my hometown

High Point, NC is my hometown. Sometimes I catch myself referring to it as "home," but then I remember that Adam is my home now- so where ever we are together- that is home :)  Anyway, I love living in Manhattan.  I have gained such a new perspective of life just from living here for a little over 9 months. I love the diversity- thousands of different cultures living together to form one big city.  I love trying out new restaurants and new types of foods, exploring new neighborhoods in the city, and meeting new people.  I am incredibly thankful for the community of people we have gotten to know- they are like family to us.  

But there are a few things I miss about living in small southern town, USA.  I am in High Point for a long weekend - visiting my parents and meeting my brother's girlfriend Fiona for the first time and going to my best friend's wedding shower.  And being here has reminded me of these wonderful things that I just can't experience in the great city of New York. Here they are in no particular order:

1. Chick-fil-A

2. sweet tea

3. friendly cashiers at grocery stores

4. driving on a 2-lane road on a sunny day with my favorite music playing

5. a convenient Target

6. back decks and front porches

7. Graham Central Station ice cream from Bruster's (my all-time favorite flavor)

8. a dark sky with bright stars

.. I'll add more as I think of them.. 

living deeply

 Lately, I have been living deeply... seeing the beauty in people on the subway... feeling overwhelmed by Jesus' love... crying over the lost... rejoicing in a new day...

Right now it can only be called a "phase" but I am hoping that it becomes a habit, and then a lifestyle.  I must say that it is much easier to just skim the surface of life- to live in my own world, allow trivial things to become my focus, oblivious to the needs of others around me.  It is hard work to live deliberately and purposefully.   It sometimes requires me to sacrifice my comfort.  And I know that I won't always "feel" like making the effort.  But I desperately want to live in the way of Jesus because I know that His is the better way.  God, help me to live deeply. 

new blog

I have been absent from the blogging world for a while now, and I think I'm ready to dive back in...   you can view my old online journal here.  Due to some technical difficulties, my website is not up and running yet, so I decided to give blogger.com a try.  Instead of trying to sum up my life from my last post to now (which I just realized was over 6 months), I will just start with today. 

Today is Good Friday.  I must admit that over the past few years, the season of Easter always comes and goes and I realize after it's all over that I barely took the time to contemplate Jesus' sacrifice and the enormous impact it has had for the entire world.  This year has been different.  A few days ago, sitting alone in a coffee shop, I became completely overwhelmed by Jesus' death and resurrection.  St. Augustine's words tore my heart open. 

"The maker of man was made man, that the Ruler of the stars might suck at the breast; that the Bread might be hungered; the Fountain, thirst; the Light, sleep; the Way, be wearied by the journey; the Truth, be accused by false witness; the Judge of the living and the dead, be judged by a mortal judge; the Chastener, be chastened with whips; the Vine, be crowned with thorns; the Foundation, be hung upon the tree; Strength, be made weak; Health, be wounded; life, die."

I was broken.  I was undone.  My soul began weep for the lost who are trying to navigate this messy world without the hope of a loving Savior.  I started to look around - really look at people- and hurt for them, long for them to know the hope of Jesus.  

So, today I mourn my Lord's death.  I mourn the fact that sin had to enter the world and create such a mess,  that God had to devise a plan to sacrifice his own Son.  I know the story doesn't end with this, but today is a day of sadness and grief over our broken world.