Just Enough for the City

I really want to write tonight, but I just don't have much to say. I guess I could tell you about some random things going on.

I applied for an event planning job with a non-profit here in Dallas this week. I really hope it works out.

My friend Misty took me to a great Latin restaurant last night, and they have the most amazing cakes you've ever had. If anyone wants to come to Dallas, I'll take you there, but it's really posh and romantic, so just be warned.

Last week, I went to a worship service where we started off with an African welcoming song, and then a jazz band played "Living for the City" by Stevie Wonder. It was one of the coolest things ever.

My friend Craig Nash has had not one but TWO articles published on Relevant in the past week. He is a rockstar of a writer. We have always known this and now the rest of the world gets to experience it.

I've had lots of visits from my Waco peeps over the last week. It was extremely fun. If you haven't been to Dallas to see me yet, shame on you! Get here as fast as you can because this place is fun and I am a fabulous hostess.

I got my haircut at an Aveda salon in Mockingbird Station right across from Urban Outfitters. It was my treat for the month. I love it, and my new stylist is incredibly hip! Her name is Sybel. How fabulous is that?

Good things are happening at Journey. My mentoring is over in about a week and a half. It's kind of sad, but I'm going to hang around. You guys and gals are too fun to leave! (And there nobody in Waco has found me a job or a man there yet, so it indeed looks like I am staying put.) We are starting a series on Radical Contentment and generosity. I'm preaching on generosity next week. It should be fun. Living more simply seems to be a big part of where I feel God leading now. I'm really interested to see what's going to happen.

That's all for now. Peace out. Let it flow.

Homecoming

It was familiar, but eerily new and different. I took a big breath before I walked through the new shabby chic doors. When Brian Patterson opened one for me, I saw the bustle of community those walls have undoubtedly missed. We haven’t missed it that way because for us, this exile just drew us deeper and closer.

I hugged more people than I can count, and I heard laughter and lots of ‘I’m so glad you’re here’s’, but still I remembered the sounds and the embraces of the last time we were together in that space. I don’t always like to think about them, but they definitely exist in my memory. Honestly, there was something a bit frightening about it, but if I learned anything over the past few months, it’s that there’s no one better to face fear with than this group of people.

As for the service, it was as familiar and beautiful as the renovated the building, which is best described by my friend Adam Horton in the words fresh and nostalgic. The first song the band sang was “Everything Glorious”. A perfect choice. You have to love worship songs that make you ask a deep and probing theological questions. This one is textbook. It makes me examine the relationships and events of my life and ask “Where is the glory in this?” Sometimes, it’s so hard to see. Honestly, I have a hard time seeing it in the horrific moments of the last time we were there, all together. Yeah, I know the whole bit about being absent from the body means being present with the Lord. I see how it may have been glorious for Kyle but not for us. I don’t know what’s so glorious about the tragedy, loss, fear, and pain of what happened in that damned instant, BUT there is so much glory in the comfort, community, and grief of the following months that I can hardly bear it.

Yeah, I see the glory of God in grief. Not always, of course. On most days, it’s so terrible that I can’t find suitable words to adequately describe it, yet ultimately it says something powerful and even exquisite. To me, grief is one of the most profound ways we know there is true love in this world. I don’t want to see more of it any time soon, but it has revolutionized the way I give and receive love. Maybe it has for us all. That is glorious.

Waco for the Weekend

I'm heading to Waco this weekend. I couldn't be more excited. I'll be there Thursday afternoon through Sunday. The soon to be Bain-Conkins are having the first wedding shower on Thursday, and of course I am sticking around to go to UBC on Sunday morning. In case you haven't heard, it will be our first time back to worship in the building since October. It is equally exciting and sad. So think about us if you can't be there.

Waco peeps- Call me on the cell. You know I wanna chill with y'all! Other than those two things, my calendar is completely free.

My anthem for the week

I love it when you find a song that encapsulates all your heart wants to say to God. I was thinking about all my weaknesses, and that made me think about a Jennifer Knapp song from back in the day.

I am weak
I am poor
I am broken Lord but I am yours
Hold me now
Hold me now.....

In Town Vacay

Why do I always feel the need to tell people on cyber space all the fun things that happen in my life? I'm not sure, but maybe it's more to help me remember. This week has been busy with fun, and you can relive it with me or stop reading right now. No matter, I just need to remember it for myself.

Let's start with last Sunday...

1 am- Josh returns from India. This was emotional. Many of you know that he's been there for 5 weeks and on the fourth day of his trip, I called him to tell him our good friend from college was killed in a car accident. We stayed up and talked until about 4, but I couldn't sleep.

5am- Still not asleep. Inspiration strikes and I get up to finish the sermon that I will deliver in 12 hrs.

