I'm sorry.

I owe you an apology. This week I came to an important realization. You know how I've (often) referred to this year as an "in between" year? I talk about how I am in between college and "real life" (or whatever is after) and so this is a "weird transition year that is different than all the rest." Well, it isn't really.

Sure, there's a lot about this year that is different and new but it is not an "in between" year and it's by the kind hand of God that I have been able to realize this. It's another year. It's another year of life--of my life--of experiencing things, learning, exploring, and discovering. It certainly has its unique elements, but so does every year of our lives, right? I mean, each year is "different" and "new" and that's the beauty (and difficulty) of life. Thinking about this year as an "in between" year has made me feel like it's wholly other and out of the ordinary and strange and...well, it has just made it difficult to think about the year in realistic terms.

I'm glad to understand that life builds on itself--each new season, year, period of time, is important and significant for the whole. God knows what we need to learn and experience and when--for the quality of life lived now or for us to hold in our hearts and minds for a time later in life in which we'll need to remember why we experienced "those things" and how God led us through.

He became a man--to live and die--and all that so that we could have life, and have it full. NLT, "My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life" (John 10:10b).

Consider the things in life that make you come alive. What enriches and satisfies you? Pursue those things. That's what I want to do this year. I want to cultivate a life that celebrates what makes me come alive, for the sake of my relationship with the Lord, my understanding of myself, and my relationship with the world.
Part of this is also discovering which people aid you in the pursuit of life. Who, once you've spent time with him/her, makes you feel as though your life has a felt vigor, a fresh wonder; or helped you wrestle a difficulty with thoughtfulness (not merely offer glib answers) and engage the questions of life and faith with intention...? These people are invaluable, I am realizing. You won't always have them around. So now, where the circumstances of life allow me to experience life with some of these dear people and pursue all kinds of things that make me come alive, I am living this wonderful year of life--no "in between" year, just another year. Another year of life!

In the vein of "living" (and doing so with others), here are a few pictures of our weekend outing to the farmer's market and picnic in Lincoln Park. Farmer's market+these sweet girls=wonderful.





this is a bonus picture that i found on my camera. he must have taken it when i was unaware. obviously. my little brother--so cute, isn't he?! :)