I wrote an entire post this evening and decided to delete it for a number of reasons. I reveal more on this blog than I'd like. It focused a lot on how much I cried this weekend, it's a little embarrassing to admit it, and it's really none of anyone's business why I cried so much. But for some reason, I decided to detail it all in this un-posted post. Which is exactly why it will remain un-posted.
Instead, I will write a short advertisement for one of my favorite restaurants in Green Bay:
The Grapevine Cafe (www.grapevine-cafe.com)
Located next door to Homestead Decor, the Grapevine Cafe knows how to do a quaint breakfast the right way. By "quaint", I mean the atmosphere. By "breakfast", I mean delicious. The home-style tables, flower arrangements, and Thomas Kinkade-style artwork make you feel right at home from the moment you walk in the door. Every dish comes with fruit and thanks to the excellent service, your coffee cup will never empty. The menu includes a variety of items from omelets to french toast, from bacon and eggs to a specialty quiche made fresh every morning. You can't go wrong with the Grapevine Cafe.
That's all I have for now, without revealing the deepest depths of my soul to all five of my readers.
One last thing. I was encouraged so much by my friends this weekend. To hear what God has done, to catch up on what has happened over the last couple of years... nothing could have been better.
Showing posts with label community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label community. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
sharing a meal.
Last night I went to a dinner party. Mariah hosted a group of friends for a fantastic dinner. Butternut squash risotto and braised short ribs were delectable. That girl knows her way around a kitchen. :)
It reminds me of how valuable it is to share meals with other people. Recently, I have eaten most dinners alone, as my roomies and I are on such different schedules. It just isn't the same to eat alone. Somehow, food brings people together; it brings everyone to a common ground, and loosens people up. Who can be reserved when eating a wonderful meal prepared by a friend? Nothing compares to the community developed around the table.
It reminds me of how valuable it is to share meals with other people. Recently, I have eaten most dinners alone, as my roomies and I are on such different schedules. It just isn't the same to eat alone. Somehow, food brings people together; it brings everyone to a common ground, and loosens people up. Who can be reserved when eating a wonderful meal prepared by a friend? Nothing compares to the community developed around the table.
Friday, September 10, 2010
calming the soul.
Yesterday morning I woke to that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach that screamed "I need more sleep!" After a night of conversation over German white wines and the future of Facebook, I got only about five hours of sleep. It was worth it, but it made for a slow-moving, tired morning with lots of coffee.
I spent some time on the front steps with Victoria that morning. For about ten minutes, we just listened for things. Trains rumbled by, planes hummed overhead, and cars zoomed past. In the midst of it, though, I found a peacefulness in the rustling leaves and birds chirping. It took me, even for just a moment, back to that second fishing dock at Lake Lundgren - one of my favorite places in the whole world.
Everyone needs a place where they feel at peace; a place where their mind is at rest. Mine have been rare. The fishing dock at Lake Lundgren, the prayer room at N-dub, and the Chicago Temple have been my only steady (yet infrequent) places. That morning, however, I found it on the front porch of a home in Bucktown.
Perhaps it isn't the physical location as much as it is the spiritual condition of the soul. Whatever it is, I loved it, despite it's short lifespan :)
I spent some time on the front steps with Victoria that morning. For about ten minutes, we just listened for things. Trains rumbled by, planes hummed overhead, and cars zoomed past. In the midst of it, though, I found a peacefulness in the rustling leaves and birds chirping. It took me, even for just a moment, back to that second fishing dock at Lake Lundgren - one of my favorite places in the whole world.
Everyone needs a place where they feel at peace; a place where their mind is at rest. Mine have been rare. The fishing dock at Lake Lundgren, the prayer room at N-dub, and the Chicago Temple have been my only steady (yet infrequent) places. That morning, however, I found it on the front porch of a home in Bucktown.
Perhaps it isn't the physical location as much as it is the spiritual condition of the soul. Whatever it is, I loved it, despite it's short lifespan :)
Monday, September 6, 2010
moving out, moving on.
I came north to my parents' house again this weekend for several reasons: My wonderful Aunt Cathy is visiting from Georgia and my little brother, Daniel, turned 18 today! (Happy Birthday!)
When I got to the house yesterday, my little sister was so eager to show me her new room (the bedroom I just moved out of two weeks ago) and how she set it all up. I, too, was excited for her to have a new space of her own to experiment with and to grow up in. When I stepped in the door of the bedroom, though, I cracked.
The realization hit that I no longer have a place in this house. I don't have a bedroom, I don't even have a bookshelf (all of my books ended up being moved into a laundry basket). The one piece of me left in this house was that bedroom, and now I don't even have that.
As I come into another period of uncertainty and decision-making in my life, I see Green Bay as an entirely viable option in the future. No matter how much I wanted to leave five years ago, I love it here. Losing my bedroom was the breaking point - the uncertainty no longer includes the option of moving back into this house where I don't even have my own space anymore. And I broke down.
On a much lighter note, I went out last night with Sara and Teresa and ran into Timothy and all his roommates. After a night of fun and laughter, I returned home to spend another entire day today laughing and laughing and laughing with my family. I don't even know how else to describe it except to show you:
When I got to the house yesterday, my little sister was so eager to show me her new room (the bedroom I just moved out of two weeks ago) and how she set it all up. I, too, was excited for her to have a new space of her own to experiment with and to grow up in. When I stepped in the door of the bedroom, though, I cracked.
The realization hit that I no longer have a place in this house. I don't have a bedroom, I don't even have a bookshelf (all of my books ended up being moved into a laundry basket). The one piece of me left in this house was that bedroom, and now I don't even have that.
As I come into another period of uncertainty and decision-making in my life, I see Green Bay as an entirely viable option in the future. No matter how much I wanted to leave five years ago, I love it here. Losing my bedroom was the breaking point - the uncertainty no longer includes the option of moving back into this house where I don't even have my own space anymore. And I broke down.
On a much lighter note, I went out last night with Sara and Teresa and ran into Timothy and all his roommates. After a night of fun and laughter, I returned home to spend another entire day today laughing and laughing and laughing with my family. I don't even know how else to describe it except to show you:
Meet Daniel's new best friend.
This unicycle's name is Chick Magnet...
You'd better watch out!
Somehow I can only upload one picture, so that one will have to suffice. Just imagine someone learning how to ride a unicycle. And then finding out 15 years later that he's infertile and he wonders why... oh man.
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