Mika "Grace Kelly"

I just wanted to share a bit of the joy with you all. Mika is one of my current favorite artists - very British and very peppy. Always a good pick-me-up. :)

Winds of Change

Yesterday the winds changed in Eugene. The air was suddenly brisk and chilling. I was pleased that the sun was still out to brighten my day, but I am told that in a month or so we will settle into the fall and winter months during which the sun will hide behind a perpetual cloud cover that drops relentless rains on our unsuspecting (or not so unsuspecting) city. I have yet to purchase galoshes, a raincoat or an umbrella but I have been anticipating their necessity for quite some time now. I plan to find some affordable and fun rain attire to bring a ray of cheer to the coming rainy months.

The weather, however, is not the only thing that has been changing in recent days. It seems our whole lives have continued to change since Tim and I got married two-and-a-half months ago. I’m certainly not complaining; most of these changes have been fun even if challenging.

First, I pierced my nose! This may not seem like much of a change, per say, to many. For me, however, this is noteworthy. It has been enjoyable to step out on the proverbial limb on something like a tiny piece of metal through my nose.

Second, I’ve recently sold over half of our furniture on craigslist, possibly the greatest site on the internet next to my blog of course. I am in the process of selling the couch and have managed to sell our mattress and box springs, and the futon. We then bought a like-new leather love seat, new bed, cocktail table and two end tables! Our apartment looks very different from what it did when we moved in. Lest you think we are high rollers, please know that we got great deals on every new-to-us piece of furniture and we are now done purchasing anything aside from gas and groceries for the next three years (if Tim has anything to say about it)! Change seems like too insignificant a word to describe the whirlwind of furniture flying in and out of our first apartment.

But belongings are not the only area of our life that has changed in the last two months. Tim and I are certainly growing and learning in our relationship. This requires some change on our parts. For example, I am becoming more and more aware that I don’t always show up when I say I will. I don’t intend for this to happen, life just catches me off guard – I’m not used to traffic or waiting in lines. Anyway, Tim gets very frustrated by this; he often cooks dinner, or does some other thoughtful but time-sensitive thing that is ruined by my tardiness. So I now tell him I’ll be home later than I actually think I will so that I won’t disappoint him. Latin American time has apparently affected my life more than I thought it did.

A fourth change to our lives is that we are consistently recycling for the first time. This probably sounds odd to many, but I’ve never lived in an area that had easily accessible recycling opportunities. It is really nice to finally live in a place where recycling is valued and encouraged. It is a lifestyle change, however, so it takes time to make it habit.

Then there are the generally expected changes that accompany a move to a new city. We’ve begun searching for doctors, hair stylists, oil change centers, tasty and affordable restaurants, nearby grocery stores etc.

Finally, Tim and I are both changing our eating and exercise habits. We’ve both set up our own workout regimes and have taken to eating healthier portions of healthier foods. We will see how long this change remains, especially with my love-hate relationship with baked sweets and ice cream…

At times I feel like one of the prospective nannies from Mary Poppins. Have I been swept away by the sudden gusts of change?

Transision - much lost and much gained

The last three months have brought many-a-change to my life. I hadn't thought that such changes merited mourning until my friend Caris mentioned it this weekend. She simply observed out loud in her insightful way: "Kendra, you have experienced a lot of changes lately, and allowing yourself to mourn those losses, even in the midst of such treasured gains, is important."

I suppose that wise statement from a cherished friend is the impetus for my starting this blog. Maybe if I am able to blog my thoughts and share this transition with other people I will be able to learn more from the experience and hopefully better transition from my life of three months ago into my current life.

I've been referring to many changes, none of which I have elaborated. Here I go.

Transition One: Three months ago I graduated college. I left my roommates and many very close friends who have been and continue to be special to me. My four years at Northwest Nazarene University were meaningful, but now I move on.

Transition Two: Two months after I graduated, I married my childhood and lifelong best friend, Tim.

Transition Two and a half: Immediately thereafter we moved to Eugene/Springfield and I began searching for a job.

Transition Two and three quarters: Three weeks later I found a less than dreamy job that nonetheless pays the bills. So, for now and I am transitioning into a new job as a Sales/Office Assistant at the Grenzebach sales office in Eugene. This will provide good job experience and "look good on a resume."
Transition Three: Julie, my best friend from college who was also my maid of honor, is now leaving the country to work in a hospital in India. As if long distance friendship was not hard enough, now she will be halfway across the world.
Transition Four: One of my very best friends from childhood who was also a bridesmaid in my wedding recently began dating my older brother. This is simply odd.

It's not that these changes are for the worst or that I dislike all of them. Many, if not all, of these changes are very good and beneficial for everyone involved. Yet change and loss of any kind should be, for lack of a better word, mourned so that I can move on as a healed, healhty and whole person. Thus, I will work on this "mourning" process in the coming days and weeks.