Life is good

Well I've been quite the lazy writer lately, although I'm not really sure if anyone has missed me or not. If you did miss me, have no fear...the blogless world is not due to laziness, disinterest, or writer's block. I suppose I've just been busy. :)

Two Saturdays ago, March 3rd, the girls and I trekked out to - gasp! - Hoboken, yet again. This time, though, we kind of knew what we were doing, at least more so than last time. We even made sure someone was watching the island. The cause for the second trip in the month? Glad you asked. It was Hoboken St Patrick's Day (of course!). Now before you pull out your calendar and say, "I thought St Patrick's Day was this Saturday?!" Well, you are correct. For whatever reason, and I am still yet to find an answer, the big Irish bash across the Hudson takes place two weeks before the real day. We donned our green shirts and shamrock face tattoos, boarded the bus and headed back to Johnny Wisconsin's place. After catching the end of the parade, full of high school marching bands and old men in kilts, we party hopped the afternoon away. I must say, Hoboken St Patrick's Day was one of the most unique experiences I've had since living here. Oddly enough, the day felt strangely similar to a college game day...we were out and about by 11am, everyone in the world was dressed up in crazy colors, there was beautiful crisp weather (I didn't even wear a coat!), and everyone greeted each other with cheers, open arms and open doors. It was a great way to gear up for the real thing this weekend. I was, in fact, so inspired, that I have taken on the alias of McJamie O'Martin.

The following day was a momentous day in the life of my church, Gallery Church. For the last year we've been meeting at 7pm at a high school in Chelsea. The church has been growing, and God has been doing unbelievably exciting things. So, on March 4th, I was able to be a part of the first morning Upper West Side service. Although waking up at 7am on Sundays may take some getting used to, it was so encouraging to see the new things God is doing in New York City and the lives that are being changed every day. In fact, we had a goal of 50 people for the first service, and not surprisingly, our expectations were exceeded and instead we had 73! It was a joyous day, and I can't wait to see what else God has in store.

Since everybody's workin' for the weekend, fast forward to this past one. I said, "I think I'll go to Boston," and I did. :) In all actuality, my college roommate and dear friend Emily moved to ole Beantown in the fall, and I was well overdue for a visit to see her. I traveled there on Friday night and was back in NYC by Sunday, so it was clearly a jam-packed weekend! Em and I spent hour upon hour catching up, eating Andes mint brownies, and of course, seeing every inch of Boston. We shopped down Newbury Street, walked parts of the Freedom Trail, visited downtown, and wandered through the Faneuil Hall Marketplace...we saw Boston's charming Italian district the North End, walked through the cobblestone streets of Beacon Hill, and spent time in Boston Common...and that was just Saturday. On Sunday, I got to visit Emily's church in Cambridge, and we then spent the rest of the day exploring the Harvard campus, Harvard Square and other beautiful areas of Cambridge. While I will go to my grave believing that Athens is the most wonderful college town in the entire world, I must say that Cambridge is the first place I've ever been that can actually hold a candle to it. Just being surrounded by the coffee shops and beautiful buildings, with the river in the background...it was incredibly lovely. The weekend was a wonderful time with wonderful friend (plus, I finally got to meet her wonderful boyfriend Robert!), and I was so grateful that New York and Boston are only an hour flight apart.

And that's it...life is good. Life is busy, but life is very good. I continue to be constantly reminded of the ways that the Lord is blessing my time here in New York. I have lived here nine months, and due to the unbelievably fast pace in the City that Never Sleeps, it could not have gone by any faster. Even the winter, which I wasn't sure I was tough enough to handle, turned out to be a joy, although in my critics' defense, it was record-breakingly mild. This week, in fact, the high reached 69, a beautiful March day even by Atlanta standards. It was so refreshing to see the restaurant tables set up on the sidewalks, no heavy coats, sunshine and cool breezes abundantly flowing as I commuted, and even a flip-flop or two...combine the weather with the early daylight, and I was a very happy girl. Never mind the fact that tomorrow, just two days later, it is going to be 33 degrees and snow 4 inches. That's spring for you...always changing, always keeping you on your toes, always surprising you. That's New York.

"The world won't wait, so I better shake
That thing right out there through the door...
I still love you, New York."
- Ryan Adams