Goodbye Chicago

Well, I'm in the final waking hours of living life in Chicago. I must say, that while I am excited about what is next (not like I know what is next), I am also sad to say goodbye to what has been our life for the last three years. It's funny, we, as seminary spouses, complain about being here, and talk about the sacrifices we are making...and now that it's over, I find comfort in the sacrifices and all the little things I once complained about. God has truly been faithful to us in our time here. From providing us with GREAT friendships-ones that I have been praying for since I graduated from college, to providing us with an absolutely amazing little girl!

It's now with a sad heart that I say goodbye.

Goodbye Chicago, goodbye 3319 W Berwyn, goodbye creeking floors, goodbye loud door buzzer, goodbye be-loved Charlie, goodbye Foster Avenue, goodbye seminary, goodbye 92 bus line (and the 147 too!), goodbye NMFF, goobye CNADC, goodbye MIC, goodbye Jimmy John's, goodbye Touhy, goodbye cold cold winters (no boo hoo from me), goodbye Panera, goodbye Lake Shore Drive, goodbye Lake Michigan. Goodbye 5240 Sawyer, goodbye BBQs, goodbye Grace church.

The list could go on, but for your benefit..I will continue the goodbyes in my head. BUT, I will say, goodbye dear friends (you know who you are)...you have blessed my life immensley-you don't even know. You have loved, cried, laughed and lived life with me at all different stages. I weep because this is a goodbye...but know that friendships like the ones we have will not end, but only get better with time. I love you!

And with that I will give my final Blog from Chicago. Until we meet again from California.

Where did the year go?

So, Alia Ann Backlund came into this world one year ago yesterday. Yesterday was full of memories..."right now we went to the hospital for the first time", "now we were leaving the hospital", "now i was in a lot of pain", "now we were back at the hospital and i was in a TON of pain", "Yeah! Alia was born!!!".
Hard to believe that a year has gone by. It's been a year of amazing things...and challenging things. But, after the first few months, mostly amazing things. We no longer have a baby, but a toddler. *sigh*
I told Alia last night that I loved her more now than I did when she was born and that I'd love her more tomorrow than I do today.
I never knew this could really be true...but it is.
Parenting is a crazy thing.
Thanks, Alia, for making my life that much better! Happy birthday!

When we got home from the zoo, this was waiting for Alia. When she saw the balloons, her eyes got HUGE! And she gave a big smile! Alia says, "Thanks gramma Barb and grampa Jim!" 

Here is Alia touching her first cow! 

On Friday we celebrated Alia's FIRST birthday by taking her to the Brookfield Zoo! She loved it! We saw elephants, dolphins, sea lions, goats, and many more things. Here we are sitting in a tent full of butterflies! 

I'm leaving...

...on a United flight to Cali!
I did it. I reserved the place tickets for Alia and I to fly back to California. We officially leave on Wednesday June 22nd. It's hard to believe that it's only 3 weeks away! Jason will leave the night of June 23rd. He and a buddy from high school will be driving a Penske truck with our car and junk...to arrive in Long Beach on Sunday June 26th. Once we settle in we are going to take soem trips to see friends...San Diego, Santa Barbara, Sacramento, to name a few. Maybe we'll get to see some of you?!
As far as a job for Jason..please keep praying. There have been some REAL INITIAL conversations with a church in Northern California, so we'll see. We need all the prayer we can get, that's for sure! Pray for the perfect job in the perfect place for us at this point in our lives.
Tomorrow is our big "we're moving, let's sell our junk!" yard sale. It will be a long day, and early morning...and hopefully a profitable experience. At least we hope it will pay for the gas to get to CA. Then again...with gas prices the way they are, we'd have to sell a house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What is to come...

So, as some of you know, Jason is graduating from Northpark Theological Seminary with a masters in divinity-hoping to some be a pastor in a church. He will be graduating on May 21st-yippee!
Near the end of June, we will be packing up and moving back west. At this point Jason is still looking for a job. Our temporary place of residence will be in Long Beach, CA at my parents place. (They will be in Oregon all summer, so we won't drive them crazy!) We are hoping to have somewhere to go by the end of summer, but you never know.
So Alia will become a beach baby. She hasn't felt sand or the ocean yet. I can't wait!
That's the scoop with us right now...

Hello out there! Here's Alia after a long afternoon at the zoo.  

Here we are on the back patio eating dinner. Check out my cool chair! 

What a cutie in the sun. Born to be a beach baby. 

Here's a picture of Alia enjoying her cousin's birthday present! Oh how fun! 

Yeah! Look at my new toys! 

Ali's first present she opened. Hmmm...the ribbon is yummy. 

Here's Alia looking into her stocking on Christmas morning. 

A little hug for my friend, reindeer! A quick image of something to come... 

Here's Alia putting the first ornament on the Christmas tree. Ho Ho Ho. 

Alia's first visit to SUPERMEX...enough said. YUM. 

Here's grandpa trying to keep up with the two granddaughters. Good job, grampa Jim!!  

Here are the two cousins! Aren't they cute as buttons? Alia Ann Backlund and Avery Grace Pitblado. 

Happy Halloween!! Yeah pumpkins!