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I love Jesus Christ and devote my life to following Him. I'm madly in love with my husband jon. I'm the mother of the most perfect babies in the world. I'm a Senior Sales Associate at my beloved Anthropologie. I'm a reader, thinker, lover, believer and traveler. I'd trade in the chicago skyline for the pacific coast any day. i love a good vino. i love my books. i'm creative as creativity goes but always wanted to be a painter. i prefer letter writing over emailing. And I always try to be a kinder person.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Little one in the big city


Its been FOREVER since I last blogged. My sincere apologies. The bigger Alivia gets, the busier I get...so it seems. 

On Friday, Jon and I celebrated our 4 year wedding anniversary. To celebrate, he took me to see Wicked on Saturday night. It was absolutely unbelievable...and reminded me how important it is to get out and do things outside of what our comfort zone has become every once in awhile. 

Over the summer, we decided to spend a Sunday in the city with Alivia. We envisioned a train ride downtown...Alivia's little face glued to the window watching everything outside the window. We'd walk up and down Michigan Ave, Alivia amazed by the people, the sounds, the buildings. Then we'd play in Millennium Park. Alivia and Jon would kick the soccer ball around and I'd lay in the grass. Instead of all these wonderful things, we got just the opposite. The train was crowded and Alivia was cranky because she hadn't gotten her nap. When we got to the city, she wanted nothing more then to be out of her stroller. She whined and cried all day. When she finally did fall asleep, Jon and I were so overwhelmed and exhausted, we were ready to go home. We had only been in the city for an hour. It was hot and miserable. We vowed to never do it again. 

After that trip, I had nothing good to say about the city. I was pissed at it...hated its inconvenience...and decided at that moment, to add it to the deciding factors on whether or not to move to California. 

But last night...Jon and I drove downtown together. Alivia was in my parent's safe keeping, and I was excited. We parked...and walked around. The city was beautiful. Christmas lights were everywhere...people were bundled up in their winter coats, scarves and hats. It was the PERFECT setting for our evening. Last night I remembered all I love about Chicago. And, while I vow to never take Alivia down there without a REALLY good nap and a lot of snacks...I can't wait to bring her down there again so she can see everything I saw last night. 

Don't worry Melissa...I promise I haven't forgotten about California :)


Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Moved...


"Elections make intelligent people say and do unintelligent things. But they also make faithful people talk and act as if they had little faith. " 
- Collin Hansen

(http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2008/11/the_hansen_repo.htmlhtt)

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

my not-so-private vote


I began this election year making my choice for president very obvious. I debated for him, I fought for him, and then I realized how much I hated arguing with friends and loved ones about an opinion we are all entitled to. 

After a few months of this, I decided to keep my vote private. There were a few who knew, many who know me well enough to figure it out, but for the most part...many didn't know, and wouldn't know until I decided to share. I voted last week, after doing my homework. I looked at every issue, watched every debate, listened to many opposing opinions...heck, I even took more then second look at the other candidate. I dug deep inside of myself and thought about what was important to me...what was important for my family...for our country. 

So today...ELECTION DAY 2008...I decided to come out with it. I've chosen Barack Obama for President of the United States. What I still intend to keep private are the reasons for my vote, but I will say this...I think it takes realizing that one human being can't save this fallen world...one human being can't bring world peace...one human being can't save the human race from ruining ourselves. But what one human being can do is make a difference, if even a small one...perhaps not in every issue I believe in, but then again, I don't believe its the president's responsibility to do much of what our community thinks he should.  

I would be naive to vote with the expectation that whoever does become president will magically make everything right. But I do believe in taking a risk...taking a chance for change...and I believe that while McCain might be right for some, Obama is right for me. Right for me, right now. 

While I respect your opinions, I'd rather not hear what you think about my vote. If you'd like to share yours, please feel free. I'm keeping the peace this election year...something I'm not normally accustomed to. 

With all of this said...no matter who you choose, for whatever reasons you might choose...vote. Vote for whomever you like...but vote.

happy election day.