I thank God for all those answered prayers.

Dear Gallery, 

This weekend will be a bit of a homecoming juxtaposed with goodbye. 

I kind of grew up...again..more...inside the city lines of St. Paul and inside the walls of stepping stone. I didn't choose this, I think it chose me. For as much as i tried to fight it, i couldn't, and here we are, 6 years later, trying to  find the words to express how this place and it's people have shaped me, loved me, hurt me, and kept me afloat. 

Among other things, you've given me people to love, prayers to pray, things to fight for. Most importantly, you've given me Jesus. 

A Jesus that is real, with a heart beat of people and making the world better. You've given me a Jesus who is LOVE, a Jesus who sometimes i don't understand, who doesn't always seem near, but is ever faithful. 

You've affirmed me, you've broken my heart, you've taught about community, and addiction and sacrifice and faith and being bold. 


My sweet little apartment, the one with the crooked floors, furnished by eclectic hand-me downs held meetings, and parties and prayer sessions that changed me, the made me believe. That were the corner stone of my faith. 

And Brad and Rita? They reminded me of who i was, and what i was good at and that i had a purpose and that i was so very loved. 


I had my share of confusion and breaking points and shit losing sessions. I moved my broken heart into a lanky apartment, and completly lost my mind, i ran out of gas, i ran out of time, i almost ran out of faith....

But God is faithful, and he told me to go, and so i went....I learned a lot of about obedience...and i found family. I found purpose again, i found...Jesus....who was there the whole time but covered up by lots of debris. 

So, sweet, little Church, tomorrow, i will climb you steps again. I will find myself putting on that old coat, seeing old friends, feeling that familiar feeling of home and community. 

And it will be so happy, and sad. This story is written on the inside of my heart like rings on a tree. For a time in this space we were exactly what we needed to be and it was beautiful. I laughed a lot. I drank a lot of coffee and used so many post it notes. I've climbed those steps and sorted those bins and ran those slides with my eyes closed. I loved a lot of it. 

I have cried inside Coffee News, over chai, on more than occasion. I've eaten enough Pizza Luce and Bread and Chocolate to last a life time, (and you'd always order my favorites because that how you were). 

I grew up here. It was wild and messy and full of feelings. I loved it and i hated it. It was hard and so easy at times. 

I'm still sorting it out, but i'm so thankful for the time i spent in these walls. Our stories tucked up into the rafters, as it prepares to tell a new story. 

I'm forever grateful for my time here. 

In heartache and hope, i swear I'll say, Amen.