Day 13

Day #13: A photograph of the town you live in 

Tonight is such a perfect night for the post topic today. The town I currently live in, Kirkwood, has a free concert in the plaza in front of my apartment building every Thursday night in the summertime. Everyone [or at least it seems like everyone] comes out to enjoy food, drinks, and community. Kids run around and teenagers hang out with their friends. Lots of people bring their dogs too!

Kevin & Jordan came out and we grabbed custard from our favorite place near the train station right here in downtown and then sat outside catching up. So tonight, after a rough day + post yesterday, it was a blessing to just enjoy community, the awesome summertime weather didn't hurt either :)

Also, just because I am counting - today marks 50 days left until the wedding!!!! Just had to share :)

New Beginnings

Kirkwood, MO - Home Sweet Home

As of last Tuesday evening, I officially became a resident of the lovely St. Louis suburb of Kirkwood, and as of this past weekend, I officially became the DCE Intern of Concordia Lutheran Church! 


Lots to share about all of the new beginnings going on - but FIRST...I can't wait any longer to share some of our engagement photos!!!!!!

Engagement Session: Sneak Peak

We took our engagement photos in a part of downtown Chicago known as Old Town during our last week of school in May. Our photos were finished while we were in Japan and with so much going on - there as barely been time to share how excited we are about having our photos finished!! Still lots to share - so here is a sneak peak of our engagement session :)

Photo credit: Modern Image Studios

Will share more later on, promise :)

Back to Kirkwood...

Here is how my move went down:

Step #1: Pack up all my stuff [which I left in Chicago while we were in Japan], drive down to St. Louis - with the help of Adam, my Mom, and two of my younger brothers

Step #2: Have AWESOME people & staff from my new church help my family & I move all of my boxes and belonging up to my apartment [which is on the 4th floor of my building...whew!]

Step #3: Explore some of Kirkwood & St. Louis [much needed breaks from unpacking/setting up my apartment]

Step #4: Date night with Adam :)

Step #5: Get inducted at all of my church's services over the weekend [wonderful to have Adam, some of his family & mine all here to share the excitement with me]

Step #6: Start being an intern!!! Going to camp all week with my church - will share adventures from my week upon our return this weekend!

Pictures from my new St. Louis life...

Packing for the move - Ted Drewes visit - Stop by the Seminary

Date night - cooking my first dinner in my new apartment!

Getting all set up :)

Grant's Farm & The St. Louis Zoo

First weekend at church!

Family :)

This is real life! Part #2: Placement Weekend

Officially 1 week ago today I got engaged!! That's still fun to say!!! Today I am headed to my first bridal show - which is mainly exciting because brides get into the show for free, and I fall into the bride category now :)


The other HUGE part of this past weekend was finding out where Adam & I would be placed for our upcoming internships.


(We are both in the Director of Christian Education program here at school. It's 5 years long, 4 years of classes, 1 year of internship in a church, then graduation. For our internships we get placed by our program director and have no clue where we will be going or what we will be doing at our churches until the placement service)


Anticipation leading up to the service this past Sunday was incredibly high, both for Adam & I, our fellow classmates, and our families! Overall the weekend was absolutely fantastic and it was a blessing to be able to celebrate both our engagement and our new ministries with our families!

Friday

My roomies decorated my door! Fun after work surprise :)

I worked most of the day on Friday, which was more exciting than usual because lots of people wanted to hear about how Adam proposed :) My family came in town during the afternoon on Friday, and I got to have a sleepover with my little brothers.

We spent most of the night playing games, including a Star Wars one of course!

Saturday

Saturday morning stared awfully early, due to the little guys thinking waking up at 4:15, 5, 6...etc was a great plan. We had pancakes in our pajamas before Mom & Dad came by. Mom, Dad, and two of the little guys headed down to Navy Pier to enjoy the city for the afternoon, while myself, Adam, and two of my other brothers - ran some errands and awaited the arrival of Adam's family.

Adam's family (grandparents included!), made it in town during the later part of the afternoon, shortly afterwards my family arrived back from downtown and we enjoyed an engagement toast together! Later that night Adam & I, our families, Kevin & Jordan, and 2 of the boy's other roommates who also got placed this weekend (Ryan & Andy) - and all of their families spent time out together at a local Irish pub  celebrating.

Engagement wine from Kevin & Jordan!

Sunday

FINALLY - Sunday arrived! Our families went to church and enjoyed brunch out at a cute Italian restaurant for the morning. After brunch was over it was basically time to head to our Chapel on campus for the placement service to begin. My godparents and one of my girlfriends - Hannah - also made it in town by this point. There was a lot of excitement and nervous-ness as we all headed over to worship and learn where we would be serving the next year. I was so humbled and amazed at how many people were able to join us for the placement service - it was such a powerful thing to hear everyone sing and praise God together. It was an added blessing that the service was streamed live online so that Allison & John could still be us all the way from Japan, and my grandparents in Pennsylvania, and many others were able to see everything. 

Adam will be spending the next year serving at Zion Lutheran in Wayside, WI and I will be spending the next year serving at Concordia Kirkwood in Kirkwood, MO!

It was such an amazing feeling of joy to finally know where we would be going! We are both incredibly excited about where God has called us to ministry and again so thankful for everyone's support. 

It's hard to believe that just one week ago, I had no clue that any of this would be happening or what life would look like, but I am SO excited

:)


Anyone in the St. Louis area, what are your favorite things to do there??