Here it is. Also short. And my name isn’t on it because I didn’t write the image captions — just the bit below the images. Check out my Apartment Therapy book write-up.
“Start” is where I am right now. “End” is where my cell phone is.
We went to a minor league ball game in Coney Island tonight — the southernmost part of Brooklyn. Hadn’t realized I left my phone until I was home and checked my e-mail. Dad had written, saying someone had called and my phone was at the ballpark.
Lovely. Three hour round trip to go get that thing tomorrow. I’m getting a little tired of subways and people, honestly.
I went to pout and realized God is pleading with me to spend time in His Word and talking to Him. It took me realizing I need to occupy myself for three hours. So now, with a glad heart, I will pack my Bible, journal, iPod and go get that phone. I’ve been yearning for some time alone, and this might be the only way to get it in this crazy city.
Filed under: christian spirituality, new york city | Tags: God, god of this city, new york city
Listen/watch ‘God of This City.’
You’re the God of this City
You’re the King of these people
You’re the Lord of this nation
You are
You’re the Light in this darkness
You’re the Hope to the hopeless
You’re the Peace to the restless
You are
There is no one like our God
There is no one like our God
For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City
Greater thing have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City
This song just came on my iPod. It’s carried special meaning for me since I’ve been here in New York. But first, background…
It was written by an Irish band called Bluetree during a missions trip in Thailand. The band wrote it while performing worship songs in a bar that also serves as a brothel. (More background on the song. Wish I could have been there when they wrote it.)
It’s such a great comfort to me to know that my God, the God I know in Ames, the God of Ames, is also the God of NYC. He is everywhere I will ever be. And that God loves the people of Ames just as much as he loves the people of New York City. And he loves me in Ames just as much as he loves me here. I’ve always appreciated consistency.
The first church Hallie and I visited met in the auditorium of the New York Times Building. This building is largely glass, and I could see beyond the stage through the courtyard and lobby to get glimpses of people, cars, taxis and buses on the street. We weren’t singing ‘God of This City’ that morning, but it immediately got stuck in my head as I watched the goings-on outside. It’s a great mantra to have when I get sad and annoyed with rudeness and the general depravity that’s pretty prevalent here.
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On related note, Hallie, Emily and I came across a family-owned Tasti D-Lite near our building. The family was so nice — conversing and joking with us, even though we’d come in right before closing to order a kind of shake that isn’t specifically on their menu. It’s completely usual for restaurant workers to be short with customers and rush you through the line in NYC, I’ve found. This family was a nice little bit of freshness after our Mets game (post to come!). I want to make friends with them by frequenting the spot… too bad it’s ice cream they sell, not loads of super healthy food.
From House Beautiful’s February 1962 issue, just because it’s bright and cheery and retro…
House Beautiful, Feb. 1962
Filed under: architecture, new york city | Tags: art, drawings, landmarks, new york city
I get a Manhattan User’s Guide newsletter each day, and this morning, in my inbox — super exact architectural drawings of New York City landmarks. They’re by Simon Fieldhouse. These are my favorites.
Filed under: new york city
ways I’ve saved money:
+ Student discounts at museums and movie theaters are great. I’ve found that they sometimes still have them, even if it’s not posted. Just gotta ask.
+ My roommate, Emily, is interning at Christie’s auction house, and therefore, gets a pass for herself and a friend for free entrance into several art museums. We used it at the Met on Friday.
+ The cafe at work is reasonably priced. After I spent $10 at Lenny’s for a turkey sandwich, I decided I’d try to stick with lunch at Hearst. I don’t like being stuck inside all day, so I often take my food to go and head to the fountain or a park.
+ Fruit stands always trump grocery stores in NYC. They’re almost always more fresh and are ALWAYS cheaper.
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way I’ve tried to save money:
+ I need a good pair of commuting shoes with padding and a bit of arch support. I found the perfect pair online, but I know not to order unless I’m sure of my size. Macy’s has them, but for $30 more than I found online. I headed over there regardless, to figure out my size, but they were out when I finally braved the madness of that store. And they couldn’t tell me when they’d be getting more… so for now, no shoes.
way I haven’t saved money:
+ I feel the need to “introduce” friends to Pinkberry. The trips have become a little less frequent, however. I might be getting sick of it?
+ I’ve sort of trained myself to want a coffee every morning from Starbucks. I’m trying to replace that coffee with a big old glass of free water at work. One day successfully down, many more to go…
+ Several days ago, I realized I was missing several of my essential clothing items — a brown cardigan, a gray tank top, etc. I wore the brown cardigan all the time to stay warm at work… so when it didn’t show up for a few days, I bought a new one at H&M. Then, just now, I went down to the laundry room and discovered a pile of my missing clothes. Oops. Money wasted.
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Read the past ways I’ve saved/ways I haven’t.
Reason #28 to mentor:
End of the year mentee survey comments like this, from my mentee, Leah…
What has having a mentor mean to you?
“When Natalie is here we eat and talk a lot. Sometimes we play the games and I always win. When Natalie is here it makes me feel good knowing that someone comes for me.”
Sweet, sweet girl. And yes, she always wins.
Went to Gallery Church tonight, recommended by my high school pastor, Scott Mauck. On Sunday nights, it meets in an art space called Salt — which is the name of the college ministry I attend in Ames. It’s a nice happy coincidence.
the space (photo taken from their Facebook)
Hallie and I went the wrong way on the subway, therefore ending up in Queens and ending up at church 20 minutes late. We caught the end of worship, but all of the message. It was great to hear truth boldly, simply and honestly spoken. The pastor spoke on a passage in Nehemiah, but also mentioned the biblical illiteracy of many Christians. We tend to wait and pray for God to speak to us, not thinking to look and learn from what he has already spoken, he said. Great truth, there. Oh, to know the Bible well. I’ve seen such evidence of this importance in my life.
I was completely swept away by the friendliness of people. I mean, yes, they probably realized we were new, but we had a hard time making it out the door so many people were introducing themselves. Even more, I was struck by the honesty of a couple people I met. No hiding pasts or putting on fronts.
In high school — and now in college — church leaders always encourage us to seek out new people and introduce ourselves. I haven’t done the best job, but this was a good reminder in the form of hard proof that this sort of boldness and friendliness is needed in church atmospheres.
Filed under: new york city
Hallie and I had a flashback of childhood this weekend. We went to Dylan’s Candy Bar, FAO Schwartz and the American Girl Doll Place.
The candy bar was packed with kids to pre-teens and their parents… then us. I couldn’t handle the craziness for too long, but I did love seeing every kind of candy imaginable.
candy! in the stairs!
FAO Schwartz was also packed. After eyeing the Barbie runway and lifelike baby dolls, I’m happy I now enjoy activities far beyond playing with toys.
toys at FAO, but also weird stuff for LotR fans
The American Girl Doll Place was the most reminiscent — I easily spotted the “just like me” doll I have (or had?) with light skin, light brown hair and blue eyes. We saw all our old favorites… Addy, Kirsten, Samantha, Molly, Josefina. But now there are several I’ve never heard of… And a bunch of Bitty Babies! Never had one of those.
the babies I chose for myself at American Girl
Several of us went to ‘Up‘ this weekend, as well. Highly recommended for anyone and everyone… It was just great. I wish my dogs could talk.
