The ice cream that changed my life
On a sweltering August day in 2015, my brother Cooper and I ventured to the new ice cream store in our hometown. They were testing out a funky nitrogen-inspired concept, and as ice cream aficionados, we had to check it out.
We walked into the store and ran right into a friend of mine, Alyssa, from college. She was catching up with her friend (Melissa) who had just returned from a summer as a White House intern. I listened, captivated, as Melissa told us all about her summer in DC and the incredible time she’d had serving in the First Lady’s Office. I left the shop with some really good ice cream — and a brand new dream.
Next week marks 10 years since I myself started my time as a White House intern, inspired by that ice cream shop run-in! The experience truly did change my life — today I live and work in DC (my favorite city in the world, other than Paris), and spend much of my time with the friends I made that summer. That job taught me how to work hard — to keep my head down, solve problems, and get things done. It taught me that God’s plans for us are so much more fun than we can imagine. But most importantly, it taught me that we can never anticipate the ways that God is leading, illuminating, and working on us.
I went to that ice cream shop to spend time with my brother and to try something new — and unexpectedly, one of the most life-changing conversations of my life occurred! It was just a regular day in August! We never know what the day ahead of us holds. We don't know how God will use the people, places, and experiences around us to shape our dreams, our desires, and our goals. We also don't know how God is using us to do the same for the people around us!
So today and this week, let's embrace the reminder that every day is a unique gift from God. That paying attention to our desires, responding to inspirations, slowing down, being present, and taking the headphones out — these all open the way for God to move and work and act in our lives. I love a holy hour — my favorite place is adoration — and God speaks there, but He also speaks in the friend I saw wildly waving at me through a bus window, the song that came up on my playlist right after I thought about it, and the sweet baby who handed me a flower on the corner.
Here’s to a beautiful week ahead — may we be open to the little inspirations that abound!
Oh, and this is your sign to go get some ice cream ;)
In Christ,
Jane
What I’m loving lately
I was a huge fan of the book, and now I’m a huge fan of the movie, now available on Netflix! So wholesome, so sweet, so heartwarming. It really felt like a big warm hug.
The joy of caring
I volunteer on Monday mornings with my church’s homeless ministry, and over the past 2 years have become friends with many of our regulars. One of them has started tending a local garden, and this morning he came in and was so excited to show me the honeybees he’s bringing back to life. The previous garden-tenders had allowed the bees to die off and their home to fall into disrepair — but my friend was nursing the colony back to life. It was such a life-giving conversation and a reminder of how much purpose we can find in caring and nurturing what God has placed in our path.
Lime Bikes
I forget how much I feel like a kid whenever I get to zip around the city on an e-bike. I went on FIVE e-bike adventures this weekend and each one of them was an absolute delight. I’m excited for a summer full of bike adventures!
Survivor Finale tomorrow!!!
Tomorrow is the Season 50 Survivor finale — yay! I am so excited about it. You have 24 hours to catch up, ready… go!
Quite the reminder
Shoulder scarves
In the sweltering DC summer, I often wear strappy dresses but prefer to cover my shoulders in church / at work. This means carrying a lot of little cardigans and sweaters. HOWEVER this weekend I experimented with this gorgeous scarf covering and I think it might be my new go to — much, much more pleasant to wear soft silk that a cashmere cardigan when it’s 80 degrees outside!
Okay I promise I did more than watch Netflix last week, but this documentary was truly SO good. I have loved Martin Short for ages and didn’t realize how much loss he had experienced: his parents and brother before he turned 20, and his wife after 30 years of marriage. This documentary is packed with sweet home videos (and Catherine O’Hara <3 ) and was such a beautiful reminder to have fun and enjoy the ride, embracing the ups and the downs, and how grief can unexpectedly lead to deeper and fuller life. I loved it.
All grown up
My father has been providing us with day-by-day Ring camera video updates on the four baby birds that hatched in a little nest on our deck. This week, they took flight! So sweet and beautiful to be on this journey with them. A Ring camera put to great use!
Prayer intentions
For a special intention
So pretty much it was all because of me. You’re welcome