I love connections! And volleyball.

Shortly after moving to NY I started looking online for a church and other venues where I could connect with people in the community here. A link for Campus Crusade for Christ came up along with the list of churches in the area. I live pretty close to a university campus where the CCfC group meets. After meeting them I knew it was the place for me! Getting to know the people in the group has been fantastic, being with them is very pleasant and encouraging. A few students who go to CCfC, as well as a couple who lead a Bible study on campus, are part of the church where I just decided to connect. It was hard to be patient in my home church search, but I'm glad I waited and explored several; now I know that Leptondale Bible Church is the right place for me. I met the pastor and his wife the first time I visited. Yesterday was my second time attending and I was able to talk with both of them again, as well as meet the music director and several other people. I am looking forward to getting involved there, meeting more people and getting to know them. One of the ladies invited me to go out to lunch with her. We went to a big, fancy diner and had a nice visit. That evening, I was invited to go out to dinner with the couple, Walter and Eileen, who lead the Bible study on campus and also attend LBC. One of their sons and daughter-in-law joined us at Billy-Joe's Rib Works. Spending the evening with a family was wonderful. I really miss being with my family, so being included in someone else's means a lot.

This past Saturday I went to a very good sports massage therapist. I've been a bit sore and out of whack from various exercises and adjusting to holding a baby most of the day. We talked during the whole massage. We touched on our past, education, families, triathlons, biking, swimming, running, climbing, and much more. When she heard I was new to the area she told me about all the ways I could connect with and meet people who do a variety of sports. She gave me the contact info to a women's running group that meets early Sunday morning, to run on the Mohonk Preserve. I contacted one of the ladies and she gave me details so I was able to join them yesterday morning. It was such a treat! There were four ladies who showed up, all welcomed me warmly. The trail was beautiful, with spectacular scenery and views of the valley below. The trails are for running, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and there are some great rock climbing routes up there. The ladies I ran with happen to also be climbers! I'm hoping to climb with them when the weather warms up. The meeting time for the run is perfect-not at the crack of dawn, but early enough for me to join them and still make it to church. I love how God provides everything I need, and so much more. He is an expert engineer of my circumstances.
Another church I visited has a college/career group that is currently going through Mark Driscoll's "Vintage Jesus" series. I joined them and have enjoyed getting to know more people around my age. The couple who host and facilitate the group invited me to join them for Easter dinner, this Sunday. I'm looking forward to it!
I'm also looking forward to Easter dinner on Saturday with Walter, Eileen, and their kids.
One more happy news item: this past Friday night I played an outstanding, energetic volleyball game! The group from CCfC sometimes gets together on Friday night. I asked the leaders that morning if there were plans for that night, they said no. I was itching to play volleyball, or at least socialize in some way with people, so I asked around and enough people responded for us to have a game! I don't remember the last time I've played so hard, with a group that also played wholeheartedly. My heart rate was up most of the 2 plus hours we played. I loved it! Everyone else seemed to enjoy it as well, we're hoping to do it again. Ok, there's my excitement for the past week. I'm off to bed!

Snow, garden, and city

On April 1st, I woke up to snow on the ground. For real. It made me smile, what a nice surprise. By afternoon it had melted. I think that's the last of it.
On Saturday, my third weekend after arriving in NY, the couple I work for, their daughter, and myself drove down to Bronx, NY and toured the New York Botanical Garden. It was spectacular! I enjoyed taking in the numerous displays of beautiful plants as well as the intricate and grand architecture of the conservatories and other buildings. I thought back to the days when it was founded (1891) and what an event it must have been to get all dressed up, go to town and see the conservatory, walking around the grounds with all the other formally dressed people. It made me want to wear a dress.
My fourth Saturday here I drove to a nearby station, rode the metro north(commuter train) down to Grand Central Station, and met up with my best friend and her boyfriend in Manhattan! After arriving at Grand Central I moseyed my way along the hallways of the station, observing my surroundings, taking it all in. A bewildered looking couple came up to me and asked in an accent I didn't recognize if I knew where the "Oyster Bar" was located. I had no idea, but found out from a starbucks employee in the shop nearby, then pointed them in the right direction. Now I know where it is. Soon after that I made it out of the station, walked through the old doors onto the streets of NYC and was greeted by a rush of adrenaline. Sara and Jeff drove by, I hopped into their van, and our expedition together began. Our day together happened to be Sara's birthday! It was such a pleasure to be with someone who knows me so well, on such a special day, sharing a fantastic first time experience. Our first challenge was finding a parking spot that was safe, somewhat conveniently located around where we would be exploring, and not ridiculously expensive. Jeff found one! We bundled up, gathered our necessary supplies for the day, and headed out into the city.
Our stops, from what I remember were: random food markets, a few gift shops, a group of street performers, Times Square, John's pizza(est. 1929), Central Park, the subway, Ground Zero, The World Financial Center(there were shops and restaurants inside), a bay where we were able to see the Statue of Liberty(pretty far away, but close enough to tell what it was), Tiffany's Jewelry Store, The Trump Tower, Crumb Bakery, then back to Grand Central Station for me to catch the train back home. I hope to make it down to the city a few more time in the next few months. If any of you are in the area, let me know and we can explore it together!