Here it goes...

October 4, 2012

Location: Starbucks Coffee House, Downtown Naperville, IL
Weather: Sunny, early fall day with a pleasant 73 degrees

Naperville, Illinois

Well, this is it. I've been dreaming about having the opportunity to do a little self-reflecting, a little day dreaming, and have a bit of fun writing about the challenges and opportunities our move to Chicago has provided James and I. We have been here three weeks exactly now and I have to say that this has already been quite a journey for both of us. 

Something I did not expect was feeling a bit apprehensive and confused as to what my exact position would be in all of this. What I mean is that I've discovered that the moments of stillness in the house when James leaves for work really leave me asking myself, "What now?" Then this truth hit me like a ton of bricks to the chest: that I have spent the last 10 years of my life defining my identity completely with my teaching career. If someone were to ask me to write on a "Hello, My Name is" card it would read, "Lindsey Brindel, Middle and High Grades History Teacher." That's it. That's all I know and that's all I've allowed myself the time to know. 

I think that is the key word here - time.  When have I ever slowed down enough to take the time to really reflect on who I am other than just by my 8 to 5 job? Don't misunderstand me here, I loved teaching. It was the hardest, most time consuming, gut wrenching, stressful, wonderful, enlightened, and heartfelt season in my life. The pleasure to teach young people and to shape their minds to think in new ways, encourage their self confidence, and to serve as a role model and friend brought me to my knees many times, thanking God for the opportunity. Yet, all the while, something else has been tugging at my heart. A little voice, deep down, saying to me, "Ok, Lindsey. Now what else? What's the next chapter?" Well, maybe this is it.

I was comfortable in Atlanta. Another key word - comfortable. Secure. Safe. Routine. I was teaching at the best school I've ever had the pleasure to serve, working along side some of the most incredible women I've ever known. My job brought me closer to Christ as I witnessed my students exhibit such amazing grace to each other as well as show their deepest enthusiasm to worship our Lord. James and I enjoyed our home, taking our dog Isabel on long walks around Kennesaw and Stone Mountain on the weekends and spending time with our friends almost every Friday and Saturday night. We had our rhythm going. Then, it happened. 

James and I had talked about the possibility of moving many times in the course of our dating and first year of marriage. He had interviewed with another agency in Chicago for a job before. We both knew that the Midwest was probably going to be the region for us to finally settle down and allow James' career to really flourish. The opportunities in Chicago would allow us to live our dream - he to really secure himself in his field of advertising and home in his skills, and for me to stay at home and raise our children, supporting our household as a homemaker. Working for me would be an option, and what a blessing that is when you are able to have that choice.

So here we are. Job accepted, packed up, and now we are here. Three weeks of unpacking (there's still a mess of boxes in our guest bedroom) and we are settling in to our little town quite well. The smartest thing I did through this whole process was taking a colleague's advice (thanks Sara!) and get myself networked into a women's small group with a church. Well I did. Two of them! I don't know if I am overcompensating to keep myself totally busy with reading and meetings, but it has helped me meet a whole bunch of wonderful ladies. What was pleasantly surprising is that several of the women in my small group are very new to the area as well, most of them here for their husband's career. It was so refreshing to feel that connection, to share with women my uncertainty at times with being new to the area and so forth. I'm attending two small group circles on Tuesday and Thursdays.  Things are moving in a positive direction and I'm rather proud of myself for stepping out there and taking the initiative (something that is very hard for me to do).

Now it's time to work on balance. The move upset our diet and exercise routine to some extent (I mean, come on, you didn't expect us to come up here and not try out every Chicago food staple known did you?) Pizza, hot dogs, beef sandwiches... all delicious and all settling in nicely on my thighs. More to come of this in a future blog (or several subsequent blogs to come). We are now settling back to an exercise routine and have been delighted by the sheer number of green spaces and walking trails around our local community. James is just thrilled to not be living in a pine tree/kudzu jungle anymore and I'd have to agree!

Another aspect of balance is to really get down to business here and do some writing. When James approached me about the move to Chicago, I immediately thought, "Great. Now how is this southern girl going to adjust to living in the big city, known for its horrendous winter weather and traffic?" Then the idea sparked - what if I conducted a little experiment here. Write a blog about my experiences living in Chicago this first year - trying new foods, studying the various regional dialect, exploring this amazing city packed with so much history and scandal it would make your head spin? What if, "Lindsey Brindel, Middle and High Grades History Teacher" could become, "Lindsey Brindel, a southern girl surviving and thriving in the Windy City"? Now, that may be an identity I could have some fun with! 

The purpose of this blog is not to write solely about myself (trust me, it would bore you to tears and send you straight to the pinot grigio in your fridge). Rather, I am looking at this blog as a chance to do write about this glorious city through the lens of a southern girl's perspective. There will be articles exploring food, shopping, historical points of interest, and area festivals. Please, if you are a Chicagoan reading this, know that I am not meaning to offend or insult your regional traditions. I'm merely writing this as a light-hearted rant and rave of my general observations during my first year here in this amazing town. 

So here we go. Hope you will enjoy reading my thoughts and please let me know your feedback. I'm always open to new ideas!

Drink some sweet tea for me,

Lindsey B

Welcome!

Dear Family, Friends, and Passers-by:

Thank you for checking in on my new blog! As I begin this new adventure in the coming weeks, I will be gathering my notes, observations and thoughts about the process of James and I relocating to the city of Chicago. Any suggestions for topics to write about and explore are greatly appreciated.

Thanks for checking in!

Lindsey