Looking back May 15, 2008

One year ago May 15th, I was in Boston, visiting my boyfriend who had moved her a few weeks earlier.  It was blustery cold and raining horizontally.  I was a wreck of emotions…mostly elated to be in Eric’s arms…avoiding thinking about having to be without him again for another month…and struggling to know if I should even be THINKING about moving to Boston.

But I did have a job interview on that particular trip.  One that would lead to the most horrible job I’ve ever had, and but it was at that interview where I met one of the most wonderful, expected friends I’ve made in Boston, Dasha.  And it was after that trip that I really started thinking I should consider moving away from the only home I’d ever known.  And one month after that, God swung open every large and small door there was to swing so I could feel fully affirmed in the decision I made.

And here I am, one year later.  Dasha and I are having dinner Friday night to celebrate her birthday (maybe we should stop by that Barnes and Nobles where she interviewed me for old time’s sake as well…)  The weather is beautiful: In the mid-60′s every day with alternating sun and clouds and rain…which falls vertically.  And almost every day, I’m so glad I moved here…so sad for my friends and family in Kansas…and as sure as ever that I’m right where I’m supposed to be.

If one thing has changed this year, it’s my faith.  At the time when Eric and I met, I was struggling to make my relationship between me and Jesus a relationship between me and Jesus, and not just a reflection of the relationships my friends had with Jesus.  And while, by the time I was ready to move to Boston, I had begun to find my personal rhythm with God’s Grace, it wasn’t until I got here and lived into the immense struggle of moving away from Kansas that I really found my HOME in Christ. 

It’s popular (if not over-simplified) in Christian circles to say that even if something is difficult, if it’s bringing/pushing/thrusting you closer to God, it’s probably a good and right thing.  So if that’s the criteria we’re using to judge my decision to move to Boston, then I must have REALLY made the right choice.  Because nothing in the course of my journey of faith has made me more aware of my own weakness and God’s indescribable strength…my own inability to “do” life by my own means and God’s abounding provision…my own tendency toward insecurity, anger and bitterness and God’s love and charity and grace THROUGH ME though the Holy Spirit…

Sometimes I think God gives us love songs.  They’re not always in the form of actual songs, I believe.  They can be in the form of newly delivered babies…toddlers saying Momma and Daddy for the first time…the smile of your neighborhood homeless friend because today he appears free from the chains of his addiction…friends you don’t expect to make so quickly and so easily in your new home…  However, sometimes it seems God does sing me actual love songs.  Here’s the one God is singing into my ears lately:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIfTuQMF75c

And if you’re looking for a less schmaltzy and self-important look back to a year ago, I suggest you click on Del Mundo there on the blog roll and take a look into my friend, Jessica’s journey to becoming a mother…and the love song God is singing to her…

Thank you, Lord, for Patriots Day! April 22, 2008

The good people of New England have been kind enough to make up a whole holiday…one that means a day off from work for most Bostonians…one that just so happens to coincide with the Boston Marathon…and that holiday is called Pariots Day!  All I know for sure is that this blessed holiday meant that my Mom and my Aunt Cindy could come visit for a long weekend and this was SOOO sweet and precious and full and fun!!

On Friday I met Mom and Cindy at the airport and we, of course, had to begin photo-documenting straight away.

 

On Friday, we went to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, a popular spot in Boston’s Fenway area.  Then we did the all important work of gathering provisions for the weekend (translation: grocery store and liquor store!).  For Friday evening, we went to my and Eric’s favorite neighborhood Irish pub, O’Leary’s.  Eric, Harish and Dasha eventually joined us.  However, by that point, the “old bags” (their words, not mine!) were more than ready for bed.  And we had a VERY exciting Day Two planned…

 

 

 

 

Day Two (Saturday) was WHALE WATCHING!!!  This was really fun!  We arrived at Boston’s Long Wharf area, got on the boat and set out 21 miles from shore!  We saw lots of whales, mostly humpbacks.  Of couse, we captured few (if any) truly representative photos.  And we had even given up trying when three whales came really close to our boat!!  (Isn’t that always how it happens?!)  I thank the Lord for Patriots Day AND for Dramemine!  Apparently, there were a LOT of people getting sick on this boat.  But not us!  We may have been medicated, but we were freely enjoying the majesty before us! 

