space needle and thread.

i'm not sure that i could communicate clearly in one post how amazing the past five days have been. it isn't so much that any particular event has happened to make this trip so stellar... it is hard to put my finger on it exactly.

i think mostly, it's the people. my first morning in seattle, i met Celia. she is one of Dona's good friends from carbondale. because the chicas we were staying with had to work and do normal life things during the day, Celia and i decided to explore seattle together. we navigated public transit. we visited the klondike gold rush museum (it's free!). we saw the seattle public library (THE coolest library i've ever seen). we had a clover cup of coffee on 7th and pike. we had lunch at the new orleans. we tasted many samples and bought flowers down at pike place market. we looked over the water on pier 62. we talked and talked and talked. about life, love, and Jesus (as if you can separate them!). we prayed for and talked to homeless people together. we had three days of intense bonding, and it was just fabulous. she is a true sister, and a fierce follower of Jesus.

then, there was Abigail, Dona's maid of honor. i wish i had been able to spend more time with this lovely one. she is a renaissance woman, to be sure. she dances, and plays music, and sews, and makes cheesecake awesomely (well... it LOOKED awesome... i didn't actually get to taste it). AND she has a shark tattooed on her back (she calls it her "Jesus fish", which i think is just awesome. there is a quiet intensity about her that intrigues me. she let Celia and i take over her apartment, and was a great hostess.

then, Dona. i just love this woman. she is funny, and transparent, and loves You. she is easy to be with. she married Braden this weekend. i think Abigail said it very well during the reception toast when she said, "there is no one for Dona but Braden, and no one for Braden but Dona." i just met Braden a couple days ago, but meeting him, and having known some of their story, i agree. i really loved being a part of their wedding, and meeting Dona's family. turns out, her family has been to Christian Life Church, and they are good friends with Steve Sampson, this traveling minister dude that i've known since i was 14. it's crazy how all of that happens!! it is crazy how He threads our lives together.

last night, after the wedding, Celia and i went over to the Gray's house and hung out with some other people from Blue Sky. turns out, Luke's parents are coming to Chicago in a month or so, and want to hang out. hilarious.

several times throughout this trip i have been struck by how strange all of this is. it is quite likely that, had i never known Drew, i would not know any of these people. that just sort of blows my mind when i think about it... how one person sort of opens the door for a multitude of other relationships.

so anyway, seattle has just been... wonderful. i have felt very free, and alive. i feel adventurous, and independent. i really have felt Jesus walking with me, and enjoying this time with me.

i will try to post pictures sometime soon. my camera stinks, so the pictures are not great. i think many of the memories of this trip are really for me to treasure in my heart, and so pictures have not really been a priority. i'm not really sorry about that, but i will apologize for your sake.

love you, friends. next stop: olympia.