Looking ON UP
Guys, I don’t really know how to explain this month. I feel highs & lows defined my entire month. I was grown and stretched, but also know that the reasoning & defining moment is still out there. So I’m just looking forward, trying to stay present in the moment.
UNEXPECTED FAMILY
small glimpse of people who have made this place home & opportunities that make my heart full.
COZY COFFEES
NOTHING better than finding your “space”…while filling up one lots of caffeine while getting some R&R or
catching up with friends
NOTHING better than finding your “space”…while filling up one lots of caffeine while getting some R&R or catching up with friends
Cafe Robey is a little gem in Wicker Park, where our O/Group meets - sometimes I try to post up a little early for some chai & reading time.
Sawada is my GO TO spot - their coffee is legendary, there is always space to sit, and let’s be real I just love the vibe.
Harold Washington Library felt like a hidden gem - little odd, but the top floor room is absolutely beautiful, especially on a sunny day.
OUT & ABOUT
was actually social outside of coffee & house dates
Honey Berry - little diner in Naperville with all the LA vibes inside.
Forbidden Root - went with one of my best girls to meet her sister & crew. The old fashioned was great but company was 10000x better
Bar Siena - long overdue chats over breakfast. This egg white frittata with butternut squash was unexpected and something I will add to my at home list
Shaw’s Crab House - oysters, because, duh. Are you East or West coast?
IZZA PIZZA PARTY
No better way to celebrate the best holiday a couple different ways
Nick crushes it again with some homemade pies for SuperBowl Sunday - someone should have carried me out of there
Chicago’s version of Falbos - late night slices for cheap by Bennys pizza. Even better? The Green Room in Pilsen lets you belly up to the bar while filling your belly.
Pizza in a pinch? Grab some Trader Joes dough, marinara sauce, mozza ball & basil.
HOME SWEET HOME
There wasn’t a lot of picturesque meals this month, but there was a LOT of popcorn.
Kale has become one of my go-to staples. Soften in a skillet with some ghee then add all the veggies & chicken for dinner OR shrooms & fried eggs for breakfast.
I finally did a play by play for the most LEGENDARY popcorn. HERE YOU GO.
CLEAR & RENEW
this month wrecked me.
Our church as a whole went through a 21 day fast, which was my first fast of any sort (never even intermittent fasted). this time taught me so much about myself but also pushed me to reassess me relationship with god and what I am literally & figuratively filling myself with. a renewed mind kept showing up in my life - from multiple sermons and podcast episodes. this made me think of all the things that I’m letting fill up my mind - the areas of my life that I struggle with most. the negative self talk, the comparison game, the approval of man and the desires of the world.
this month taught me that every day is a new day that we are able to receive - its a new day that we get to come to our father and ask for forgiveness and receive his love and be filled by his presence.. This month also let me remember that it doesn’t have to be easy - and it’s probably not going to be. but he has it all.
I learned that saying yes can open your eyes and heart to so many things - if I hadn’t said yes unknowingly, I wouldn’t have made the move to Chicago, gone to oasis, or started at breakthrough. and without doing those things - I wouldn’t have been able to grow as much as I have the past 9 months, I wouldn’t have been challenged in my faith as much as I have been. I wouldn’t have realized that I love working with youth and teens. saying yes changes everything, even when it is scary…okay especially when it’s scary - but don’t get me wrong, you have to know when to say no too. that is something I also was challenged with this month. I had to check my heart multiple times on why I was doing some of the things I was doing and making sure it wasn’t just checking off another box. I am trying more than ever to be present and to be in the posture to cherish the moment and let me tell yall…it is hard. Especially when the days are long and it is easy to slump into the bad thoughts and wish the days away.
I’m learning to be vulnerable - yall know that I can endlessly talk to a wall and can be pretty honest and open about pretty much everything. nothing is tmi for me…like nothing. but through this month, I had two straight weeks that I just felt off - I felt a wall up around me and I couldn’t figure out why. I couldn’t clear my mind long enough to actually get through conversations with the father. I knew I was holding onto something, I knew that I wasn’t letting myself see it, because I didn’t want to. it blows my mind how just in the midst of prayer, he can open our eyes to so many things. through my unknown rambles, he has me break open thoughts I didn’t even know I was thinking and feel feelings that brought tears to my eyes.
again, I’m not saying any of this is easy - but I’m just trying to look up - look to his path while being aware. open. honest. vulnerable and loving every single person around me while I do it.
FAITH DOODLES
Looking forward to the madness of March