Last weekend was the best. For so many reasons. The weather was beautiful, I had two days off work and, most importantly, my mother was in town visiting! She flew up from the sunny South (Georgia) on Thursday and stayed through Tuesday morning. It was a wonderful long weekend. We did some Chicago exploring on Friday and toured the impressive Driehaus Museum in the Gold Coast, a gorgeous example of a 19th century Chicago mansion built during the Gilded Age. We walked all along the lakeshore (8+ miles) which was good because we also enjoyed a lot of good food, including lunch at Grand Lux Cafe and their tasty bread pudding! Saturday started with a trip to the Green City Market, and then some baby prep before a fun lunch at Big Star (the best fish tacos!). And our crib was delivered Saturday afternoon! So fun to see the nursery start to come together. I'm loving my choice of the Navy/Red Madras pattern from Pottery Barn kids and can't wait to see the look completed with fun nautical touches.
Sunday was church, then a delicious brunch at The Publican restaurant in the West Loop -- they never disappoint! Monday was more baby prep and just enjoying each other's company. I am so grateful for my mother's wisdom. She did an exceptional job of mothering me and my sisters (see how great I turned out! ;)) and I am blessed to have her as a mentor and resource as I prepare for motherhood. It was so much fun to show her some of our favorite spots in the city and just spend time talking in person. Facetime is great, but it just can't make up for real life! I am so looking forward to her return in early December -- this time for the little guy's birth! My only regret from the weekend? We didn't take enough photos together!
I returned to work on Tuesday rested and relaxed (always a good thing) and much less anxious than I had been the week before about some of the impending life changes we are facing. There are so many exciting things about preparing to welcome a baby, sometimes it's too bad that "real world" concerns get in the way (like jobs and finances). But, these things are a part of life, too, and we are called to handle them in the same way we ought to handle anything that comes our way: by trusting in God's providence and resting in His grace. How wonderful that we do not have to shoulder these burdens alone, not only because He has given us family to help bear the burden, but ultimately because He is a merciful Saviour and He bears the brunt in our place.
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Precious.
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