Delinquent Blogger

This week has been frightfully busy, and I haven't had a chance to blog. Although it will seem as if the moment has passed, I still plan on sharing more about our Good Friday and Easter Sunday remembrances and celebrations at Living Water - from this past weekend. However, since we are moving on Saturday unfortunately my blogging deadline is lower on the priority list than say, packing.
Nevertheless, Christ is Risen... He is Risen Indeed! Hallelujah!

Watch this space...

Maundy Thursday

Last night we celebrated Maundy Thursday at Living Water Community Church. I've been a Christian for a number of years now, but for the most part I haven't taken much notice of days such as this on the Christian calendar. In the past year or two though I've developed more of an appreciation for these special days and seasons, and am learning how invaluable they are in helping place ourselves (Chris-followers) in the continuing story of the Kingdom of God. How do we know who we are or who we are supposed to be, if we don't know our history, where we came from, and how those that forged the path ahead of us lived THEIR part of the story?
So I find gatherings, celebrations and 'rememberings' such as Maundy Thursday quite meaningful.

According to that great oracle of wisdom, Wikipedia, Maundy is derived from the Old French mandé, from the Latin mandatum, the first word of the phrase "Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos" ("A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you"), the statement by Jesus in the Gospel of John (13:34) by which Jesus explained to the Apostles the significance of his action of washing their feet.

Last night we broke bread together at tables, heard the Last Supper story read, and washed each others' feet. As Jesus served his disciples, and the world, so must we, as his followers, serve each other.

We're a motley crue (crew?) at LWCC, but I'll say this. I've seen people serve each other, be willing to be inconvenienced by each other, and love each other, in wonderful and meaningful ways. I really believe it's a little slice of the Kingdom, right here in Rogers Park.

Surrounded by boxes

We're moving in two weeks. Although I'm excited about our new place, and its location (smack dab in the heart of our church community), I have some bittersweet feelings. Our current home is where we first moved to when leaving (fleeing, haha) the suburbs of Chicagoland, and we have made many memories over the past two years here. I've enjoyed making a home here, and all in all it's been a quiet street with not too many complaints about our near neighbors. Granted, we have had troubles with the building: elevator constantly breaking down, hot water issues, 'NO water' issues, and most recently, our upstairs neighbor purchasing a treadmill and using it at all hours of the day and night; but all in all this has been a good place.

Now we're moving about one block south and six blocks east, and we'll be literally a stone's throw from Living Water Community Church, and the many members of the congregation who live within a few block radius will all be our very close neighbors. We're both looking forward to just walking out our door and across the street to church, or small group, or dinner with friends. I'm sure I'll be blogging more about what life is like "east of Clark".

But before I can start blogging about life in the new neighborhood, one must pack!! Which brings me to the title of this post.... "surrounded by boxes". As an organizer, I have got to admit that all these empty and full brown cardboard contraptions are freaking me out. I keep apologizing to Eric (surely a good wife would manage to HIDE the fact that we're moving in less than 14 days, even if things have to start moving out of cupboards and into boxes?) I hate it that there is bubble wrap and white newspaper print out on the dining table, and that our bookcases stand empty and forlorn, giving no hint to the fact that this is supposed to be a home?

So fond memories aside, I can't wait to move soon, so I can unpack, settle in, and feel at home again.

The First Post

Hello and welcome. My name is Nicky and I live with my husband in a neighborhood on the north side of Chicago. I was born and raised in South Africa, but haven't lived there for about 8 years now. I miss it but I like it here too. My husband is American, and in July we'll have been married for 3 years. So, not quite honeymooners, but still newlyweds... No kids yet, but this is a blog, so I'll keep you posted.
At any rate, if you're reading this, the above information is likely not news to you - since I'm thinking this blog will primarily be a means of keeping friends and family updated on our comings and goings, various musings, and little windows into our world and life here. (Hi Mom!)
Why "dash of red"? No deep reason really. I just think most things are better with a dash of red. A room. A plate of food. A painting.
And I'm way too tired to come up with a quippy, witty, reflects everything about me, all-encompassing blog name that hasn't already been taken by someone quicker off the blog mark than me.
Happy reading!