missed milestone

in the hurry of august, i forgot to blog about an important milestone of our family....we've lived in St. Louis for one year! i feel like its flown by and yet here we are- one year of seminary down! Two more to go! {or three!}
St. Louis really does feel like home to me. As you know, i really love this city. I absolutely love the way the city is laid out. I know thats random but I think its wonderful how all the streets have huge old trees lining the way which bow over the street and make every street feel romantic. I love the houses. Most all the houses are brick or stone and from the late 1800's. They are big, gorgeous and wonderful to look at. There is one street near our apartment that every time we pass by i say, "Man, those houses are amazing." For some reason, I cant help saying it and Matt now just laughs cause he is awaiting me to sigh and say it. Its just lovely.
i love all the parks. st louis does a great, great job at providing communal areas. i was thinking yesterday at how i feel like this is a very active city {walking, running, bike riding} because the city does such a good job at providing places for people to be active with one another. it truly does foster community.
i love all the farmers markets. there is one every where you turn, they are quaint or massive, local/seasonal. wonderful.
its definitely has more of a 'city' feel than nashville and i just love it!
Matt still loves Nashville way more. apart from our dear friends there, he says its because of Bongo Java and not having found a coffee shop in St. Louis. but its more than the coffee-he misses being able to just sit at bongo and at some point old & new friends will come in. he'll always consider Nashville a really special place to him. we both, of course, miss our friends and the ease of long friendships in Nashville. But can I say? we are on a journey that will uproot us many times.
its funny how our memories can easily forget hard things. when i look back at our first year of seminary, all i have is good memories. it was a wonderful year of getting to know new friends and this new city and slowly get involved at our new church. but when i actually sit down and think about our year i begin to remember the exhaustion. Abraham was only 8 weeks old when we moved and moving with a newborn is very, very hard work. and how quickly i forget that Abraham just starting sleeping through the night in july. i mean really. can you believe it took him that long???? i'm so thankful that the things that stand out are good things.
this year holds many changes ahead. me going back to work and we are raising support so that Mojo can be the worship leader for a new service our church is starting....lots and lots of changes, good changes. and i know i will look back at the milestone of our second year and be just as thankful.