Comparing God & NYC

{Nov Trip :: Feb Trip :: Feb Trip :: July Trip}

Today my husband and I are headed back to the Big Apple. I am overwhelmed with gratitude that my parents are paying for our flights to go visit them. What a huge blessing! Well, as we head up today I can’t help but think back to the first time we visited the city together- the first time my husband EVER visited the city. It was exactly one year ago this week. To say my husband didn’t share my love for the city the first go around would be an understatement. He was okay with it, but he was definitely ready to go home at the end of the week. The second trip he learned to enjoy the city and by the third trip we were meeting with the apartment complex we planned on moving into. Almost everything was set. But as usual, The Lord’s timing is perfect and He shut the door on our  move to NYC- for now. Looking back, we are thankful for His obvious direction. Looking forward, I cannot wait to share with you why He closed that door. But today, my mind and my heart are in the city. So let’s go back to some pictures I took in July and to a post I wrote a year ago. A post that compares our Heavenly Father and the Big Apple.

“This week my husband and I have been blessed with the opportunity to spend the week in New York City visiting my parents. Yes, that is right- we get to see the Macy’s day parade first hand! And it is hubbys first time to the Big Apple!

New York has been one of my favorite cities since the first time my mom and I came to visit when I was in eighth grade. Ever since then my mother and I have visited the city at least once a year as our mother daughter trip. I was even blessed with the opportunity to live in and work in Manhattan one summer. Despite having visited countless times, the city never grows old to me. There is always something new just waiting to be discovered. Today I was overwhelmed with the beauty of the city. The buildings, the history, the culture. So many of the buildings are so old and the detailing is just breathtaking. As I walked down the streets of one of my favorite cities, holding my husbands hand, I couldn’t help but smile. (I either looked like such a tourist or a complete looney-toon).

Today as we were walking I was really aware of how quickly the locals walk through the streets and just how little they look around. It’s as though they have become so used to the magnificence of the city that they fail to recognize how truly beautiful and wonderful it is. There are so many hidden details and beauties. Even a New Yorker (born and raised) could never experience all of the intricate details that make this city so special. When I began to recognize how intricate and beautiful the city was, I could not help but be impacted!  I felt so small in such a big, beautiful city.

As I continued to think about this and pray, I began to realize that all of us are (to some extent) in the same boat. Not necessarily with our city, but with our God. We have each become so used to God’s magnificence and how truly beautiful He is, that we walk around without giving Him glory and praise. We need to look around and allow his magnitude to impact us. We must recognize how small we are compared to Him.

Today as you walk around, try noticing at least 5 beautiful things that the Lord put in your path this day. It may be something you see every day but never spend the time to notice or something completely new. Life is a beautiful gift and our God is omnipotent.”

Celebrating One of My Favorites

This month is all about celebrating the blessings in our life and for praising our Heavenly Father for each gift! Today I want to celebrate one of my favorite blessings. My dad. Today is his birthday. If you have met my father, you know what an incredible individual he is. He is an incredible leader, always thinks of others before himself, loves unconditionally, is an incredible listener, encourages every dream, loves a good adventure,  and loves the Lord with all his heart. He blesses everyone he meets. I could not be more thankful for this man.

So happy birthday to one of my favorite blessings, my role model, encourager … my dad!
I hope your day is filled with immeasurable blessings! I love you!

Yes, he is a man of many talents 🙂

We Will Never Forget

{ ground zero :: memorial :: cross :: city scape }

“Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve,
for the children whose worlds have been shattered,
for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened.
And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us,
spoken through the ages in Psalm 23:
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me.'”
-George W. Bush on September 11, 2001

Anniversary Trip

Happy Thursday! A couple of weeks ago my husband and I snuck away for a long weekend in NYC. While my parents do live there, they were actually in Hershey, Pennsylvania for most of the time we were there- but we did get to spend one day with them!

My husband and I had been trying to come up with something fun to do for our anniversary and realized NY would be an exciting trip. After some talking we decided to head out to the city earlier than our anniversary so my husband could experience NYC in the summer- the true summer. It was so much fun to explore the city hand-in-hand with my best friend. Here is a little glimpse into our long weekend.

Any suggestions for our next trip to the city?
It looks like we might head out for Thanksgiving!

Oh Happy Day- 26 Times!

Today is a special day! Today marks the 26th anniversary of the day my  parents said ‘I do.’ Words cannot convey how thankful I am to have two parents who love the Lord and have faithfully devoted their lives to one another. Their marriage has always been different from the “average” marriage and I have always prayed that one day I would have a marriage similar to theirs. (Thank you mom & dad for setting such a beautiful example for me.) The Lord’s hand is so evident in their lives together. Regardless of where the Lord brings them ( Newport Beach, Dallas, New York City) they always support one another and go with happy hearts. They are each others best friend, support system, encourager and enjoy every moment that is given to them.

Thank you Jesus for the gift of marriage! I pray that the legacy of commitment, faith and love will carry on for many generations. Happy anniversary- I love you both!

Christmas Displays

 

 

 

 

 

Saks Fifth Avenue at Christmas

There is no place like New York City at Christmas. Goodness how I would love for Caleb to enjoy the city more so that we could live there for a year or two. Well, at least we can go visit my parents who now live there. Luckily while we were there in November the stores on 5th Avenue revealed their Christmas window displays. The windows are one of the many things that I love about the city at Christmas. This year Bergdorfs and Saks decorated their windows with a 1920’s theme. They are a bedazzled, fabulous reminder of the Follies of yesteryear. While they are not traditional holiday decorations (no Jesus, Santa or tree to be found) individuals of all ages can’t help but marvel at the white peacocks, mosaic sea lion, sparkly mirrors, and oh-so-gorgeous clothing and accessories. And of course Cartier is all wrapped up like a present as usual. Here are a few images I took on my iPhone. The images don’t do the real windows justice. Guess we all just need to take a trip to the city every Christmas 🙂