. To use the bathroom you have to be buzzed in. Okay sure, but the buzzer was not working. Not cool at all. I had to ask two employees to buzz me in. And the bathroom was not that clean either. Again, a disappointing situation, but disappointment was covered with the laughter of trying to get into the bathroom. :)


Peace

Family Connections

Saturday was a good day. The boys and I got ready for their swimming class but drove to the school and found out that swimming was canceled. So we drove back to the house played and had lunch. After lunch we walked to the park. This park was covered in leaves. As we were walking the sidewalk was covered with leaves. It was fantastic. We would stop occasionally and play in the leaves on the way to the park. We arrived at the park and continued to play in the mounds of leaves all over. It has been one of my favorite days of watching the kids. I love fall, and they were having so much fun with just playing in God's creation. The only bad thing is that I did not have my camera. I kicked myself over and over while we were playing. I finished working at 4:00. I changed clothes and got in the car for a lovely drive into the city. I dislike driving I have decided. It took me almost an hour to get to my cousin's place. I cannot do that every time I want to go into the city. I need to use the Metra but that will only get me so far. After the Metra I would have to take buses and walk to my cousin's condo, or the other option is Wes comes and picks me up at Union Station. The Metra might take about the same time but at least I can read a book or something.

Anyways, So Saturday I met my cousin Wes. We have not seen each other in about 10 years. Okay Jessica 10 years ago. I was 13 short chubby extremely dark hair. I really do not look much like I do now. Now, I am 5'11" lighter redder hair, grown up looking 23 year old. And that is only what happens physically after 10 years. I am a completely different person then I was when I was 13, Praise God for his molding hands forming me into who he wants me to be.

We went to Gino's for dinner. This was my second time going downtown and eating Chicago deep dish pizza. Talking to Wes was like we just saw each other last week, not the 10 years that it has been. We talked about family, jobs, past experiences and a whole bunch of other things. We learned about each other's family into more detail and each other. It was crazy of how much I did not know about what he has done in his life. But, there is some lack of information that would happen between cousins who are 6 years apart. I mean he started college when I was in middle school. But I guess when you hit your 20s age difference is not as obvious.

God is faithful and always provides what we need. Look at the birds in the air, they do not sow and reap and store away for tomorrow. Their father in heaven feeds them. "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life." Matthew 6:26-27

Wanted By God

Last Friday I went to a Small Group for 20 somethings in Lincoln Park with Jessica. So I have found out that Jessica has become like my best friend here in Chicago, for a few reasons:
1. She is only 4 months younger than me.
2. One of few people I know in the city.
3. She is easily one of the coolest people I know.
4. The most important. She shares the coolest and the most common name of 1987 with me. :)

Anyways, she has been such a help. I have gone so many places and not alone. I still have not gone into the city, downtown as much but I have gone enough places that my time off allows. Friday we went to Lincoln Park. The small group is going through this book called "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. Let me tell you. So far this book is fantastic. Chapter 1 God's Power and being in awe of it. Chapter 2 Living every moment like it is your last for the glory of God. Chapter 3. God's crazy love for us. Friday we talk about God's love so I have not continued the book so far. But, so far so good.

It is hard to understand why God loves us and the amount of his love. I cannot completely understand why God loves us. I know he loves us as his creation and as his children but it i am dumbfounded when I try to understand why. But, despite ourselves God loves us. Praise him. But, more than his love he wants us. He wants us. Let me say it again. GOD THE FATHER WANTS US. He wants me as I am. The broken, emotional wreck, weakling that I am. He wants me. I am in awe, to be wanted for my weaknesses.

We are wanted by God. God's love is forever. We cannot even understand that. FOREVER. We are sometimes focused on today, or the week. We forget that there is a bigger picture than the time frame we can understand. There has been the thousands of years in the past, and now our time now and then the maybe thousands of years to come. We are only a page on in the book, maybe even just a paragraph, or even a sentence. How great is our fathers love for us.

Father, I am in awe of who you are. You are the creator, the beginning and the end, you are greater than any other name. Yet, you sent your son to be born, fully human and fully God. Jesus suffered as we suffer, was tempted as we are tempted and he did not sin. He stands blameless. By your grace his death has taken the punishment away from your fallen children. Those who believe how have the defense of Jesus on our side. Those who know Christ also know you. When you call us home we will spend eternity in heaven praising you for who you are. God you are love. Any good I do is only because of the Spirit you have given me. I am weak, broken. But, you put the pieces together and give me strength. In Christ I am strong. In Christ, I have power over death. In Christ I live. Amen

I do not know where this little saying came about, maybe from a youth event or something. But, ChristIAN... without Christ I Am Nothing. I think that is a cool little way to be reminded that all we are is only because of Christ.

Peace

I'm not in North Carolina Anymore

So this week the weather as has been pretty great. But with the weekend came wind and rain that I have not experienced in a long time. In the morning I was able to use my knowledge of American Religious Groups when two very cute old men walked up the path and began to talk to the boys and me.

Old man one, "Good Morning."

Me, "Good Morning."

OM1 "It is nice to see a mother working with her children on a project." At the time the boys and I were working on paper mache on the front porch.

"Oh... I am not their mother I am their nanny, I am too young to have children."

OM1 "Excuse me, well you are probably wondering, 'Who are these two old men and what do they want?' well we are from the Watchtower Society and we come around twice a year..."

So I originally thought these men were from some Veteran’s organization but nope, these cute old men were Jehovah Witnesses, bummer.
The men continued they’re informing me why people do bad things. I thought it was because of when Adam and Eve ate of the fruit sin entered the world and until Christ returns we will be in a world of pain and suffering. But apparently it’s not our fault it is only the devil that does bad things. I mean I am pretty sure I have done some pretty bad things without the influence of the devil.
God I pray that your truth finds these men and their fellow Jehovah Witnesses.

As the day continued the wind got stronger, well it did at least to me. The boys seemed to hardly notice. But it felt like November. Luckily I was able to stay inside for most of the day when the boys were out playing with neighbors. Praise God for neighbors!

The day ended with rain and less wind and a cup of hot apple cider with a group of friends. :) Oh and it was my first game night in roughly 5 months.