Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time

Where does the time go?
I can hardly believe that it is already December! How did that happen?!

For some reason, I thought that life would slow down a bit after college, but it seems to have done just the opposite. It's definitely a different rhythm of life, but not a slower one. Maybe without the breaking up of the year with semesters and scheduled breaks, the days now just run together. Of course, the holidays break things up (thank God), but otherwise, it's just one day into the next.

I can't believe I have already lived here for 4 months. I know in the grand scheme of things, that is not a long time at all, but I feel as though I just unpacked. (And my roomies can verify that in some ways I did just unpack- those last few boxes).

It's already just over 3 weeks until Christmas. This is my favorite time of all, and the days are filling up very quickly. So many great shows (Rosie Thomas, Andrew Peterson, Bon Iver), so many get togethers, ice skating in the park, work Christmas party, friends' Christmas parties, etc. So much going on- So turned off by the crazy chaotic consumerism that our culture promotes.

This year I am most looking forward to spending time with the people that I love. These last 6 months or so have proved to be a season of transition and uncertainty. I don't know that I have ever been more grateful for people who know me inside and out and love me well (you know who you are)! I am so comforted and encouraged just being in the company of individuals who understand where there are no words. Thank you to those of you who speak truth into my life when I need to hear it and are silent when all I need is your presence or listening ear.

This Thanksgiving was the first holiday celebrated in our home without every sibling present. Three weeks until I am home sweet home with the whole McVicar family reunited once again. So thankful that Amanda (with husband and puppy too) will all be home for Christmas. Counting down the moments for all of us to be together again.

Until then, enjoying the moments and events and this season before I blink and it's 2009.

Much love (and all things Christmas!)

It's the Hap Happiest Season of All

With all of the changes recently, the holidays just bring so much warmth and a sense of "home".

This is my first holiday season as a "grown up", I suppose.

One of my roommates, Val, decided to be an incredible world traveler this holiday season. She is leaving us to go visit a friend in India for a month. We were so excited for her, but sad to be lacking one dear roomie for our first Christmas together.

Mal and I quickly devised a plan to remedy this. So... we had Christmas early!

We brought out our little Charlie Brown-esque Christmas tree
Strung popcorn and cranberries
Put out the nativity set (that Val brought from Israel)
Hung stockings
Listened to Christmas Music
Lit too many candles
Had cheeseball (I am such a grandma!!)
What's a holiday without sparkling grape juice?
Shared "Christmas Dinner" together (a turkey, cranberry wreath, so good!)
Made Christmas cookies and decorated them
Watched White Christmas

All this before Thanksgiving even!

It was wonderful time with both of my amazing roommates! We'll miss Val, but if you think of her, please remember to pray for her while she is traipsing across India this next month.

Peace (and tidings of great joy)

Delicate Balance

Only one of the many reasons Sandra McCracken is my favorite artist.

An excerpt from a recent interview:

"As an artist, I think it’s appropriate to ask challenging questions or to open the door for people to ask their own challenging questions without feeling like you have to answer them or tie it all up neatly in a bow. I’m very conscious of the idea that there is a thread of hope that runs even in the darkest fabrics. I want to put that in there because in our season in life - where we are as a culture and in the world - I think cynicism can take over so easily. As a follower of Jesus, even, I try to weave that thread of hope into these songs and words. Hope is like a muscle we exercise; we choose to believe in these moments that these things will be made right. This is what we hope for. It’s like a new freedom to allow your heart to be broken because if you didn’t have hope, that would just be a bottomless pit. Those two things have a delicate balance, where we find ourselves living somewhere between the brokenness and the hope."

I highly recommend reading the whole interview
Part 1
Part 2

Lovely - a bake shop

There are some places that just have the right atmosphere.

I have found the most wonderful coffee shop in the world. I would bike by it every day on my way into work and it just looked so inviting.

It has become/will become my Saturday afternoon routine to go and sit and watch and enjoy and drink and relax and read/study Isaiah.

It is so vintage wonderful! It’s the kind of place that you walk into and think to yourself, if I were to design a bakery/coffee shop, this is what I would want it to look/feel/be like.

