I said this wouldn't happen.

But it did. 

I have been shamefully absent from this blog for far, FAR to long! 

My deepest apologies, friends and readers, who have not gotten their "Kate's Little Adventures" fix for the past few weeks. I know it must have been rough on you. It has not been smooth sailing on this end either, believe me.

Now that I have confessed my guilt, I shall entertain you with a brief update regarding my biggest news of late; my new living arrangements!

At this very moment I am seated at my desk in my new bedroom, which is in my new house, which is on my new street, which is, believe it or not, in my new neighborhood! (and the green grass grew all around, all around... Camp song reference. Sorry.) 

Yes, my room is a disaster of unpacked boxes and unwashed laundry. Yes, the main floor looks like an episode of "Hoarders" (Piles of rubbish intersected by little paths going from room to room). Yes, I will continue to ignore both issues until after finals next week. 

Honestly, I'm just happy to be HOME. After feeling displaced for months and months, my heart is full of joy every time I drive up to the little pink box that will be my residence for the next two years. You read that correctly. My house is PINK. I'll put up pictures after I clean up the rest of my life... after finals. Patience is a virtue.

In the meantime, here is a literary snapshot of why I love my new house:

This afternoon, while home for a quick lunch between classes, I sat outside in my HUGE backyard, basking in the Chicago sunshine and munching on some gluten-free toast smothered with almond butter. Closing my eyes, I leaned back and sighed, for what glory didst grace my ears but the sound of church-bells, tolling the hour. If that wasn't amazing enough, the heavenly peals continued on, playing the tunes to several familiar hymns, their tones ringing brightly thru the spring air. I was instantly transported back in time and space to a sunny courtyard in the Netherlands where the very same sounds floated thru the air from the high steeples of magnificent cathedrals. 

As if to add bass notes to this treble-symphony of bells and birds, the rumble of a passing train grew louder and louder, sounding its mournful wail and clacking in percussive waves across the tracks just a block from where I sat. 

"There's something mysterious and romantic about that sound." I thought as it faded into the distance. The bells ceased their chiming as well, leaving me alone with the birds and the sunshine once more, but the chorus of the afternoon kept playing in my head for many hours later. And I smiled, knowing that tomorrow afternoon I would get to hear that same symphony again. And again. And again. Because this is my backyard, at my house, on my street, in my neighborhood. 

God is good.