Currently Reading In This House of Brede By Rumer Godden see related

I realize I've been updating this about once a month, but I missed October altogether.  Here is a little glimpse into what is going on in my life lately.  I moved in with Mandy and Kara, two other interns last summer, into a 3 bedroom apartment that Reba Place owns.  We had an apartment blessing/home warming party last Saturday, which included communion and prayer.  It was beautiful because of the people that were a part of it. 

Last Saturday, a carload of us went to Dominican University for a Food and Faith conference where we discussed how our eating habits are affecting people and the environment around the world and steps we can take to restore those relationships.  I'm learning that buying organic and fair trade is not just for people with higher eating standards, but for people who care about how their food is produced.  Our apartment is attempting to budget more money for food.  Now I compare grocery shopping to buying expensive crafts from people around the world.  I pay a little more so they can actually afford to feed their children and so their children don't have to be sold into slave labor.  I'm also learning people have not always had every type of food available to them year round, but only in seasons.  When I eat out of season, I am eating food that probably has been shipped from other countries or been frozen/refridgerated for up to a year.  When I eat out of season I am feeding (haha) into my self-centered consumer mindset that my demands must be met immediately.  I'm on a slow path to transformation though. 

I started working registry, or per diem, at a hospital a few blocks away.  It is much smaller than my recent employer, and I'm still adjusting to the different way of doing things there.  I enjoy walking to work and only working about 30 hours a week.  Because I'm registry, I only work when the hospital needs me and when I agree to it, similar to a substitute.  Therapists are always in demand, so I basically have the freedom to choose my own hours and this means no weekends or holidays!  Wahoo!  I don't think I'll work anything but registry if I can help it.  It is nice to be back into a routine and to do something productive and helpful again. 

Andy and I are doing well and learning from so many people here.  We are discovering our brokenness and Christ's redemption as we strive to serve one another and share deep friendship.  Some ways we've been enjoying each other's company are riding the tandem bike my dad and Steph lent us, cooking, reading, praying, running, volunteering at a homeless ministry, and getting each other crazy Haloween costumes at thrift stores.  I was Jasmine from Aladdin, and he was a cowboy.  

That's my life lately.  Now it is time to do some dishes.