Guess That Makes Me A City Girl

Last week, as I was packing my small bag for my trip to Chicago, Andrew came into my room, feeling nostalgic about my impending journey to college.  Apparently my mini trip to Moody brought him revelation regarding his feelings about my presence in our home.  He quoted Nanny McPhee to me:

"There is something you should understand about the way I work. When you need me but do not want me, then I must stay. When you want me but no longer need me, then I have to go. It's rather sad, really, but there it is."

I must admit, I was pretty proud of the way I responded.  I went with laughing instead of crying, even though I had every right to cry given the true nature of his statement.  Andrew has been ready for me to move out since Christmas.  How do I know?  He wanted to separate my stocking from all the others with a candle metaphorically "burning the bridge" between me and the family.  True story. 

 I had to stay, but he did not want me. 

Now he wants me, but I have to go.

It's rather sad, really, but there it is.

Mom brought me to the airport on Friday and I, bearing my one tiny little miracle bag containing all I needed for the whole weekend, set off on my first ever solo trip. 

 

Mom and I knew that going from traveling with a family of 6 to just me would be an adjustment so she bought me cookies to "bribe" the person next to me into talking to me.  Unfortunately out of every person on that dang plane the one next to me did not speak any English, and she was not interested in sharing cookies with me.  So I just let Justin Bieber sing to me and talked to Jesus. (Laughing about admitting that I listen to Bieber sometimes...)

And just in case you didn't believe me about the cookies:

Gotta admit that Brooke, Hallie, Sami, and I partied hard Friday night.  Communion crackers, swinging on her swingset, cartwheels, and all.  

I debated whether or not I was going to admit this on my blog, but have decided that I will:  I love the beauty of the Last Supper that Jesus shared with His disciples and the deep significance it has in our lives.  I love that we get to partake in remembering Jesus' sacrifice for us and realize what that means for our lives today.  I love looking forward to the meal we will share with Him when He comes again to gather His bride.  But it would not be honest of me to also admit that I have always loved how the communion crackers taste.  Therefore, you can imagine my excitement over my aunt having an entire box of "Matzos Passover Bread."  And if you are wondering, I did not make the girls have a communion service with me.  But I did consider it... 

Love this dear one!  

Ok, moving on to Moody.  Saturday morning I took the Metra to Oglivie Station in downtown Chicago.  Another quiet trip, but oh so exciting!  Carly met me there and took me to another train (I've got a lot of train learning to do!) that we took to Moody.  Of course I was the dorky tourist who whipped out her camera at the first sight of the campus.  Carly told me later that that is the corner where a man was shot and killed a couple of months ago.  She heard the whole thing from her dorm room.  Wonderful.  I'll make sure I keep my MacGyver Swiss Army Knife with me at all times.  As if that will do anything.  What I need is a MacGyver.  

 

From the 10th floor you can take a secret little door up to the roof!  Probably a little too excited about this, but then again I will be able to tan while writing papers about the Bible on the roof overlooking Chicago.  Maybe I'm not too excited.  

Carly's sister, Maddie, came into the city ALL BY HERSELF and stayed the night with us!  It was so fun to get a tour of the city with these two lovely ladies.  They took me to the "beach" where we proceeded to take a plethora of pictures.  I think this one wouldn't be so awkward if we weren't actually trying to be cool.  Nevertheless, I love it so much. 

The prospect of living in this city with this girl overwhelms me.  In a good way.  We have dreamed about going to college together since we were little.  I can't believe it is actually happening. 

You are probably sick of looking at my pictures by now.  If so, you are excused and may go, if not, here is another one of us on the beach.  Can't believe I will be one short jaunt from a real live beach (minus the salt water).  Then again, its Chicago so it will only be warm enough to go there for about 3 months out of the year.

Carly and Maddie spontaneously took me to Millennium Park to show me "the faces".  Apparently you can be put on a waiting list to have your face recorded and played on these giant water fountain towers.  Um, that would be a big heck no from me, but to each their own, I guess.  

And as if "giant face video projection fountain" wasn't creepy enough, it occasionally spit water out of a whole near the mouth.  

I have to say my favorite part of this trip was that because of the shallowness of the water by the fountains it looked like Carly and Maddie were walking on water.  So if you hear me talking about "Walking on Water Park", I didn't forget that its really called Millennium Park, I just like my name for it better.  

Coming in a very close second to "Walking on Water Park" was sliding down the side of this artsy bridge.  The quality of this picture is terrible but you can see the sloped metal sides of this awesome walkway, clearly perfect for sliding.  I hear all the Moody kids do it, so I had to try.  Not that I wouldn't have thought of it myself. 

Like I mentioned earlier, I have a lot of train learning to do.  And I am sure that after a while I won't get so excited every time I get to ride a train.  Maybe.  Come visit me in Chicago once I am a pro, and I will take you to all the best restaurants and bring you on the shopping trip of your life!  Or if you hate shopping, I will take to to the beach.  If you hate both of those things, don't come until I find something else to do in the city.

Here is Sandra (Carly's sweet, sweet room mate), Carly, and I on the roof of the girls dorm at night.  Spectacular.  

Here we are on our way to the airport.  What a wonderful tour guide and escort Carly turned out to be!  Thanks a million, friend!

  

Well, you probably got the vibe throughout this post that I am super stoked about the Lord's call for me to attend Moody in the Fall.  Being at Moody this past weekend excited me for all Jesus is going to teach me about His Word there, all I believe He is going to do in my heart, and (if I am being honest with you) all the great memories I will have of living in the Windy City for this season of my life.  A chunk of my heart will remain in Knoxville, and I'll be back to get it, but I look forward with great anticipation to my time in Chicago knowing that I'll be going with my God, my Rock.  And His work is perfect.

Deuteronomy 32:4 (HCSB)

  "The Rock—His work is perfect;

    all His ways are entirely just.
    A faithful God, without prejudice,
    He is righteous and true."