“i ain’t no hollaback girl…” -pretty sure stefani was singing about being a “challah-back” girl 🙂 when i was looking up the original song, i wonderfully stumbled upon a whole market for “challah back girl” merchandise: t-shirts, etc. oh, yeah.
Category: bloomington
going away
last night
we drove to our community group
cars met us on the side of the drive
cars that mostly didn’t belong.
confusion clung to my tired mind
as i looked at the time
wondering if we were late
or if details had escaped.
familiar faces peeped over the windowsill.
my heart stilled
as the pieces fell together in my lap.
they had put together
a surprise party
for our atlanta move in a couple of weeks.
our steps were heavy upon
the treads of the steps
as we approached the front door.
through the house we went
prompted by our hostess
to the backyard of faces.
everyone was there.
the patio and porch were decorated
with white-papered tables
and flowers placed in jars
surrounded with wisps of colored fabric.
warm faces were everywhere
faces that we had met our first day alone in bloomington
and newer faces from the last few months.
the gratitude and effort of it all
beat over my heart
like tall waves upon a rocky beach.
the effect was humbling.
children splashed with joy in the water pools
in the lawn
watermelon clenched in their tiny fists.
boys played corn hole and lingered with beers in hand.
the rest of us chatted
and watched our impressive hosts prepare
a low-boil with mussels and shrimp
enough to feed a small army.
it wasn’t until a friend led me back indoors
where it hit me
the signed notes upon a cork board
that a friend had made in the shape of the U.S.
the framed etsy prints of all of our home cities:
lincoln, bloomington and soon-to-be atlanta
for us to take home.
i cried.
so thankful for these two years God gave us here.
the friendships that have been built in that span.
the beautiful country surrounding this town
that matt has explored in full.
the church plant that had barely begun
which is now doing public worship.
the tears and struggles that God has provided
to make this community stronger
and more vulnerable to his love.
thank you all for being a part of this journey
and providing an unforgettable night.
my graduated man
my jewish studies man graduated today with his master’s degree. good to be almost done.
kissing in the freezing rain after the ceremony (photo credit: brian hammond)
take a load off, fanny
E is currently rolled up on me snoozing, while i am awaiting the time to schedule my tutoring hours (every thursday at 12pm). pandora is playing me an eclectic selection of music, as you can see from the post title. matt’s family is in route to our house as i type. it will be a crazy next week. however, i am looking forward to my routine getting a little shaken up.
as E lays here, i realize how much i have to be thankful for over the last two years and the blessing of my multitude of jobs–even though it is a lot to explain to people who ask. i loved stepping outside the other day, walking behind our house to the alley way, trailing between the shops, and peeking into all the open doors at the hubbub inside: the old lady hair salon with the creepy 80s hair ad, etc. i was able to drop off some shoes at the shoe doctor and then walk five or so minutes up the road to the post office to mail my package. it is amazing to have all commodities within walking distance of our apartment.
well, someone just woke up….
lady b 