what are the odds?

what are the odds that our last sunday at the porch there would be a reporter who takes our picture and happens to mention we will be moving to portland...and a couple, nikki and ben, read that article and they, too, are moving from mlps to portland...and we end up meeting for coffee this week...have great conversations about community, churches, and life in a new city...but it doesn't stop there....someone else (tricia and brian), find ben's blog and set up a time to get together. while i'm meeting with nikki and ben at a coffee shop, tricia and brian randomly walk by. They recognizing them from a picture and come in to meet us...so, we all end up going to hang out tonight. wow.

we went to le happy for crepes. (any place called le happy has to be good.) it was a cute little place and it was really fun getting to know my new portland friends. after that we walked around in the pearl district for first thursdays. (where art galleries were opened up on the first thursday of the month.) there was some great stuff, although i wish the galleries were closer together like they are for the first fridays in phoenix. it seems to create more of a vibe when they are more condensed. i would like to see the hawthorne district here have a first thursdays...now that would be cool.

now, brian's been here two years and he seems to know everyone. so it was cool to see how connected you could be in this small city. i really liked it.

so, travis has been busy studying and kobie has been exploring the city.

a word of warning...if you are reading this blog to just get a quick update on the life of kobie and travis, read no further...come again another day...because what lies ahead is just a bunch of ramblings thoughts!

i feel like i have been able to experienced so much of the city in such a short period of time...and there's so much more to discover and enjoy. that is the part that excites me. i'm so glad that i've been able to hang out with people and not just work at my computer in isolation in a new place. but i have to say i feel a little numb. maybe it is from all the moving. maybe it is being emotionally exhausted in hoping that mlps was our home and moving 8 months later. (and i think that has caused me to be afraid to hope, afraid to plant some roots here.) one moment i feel courageous and ready to conquer the world (at least the world of portland) another minute i'm overwhelmed at buying our first house.

but how can i feel a little numb and also feel more alive than i have felt in a long time? maybe i'm just numb to moving. i don't know...i don't see it as an adventure anymore, but this is where i am and i better start making my home here. i want to be present where i am. i learned that in minneapolis, to really soak up every moment. (and i just can't quit talking about minneapolis. it was such a great 8 months for me. it was so refreshing not having any responsibilities at church, to have time for relationships, to enjoy the outdoors...i feel i grew so much in such a short period of time. i felt alive.

and this city gives me the same feeling. (feelings aren't everything, but they hold a lot of weight in my book.) i feel this city is full of freedom. i don't feel a need to be anyone but myself. i feel like the last four years have been a question of who i am created to be...maybe i'll never figure that out and maybe i'll be someone different along the way. i feel like i have experienced so much and grown so much as a person...and i hope that true freedom is expressed in my life. i seem to struggle with this. like i have this ball of fire inside of me just bursting to come out...but at the same time, i'm feeling a little self-absorbed. i'm dying to find a way to serve in the community and i would prefer it not be in the church. i would love to volunteer somewhere. somewhere i can help people. not somewhere i can volunteer my design skills, but somewhere i can help people, somehow. not sure what that place will be...but i want to have my eyes open to God moving around me.