Then we had lunch at Ned Devine’s (more Irish pub lovin’) and walked through Boston’s historic Quincy Market/Fenuil Hall area.  Then we seriously needed a nap!  Well…actually, Eric and I seriously needed a nap.  So much for Mom and Cindy being old bags!  They were running laps around us!!  Later that night, we enjoyed a trip to a nearby dessert restaurant called Athan’s and shared four AMAZING desserts between the four of us.  Then we went home and watched Juno and ate popcorn and just chilled.  It was grand!  (And Juno is still one of the best movies I’ve ever seen!!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

There’s a white boat top left, but if you look closely in the middle, you can see a black stripe and some mist.  That’s a whale.  I promise.

 

I realize it looks like I’m competing for Loch Ness Moster photos, but that really is the fin of a hump back whale!

 

You can TOTALLY tell that’s a fin!  RIGHT?! 

 

 

This was Cindy’s first time to Boston and first time ever on a Subway, which was fun for everyone!  Also, it was on Cindy’s “bucket list” to go whale watching, so check that one off!!

 

 

 

Sunday started with church at Mosaic Boston.  Mom and Cindy got to meet the wonderful women in my Small Group – Heather, Megan and Cindy – as well as our fabulous pastor and lots of other friends.  (On a random side note, it was my mom who decided our Small Group was really a Tiny Group.  We group members thought that was so cute and funny, we proudly call ourselves that!)

Our Mosaic community always extends the worship beyond the “service” with a group lunch so we gladly partook.  We went on to visit the Charles River and Beacon Hill area.  Then we all walked around the Public Gardens (all good pictures were taken on Mom and Cindy’s cameras, so I got nothin’ for ya there other than some slightly questionable pictures with the sculpture inspired by the children’s book, Make Way for Duckling…) and THEN we went back to the apartment to get ready for our fun Sunday night surprise…

Mom, Cindy, Eric and I all went to The Beehive, this fabulous restaurant/club where we at great food and listened to live music.  It was so fun!!

 

(Yes, those are fold-out lunch tables that the YMCA where we hold services so graciously let us borrow.  ‘Cause that’s how we roll.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our final day together was a very exciting one!!  Nothing could have prepared us (or, me at least!) for the BUZZ and EXCITEMENT of the Boston Marathon!  Of course, it helps that my apartment is ON the route!!!  And it’s fairly close to the end – between miles 24 and 25 of the 26.2 mile race.  It was very cool and inspiring to see the wheelchair racers first, then the elite women, then men…then tens of thousands (literally) of people running by while we clapped and cheered.  It was SO FUN!!  Definitely something you can’t get anywhere else (there are other marathons but I’m told there’s truly only one like the Boston Marathon!) 

After that we had to do the VERY sad task of taking Mom and Cindy to the airport.  Oh, it was so good and sweet and wonderful to feel the loving embrace of my Mommy!  And so hard to feel it for the last time for a while.  (I don’t have my next trip planned but I’m hoping to travel to Kansas the week that July 4 falls within.)  So as with any time spent with family and friends, the parting full of sorrow…and there isn’t much sweet about THAT!  However, Eric and I both are SO grateful for all Mom and Cindy did for us (who was hosting whom here?!) and SO grateful for the great conversations, experiences and laughs we all shared.  THANK YOU, MOM AND CINDY!!!  WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU ALREADY!!!

 

This one is from my apartment a while before the marathon got into full swing.

 

And this is looking in about the same direction at the height of the marathon.  That sea of people you see heading off into the distance is hundreds of runners and thousands of fans.

