Simply Speaking

September 7, 2014

The Fade

Sometimes I struggle with that Sunday evening fade. You know how it goes: the weekend wanes to a slow close, Sunday afternoon giving way to the night before the new work week. The fun of the weekend fades away, and we gear up for the daily grind.

Seeing as how up until recently Ty and I have had Mondays off together, this Sunday night thing is going to take some getting used to. But while part of me really chafes at this new schedule of ours, I’m doing my best to embrace it.

Yesterday morning we discovered a new favorite walking spot, and tonight we found ourselves there once again. The evening sky was at its best—all golden and bright, beautiful and aglow with rays of late summer sun. We watched as the blue sky disappeared into dusk, taking with it the last wonderful wisps of our weekend.

September 1, 2014

Lazy Labor Day Weekend

The Saturday morning of Labor Day Weekend. Off to a pretty good start.

Candles + coffee + chocolate chip pancakes = what I woke up to this morning. Sweet moments with my favorite man.

Letting this scene set the pace for the rest of the weekend seems like a fine idea to me.

There’s much to be done, but sometimes a lazy labor day weekend is just what you need.

July 30, 2014

On Coffee Shops + Clarity

I wasn’t sure I wanted to come here tonight. Starbucks, on a Wednesday, with the husband out of town. Tired as I am from a long day of work, a long week of moving, and a few long months of life, still I decided to throw my things into my black canvas bag and make the short trip down the street.

So here I sit, thinking and writing, writing and thinking. Tall Pike by my side and Neil Young’s “Long May You Run” overhead.

I’ve had a lot on my mind lately. My thoughts have been on hyper speed and I can’t quite keep up. Ty and I have been in one of the most challenging seasons that we’ve known together. Ten months of tough decisions and never-ending transitions, it can best be described as a season of upheaval (if I may borrow a dear friend’s most appropriate description).

Life looks nothing like it did ten months ago, four months ago, or even two weeks ago. Every corner we come to seems to catch us by surprise, each one holding something new and something different. Jobs lost and living spaces left. New jobs and new homes. Big obstacles and bigger decisions. Bitter, sweet, and bittersweet—sometimes all at once.

It’s been hard to get clarity lately. To step back far enough and view things as if on the outside. I know that this is never truly possible—to look at your own circumstances objectively—but sometimes it can help to try.

That’s part of why I came here tonight. There’s something about the coffee shop atmosphere that inspires that really good kind of thinking. Where coffee and ideas brew simultaneously—sometimes strong and robust, and other times light and smooth. It’s where I think clearly. Where Ty and I love to share and to dream. Where thoughts flow freely and my mind is free to wander and to wonder in the best sort of way.

It’s been ten months and Ty and I are finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. To be honest, I will be more than happy to leave this season behind. It’s just been tough in ways that are difficult to explain. And yet there’s been beauty in the pain, and we’ve learned so much about ourselves and about each other. Isn’t that how it always is? How He always works?

A couple of months ago I read Psalm 27:13, and for the first time, I identified with it in a very real way:

“I would have despaired unless I believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

Another translation reads:

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

This verse has been such an encouragement to me—a source of peace and a place of comfort. A great reminder that even in the midst of my most troubling moments, God is working while I’m waiting.

It goes without saying, but effective as Starbucks may be at provoking thought, Scripture always brings the better clarity. Even on their best day, the Green Mermaid and my favorite Cinnamon Dolce Latte can’t compete. Getting God’s perspective is the only way for me to truly clear my head and exchange error for encouragement. It’s life-giving dependency versus life-draining desperation; renewal versus running-on-empty.

And so tonight, while the ambiance may help, it’s the life-giving, mind-renewing words of Scripture that bring me clarity and hope. Tonight, I am confident and I don’t despair. Because I will see the goodness of the Lord. It’s been there all along.

July 2, 2014

Isn’t she lovely?

If you know me at all, you know that I’m really one for surprises. I think that the best ones are some of the sweetest moments in life, and in a world where everything seems to be more planned and perfected every day, a little mystery can be a nice breath of fresh air.

So much do I love a good surprise that even if I happen to pick up on something suspicious going on, I will do everything in my power not to figure it out (unlike some of you who may happen to be a little more curious).

When it comes to this matter of surprises, husband and I could not be more different. Ty prefers what he likes to call “planned spontaneity.” In other words, he’s not a fan of being surprised. The organized, methodical half of the two of us likes having a plan—knowing the who, what, where, when, why, and how of it all.

Different as it may be from me, I really love this about him. He is a note-taking, calendar-making machine, and I’m so thankful for how the Lord has wired him this way. And, fortunately for me, just because he doesn’t like being surprised, doesn’t mean he isn’t up for surprising others.

Case in point: a couple of weeks ago when I became the owner of a Canon Rebel—the dslr camera I had been wanting forever, but also thought would be forever before I had. Ty had researched, saved, and talked to several people before surprising me with the camera I’ve had my eye on for quite some time. So thoughtful and so generous, and so like Ty to do.

Now that I have this new toy, my favorite thing to do is to take to the streets and play photographer. There’s something I just love about capturing stills of a world so fluid—one that’s always moving, always changing.

And I especially love the fact that I have the Windy City as my playground. I have much to learn about this world of photography, but it’s so fun that I have Chicago to practice on.

She makes for the best backdrop. Don’t you think?

June 25, 2014

Last-Minute Milwaukee

The beginning of June is always a fun time of the year for us. Not only is summer finally starting to show its sunny self (as evidenced by the rainbow of tulips on Michigan Ave and the boats breaking free from their winter-long hiatus in the harbors), but it’s also the scene of an ever-remembered day—one that was all lace and blue skies, with Ty and I as the groom and bride.

The second of June, 2012, is forever one of my favorite days. I try to do my best each year to relive it—the sweet anticipation, my heart so full it could burst, that look on his face. It is such a day worth remembering—worth celebrating.

And that is exactly what we do. We remember and we celebrate, and we spend uninterrupted time together—alone, just the two of us.

This year for our anniversary we had plans to spend the night at a hotel in downtown Chicago, but at the last minute we decided to go in another direction entirely. In a spur-of-the-moment decision early Sunday morning, we booked a room at the Iron Horse Hotel in Milwaukee, and six hours later, we were on our way. So unplanned, so unexpected—just the way we like it.

I like to refer to it as Last-minute Milwaukee. It was so much fun.

The Iron Horse | We scored a great deal on this 100 year-old warehouse turned luxury boutique hotel in the Third Ward

My favorite meal of the day | Local coffee + A classic favorite

| Exploring |

Philippians 4:8 | Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Cheese Curds | When in Wisconsin…

Living in Chicago for the past three years has really grown our love and appreciation for cities. Although we found that Milwaukee can easily be exhausted in a day and half, it still did not disappoint…

We laughed until we cried when we got caught in the rain—and then really cried later as we watched the Blackhawks lose to the Los Angeles Kings. We shopped for antiques, ate frozen yogurt, and were lazy in the park, enjoying a beautiful day with the same blue-sky perfection as the one two years before it.

In the end, we were thankful to sneak away for a few days of refreshment and fun, and more than anything, we were thankful to have another year to celebrate.

Here’s to you, anniversary number two!

« Previous Page