Merry Christmas everyone! Im a little late, but i have been away in Illinois and Iowa for the past 4 days. It feels good to be back in Chicago but I love Christmas much so in a way it's sad to see it go. This year was my first time being 2100 miles away from my family and needless to say it wasn't the easiest time.
I went with Ryan and his family was nice enough to open their doors and arms for me to join them for their christmas traditions. I got to bake tree cookies, dip pretzels in chocolate and listen to christmas melodies flood through the air. All the Christmas fun made me greatful for my family and also made being away bitter sweet. I found myself holding back tears at times when i thought of how greatful i am for such a caring family. I have so much love and support that many times i fail to realize how much they mean to me. I miss our traditions, and i missed the kids running through the house and the joy they bring to me. Although missing them was hard, i found that i got to experience a whole new way to celebrate Christmas. No matter where you are God was still born for us and thats all that matters. Gifts are great, music is festive, trees sparkle but Jesus is the reason for everything we have.
We can get so caught up in the hussle and bussle of gift giving that we sometimes forget that it's not about that. I am guilty as well but i think that my family has reminded me that ist's not about what you can get for yourself its about what you can give to others.
Christmas is over and we only have 362 days to prepare again! haha. It's time to focus on the new year ahead of us. Im so ready to say hello to a new year and a new chapter in my life. 2010 was hard and full of lessons im sure not to forget, but im greatful that we get new starts and new beginnings. Im ready to welcome 2011 with open arms and a big smile.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
More Chicago goodness..
Every time i have written a blog in Chicago i have been sitting at a comfortable coffee shop using their internet and consuming something warm and delicious. We dont have a router at my apartment yet and nobody has gotten a chance to buy one so i usually use the opportunity to get out of the house for a bit and do some quality people watching around the city. Today instead of my usual Starbucks run i ended up at Caribou coffee after getting pretty lost and severely chilled around town. By the time we actually invest in a router i will probably have spent more on coffee than the price for an actual router. Everything is more expensive here, a small coffee is over $4.00 and parking oh don't even get me started!
Tax is insanity but its the price you pay when you walk out your door and everything is at your fingertips. I have just been trying to get stuff done so far i have been looking for a job, registering my car, setting up my room and trying to find some of the comforts i had at home in this new place. With Christmas right around the corner everything seems a little off kilter and finding a job will be nearly impossible until after the New Year. I am trying to take this time to just enjoy a bit of down time until the business of work and school hit me all at once.
Tomorrow Ryan and i will head to Iowa to spend the long weekend with his family. I dont get to go home for Christmas because of the insane prices of flights during the holidays but i am grateful that i have a home to go to for Christmas time. Tonight we are celebrating our Christmas (exchanging presents) and we might even go to Wrigley and ice skate or downtown, depending on what we decide. I really want to see the city around Christmas time, lights, the big tree, and beautiful luminous lights coming from the shopping malls. All of these little things make Christmas in a big city like Chicago more magical.
Although its freezing around here one thing im getting used to is bundling up. Basically i throw anything and everything that will keep me warm regardless of style on and walk out of the house like im covered in a giant sleeping bag. I've noticed im not the only one. Many people here have HUGE puffy coats that go down to their ankles and look like giant down comforters walking around the streets lol.
Tonight i will head to Ryans and make "Christmas dinner." Im going to try and make bacon wrapped asparagus, salad, mashed potatoes and a pork tenderloin. I hope everything turns out like i hope it will!
Keep on reading and merry Christmas from the windy city.
Tax is insanity but its the price you pay when you walk out your door and everything is at your fingertips. I have just been trying to get stuff done so far i have been looking for a job, registering my car, setting up my room and trying to find some of the comforts i had at home in this new place. With Christmas right around the corner everything seems a little off kilter and finding a job will be nearly impossible until after the New Year. I am trying to take this time to just enjoy a bit of down time until the business of work and school hit me all at once.
Tomorrow Ryan and i will head to Iowa to spend the long weekend with his family. I dont get to go home for Christmas because of the insane prices of flights during the holidays but i am grateful that i have a home to go to for Christmas time. Tonight we are celebrating our Christmas (exchanging presents) and we might even go to Wrigley and ice skate or downtown, depending on what we decide. I really want to see the city around Christmas time, lights, the big tree, and beautiful luminous lights coming from the shopping malls. All of these little things make Christmas in a big city like Chicago more magical.
Although its freezing around here one thing im getting used to is bundling up. Basically i throw anything and everything that will keep me warm regardless of style on and walk out of the house like im covered in a giant sleeping bag. I've noticed im not the only one. Many people here have HUGE puffy coats that go down to their ankles and look like giant down comforters walking around the streets lol.