 

 

 

 

PS: Yes, I shamelessly asked my family to wear Horizons for Homeless Children t-shirts, supporting our Boston Marathon Run for Homeless Children team.  No one complained: They matched our sunburns from whale watching perfectly!

 

PPS: And yes, I am trying to break the record – not for running – but for longest blog post EVER…  Did I win?…

Workin’ 9 to 5 January 11, 2008

I’m home from the end of the fourth day of my very cool, exciting and perfect-for-me new job.  Considering that it was only three days into the last job that I was already crying at work, this is clearly already a better situation for me!  BUT, this job is not only great by comparison.  It is great just because it is!  So far I’m doing exactly the kind of event coordination and planning for which my skill set and previous experience were apparently made.  And I get to do all that with a great group of co workers and for an amazing cause.

So here’s what a day looks like for me now.

I board the 47 bus about seventy paces from my front stoop.   (Although this picture is taken after I’d de-planed at the my next stop.)

The 47 takes me to Ruggles Station, which is a major bus/subway/train station (where the picture of the bus was taken).  So major, in fact, that it has its own Dunkin, at which I am already a regular.

Then I get on the 22 bus.  (There aren’t as many pictures of this part as I would like because I was paranoid about getting tackled by Homeland Security for taking pictures of public transportation.  And if you think I’m kidding, try taking pictures in a major U.S. city’s subways station sometime where a cop can see you.  Go ahead.  I dare you.)

The bus drops me off almost at my office building’s door step.  The building is hard to miss with its “White Rock” sign on top, the origins of which remain a mystery to me and everyone I’ve asked.  Here’s what it looks like from across the street, and then as I approach the stairs to enter the building…

I basically have to go down to a “garden level” to enter, hence the stairs.  The front door is secure, so staff can enter with a pass code but all others (including parents) must be buzzed in.  

This is a good time to mention that the administrative/executive offices of the organization share this building with one of Horizons’ three Children’s Community Centers (CCC).  That means there are four classrooms in this building – infants, infant/toddler, toddler, and pre-school.  THAT means there are kids running around all over the place generally looking adorable and making my heart all squishy.  It’s very motivating.

So here are the front desks, and the hall down which I walk to get to my cube.

I have a nice cubicle, which I’ve tried to decorate with some fun stuff (including the wrapping paper Dasha used for my going-away/congragulations gift when leaving ICfC).  Those who have worked with me before will also recognize the toy basket.

Here’s my actual work station:

Here are pictures of all my pictures.  Thanks in particular to my mom for the hanging “clothes line” for pictures (to the right of my computer).  I have a ton of pictures clipped to it and rotate them around so different people are smiling at me at different times.  In general, I just wanted these pictures [of pictures!] to highlight how much I miss all of you and how important it is for me to see your faces every day, even if only in a photograph.  (Mom, show Izzy!)

Now on to my co workers. 

I’m on a development team of eight.  Today we happened to have had a semi-annual (or is it bi-annual??  Twice a year!!) retreat to plan for this half of our fiscal year.  We were missing one of the eight – the only male, Scot – who is on vacation this week.  I have yet to meet him.

Also, my direct supervisor, Leemarie, absolutely hates to be photographed, but I did manage to get her arm in the picture on the far left.  Don’t tell her.  Leemarie, in addition to being my boss, is the Director of Annual Fund & Development Operations.  Next to her is Honey, the Database Manager; then Colette, the Communications Manager; then Suzanne in green, the Major Gifts Officer; then Maureen, the Grants Manager.  I’m the Events & Donor Relations Manager, by the way.  (And I may not have all their titles exactly right, but you get the idea.)

And then Meryl is our fearless leader (Chief Development Officer), which you can tell by how she proliferates giant post it sheets… 

All of them are really fun and interesting and different and I’m having a blast getting to know them.  And all of them already know about all of you because they’ve all taken turns coming by my cube to take the tour of my pictures. 