And it's not just a girly cafe. They play great music (think 80's meets indie and good). All of the tables have mismatching chairs. They sell vintage aprons. They have a bar to sit at. Bottomless coffee. Did I mention that they serve Intelligentsia?

I am so thankful for such a perfect place so close to home.

So... Come to Chicago and visit me?

Rainy Day Reflections

What I am Learning about Myself…

I don’t like not being great at things.

A simple statement. Maybe even sounds like a good thing, but it can play out in a myriad of ways that are not so good.

Let me explain... I don’t do things that I want to do or should do because I can’t do them with the excellence I think they demand.

So...

I am scared to post blogs because I don’t feel I have the time, creativity, artistic flair to make it worthwhile.

I am a culprit of not returning friend’s phone calls because it’s just been so long since catching up and the 20 minutes I have won’t be enough.

I don’t write that e mail/send that note because just a paragraph won’t be enough.

I don’t start that art project because the outcome be anything to write home about- instead of just enjoying the process and joy of creating.

I place all of these standards and expectations on myself that I can’t possibly fulfill. But I fail to realize that no one is asking me to! No one is placing those expectations on my shoulders accept for myself.

Pretty elementary, I know. But realizing things about yourself for the first time or in a new way or on a different level than you had before- profound.

That’s the beginning of change.

Berryblossom White Tea Soy Misto

In the afternoon, when I am freezing at my job, this is my favorite thing to make!

Step 1: Find favorite mug
Step 2: Two bags Berryblossom White Tea (Tazo)
Step 3: Fill mug 2/3 full with boiling water- let steep 3 minutes
Step 4: Add vanilla soy
Step 5: Enjoy!!

**It’s even better at Starbucks because they steam their soy. But when confined to the office, this is still wonderful!

Home Sweet Home

Reasons Why I LOVE Where I Live:

1.When I leave for work at 7:00 (ish), people actually say good morning and smile

2. Trees and grass

3. The cutest Starbucks of all is 1 block from my front door

4. Bike lanes!!

5. My roommates- Mal and Val

6. Our front porch (and back yard)

7. Weekend farmer’s market

8. People set up hammocks, nap and read in the grass on Logan Square Blvd.

9. Close to many (not quite all) of the people I love

10. Trees and grass—(did I mention that already?)

11. I actually know one of my neighbors

12. I can leave my window open at night and not hear a single siren or drunk person shouting

13. “Family” dinners

14. Although I really am not all sure about what is next, I do know that for this season, this is exactly where the Lord wants me and where I need to be.

Heart so full

Have you ever experienced such generosity, you did not even know how to respond?

Has someone ever done something so kind, that you were at a loss as to how to even communicate thanks?

Has someone known and loved you so well that they gave you something that only you would find so precious?

You know how some things are so special that you are hesitant to try and put words to the experience because you are afraid that it would only diminish how special it is? That somehow, words would take away from its meaningfulness.

So many feelings:
Shock

Surprise

Delight
Amazement

Humility
UnbeliefGratitude
Glee!

I am overwhelmed—in the best sense of the word—by another’s thoughtfulness and kindness.

SO undeserved!

Disclaimer

I am not a poet.

I am not a writer.

I am intimidated by blogging.

I will probably just provide updates...

And more likely post thought processes disguised by rambling.

Clearly, this will not be impressive.

I promise to be honest

Maybe even vulnerable

Read if you want to walk alongside.

Packing...

I really do not care for packing.

I seem to be trying to do everything but the task at hand.

If packing was just an act, that would be no problem. If it was just folding clothes and putting them in a suitcase, how hard would that be?

For me- this time- packing represents something so much more. 

For me it means leaving...

Leaving is not a bad thing, don't get me wrong. I am so excited for Chicago and my new life there. It has been so confirmed to me that it is the Lord who has prepared the way for me and is showing me where to go. I am so thrilled to have direction for the moment and glad to follow where He is leading. 

That's not the hard part. 

See, this time every year for the last four years I have packed to go back to school. No problem. It almost feels the same this August. 

Almost. 

But then I remember that unlike every other time, I won't be returning. Every other time I always knew that all the books and photo albums I left on shelves and in closets would always be there when I got back. This time I am going through and deciding what to keep, what to get rid of. All in one week's time. 