Tonight i will head to Ryans and make "Christmas dinner." Im going to try and make bacon wrapped asparagus, salad, mashed potatoes and a pork tenderloin. I hope everything turns out like i hope it will!
Keep on reading and merry Christmas from the windy city.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
My first week in the Windy city
Well it's been a week since i arrived in my new hometown and already there have been several adjustments that i have had to get used to. My room is a glamorized box that is about 7ft by 9ft big (or small i should say.) Parking is awful anywhere you go and people treat the roads and pedestrians as obstacle courses speeding up to swerve around you. It's a culture shock, a weather shock and a major adjustment to the 11.2% tax they slap you with in the city. I have become a real Chicago driver honking my horn and raising my hands while driving, pumping my own gas and even beginning to master the parallel parking trick. Midwestern are great, they are very friendly and im slowly finding my way into their lifestyle. Last night we went to a local sports bar, ate bar food, drank a beer and cheered the Bears on to victory. i even wore my bears shirt that my boyfriend gave me as a "welcome to chicago" gift. Other than gaining 7lbs from not wanting to go outside and good food in adjusting to my new life. I like half a mile from Ryan which is a huge change for the better from our 2100 mile distance from before. Its going to take time to get everything figured out but i know that it will all happen. right now we are in the process of finding a church that suites bot of us. We have been to two already and each had slightly a different flavor from what we are looking for. I had an interview at Nordstrom today and will start working at some job after the new year. I am slowly getting acquainted with public transportation and being more of a "city girl." Ryan and i leave thursday for his families house in Iowa for chirstmas and it will me me, him and his roommates dog! What a trip that will be. keep on reading for more updates. Miss you all.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
A new journey
Last Thursday i started a brand new journey. It's a pivotal point in my life that no matter what happens years later i will always remember the time i moved to Chicago when i was 20. Last week my dad and i packed my life into boxes, loaded up my Ford escape and a small U-Haul trailer beginning our drive towards Boise Idaho.
After a few set backs and running out of gas we made it to Idaho for the first night out of our five day trip. This was all new to me, i'd never been on a road trip longer than only a few hours, and i was about to drive 2100 miles to my new home! Arriving in Boise, my dad and i were both exhausted and happy to be in a warm hotel room and not stranded on the side of the road without any gas! The next day we got a late start and adjusted to the first time change (1 hr ahead.) We drove until we reached Salt Lake City to visit my aunt and uncle who live in park city. We got there early in the evening and were able to catch up for a bit before Ryan's flight arrived. This was the part in the trip where my dad would stay in Utah, and Ryan would graciously continue to drive me to Chicago. We were both sad that we couldn't take more time in park city. The snow and ski parks were calling our name but there was no way we would be able to make it to our destination on time if we took a leisure day in Utah.
Reluctant to drive for 8 hours instead of shredding the slopes, we got in the car and set our sights on Denver Co. The drive was filled with endless windmills, snowcapped mountains, cows, and wheat fields as far as the eye could see. The sun set on the mountains before we knew it, and arrived in Denver around 8pm. At this time we had not reserved a hotel and relied on Ryan's technology and my phone calls to book a room for the night. We found the perfect place for cheap right in the middle of Denver. We only had one problem; the trailer wouldn't fit in the parking garage and street parking was nearly impossible at this time on a Saturday night. After much discussion we convinced the valet parking to let us keep the car and trailer upfront until the morning. After that bump in the road we checked in and enjoyed the Blackhawks game and a late night supper at a local brew pub. I, of course got distracted by a chocolate shop and stopped in to get a few goodies to satisfy my sweet tooth. It got late and before we knew it the morning time was here. Ryan sweetly moved the car and we took a few ours to walk around the city and see what it had to offer. it was a great place, cooler than we would have liked but its always an adventure to see a new place! By early afternoon we were back on the road, making our way to Kansas City.
It was the longest stint of our trip and by this point the snowcapped mountains were exchanged for sprawling valleys tucked in a blanket of fresh powder. It was a drastic change and i was starting to understand that everything i was used to was about to change. Getting to Kansas was by far the most draining point in the trip. we arrived around 1am without any plans or idea of where we could stay for the night. After too many phone calls we finally found a place that would suit both our budget and our location.
We checked in and our tired bodies were ready for some sleep. At this point we were getting to the end and i was ready to not see the inside of my car or pump another tank of gas for awhile. The next day was a breezy drive of only 5 hours! We road to the Quad cities to stay with Ryan's mom for the night. Along the way we saw tipped over trucks and cars steered into the ditch and realized that we had just missed the worst of the cold front day before. it was my first time to meet Ryan's mom and she was just as pleasant and sweet as he had described her being. we met for dinner, and then i got the privileged of enjoying some true authentic caloric heart attack called Whitey's Ice Cream. I got the recontamination to try a malt in which you can choose your ice cream, and topping of choice and the whip it into a thick shake that makes you wish you could stomach the whole thing without feeling sick. I picked my flavor (Reese) of course and we all headed back to the Martin's for our last night on the road. The bed never felt so amazing and we were all ready for a good nights sleep by 10pm.
