wallpaper apps

I found out where the Roanoke Mission is yesterday. I've been meaning to get over there for a while now to learn about their volunteer opportunities. But I didn't go in. I pulled up to the curb, my passenger got out, thanked me and in she went.

In an hour and a half we would be under a Wind Chill Warning. The wind right now will take your breath away and it did as I was trying to ask a lady on the street if she was keeping warm (stupid question, I just wanted her to say yes to make me feel less guilty). She wanted directions to a local home that houses homeless people. She handed me her printed directions and I did a crappy job of giving her what little knowledge I have of Roanoke city while Ike was about to break the leash bursting to pee.

Then as I let Ike relieve himself I watched her walk in the wrong direction. Half of me thought, oh you did what you could Meg. It's freaking cold out here and you've got laundry to do. Plus Drew took your car to work today. Never-ending excuses. But something bigger weighed on me.

I ran Ike back upstairs hunted for Drew's keys and headed to the parking garage. I drove around crying frantically, afraid I wouldn't find her. Despite my horrible directions, when I found her she was a block away from where she wanted to go.

I flagged her down and drover her the rest of the way. I went in with her to make sure there was room only to find they don't take "emergency cases." My new friend informed me the Mission wouldn't let people in for another couple of hours.

I offered to take her to lunch, to coffee, to drive her around. But she assured me she'd be fine in the cold until she could return to the Mission. Then I just said it I could hear voices of several sensible family members in my head warning me not to but I said "Why don't you come home with me until time for you to go back to the mission?"

She stepped over the piles of laundry I had separated in the hallway and sat on the couch. She accepted coffee and I heated up leftover pizza. She wanted to know if she could help me with the dishes before I drover her back to the mission. We watched "The Talk" and talked a bit. She ate one piece of candy and said I could drive her back.



I prayed a lot, despite the fact that before me was a harmless old lady who called me ma'am constantly. I had to believe Jesus placed her in my path for a reason. I had nothing to be afraid of.


Unlike others I have met since moving here, she seemed quite capable of independence. She is seeking a mentor. She wants to find an apartment. And our little visit today did little in the way of helping her long term. I need to become more informed about people's options and how they can get help. I need to know where to send people when they express a need because today I was of little help to her. Prayers appreciated as I figure things out here.

We finally got some things up on the walls at the new place. The fact that we have less space called for some creativity. I still had lots of things I wanted to use but with less space we created a wonky collage of all my favorite things above my desk. It's even better than I thought, it makes me smile every time I look at it.

Last night was the season 6 finale of Sons of Anarchy. I haven't cried that much in a long time. I couldn't sleep last night and I did not know I could get so attached to people who aren't real. How does Kurt Sutter do it? My stomach is still sick about the outcome today. I was way too attached to Jax and Tara's relationship. My heart is broken and Charlie Hunnam is to blame, he was pitiful last night. And I hate Gemma and Juice. Done with both of them. And I already miss Roosevelt.


I've had more free time this week which means I can enjoy cooking without all the pressures. I'm not getting carried away but last nights meal was the best we've had in weeks (Roanoke's cuisine leaves something to be desired, or we haven't found the good places yet).



Other notable occurrences:

• Drew peed in a parking garage
• Ike's learned to poop on the sidewalk
• I got my student teaching placement!
• I bought Drew a Christmas present for the first time in our married lives.
• Giving Ike a bath in a shower stall could qualify as an Olympic event. I would not medal.
• I'm wearing a Grinch T-shirt to my final today.
• And I'm ready for a weekend away! Here's hoping for snow in the North Carolina mountains.

We are under a winter storm warning. We've been getting freezing rain and ice on and off since about 4:00 a.m. today and it will continue until late tomorrow morning. We visited our first church in Roanoke this morning in the snow. We walked arm in arm 2 streets over. The people in attendance were few and mostly elderly but the service was wonderful.

When we walked outside of the church a woman was passing by. Carrying her belongings in 3 garbage bags and one piece of rolling luggage. She was bundled for the weather but was having trouble hauling all of her things.

We took her down the street for lunch, she left all of her things outside and assured us no one would bother them. She talked about her life and her friends. She was heading to a gas station where a friend works, he would let her stay inside and drink coffee today  until she could return to her friend's house tonight. She drank several cups of coffee and was very curious to know why we didn't have any children.

She shares a name with my favorite aunt and I won't forget her. We replaced her garbage bags with more reliable/weather worthy bags and sent her on her way.

We walked 2 streets over to our loft, promptly turned on our gas logs, Christmas tree and a football game and it felt wrong. Why did we get to come home to so many luxuries while she was going to spend her day drinking gas station coffee until dark and then drag her bags back to the other end of town.

Should I have done more? What does she need long term? Will I see her again? How can we possibly help every homeless person we meet in Roanoke? What happens next? In the two blocks we walked to church today we came in contact with two people without shelter during this storm.

I'm so grateful that Jesus placed us here but I'm still lost as to what it is we are supposed to do. I feel inadequate and ill-prepared for this undertaking but I know I'm here for a reason. Prayers are appreciated as we attempt to get plugged in to the unique needs of our community here.

Source

This marks day 3 without Internet in our loft. Which would be no big deal if I weren't counting on these days to get all of my work done before we travel for Thanksgiving. But not to worry I've found some free "wiffy" as Nick would say on New Girl.

It is snowing, I found a coffee shop with free wiffy within a very short walking distance. Even the fact that my bag carrying my laptop broke and landed hard on the sidewalk can't bring me down today. If I'm being honest this is just how I pictured life here. Always with snow.

We've settled in. Minus our bedroom. Our luggage is still full of my shoes which I don't know what to do with, I suppose a shoe rack is in order.

My Christmas cards are addressed ready to be mailed!

Drew's commute is now 15 minutes as opposed to an hour and I haven't driven anywhere since I drove here Friday. Going green baby.

Ike is still adjusting. He hasn't been able to get all of his energy out but he makes a friend every time we step outside of our building. He is popular on Kirk Ave. to say the least.

I am going to need some practical wardrobe additions living here:
1. Rain coat
2. Snow boots
3. Sturdy backpack
Guess those will be my Christmas presents.

Also, I kicked ass in fantasy football this week. That doesn't happen often so I'm gonna brag.




And lastly, I'm a hipster in the city. It helps keep my ears warm.



Clearly, I can no longer string together cohesive thoughts. Sorry friends. This is my end of the semester brain. I'm an expert on reading strategies at the moment, not blogging.

Tomorrow we are heading home for turkey, family, friends and plenty of things to be thankful for. Hope you all have an awesome holiday.

Seeing that this is the week/month of thanks I suppose a thankfulness post is in order.

I'm thankful for

• Friends who will kill themselves helping us move.

• A puppy dog who is adjusting to life without a yard.

• Parents who will drive to Roanoke for one day to help unpack and bring a new coffee pot.
• Siblings who love Jesus and spent the weekend together worshipping him.
• Friendly "hellos" in a new city.
• A husband who is on this journey with me every step of the way.

• 7th graders who are full of questions.
• Gas logs.
• The hope of new adventures for friends whose lives are changing rapidly.
• Pictures of these 2 cuties and for the ability to travel home and see them in person this week!

Thank you Jesus for placing us in this city. I am nervous about how it will all shake it out, but there is no doubt that this is where we are supposed to be. Be thankful friends!