Life as it is....

I'm still trying to accept the fact that this is my life now....here in America when my heart is still in South Africa.

It's been great the last couple of weeks being in Chicago, meeting with friends, professors, and people at TEAM. Last night, I spent the night with Bob and Pat Wright, missionaries our church supports, who now are at the TEAM office, and spent many years in Venezuela as missionaries there. I always love talking to Pat, because she "understands." Everytime we get together, there is always laughter, but many tears as well as we reminisce and talk about our expriences. She went up to her room, and pulled out her bible, which had a poem writted inside. It read,

"I belong to two places half a world apart, pulled to opposite ends of the globe.
I don't know what home is....
Or how to get there....
But maybe some day.
The sad part is that we can only live in one place. The end result is that no matter where I am, I am always homesick."

Kind of sums of my life right now. Do I like it? Absolutely not.

I am feeling pulled....but I know I have to rely on God and depend on Him fully. I also know and LONG to get to my TRUE home, where my friends and family will all be together. What a day that will be.

My heart is in two places, and for now, I cope knowing that my Redeemer is right beside me, ready to catch me when I fall, and hold me when the tears just don't stop.

Hangin' with the Jones'!

I first met Jess when she became my roomie at Moody. We knew we would be cool with each other when we learned we share the same first and middle name. :) We have remained great friends, and I'm so thankful for that. Last May, while I was in Africa, she became a mommy. (woah baby...I'm still trying to imagine it...so crazy!)
Anyway....I went out to their place last week, and finally met Riley Cash Jones. Can I just say cutie-pie?? His big eyes and smile melted my heart!! I fell in love with him immediately. :)

Jess is so cute as a mom...the music I hear when I walk into their home is "kid cool." This little guy loves music as much as his momma and can be found dancing around quite frequently.

I also went back to their place tonight, because I wanted to have some time with her lovely husband as well. Jess cooked bbq chx, peas, stuffing, and amazing corn on the cob with garlic, paprika, salt, pepper, and butter...it was simply amazing and delicious. Riley loved bathtime and I enjoyed squirting him with his little bath toys.

Here we all are....me and this beautiful family. RC, Jess, Riley and I.

Jess-thanks for being you, and for being so wonderful to me. I'm sorry I didn't blog asap....but this was much better...lol! love you girl!

CELTIC FESTIVAL-Millenium Park

This past weekend, I went to the Celtic festival with friends. It is always held here in Chicago in September at Grant Park, and this year they changed it to May and held it at Millenium Park. I enjoyed it so much better being held in the new location. On Saturday, the weather was terrible. Steph and I took Madelynn and Judah out, and it was cold. It started to rain, and we were pretty miserable. But we stayed. And this is what we saw.

I love the bean...it has to be one of the most unique and craziest scupltures I've seen, but it really is a must when you visit chicago. :) The sun finally came out, but it didn't seem to make it any warmer unfortunately.

We also saw this Bride in the middle of Michigan Avenue having a photo shoot. I've seen this before, and I would love to do it as well one day. :)

Tad met us at Watertower after getting off work, and we stopped at the American Girl place breifly. Tad took Madelynn (on his mode of transport) and I took Judah in the front pack.
He is such a cutie, and fell asleep on the walk home.

On Sunday, the weather was much nicer, and I met Andrea. I was sooo excited to see her, and spend time together. We go way back to my first semester ever at Moody, and have remained great friends since. We caught up with each other, and hopefully I'll be spending another night with her this sunday before going to Wheaton and TEAM next week.

I'm hoping that this summer I'll be able to take in some more festivals like this. I love the music!

Chicago fun!

Well, I have SO much to blog about, and without a computer, it has been hard. However, I was told my power chord was coming to my home in MI today, so hopefully I'll be able to get back into this in a couple weeks when I get home. For now, I'm in Chicago and lovin' every minute of it. I finally got to meet little Judah, who is 4 months old now. Steph and I met in Women's Choir, and have been amazing friends ever since. I love her so much, and am so blessed by her friendship. She had Madelynn in 2006, and Judah December 24th. I had some friends from my church in MI come yesterday and today...he had an interview for med school, so we went all went out to dinner last night at Girodano's. Yummah! Dan, Carolyn, and I went down to Navy Pier after dinner.

Carolyn and I went into the city this morning to walk along Michigan Avenue and see the sights. We went to the BEAN and then over to State Street to hit Old Navy, because we both needed slops. We were going to go to lunch at the Noodle Company, but the line was so long because of it being the lunch hour. We even tried Chipotle, and that was even longer. So...it was back to the house where we ate the leftover pizza. We were waiting for Dan to get back from his interview, and Maddy woke from her nap, so Carolyn read a book to her.

They also left this book for Momes when they left. (Lori-she LOVES it!) I had to read it to her 4 times today, and her mom, dad, and our friend Kara also each had at least one turn. Crazy girl!

It was then time for Maddy to get ready for the beach! Her daddy was taking her, while Steph, Judah and I went out. I picked up these Tinkerbell sunglasses, because she loves Tink, which made the outfit work! She loved her date time with daddy!

Steph and I went to Target, and she treated me to my first starbucks drink since returning from Africa. A Vanilla Bean Frappucino! Wowsa...it was amazing, and I've already told myself that I'm limiting my monthly intake of these "fat in a cup" drinks to 1 or 2.

Judah hangin' out in the cart....all smiles on this boy!

I love these kiddos so much, and am so thankful to be here spending time with them. Maddy was a prayer warrior for me while in Africa, and I got a text when I got back to the States saying she was praying I wouldn't be sad and that I'd cheer up. So sweet. The faith of little ones. She has grown so much, and will talk your ear off. She loves saying her memory verses to me, and wants me to live with her forever. :)