The morning came too fast and after enjoying a Ryan original breakfast and meeting his adorable baby cousin we were on our way for the homestretch. Only 3 hours left. These were probably the hardest and most emotional 3 hours of the entire trip. Although short it was overwhelming to realize this was real. As obvious as that sounds i was here, there was no going back and i was suddenly hit with the reality that i was in a very different environment than i was used to and everything would be new and take time to adjust to.
The whole night was full of unloading, unpacking and struggling to fit my entire life into a glamorized box. Although a box it was my box. My little tiny room in a very big city. This was the start of this new adventure and with each new day i will learn, struggle, and laugh about where im at. Keep on reading in the days to come!
After a few set backs and running out of gas we made it to Idaho for the first night out of our five day trip. This was all new to me, i'd never been on a road trip longer than only a few hours, and i was about to drive 2100 miles to my new home! Arriving in Boise, my dad and i were both exhausted and happy to be in a warm hotel room and not stranded on the side of the road without any gas! The next day we got a late start and adjusted to the first time change (1 hr ahead.) We drove until we reached Salt Lake City to visit my aunt and uncle who live in park city. We got there early in the evening and were able to catch up for a bit before Ryan's flight arrived. This was the part in the trip where my dad would stay in Utah, and Ryan would graciously continue to drive me to Chicago. We were both sad that we couldn't take more time in park city. The snow and ski parks were calling our name but there was no way we would be able to make it to our destination on time if we took a leisure day in Utah.
Reluctant to drive for 8 hours instead of shredding the slopes, we got in the car and set our sights on Denver Co. The drive was filled with endless windmills, snowcapped mountains, cows, and wheat fields as far as the eye could see. The sun set on the mountains before we knew it, and arrived in Denver around 8pm. At this time we had not reserved a hotel and relied on Ryan's technology and my phone calls to book a room for the night. We found the perfect place for cheap right in the middle of Denver. We only had one problem; the trailer wouldn't fit in the parking garage and street parking was nearly impossible at this time on a Saturday night. After much discussion we convinced the valet parking to let us keep the car and trailer upfront until the morning. After that bump in the road we checked in and enjoyed the Blackhawks game and a late night supper at a local brew pub. I, of course got distracted by a chocolate shop and stopped in to get a few goodies to satisfy my sweet tooth. It got late and before we knew it the morning time was here. Ryan sweetly moved the car and we took a few ours to walk around the city and see what it had to offer. it was a great place, cooler than we would have liked but its always an adventure to see a new place! By early afternoon we were back on the road, making our way to Kansas City.
It was the longest stint of our trip and by this point the snowcapped mountains were exchanged for sprawling valleys tucked in a blanket of fresh powder. It was a drastic change and i was starting to understand that everything i was used to was about to change. Getting to Kansas was by far the most draining point in the trip. we arrived around 1am without any plans or idea of where we could stay for the night. After too many phone calls we finally found a place that would suit both our budget and our location.
We checked in and our tired bodies were ready for some sleep. At this point we were getting to the end and i was ready to not see the inside of my car or pump another tank of gas for awhile. The next day was a breezy drive of only 5 hours! We road to the Quad cities to stay with Ryan's mom for the night. Along the way we saw tipped over trucks and cars steered into the ditch and realized that we had just missed the worst of the cold front day before. it was my first time to meet Ryan's mom and she was just as pleasant and sweet as he had described her being. we met for dinner, and then i got the privileged of enjoying some true authentic caloric heart attack called Whitey's Ice Cream. I got the recontamination to try a malt in which you can choose your ice cream, and topping of choice and the whip it into a thick shake that makes you wish you could stomach the whole thing without feeling sick. I picked my flavor (Reese) of course and we all headed back to the Martin's for our last night on the road. The bed never felt so amazing and we were all ready for a good nights sleep by 10pm.
The morning came too fast and after enjoying a Ryan original breakfast and meeting his adorable baby cousin we were on our way for the homestretch. Only 3 hours left. These were probably the hardest and most emotional 3 hours of the entire trip. Although short it was overwhelming to realize this was real. As obvious as that sounds i was here, there was no going back and i was suddenly hit with the reality that i was in a very different environment than i was used to and everything would be new and take time to adjust to.
