25th Birthday Celebration

Birthday flowers (love the pic of 2L!)

Well this past weekend I went downtown Chicago to celebrate my 25th birthday with my twin brother. So Sunday, despite the rain, we all went to church at Willowcreek in the Loop. It was a fun experience to be at church in such a large theatre. Then we went to Lou's for some good Chicago style pizza. After pizza, mom had bought us tickets to go see Jersey Boys downtown. It was a great experience and great music. Overall, it was a good birthday. I think I've finally realized that I am an adult now. It's funny how quickly each stage of your life is over with.

Family @ Lou's downtown Chicago

Easter Sunday

If there is ever a day where I am glad to celebrate with my family, it's Easter. Even more than Christmas. There's something about going to church together and being with family on Easter that is so needed. I was so thankful to have family surrounding me.

On a side note, I did come in first place in the Easter egg hunt. I found all of my eggs first! :) Even my 89 year old grandpa partipated. Never too old to have fun and find chocolate!

Companionship

Well this week I think the Lord was telling me that we were meant to live in community and have companions. It seemed like every day I would open my apartment door and there right in front of me were two animals. The first day I opened my door, to my surprise there were two geese just standing there. The next day there was a male/female duck just standing right by my door (no I don't live too close to a lake). The next day there were two doves. Sometimes the Lord has a funny way of reminding me what I should be seeking.....community with others rather than life on my own. It was such a good reminder and made me realize how much I still long for that close community that I had in college. Doing life with others is so wonderful, yet lately it just seems like the desire is there, but the people aren't. I know in time, God will provide...he always does.

Easter Bunny Surprise!

Today the Easter Bunny decided to come to my parents house. He sat right next a bush all day! How cute!

Erika's Pittsburgh Wedding

This weekend I took a quick trip to Pittsburgh. My cousin was getting married. I literally was in Pittsburgh for 40 hours, and didn’t see much of anything but the hotel. I flew out with my brother and his fiancé. The wedding was great and it was fun to have all my family in one place….something that is becoming rare. The wedding was at a church right downtown Pittsburgh and in the heart of University of Pittsburgh campus. PITT was ranked #1 in the college brackets, but failed to make the final four. I can only imagine how crazy it would have been downtown PITT if they had made it….given the wedding was on the Sat. of the final four. Here are some pictures we took during the wedding.

I think my other favorite part of the trip was the plane ride home. When I boarded the plane, I thought I was on the wrong flight because the first 20 rows were taken by all guys who were HUGE! Most of them were African American and built! You know how Southwest has pick your own seats? Well, I was last to board and the only seats left were the middle seats between two people. As I was walking down the isle to find a seat two of these guys yelled out “Hey, NO Illini fans allowed in this seat.” I was wearing an ILLINI sweatshirt. He was definitely joking and in fact the guy next to him said that he just said that so I would sit there….. It was tempting….maybe I would have if I was in a flirtatious mood and didn’t have a 1000 papers to grade. Later I found out that it was the Chicago Slaughters Arena Football league that was on the flight. I sure wasn’t complaining…..I mean a flight with 50 very built and athletic football players…..I can handle that

My grandparents and I