6am- Lay down again. My eyes will not open, but at the same time sleep won't come.

10am- Get up, shower, go to Jason's Deli for lunch.

3pm- BETH CALLS TO SAY THAT SHE AND TOM ARE ENGAGED! I SCREAM WITH JOY, AND ALMOST CRY.

5pm- Preach for the first time at Journey. It went well. I really enjoyed it.

6pm- Eat supper with Journey folks at the flying fish. It was sooooo good. It reminded me of catfish from home. Loved it.

9pm- My first visit to The Old Monk, a favorite hang out of the Journey crew. Discovered the best freakin' beer in the world. It's Belgium and it's call De Konnick. (at least I think that's how you spell it.)

11pm- sleep like a baby. I think this is the longest I've ever gone without sleep in my entire life. 36 hrs, and not even a nap. It was crazy. Not sure what was going on with my body

Monday........

Not the most fun day, but I had a job interview at 3pm. I loved the company, but not the particular position, seeing as how it doesn't start until August, and I need something sooner, oh as in immediately.

5pm- Josh and I eat at Freebird's. Mmmmmm.

7:30 pm- That time of the Week. This is my women's group from Journey. I love those girls, and we always have a good time. That night we ate cheesecake and talked about the need, or the lack there of, to give birth. Odd, but stimulating.

Tuesday-

9am- Run out to buy B Collision and the new copy of Relevant with a very talked about article on the emerging church

9:30am- Meet with Danielle for mentoring. A highlight of each week.

12:00pm- Have lunch with Danielle, Laura Fregin (pastor of City Church) and Josh at Jason's Deli to discuss upcoming Urban Training Institute, which has an Emerging Church track. Should be interesting.

2:00pm- My first trip to the Magnolia. Josh and I see A Prairie Home Companion. I LOVED IT! Seriously, I think it's the best movie I've seen all year.

Wednesday-

Wednesday morning wasn't so much fun, because I realized I am broke. Josh witnessed an unfortunate emotional spectacle.

5pm- The Millers take us out to have Indian food with the Sharps. This was fun, but I was still in a pissy mood. The Sharps are some of the most interesting folks I've met in awhile. They are a young couple who has been traveling on a pilgrimage across America for the past nine months. They are musicians, graphic designers, and free spirits. Holly is expecting, so they are going to be in San Francisco in the fall. Josh is in San Francisco right now exploring the opportunity to do his mentoring in the community they are going to be a part of, so this was kind of a networking dinner.

7pm- Sharps perform concert for Journey. It was good. Ryan is an excellent storyteller, and many of the things he's been dealing with are some of the same conversations I've been a part of lately. My friend Soccer Stacey comes to the concert. She is my suitemate from college.

9pm- Josh, Stacey, and I head back to my house to reminisce about college.

Thursday

6 am- Take Josh to DFW to catch flight for San Fran.

11am- Have lunch with my new friend Courtney Perry. She rocks my face off, and she's on my lay committee. We go to an Indian buffet in a Hindu temple. It was really cool. I've never had Indian food in my life, and all of the sudden, I have it two meals in a row. Crazy.

5pm- My friends from Waco Sarah and Tori come get dressed at my apartment.

6pm- We have dinner in downtown Dallas.

7pm- We meet Scott and Candace Shaw at Music Hall and catch Les Misrables. It was my first time to see it. It was a really good show except that the girl playing Clausette could NOT hit her high notes. I felt sorry for her.

Friday

Spend the morning resting, cleaning, and searching for more job opportunities on the web.

5pm- Leave for Ft. Worth to meet up with my cousin Lorie.

7pm- We go to Fresco's which is a really good Mexican restaurant. Guac at your table and killer Margaritas, which were my first since I've lived in Dallas. Yum.

Saturday

Sleep in.

11am- Lay out by the pool of the couple Lorie is house sitting for.

2pm- Head to Sundance Square in downtown Ft. Worth and walk around for a bit. Such a neat place.

4pm- See The Devil Wears Prada. Really cute movie that I think most of you ladies would like.

7pm- Get some Sheridan's Custard. Holy cow, it's amazing

9pm- Catch the neighborhood fireworks display. I'm not sure if we were in Keller, Watagua, or Ft. Worth, because the neighborhood we were in is the point where they all meet. I can tell you though, that this was one of the best fireworks displays I've ever seen. I know the American Dream is crap and all, but for a minute, I really wanted to live in the suburbs with my husband and 2.5 children.

10pm- Back in the pool. I bet I haven't been swimming at night in 10 years. It was relaxing.




So this morning I'm back in Dallas, and there are no major plans for the week, but that could be good. I probably need a rest. This week was my vacation for the summer, and I'm glad I got to spend it having a good time with folks I love.