I didn’t take any pictures of my commute home and, frankly, I don’t have that anywhere near down to a science.  I’ve gone home a different way every day using different combinations of busses and subways all four days and I have yet to find one that doesn’t have me waiting annoying amounts of time somewhere or another.  But I’ll get it figured out! 

So that’s the pictorial review of my new work life as it looks so far.  I’m already working on events and projects around the Boston Marathon “Run for Homeless Children” Team and two signature events in May and June, and then several smaller events in the next few months!!  I won’t have any trouble keeping busy in this job, that for sure.  Which is good…something about “staying out of trouble…”

Let it snow! December 14, 2007

Whoa, buddy, there is one heck of a snow storm going!  The weather people estimate anywhere from 1 to 3 inches are falling every hour.  It’s going to be over before midnight, but I took this first picture just less than an hour after it started:

 

The worst part was the traffic jam this caused, since it started around 2 p.m. and then everything started shutting down and everyone started going home.  The traffic jam at the intersection outside my apartment (I’m taking these pictures from my living room and bedroom windows) was backed up FOR HOURS!  NPR reported the worst traffic tie ups in YEARS…and in a place like Boston, that’s saying a lot!

Here are pics from my front stoop and my room again, a couple hours later, when estimates were up to 5-6 inches…and I think the same cars may have been sitting in the intersection….

I’m told the weather in Kansas in pretty comparable, so that’s fun!   I keep trying to tell these Boston people: Being from Kansas means I AM prepared for this kind of weather!!  And, heck, let me tell you what a blessing it is to not have to worry about driving in this!  I can just enjoy it.  Of course, when Kansas is getting its spring in March and I still have two months of winter left…then we’ll see how excited I am… 

“When in doubt, DUCK!” December 2, 2007

A week ago, I got an email from Dasha inviting me to a Duck Feast.  There were promises of “Duck, lokše (potato crepes), cabbage… stroudels, halušky, mulled wine… and whatever else we (the resident Slovak, Kris, Lili and Jinacide) have time to cook up.”

Little did Eric, Anna and I know that we were getting ourselves into a SERIOUS feast, with a bunch of fun new friends…and that we’d have to be ROLLED out of Dasha’s apartment at the end of the night.  Let’s just say it’s almost 24 hours later and I think I’m still full…

But holy crap it was GOOD!  And so, so fun.  Thanks, Dasha!!

This guy is Adam.  He works with me and Dasha at the ICfC.

Dasha is master of all she surveys…

We all became very fascinated with this puppet that Dasha had made.

I’m not sure if I’ve had any other pictures of her up here, but this is Anna, Eric’s sister.  She is in med school at KU Med in Kansas City.  Eric and I have enjoyed lots of great visits up to see her; her apartment is right on the Plaza!  Right now she’s living in Boston for a whole month while she takes basically a traveling elective at Tufts medical school.  We’re SOO SOO happy to have her here! 

PS: It is freakin’ COLD here!  It’s apparently getting into that magical time of year that New Englander’s talk about.  Yesterday I think it got up to about 20 degrees, but thanks to the Kansas-esque wind, it felt like 9.  NINE!  Probably less at times.  Today’s a LITTLE better thanks to cloud cover and less wind, and it’s also snowing right now!  It’s the first time it’s snowed here when it’s actually stuck.  If there are good pictures to share, I’ll certainly do so.  Otherwise I’m going to stay inside as much as possible. 

Thank you, Sweet Lord, for heat and shelter.  I’m aware that many of your children don’t enjoy such blessings on nights like tonight.  Please break my heart to what breaks your heart and open my eyes to where I can serve the least of these.  Amen.

Fun in New York and Birthday Tattoo October 27, 2007

After all the business in Boston and New York was over as of Tuesday night, Dasha and I and some others stayed in the City the next day for some fun.  I got the experience of driving around Manhattan Island more than I ever thought I’d do in my life when I went to return the minivan (we took Greyhound busses home Wednesday evening.)

