New Favorites

Those who know me well, know that I have about a million "favorite things". I realize that this takes away from the meaning of the word "favorite", which should bother me, as I greatly value the meaning of words.... But I just can't stop assigning favorites! 

I thought I would share a few of my favorite things (so far) about living in the great city of Louisville:

1. The food! Crazy good restaurants here...a foodie's dream come true. Once we recover from being completely broke, I am going to eat my way through this entire city. 

2. Friendly neighbors and drivers (We live on a busy road, and I have never once had to wait to turn out of my driveway... everyone, literally, let's me turn out in front of them)

3. I can easily walk to: Trader Joe's and Kroger, the library, Phlenn's Bakery (a girl needs her apple fritters), Goodwill, and the farmer's market. All my favorite stops... need I say more? Also, work is 2 miles away, meaning I can sleep in a little bit later in the mornings. 

4. A Jesus/Grace/Gospel centered church, full of people who have been loving on us and making us feel welcome here. Excited to get more plugged in to this family of believers. 

5. Kip is here! Moving anywhere doesn't seem as big of a deal with a best friend by your side 

6. This city is diverse, and it has a definite Midwestern streak... The Midwest is my roots... It makes me feel a little more at home every time I hear a hint of that northern accent 

7. Four Distinct Seasons. I already feel a chill in the air and can tell fall is coming (and it will last longer than a couple of weeks). I love the changing of the seasons, can't wait to experience the fall and winter here. 

Since moving and being out of work for awhile I have had lots of time to myself. It was good and hard at the same time. I finally started work last week, but in honor of my many days spent at home this summer, here's a few of the things that I've done in the past several weeks: 

• Learned how to knit 
• Watched all of the available episodes of Call the Midwife on Netflix. This is the most amazing show!  All nurses (and people in general) will love this show!
• Finally mastered the pie crust.  I have made pies of all kinds - strawberry, peach, Derby pie (in honor of the state of KY and it has become Kip's favorite)
• Learned how to roast my own coffee beans 
• Cooked, cleaned, and helped proof Kip's papers for grad school (most of which were over my head, but I helped with the grammatical component sometimes.)

 The green coffee beans in my new cast iron coffee roaster:
Stir, stir, stir ... 

The finished product! So fresh and delicious!

 Using up the last of our sweet, Georgia peaches...
This was a great peach pie recipe from the Brown
Eyed Baker, one of my favorite food blogs. So yummy, topped with some homemade whipped cream

I used my own pie crust recipe, but the filling and
topping were from the Brown Eyed Baker.
Here's the link:
Peach Crumb Pie Recipe



Have a great week, all!  Enjoy a few of your favorite things, wherever you are. 
Love,
Rach 

Wherever We Go

We have moved again, people. The third time in five wonderful years of marriage.  New state = new blog and I am excited to have this little corner of the wide web to share these experiences with our friends and family. Greetings from Louisville, KY! 

Over the past year, we have spent much time in prayer asking for God's direction and leadership .. and He led us here to Louisville for Kip to pursue a seminary degree at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The move itself felt stressful, sad, bittersweet, (all of those things people say) as we left what we have known. But in looking deeper, it was also an exciting, personal adventure that we have loved sharing with each other. And an intimate experience with our Savior as we learn how to trust Him more fully. He has already provided for us in so many specific ways, that all I can say, often dumbfounded, is "He is so good! He is more generous, more able, more loving than I ever dreamed!"  

I write this blog post from the same dining room table we enjoyed in Georgia - made by my brother; shared with family, friends, and good food. Where hospitality was learned, lifelong friendships were established, and hearts were opened to each other. As I type and look out across this same table, the familiar dark-stained knots and planes of the wood are comforting.  I think of the faces that have sat around it, sharing love and passing bread. 
The hands that have held in prayer around it. 
The music that surrounded as we celebrated birthdays, holidays, the every day. 
And I smile big to think of it, although it looks different right now (It is currently covered with computers, papers, seminary books, and coupons if that gives you a sense of this new life stage!)

But we know that our Savior has led us to this specific place at this time to provide new memories and experiences. New evidences of His grace. 
We are never alone. We are always loved. We can always trust Jesus' guidance. We can stake our lives on it. 

It excites me to think of the new faces that will sit around this table. I grin to think of all the added memories that will flash through my mind when I sit at this table five years from now. The people that will become engrafted into our lives,  some that we didn't know existed just a few short years before. One day at a time, we are walking forward with the Lord, mostly unseeing but believing that we can trust our Guide. I pray He keeps waking us up to Him, making our eyes wide to take in more of His goodness. As we embark on this adventure, thank you to all who keep encouraging  us in so many ways. You are a true gift to us. You help us keep the faith. 

Adventures are the most fun with those you love... and I am truly blessed to be filled with the One who will never depart, hand in hand with my beloved Kip, and connected to the best friends and family a girl could ever ask for. Here's to the journey! 

 


Love,
Rach