I was prepared to stay at home for a year. 

I was planning on taking a year off before grad school (this plan started looking like a big maybe as time went on)

I was planning on having one year with my family. 

Less than a week ago, everything I planned changed. For this I praise the Lord, and at the same time I am torn. Excited for what is ahead, reluctant to leave what/who I love behind. 

In all of the excitement of getting the job and having everything fall into place, I did not realize that leaving home would feel like loss. 

I guess that is why I don't like packing. It symbolizes what is going on, but beyond that, it requires me to face it head on. 

I am almost done packing. My room is nearly empty. I leave in 2 short days. What a transition this will be. 

I don't much care for packing. 

I will be glad when it is done and looking forward to unpacking in my new home. Now there is a concept... Home. 

Thanks for hanging in there through the processing of these thoughts (if you made it this far).

Quite the Transition

When I named this blog just over a week ago my days were filled with job searching like it was my full time job. I would be searching Craig's List like my life depended on it. I sent out over one hundred resumes and was discouraged by the lack of response. Or when I went in for an interview, I was disappointed in the lack of professionalism. 

Since graduating from college and attending five weddings, I have felt a bit directionless. Rest is good and needed, but I am not used to not having something to go back to. The plan was to work full time and research grad schools, but my motivation was dwindling. It has been my prayer that in God's perfect timing, to open the door for the right opportunity and make it so clear to me which direction to go. He did just this in record time. 

A few weeks ago I started toying with the idea of moving to Chicago. All (most) of my friends are there, I love my church in Chicago, I love the pace, arts, lifestyle of the city, etc. 

On Saturday, July 19th, I sent one of my closest friends, Mallory, and e mail telling her that I was at least sending my resume to businesses in the Chicago area in case she wanted another roommate. Thirty minutes after I sent the e mail I received a text message from her saying that she had just signed on a three bedroom apartment if I wanted to reconsider moving to Chicago. Ironic, because she had not even received my e mail at this point. 

Friday, July 25th, I get a call from someone who had received my resume for an opening in Chicago. It was someone that I knew from Moody that currently held the position that I was applying for. Apparently, they had received hundreds of resumes, but I got a call because she knew me personally. Ironic, or God's providence, you tell me. 

Monday, I am taking a bus to Chicago to interview for the position. 

Tuesday, I have interviews with two individuals and take two exams. 

Wednesday, I go in for an interview with the financial advisor I would be working for and then another interview with the Moody grad who has the position and then another exam.

Thursday, I go in for one last interview with yet another individual. Wow, selling yourself in interviews really takes it out of you. By the time they were finished with me their file on me was pretty thick. 

After the interview Mallory and I went to go look at the apartment she had signed on and to have lunch in the neighborhood we'd be living in if I got the job. Riding the El on the way back to pack my bags and catch my bus I get a call from the Moody grad asking if there was any way that I could postpone my trip home because they would love me to come in the next day so that they could make me an offer!

Friday- Dave, my new boss, makes me an offer I can't refuse and I am employed!!!!

In just two weeks time of even considering moving to Chicago, the Lord provided in so many specific, detailed ways! He opened every door! Just the fact that they were willing to do all of the interviews in four days when the process usually takes one month to complete! The fact that Mallory ended up signing on a three bedroom that she did not even mean to happen upon and now I get to room with her and Valerie is all too amazing! 

The Lord has opened the doors and directed my path so clearly. It's been a whirlwind of events, but He has made His presence known through it all. 

So, what my new title is... Associate Financial Representative. I provide support and am a marketing assistant to a financial advisor. I am working for Northwestern Mutual Financial Services in downtown Chicago. Their offices are on the 46th floor of the UBS building in the loop- crazy! Too complicated to explain everything here... I will probably be able to tell you more of what I do when I actually start. I am just excited to begin a job that I am able to use my strengths and have opportunity to grow. 

So... I am moving to Chicago in just one week! 

There will plenty more to come as far as updates go, but for now I need to get busy getting everything ready to go. 

I appreciate your prayers through this transition. Thank you all for praying for me through this process!

See you in Chicago!