We got haircuts on Lexington Ave…well Dasha got a haircut…I got a trim…

On Thursday and Friday I was back in Boston and back to work.  However, since on my actual birthday I was at the beginning of my grueling work schedule, Eric was sweet enough to throw me a belated birthday party where I could actually relax and take the time to enjoy!  We went to O’Leary’s by my apartment, which is a beloved neighborhood Irish pub with great food where the waitresses are actually Irish and they play Van Morrison on the overhead the whole time you’re there.

Now, today (Saturday) Eric is giving my my belated birthday day.  We had a fabulous Indian lunch and then he surprised me by taking me to get the tattoo I’ve been wanting!!

Now, I saw this tattoo online not long after he and I started dating in summer of ’06 and at the time I had by breath taken away because I knew it was the perfect tattoo for me.  So it was so great of Eric to remember that and plan for me to be able to get it (not to mention pay for it!!)  Forgive the excessive skin but pretend (like I did) that I’m in a bathing suit! 

I LOVE IT!!!

It’s still Saturday and still my birthday day.  Eric is taking a nap though (I was too; getting a tatto is VERY exciting!) and next we’re going to see the movie Darjeeling Limited (sp?) by Wes Anderson, which we’ve both been wanting to see and I’m just grateful to finally have the time to see a movie!

Tomorrow I’ll also FINALLY get to clean and do laundry and start living like I live in my apartment instead of at my office.  YAY!

And NEXT weekend, Amanda Eden – bestest friend extrordinaire – and I are both flying from our respective cities to Atlanta to visit Josh & Jessica Gunkel and FINALLY meet Jadon!!!  We’re all so SO excited!  Look for great pictures from that after November 5th.

Struggling under the weight of the work season October 20, 2007

It’s 4:55 on Saturday.  I worked 10 hours Monday and Tuesday each…11 hours Wednesday…something like 13 or 14 Thursday and Friday due to huge dinner parties to welcome international guests for our Advanced Workshop this weekend (http://www.centerforconciliation.org/EverettWorkshop2007.html)….  Today I was up at 6:30 a.m. to get to the workshop site in downtown Boston…another wine & cheese party tonight…another 14+ hour day…tomorrow, Sunday, is the “short and easy” day with only 8 or 9 hours on the job…Monday night will bring an ICfC-sponsored symposium at Harvard…Tuesday we’ll travel to New York City for a Board meeting at 4 p.m. and another symposium there, all featuring our international guests.  Wednesday I get to come home and plan to sleep for 18 hour straight.  We’re about half way through and I feel like I want to die.

In order to give a balanced account, though, I must point out that these international (and American) guests who are participants, speakers, facilitators, guests, etc, in all of this are amazing and fun people and I’ve already made close connections with new friends around the world.  I have a warm home waiting for me in Holland, England, Cambodia, India and various US cities as well.  We’re also eating exceptionally well (which, as you may know about me, is optimally important) with contributions from India, Israel and elsewhere.

But Good Lord I’m lacking sleep and stamina.  Please pray for all of us!  Pray I’ll make it to next weekend (a time when I’ll finally get to properly celebrate my birthday and also sleep in for the first time in weeks) without getting sick or losing my patience with anyone.  THANKS! 

Rosie’s Place and The Next Few Weeks October 9, 2007

Rosie’s Place was an amazing experience.  I wish I could show pictures but we’re prohibited from taking pictures.  There were about 70 women and children there at 4:30 to get soup and bread and snacks.  Then at 6 p.m. we served salmon, rice pilaf and mixed veggies.  Because I established myself early in the volunteer orientation period as the one with 11 years of waitressing experience, I got to be the one to carry all the plates to the tables (which was truly a blessing and a pleasure.)  They only have one person do it so as to keep track that no one gets a plate twice.

At 6:30 the staff and volunteers serve seconds and thirds until all the food is gone – and it is almost always gone!  Then we clean up and are out of there by 7 or 7:30 p.m.

