Guess Who's Back?

Nancy's back, back again! After the hilariousness of the Chicago trip last summer with the VanVleet's Nance just had to come back and experience Chicago again now that we live here temporarily. She went on a girls trip to Cincinnati and decided to come see us on her way home. 

It was a quick trip the week of my finals but we tried to jam pack some fun things in while she was in town. 

We took her to the Art Institute of Chicago, the beach (you don't think of beaches when you think of Chicago but because it is right on the banks of Lake Michigan there actually are many stretches of beaches people go to to layout and swim), ate lots of yummy food and walked a LOT. 

When I was little there was this book I loved to read called Emily's Sunday Afternoon. It's a children's book about a little girl who lives in Chicago with her Grandma who takes her to an art museum on a hot summer day. A painting that is featured in the book is A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. It was so fun to see it in person and be with my mom who read me this story dozens of times! The older I get the more grateful I am to have been raised by a school teacher who loved books, creativity, and hands on learning and shared all of that and more with her kids. 

I also loved seeing paintings by Monet. I don't consider myself an art fanatic by any means but if I had to pick a favorite style of art I would choose impressionism for sure. I am impressed by the way if you look at a small section of a painting it just looks like a hodgepodge of brushstrokes but as you step away it forms a beautiful image. 

I especially love David A. Bednar's quote about brushstrokes from his talk "More Diligent and Concerned at Home".

"In my office is a beautiful painting of a wheat field. The painting is a vast collection of individual brushstrokes—none of which in isolation is very interesting or impressive. In fact, if you stand close to the canvas, all you can see is a mass of seemingly unrelated and unattractive streaks of yellow and gold and brown paint. However, as you gradually move away from the canvas, all of the individual brushstrokes combine together and produce a magnificent landscape of a wheat field. Many ordinary, individual brushstrokes work together to create a captivating and beautiful painting.

Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable. But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results. “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33). Consistency is a key principle as we lay the foundation of a great work in our individual lives and as we become more diligent and concerned in our own homes."

Grateful for the brushstrokes painted on the canvas of my soul from my childhood home in Utah, my mission home in Tennessee, my Pennsylvania and now Illinois. All have involved memories and experiences that have built me and my testimony from the ground up. The changes and efforts might be and feel small at times but big picture they really do create something beautiful. 

I took a half day off one of the days and mom and I went to the beach for a couple of hours. It was a long hot walk there. I was really hoping to find bikes and ride along the lakeshore trail however every bike rack we passed was completely empty or bikes weren't done charging so we ended up hoofing it all the way there. I was overheated and discouraged by the time we got there but we made it and laid out for a little bit before making our way back. I had blisters from my sandals by the time we got back. I don't think you can fully enjoy Chicago without getting a few blisters. Just ask my mom. 

On her last full day Jaden and I both worked. At one point when I was done on a call I walked into the next room and saw mom sitting in the corner so it became a joke that she was in time out for the rest of the day. 

After Jaden got off work we went out to eat and then walked to Magnificent Mile which is a huge stretch of stores and shops. We also went to check out Navy Pier which is considered to be a "tourist trap" by most locals but is also the best place to catch boat tours and has some cool views of the city. We had done a boat tour last summer when we passed through on our way to Pittsburgh so we didn't do one this time but I highly recommend them it's a great way to see and learn about the city. Even though Jaden was tired from a long day of work and still in his dress shoes we took a detour on our way back to our apartment and went and saw Buckingham Fountain. They do water shows every hour and we barely made it to the last show of the night. It was pretty and a good way to end mom's quick trip. 

The next day we got up and got her some Stan's doughnuts and Garrett's popcorn to take home to friends and family as souvenirs. Then we got her on an Uber and she said on the whole way to the airport her and the driver spoke Spanish and cried together talking about their families and kids which I thought was so sweet. IT was so surreal to look at my phone and see her across the country later that day when we had just been together that morning. Thank goodness for technology!

The rest of the week passed full of work, school, homework and another dinner date. 

This time Jaden took me to a yummy Italian place across town called Formentos. We ordered yummy calamari, I got a Chicken  dish the waitress recommended that came with Spaetzle which I had never had before but was very good. Jaden got their signature pasta dish Bucatini Carbonara which I love.

After dinner we stopped by the famous Jeni's Ice Cream Shop. I don't think it is native to Chicago (you can buy pints at Harmons) but it is very popular and well recommended so we grabbed their famous Gooey Butter Cake flavor and ate it on the walk home. As you stand in line you get to watch them make fresh waffle cones which I thought was fascinating. Literally made in a thin shallow waffle maker and then wrapped around a cone shape until cooled, then stacked and ready to fill with delicious ice cream!

Peaches

• Seeing mom
• Trying new places to eat
• Seeing A Sunday Afternoon painting
• Going to the beach
• Seeing the view of the city from the top floor of our apartment by the pool
• Got to watch The Devil Wears Prada for a paper for my Authentic Leadership class
• Catching fireflies at the park

Pits

• Feeling some stress about not knowing the city well and taking mom around and through it
• All the walking we do was too much for my favorite orange sandals and they totally separated from the sole (I lost my sole in Chicago;) it's ok though I have worn those shoes since beginning of high school
• Feeling concerned about the future
• Studying for finals

Lessons Learned

• Small brushstroke like efforts can lead to beautiful results overtime
• Chicago is always an adventure with Nancy