The whole night was full of unloading, unpacking and struggling to fit my entire life into a glamorized box. Although a box it was my box. My little tiny room in a very big city. This was the start of this new adventure and with each new day i will learn, struggle, and laugh about where im at. Keep on reading in the days to come!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
A little person can change you
Today i got the chance to watch my niece and nephew while my brother and his wife stole away a few hours to watch the civil war game. I love these kids, the stuff they say is the most pure hearted and witty things i've ever heard.T
he advantage living 20 minutes away is i have gotten the chance to watch them grow up. I was at the hospital when they were born, every birthday party and now watching them grow into little people in front of my own eyes!
As i begin to get in the moving mindset im realizing that these moments are precious because they will become scarce after my relocation. It breaks my heart to think about being away from them. Not hearing them laugh, ask every question in the world, and seeing their love for life and God grow.
People say that you don't understand what true love is until you have your own children. Until then i think im pretty much as close as i will get. Everything that seems to matter; a clean house, quiet time, a neat appearance all goes out the window and you begin to look at life differently. It's not about you anymore, its about this little person who is changing your life more than you realize. Seeing them makes me recognize how much capacity i have to love. I can't bear to think of coming home and seeing them grown up, i dont want them to forget me.
Although I do know that they have shown me a joy for life you often forget as you mature. They laugh, play and love without expecting anything in return, yet you can't help but want to give them all the love in the world. I can't believe how intense my love will be for my own children someday but i can only imagine what it will be like. I love these little people with my whole life, they are by far the most fun friends i will ever have.
he advantage living 20 minutes away is i have gotten the chance to watch them grow up. I was at the hospital when they were born, every birthday party and now watching them grow into little people in front of my own eyes!
As i begin to get in the moving mindset im realizing that these moments are precious because they will become scarce after my relocation. It breaks my heart to think about being away from them. Not hearing them laugh, ask every question in the world, and seeing their love for life and God grow.
People say that you don't understand what true love is until you have your own children. Until then i think im pretty much as close as i will get. Everything that seems to matter; a clean house, quiet time, a neat appearance all goes out the window and you begin to look at life differently. It's not about you anymore, its about this little person who is changing your life more than you realize. Seeing them makes me recognize how much capacity i have to love. I can't bear to think of coming home and seeing them grown up, i dont want them to forget me.
Although I do know that they have shown me a joy for life you often forget as you mature. They laugh, play and love without expecting anything in return, yet you can't help but want to give them all the love in the world. I can't believe how intense my love will be for my own children someday but i can only imagine what it will be like. I love these little people with my whole life, they are by far the most fun friends i will ever have.
It's 12:40 and i still want to write..
It's 12:40 and im an exhausted so this will be a short one. My eyes are slightly starting to rebel and close on their own and not even the hot coca or the sugar from the frosting i ate earlier is helping me stay awake..
I volunteered today at the festival of trees in Portland. I used to do it each year with my mom but as time went by i found myself being more and more busy around this time of year. With my move date 5 days away i am beginning to try and fit as many holiday traditions in this short time span as possible.
Tonight we made dinner, hung the ornaments on the tree, and decorated the famous sugar cookie.After baking they expanded and looked more like globs of dough than actual Christmas figures. Everything has happened so fast and the overwhelming fact that will be calling Chicago home in less than two weeks makes my mind spin. I thank God for the emotions he gave us, but i also wonder how many someone can feel at one time.
I find myself feeling excited, scared, apprehensive, and nervous all at once. i dont know how to make sense of all of them, and sometimes i feel like im making this huge life change on a whim. Im ready to see where it takes me, hopefully somewhere amazing where i can fully find joy in my surroundings but it's all in the journey. As i wind down my last days living at home i know that this is it. I love my parents, they have done so much for me, but i know that from this point on everything will change. The emotions begin to come back again and again with each new thing i think about. The long awaited move is finally here, and it's time to focus on what the future holds for me. There's no looking back now..I can't wait.
I volunteered today at the festival of trees in Portland. I used to do it each year with my mom but as time went by i found myself being more and more busy around this time of year. With my move date 5 days away i am beginning to try and fit as many holiday traditions in this short time span as possible.
Tonight we made dinner, hung the ornaments on the tree, and decorated the famous sugar cookie.After baking they expanded and looked more like globs of dough than actual Christmas figures. Everything has happened so fast and the overwhelming fact that will be calling Chicago home in less than two weeks makes my mind spin. I thank God for the emotions he gave us, but i also wonder how many someone can feel at one time.
I find myself feeling excited, scared, apprehensive, and nervous all at once. i dont know how to make sense of all of them, and sometimes i feel like im making this huge life change on a whim. Im ready to see where it takes me, hopefully somewhere amazing where i can fully find joy in my surroundings but it's all in the journey. As i wind down my last days living at home i know that this is it. I love my parents, they have done so much for me, but i know that from this point on everything will change. The emotions begin to come back again and again with each new thing i think about. The long awaited move is finally here, and it's time to focus on what the future holds for me. There's no looking back now..I can't wait.
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