9 Months

We have been in this glorious city for 9 months now.  When we arrived the leaves & flowers were in full bloom and the city was alive & vibrant.  Then fall came and the leaves change to beautiful hues of reds, oranges, and yellows.  Soon enough the leaves and flowers were gone, but the city never stopped.  With that change, we were given a new view of the city and new things to do.  And now here we are looking at the amazing buds on the trees and even some in full bloom.  Full circle soon enough.

Being here never gets old.  I absolutely love the beat of this city.  The food, the fresh air, the people, the vibe- it's me.  It fits so well.  


Recently my husband traveled out of town for a week.  It was just me, our daughter, & our 2 dogs in the city.  I don't know a single soul here, but yet I never once felt lonely or scared.  


Grace & I have our days filled with simple things like walks to the grocery store or bigger plans like trips to the zoo or museum.  Always on foot or by public transportation and it's never a chore.  

I LOVE living day to day with no specific plans in mind.  It feels so freeing to never have to live by the clock.  The one consistent thing we try to do every week is attend the children's group for 2 year old's at the public library.  It's fun to see Grace interact with the kids, but mostly she enjoys entertaining herself.  Like mom, like daughter.  

I'm still working on my word for 2012: OPEN.  Honesty, it's hard work.  But it's good work.  I'm reading and learning a lot.  Sometimes I think it would be easier to just live in blissful ignorance, but in the long term that really wouldn't be such a great decision.  So I press forward: learning, changing, getting pissed off at not wanting to change (sigh), and always being OPEN.  I fail a lot.  But I am happy.  I worry so much less than I ever did before.  It's such a good feeling.

This is me in my new city. :-)

"What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, 

to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." 

(Micah 6:8)

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, 

and I will give you rest." 

(Matthew 11:28)

"He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others." (2 Corinthians 1:4)