moving along

I left the comforts of sitting at home to get on with life and (hopefully) work.

Mom and I left last week for the Chicago area. The timing worked well. We were able to spend some time with Sara in Michigan and mom was able to attend a quilt show in Chicago while I started getting accounts in order.

The picture is of the 4 of us Rip women; myself, mom, Laura, and Sara. Of course, Laura is only featured on the front of the Spark magazine, but I think that counts!

Despite the 4 inches of snow in Grand Rapids, it was nice to see Sara again after nearly a year. I hope she has an opportunity to join me on the West Coast soon!

I've been catching up on a lot of business while in Illinois. The best part is seeing friends again and seeing what they have been up to for the last 6 months. There is a sense I have of feeling a bit out of place now (or maybe displaced with the experiences I had), though. I have missed a chunk of life here and don't have a place to live or job here. I'm not sure when I'll feel like I have "a place" again. The feeling can be disconcerting, but I try to remember it's an adventure I chose and that God is with me every place I go.

Next week, I hope to be off towards Washington State. My plans are a bit hazy yet, but slowly pulling together!