The women were beautiful – such a cornucopia!   There were even men who identify as women: Rosie’s takes anyone who identifies as a woman!    Some of the women were shy or quiet or sick or mentally ill, but most of them were conversant and grateful and even charming.  I didn’t get to interact as much as I thought I might, but it was still a great way to spend an evening.

My only regret is that I can’t do it more often.  Stupid day job!  Because of work travel late this month, I don’t get to volunteer again until November 12.

This coming weekend, I’ll be in Ohio for my cousin Shea’s wedding.  I’m picking my dad, step-mom and little sister up at the Cleveland airport on Friday afternoon (after driving ten hours in a rental car) and then we’ll head along the Lake Erie coast to Vermillion for the wedding weekend.  I’ll be back in Boston on Sunday afternoon.  It will be a whirlwind weekend, but there truly are no words for how excited I am to see my parents and especially Katie!!!!!!!!!!!!  EEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!  (That’s as close as I can get to a word.)

And this week and the next two weeks at work are going to be out of control.  We have our annual Advanced Workshop for mediators coming up Oct 19-20, then an event Monday night, Oct 22nd, at the Kennedy School of Gov’t at Harvard, THEN an event in New York City on Tuesday, Oct 23rd, at the Yale Club, so I’ll be in NYC for two nights.  Sadly it will all be for work with no time for play.

This also means you can expect very little from me on this blog for the next few weeks.  The small and precious number of free time minutes I expect to have will likely be spent trying to stay caught up with my important relationships and attempting to stay healthy and well-rested.  But hopefully when it’s all said and done I’ll have a ton of great pictures and stories.

Mother Theresa said “I see God in every human being.”  If you want to experience the truth of that in your life, hang out at a place like Rosie’s.  It won’t take long.

Excited about tonight… October 8, 2007

Tonight I’ll work my first shift at Rosie’s Place, the women’s shelter here in Boston.  Check them out at www.rosies.org.  They’re an amazing operation.  For example, at dinner tonight, I’ll serve the guests as though they’re at a restaurant and I’m their waitress.  I think this is a beautiful concept and I’m even more excited because I finally get to offer a viable skill to the world – waiting tables!!! 

Please pray for this, my first of hopefully many shifts at Rosie’s and the beginning of hopefully many new relationships with guests and other volunteers.  I’ll report back after the shift!

Weekend at Susie’s October 2, 2007

This weekend, I had the pleasure of spending about 20 hours with one of the cutest, sweetest puppies I’ve ever met!  (I’m sure Izzy was cuter, but I didn’t meet her until she was 2 years old, so I can say Susie is the cutest puppy I’ve ever MET.)

Susie is a ten week old Schnoodle (Schauzer/Poodle mix) who belongs to Jean, my new friend.  Jean lives in Somerville just blocks from a very cool little area called Davis Square.  Susie and I took fequent walks to Davis Square, where everyone oohed and ahhed over her…and who can blame them?

Here she is trying to chew down a “tree.”  She did eventually win out over this weed, and it was clear from her prancing and frolicking that it was her proudest moment in her 10 weeks of life.

Seemed like a bit of a crime to get to play with such a precious creature AND hang out in a cool house in a cool part of town and meet such a cool, new friend.  (That said, it made me VERY homesick for my house, my back yard and its trees and porch and – most of all – for Izzy.)

Before all this excitement, on Friday night, I went with Eric and Harish to a play called The Athiest, which was a one-man show starring an unbelievably talented Cambell Scott. http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/10844 

It was in a small theater, so every seat was a good seat and Campbell Scott’s character, Augustine Early, was played to perfection.  It was a real treat.  (I have my mother to thank for the ticket – Thanks, Mom!!)  Interestingly, the character of Augustine was born in Blue Rapids, Kansas, and much of the script takes place in Manhattan, Kansas.  Maybe you can’t take the girl out of Kansas, either!