Welcome back, friends. Here’s a little life update, of sorts.

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“And guess what… we’re expecting!”

A friend from church beamed at me as we waited for a pickle ball court, and my whole heart melted as I watched the two of them look at each other with what could only be heaven-sent joy. I let about an excited squeal and proceeded to set up lunch with them so I could ask all the questions.

The fun part about building a new community up here in Michigan is that we meet a whole new set of people - a set of people who will be our inner-circle and our village for however long this state is home. And all those people have stories, dreams, passions, and hurt. M and I met this couple when we were freshly married; they got married a few months later than us, and somehow, being in the trenches of it all with someone else, makes it all a little easier to manage and walk through. We’ve shared several meals, ate at new places, and tried new sports with them - we’ve lived life by their side.

“I can’t wait for our kids to grow up with each other,” I whispered as I hugged her, and meant every word. Because one day, when little feet are pitter-pattering around the Cieply household, they will have a built-in-best-friend. And that’s the sweetest blessing, for everyone.

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“Hey, I miss you. Hope you have an amazing day!”

I got a text from my childhood friend from church last week, and my whole face lit up. B and I were toddlers together, children together, and spent every Sunday afternoon together in a small group within our youth program. 18 years of living life so closely intertwined, and then we all went our separate ways.

I got her wedding invitation in the mail a few weeks ago, and could only think back to us in high school, meeting before church to bake cookies, grab frostys, and take walks around Dublin.

I’m certain that God designed people to come and go out of our lives, with the seasons, but that he also knew that every person we let close to our hearts, would change us, too. I carry bits and pieces of every person that I’ve ever loved, in the way I talk, dress, love, and live.

B and I exchanged a few texts, voice memos, and a lot of laughter, and said our goodbyes. We probably won’t talk for another 6 months. But because of her, I will always add “buddy” to the end of every greeting, will always pray for her when I grab Wendy’s, and will always next her when walking through Dublin, yet again.

It hurts to move through seasons without people who helped make you.

But I’m certain that everyone always finds a way of coming back together, in one way or another.

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Call me silly, but no matter how crazy life gets, I always want to go post-church grocery shopping.

Not the Kroger-pick-up-order because of convienence or ease.

I want to walk through every aisle of the store, even if we don’t need anything. Always buy our meat from the fresh-meat section, where they weigh by the pound and you can see it all in front of you. Always laugh when M needs to go buy a “special drink” to try throughout the week, and roll my eyes every time he walks back with a package of skittles or jelly beans. Always guess what our end grocery bill will be as the cashier rings us up (and hopefully, always continue to win at our little game). Always have enough time to check-out and grab a milkshake or walk around HomeGoods afterwards.

In a world of grocery pick-ups, ChatGPT, and convenience, I want to savor the small moments that we get, together.

So here’s to Kroger on Sundays. Quite possibly my favorite “date” of the week. :)

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A recap on our little lake life:

Mouse and Mia are the happiest two kitties in the world, and are more loved than they know. Mouse hops in the shower on a daily basis and Mia eats all my hair ties. What a life.

Weather here in Michigan doesn’t quite know what it wants. It snowed this week, and now its 60 degrees. But we’re all getting hopeful that Spring is around the corner.

I’m pumping up the tires on my Tri-bike and hoping to get it out for a spin this week.

M is loving his job at Cadillac, and I am loving working across the street from him. Carpooling is especially my favorite (mostly because I don’t have to drive).

It’s busy season at school, so finding time to text back, call back, or even look at my phone feels nearly impossible. Don’t be offended, I promise I will re-surface in June.

The preschoolers are full of energy but are growing more each day. It’s amazing to think back to how they entered into preschool, and how far they’ve come. I couldn’t be more proud of them, if I tried.

I serve the youth hooligans on Wednesdays at our church, and now hold babies in the nursery one Sunday a month. Our community is so good to us, and I’ve never walked into such a spirit-filled, sweet church. We are blessed beyond measure.

We’re constantly talking about kids, future houses, graduate school, and travelling dreams, these days. M and I are trusting God and giving it all to him as we trust in teh timing of it all. (But for clarification, no surprise announcements, soon).

I’m entering into “summer nesting” season where I realize how cluttered parts of the apartment got and where I feel the need to deep clean everything. Buckle your seatbelts, folks.

And this summer, M is continuing to work and defining his role more and more, and I will be resting, watching sweet Ems around town here at the lake, and teaching a month of summer “school” (camp, in disguise) to help bridge the gap between preschool and Kindergarten.

Life is full, fun, and always an adventure. We’re so happy you’re here.

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Talk to you soon, friends.

-Katie.