Boston Pics

Ok- I pretty much love it here. It's such a great city. Here are some pics from yesterday. They are: Acorn Street (the most photographed street in the US), me in my rented rowboat (Back Bay is in the background) and Trinity Church, of which I took a tour (very old and important in American architecture). It was a lovely day.... Josh and I had dinner at Cheers. I'll get some pics of us this weekend (to prove he is alive!)

Boston

So- I came to Boston this morning and have spent the day taking in the town. I love it here already. It is quaint, outdoorsy (in a New England sort of way) and surrounded by water. The weater is perfect so I went on an exploratory run by the waterfront. Gorgeous. Then I wandered over to the farmer's market to pick up some fresh ingredients for dinner. I got my eye on a little nail place for a mani/pedi later and will probably hang out in Boston Commons for a bit. Josh and I only got to kiss and have me get the keys from him, but I feel better already just being in his space. Tonight will finally get to spend some time together for the first time in a month (the longest time apart in 5 years!) Hope you are all well! I'll take some pics this week and post, I promise!

My New Bike

I feel like a 5th grader, but I just got a new bike, and I am really proud of it. For some reason, even though I have wanted a set of wheels for about 4 years, I never got one... I think I thought I had to get something really expensive, but then realized really I didn't. So yesterday I picked up the Target special, and this morning enjoyed my enhanced form of transporation. Taking a ride before chuch left me feeling like a little kid again, the joy of covering so much ground in so little time, the wind in your face, and the ability to explore with ease. I ate my breakfast beside Buckingham Fountain (it's beautiful), which I had never even taken the time to see since I've been in Chicago. Who knew what I had been missing all along?

4th of July

It was a great fourth of July, other than the fact that Josh is too far away. On the 3rd, my roommate, Linda, and I went and watched the city of Chicago fireworks. They were great. Then I headed up to Watervliet, Michigan to visit the in-laws and had a blast. I got to spend a lot of time on the lake, kayaking... which is my new favorite thing to do. I also did a 5k over the weekend in Watevliet and placed 2nd in my age group and got my best 5K time yet (23:31). I LOVE spending most of the day outdoors and enjoyed the laughs with the family...

Heidi

Reflections

I think I know why Chicago leaves me unsettled. It’s because it isn’t a natural fit for my passions in life, especially my passion for nature… I often feel trapped here. Trapped by the noise, by the buildings, by the number of people. I need to be free. I need trees. I need a challenging mountain to climb. I need an animal to watch. To be in a field of wildflowers with a cool mountain stream is inhabiting the most beautiful of cathedrals…

However,it is here, in this city, that I can truly assess my impact on the world. It would have been hard to divert my attention from the mountains to assess how my consumerism or my sometimes cool indifference to racial issues that contribute to the problems and disparities in the world... In my comfortable, white, economically privileged life in Colorado, I wasn't questioning my impact on the natural earth or the poor or victims of injustice nearly as much as I am now…

So, I resign myself to the lessons this city is teaching me. It doesn't mean I miss the beauty and peace the Rocky Mountains afford any less, but I can see God's handprint in a different way.

He is constantly asking me to consider, "How can you live out your faith living on a daily basis?" I believe it should be in my food choices, my purchases, the way I spend my time. If I truly believe what I say I believe, I can not live without considering my actions on the world.

It is a good summer so far. I know where I have come from and where I want to go. (The joy of being 30!) I want to teach, to advocate, to learn. I would love to combine my passions for the wilderness and medicine at some point.

Contentment is truly a choice on most levels, it's not circumstancial, like what state you live in. When you are a believer, you can trust that God has you where He wants you, when He wants you there. And maybe, when you're ready, he'll take you back to the mountains.

Heidi

The Waiting Game

Have you ever noticed in life that most of the time you are waiting for something? To finish something, to obtain something, to endure something. I think in the waiting, we can either accept it for it's lesson or fight it and be miserable. Right now, I am waiting for Josh's internship to be over, to get pregnant, to move back to Colorado, and to go to Italy. But, each day is a part of our lives, and when we are constantly looking forward (or backward) we are not really living because we are hoping that thing or circumstance we are waiting for will hurry up and come... Most of you know that we want kids and that we lost a preganancy last fall, and boy, has the wait to get pregant again tough. I am learning not to fight it, and try to enjoy the freedom and flexibility of not being a mother (per my mother friends' urging!). What are you waiting for? What do you think will happen when "it" comes? Remember, that daily our hope should be in Christ, and that as our circumstances ebb and flow, our Lord is ever constant. Peace, Heidi

We Live

So- I was thinking about giving up the blog, but maybe I do want to keep it for awhile. In order to get you all up to speed, I will try to summarize the months since our last post. Josh spent most of the spring studying for the CFA Level III (if you don't know what it is, it's basically a hateful test that takes 6 months to study for). He also finalized which internship he would take for the summer. He took one at Bank of New York, Mellon, The Boston Group. He is in Boston, MA all summer and is liking his work, though it is challenging. He lives by himself right in the heart of Beacon Hill, and raves about the beautiful brownstones and historical sights.

I have been working hard at work, and spending a lot of time with church and the friends I have made there. One aspect I really enjoy is working to advocate against social injustice. Our church is awesome in that it is truly committed to work with the poor, homeless, and those afflicted by social injustices. Check out Love 146 and International Justice Mission's websites to get started learning about some of the issues.

I also have a new roommate, Linda, who is in undergrad at Notre Dame and doing an internship at Goldman Sachs for the summer in Chicago. We actually get a long great, so that is a relief for both of us. (Thanks, Craig's list) It would probably be lonely without her here.

This fall we are headed to Italy for two weeks because Josh has some time off and we want to do something fun together. That's everything in a nutshell. Chicago is beautiful this time of year. Lots of fun and festivals.

Once again, sorry for the (huge) delay. Amy, you got me to want to do this again... so I will try to be better about it!

Heidi