i will not take my love away

quite stressed out yesterday. its nothing I am afraid of or worried about, more just the human inclination to tighten up a bit when things aren't in your grasping, controlling hands. 

Chicago De-stress regimen:

i started my day with mass-St. Peter's in the Loop (Madison/Clark)...new obsession. 

+most simply beautiful church I have been to in Chicago. full of sleek stone and woodwork and white marble sculptures that boldly and simply remind you of why you are there in mass-the love of Christ on the cross and the faith and confidence of Mary and John at His feet. It also has about 6 masses throughout the day, most of which are filled with business men and women taking a break from the office to love up on God for a bit. Even more amazing...they offer confessions throughout the day, every day (from 6am-7:30 i think). oh, and it is the home of 20+ Franciscan O.F.M's. what is more to love!+

sat and blogged in one of my three favorite coffehouses in Chicago-The Bourgeois Pig (Fullerton Ave.)

(the other two are 1. The Noble Tree on Clark and 2. Metropolis on Granville)

then went to the Chicago School of Hot Yoga for a 60-minute Power Detox session.

I have never done hot yoga before, but have only heard good things, so I thought I'd give it a try. 

Considering it has been a while since I have worked on my flexibility I was a little nervous :) but the "hot" part (the room is kept around 95degrees) helps your muscles relax and enables to you flexibility that you wouldn't have imagined. The heat also serves like a sauna to increase your heart rate to help you burn calories faster with less stress on your body as a gym workout, and make you sweat to eliminate toxins and other gucky stuff. (I'm sure my cousin Annie will totally correct me on all of this because she is practically a yogini, but my descriptions will have to do) Obviously I don't ascribe to yoga religiously, but the relaxation it provides, the support and care for the body it engenders, and the body/mind/soul peace it works to maintain it so worth replacing a couple gym sessions a week. Anyways, if you ever get the chance to give it a try...don't pass it up. You leave the center feeling delightfully de-stressed and exercised, and you sleep better than ever. 

after a quick stop at the apartment to shower, I joined Anna, Sadie, B (a friend of Sadie's from work), G and E (two of their guy friends). Anna, Sadie, G, and E are more like a little family and the boys practically live at the girls apartment so I have been so lucky to get to know them while I have been here. We went to a Vietnamese restaurant called Simply It (Lincoln Ave.) where we went through several bottles of wine (BYOB), got some Vietnamese lessons, and were the last ones to leave following one of the best meals I have had in a long time! (if you live in chicago, or visit and go, you have to try the ginger mahi mahi!) At one point I was sitting at dinner and being blown away by the fact that I have only been here two weeks, spending time with people (the majority of whom I have never met before) and feeling rather sad that already I have to leave all these friends I have come to genuinely love and care for! I am so thankful Sadie has such wonderful friends, and that she so generously shared them with me!  

I laid really low in Chicago because I just needed time to get my bearings both with being back in the states and with life and my commitment to Heart's Home in general. It was difficult to be so quickly taken out of the life I had become accustomed to, especially when I thought that I wouldn't be leaving for another year or so. Needless to say, as much as I obviously love America, I have been a little "out of it". After a nice 2 weeks of missionary life "vacation" (I guess you could say),  I am off to Brooklyn. 

oh and a lovely beauty from last night...

Boettch called me from a Matt Wertz concert with this song.

it moved me, but in no way I can adequately describe in words. 

just a little boost of courage, hope, reassurance in dependence on God before I leave today for Brooklyn. 

I would be anxious about Brooklyn. keep me in your prayers. you are everyday in mine.

I Will Not Take My Love Away. matt wertz

I will not take my love away

When praises cease and seasons change

while the whole world turns the other way

I will not take my love away

I will not leave you all alone

When striving leads you far from home

And there's no yield for what you've sown

I will not leave you all alone

I will give you what you need

In plenty or in poverty

Forever, always, look to me

And I will give you what you need

I will not take my love away