In the Kitchen

I got this cookbook as a Christmas present this year. Actually, I got a gift card that allowed me to get this cookbook but whatever. I love it, but I have yet to make anything out of it. (Well, except for the night that I discovered that this book had ever even been written. I was at a friends house and she had just gotten the book and we made one of the recipes for dinner that night) Silly, I know. there are some great recipes in here! Some are very complicated but many of them seem to be pretty simple and don't take hours to prepare. So, I have decided that it's time to try a few of them out. Since I'm going out of town this weekend and don't want to buy any more groceries before that, I will start next week. I think that first up on the list will be minestrone and then beef and brocolli in oyster sauce (which is what we made at my friend's house. it's tasty and quite simple.)

An Update

It's amazing how little brain power is left after each confusing day of a new job! I have been meaning to update on how the new gig is going and have crafted a few blogs in my head for that very purpose. But, when I finally had a bit of time, I just didn't have the energy. But, since it's 8:30pm on a Tuesday and I am already in bed and half asleep, I thought this was as good a time as any!
My first week of work went really well. I have no idea what on earth is going on and I have successfully confused myself and other people a few times. But, I like it. I like the team of people that I get to work with. I will be challenged each day to bring 110% to the table (something I didn't really have to do before to do my job well). And, I get to work for an organization that I really respect and am excited about. It will take me several more weeks to really feel like I am able to do my job and not have to rely on other people to walk me through everything. However, I am confident that I will get it and that feels good.
So far, this whole experience has been a bit on the surreal side. On a Friday I was doing a job that I really liked and knew how to do and was actually really good at. On a Monday I was doing a job where I had no clue what was going on or who any of the people were and I was not sure at all I would ever catch on. The whole first week kind of felt like a business trip or something. I would get on the bus and go somewhere new but it wasn't until the end of the week that it finally hit me that my life has changed in a huge way. I don't have the same job anymore. I have to get to know a whole new set of people. There are people that I have seen everyday for the past 3 years that I may never see again (at the same time, there are many that I will still see).
I do feel like this has been the right decision for me. It has not been easy and the last week has worn me out both physically and emotionally. But, it has been confirmed in so many ways and by so many people that this was the move that I was supposed to make. It's a chance to try something new. To challenge myself and be challenged by others to do things that I didn't think I could do. I get to make new friends and learn all the quirks of a new office.
I will miss so many things about my old job. It was comfortable. It was fun (at times). I got to work with some amazing people and be a part of a movement that was so much bigger than myself. This past weekend, I got to spend 2 last days with my church planters. I laughed at them as they cheered and danced during the superbowl. I got to worship with them one more time. I got to hear stories about how God has been working in each of their churches. I also realized that just because I don't work there anymore, doesn't mean that I can't and won't still keep up with their lives. I have walked an incredible journey with many of those people and I intend to keep walking it with them.
At the same time, I get to be amazed almost on a daily basis by the things that are being done at the U of Chicago. There are new stories to be a part of and for that, I am excited. Plus, the campus on the south side is absolutely amazing! There is so much history on and around the campus. I think that I have spent the last week falling back in love with this great city.

It finally just hit me

I start my new job in the morning! Yikes!! I'm really excited about this new gig of mine but it hadn't really hit me that I had worked my last day at my old job and when I wake up in the morning I will get on a bus and head in the opposite direction of what I have been doing since I moved here. About 5 minutes ago, I finally started getting nervous.
Saying goodbye to my old job was bittersweet. I am very excited to be moving on to something that I know is right for me and to be able to leave a job on good terms. But, it was very hard to say goodbye to people that have become my friends over the last 3 years. I will miss seeing them on a regular basis.
Tomorrow I will wake up and have to learn a whole new set of names and a new office and a new route to work. I will do work similar to what I have done in the past but in a field I have never worked in before.
I am completely freaked out about it, but very much at peace.

This officially makes me a nerd

On New Year's day, several of us were hanging out at the Hooper House where Chef Jimzey was playing the Lord of the Rings game on his computer. That suddenly made the rest of us want to watch the Lord of the Rings. So, we did. Well, since we had watched the first one, we thought that we better make plans to watch the other two. So, we did. Were we content to just get together to watch a movie? Nope. We thought it would be best to also have a LOTR style feast for each movie. For our viewing of the second film, Chef Jimzey prepared rabbit and vegetables. Kelly contributed our 'pints' for the evening (yes, wer are pretty sure that hobbits did indeed drink 312) and I picked up a black forrest cake for dessert. For the viewing of the third movie, we were inspired by a kings table and Chef Jimzey prepared bacon wrapped turkey legs! I made 10 cup Ranger cookies from a recipe that I found on a website that was forwarded to me. This website contained many recipes that were all inspired by the LOTR. I would say that whoever put that site together is a way bigger nerd than I am! The cookies were good and despite where the idea came from, I will probably make them again!
We are trying to determine what series we will watch next. It has to be something that inspires another tasty meal!
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I needed to hear this

I have posted this song before but I really needed to hear it again tonight. It brought me to tears as I had it blasting in the car on my ride home from Wisconsin tonight. Tonight it is also my prayer.

"Mystery" by Phil Wickham

Here in the quiet speak to me now
My ears are open to
Your gentle sweet whispering
Break down the door, come inside
Shine down your bright light
I need a lamp for my feet, I need a lamp for my feet

I want to hear the thunder of who You are
To be captured inside the wonder of who You are
I want to live I want to breathe
To search out Your heart and all of Your mysteries

You were the first and You'll be the end
Time cannot hold you down
Why save a wretch like me?
No eye has seen, no ear has heard
No heart could fully know
All of Yout mystery

Your glory burns in the stars
Shine down Your light let it burn in my heart
Bring me to glory, bring me to You
Lord it's Your heart that I will hold onto

Your glory burns in the stars
Shine down Your light let me know who you are
Jesus, your glory burns in the stars
Shine down Your light, let me see You, let me see You

New

To go along with MY NEW JOB I thought it was time to get some new reading glasses. Actually, I thought it was time because I currently have vision insurance to cover part of the cost and I won't have that insurance in two weeks. I picked them up last night. What do you think?
Please excuse the bags under my eyes, it's been a long week.

Yes, my decision last week to take a huge step involved me accepting an offer of a new job with the University of Chicago. I am leaving the familiarity of the last 3+ years and moving on to something that I am very excited about. I'll be doing a job that is very similar to what I was doing when I was in California. I'll be leaving a job that I actually really like. I will miss many people here and I will miss planning events and traveling (and the frequent flier miles). But, I am excited to take the bus to work each morning instead of digging my car out of the snow. I am excited to work downtown. I am excited to meet new people and I am excited for the challenges of starting a new job. I'm also totally freaked out. But, I think that is normal.

In order to celebrate, I went out with a few dear friends to what might be my new favorite place. Martini Park Chicago! It's great. Not quite a night club but more than just a bar. It's clean, it's friendly, it draws a good crowd. We had a front row table for the cover band the night we went. The drinks are strong and the wait staff is friendly. And, we had a lot of fun trying to figure out what we were saying to each other over the noise. Thanks for celebrating with me ladies!!
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Stay tuned for a recap of my New Year's celebration (what? it was only two weeks ago.) and our Lord of the Rings viewing party dinner (where I let you all in on how nerdy me and my friends really are).

I might be crazy

I just took a HUGE step today! I will reveal all the details on Monday. But for now, if you pray, I would appreciate any and all prayers for peace and that all the details would work out.