In early May, Elizabeth texted a group of us asking if we wanted to attempt the 18.5 Lakefront Trail walk.

If anyone knows Elizabeth, they'd quickly realize how out-of-character this was for our little homebody friend. Since we've met, her favorite phrase has been "I miss my bed."

However, Elizabeth just returned from a five-month internship in South Carolina. She had limited opportunities to socialize with people her age.

She was a changed person. Now she actually wanted to leave the house LOL.

So leave the house we did.

We ended up walking around 7 miles -- we weaved between the Lakefront and nearby neighborhoods. Here's what our schedule looked like:

• 9 AM: 147 bus to Montrose Beach

• 10:30 AM: Stop by Libra Coffee Lounge for 🥯 bagels

• 12 PM: 🍰 Crepes @ The Crepe Shop

• 12:20 PM: 🍵 Matcha @ Lucky Cat

• 2:30 PM: Walk along the lake to North Avenue

• 3:30 PM: 🥙 Early dinner @ Cava

Dress Cute ?

Erin, Nuria, Elizabeth, and I met up at 9 AM and immediately thought the same thing:

Why did it look like all of us were dressed for different occasions? 😭😭😭

Elizabeth's corporate fit... and Nuria's jeans... what...

But we move forward.

Gratitude :)

My favorite part from the walk were the fun conversations we had. Erin seems like a really serious person when you first meet her (I don't think she agrees but that was my first impression of her) but once you start talking, she can get really goofy. I love the outrageous things that come out of her mouth.

At one point, we started constructing an elaborate love story between Nuria's fictional older brother, AK aka Arthur Kim, and Elizabeth's non-existent older sister and undercover Chipotle CEO, Ella Ng. It started out as a fun activity that turned into the most contrived romance ever lol. I would watch the k-drama if someone got around to producing it.

Conversations like these really warmed my heart in an unexpected way, though. I feel so grateful to have sisters who I can joke around with and who can respond to my humor in unexpected ways. I can't imagine very many other people that I could spend hours talking to like I can with these girls.

Wait -- who am I kidding... I can spend hours talking to anyone LOL. It's so hard for me to stop talking sometimes. But I digress.

Pics!

Here are some of my favorite captured moments. Huge credits to Erin + Nuria for being my #1 photographers. Caption: I'll never get tired of this view Caption: Rose and Jack who? Caption: TY Jina for the Roots shirt :-) Caption: matchamatchamatcha Caption: Erin on sunscreen duty

Lakeview? Pilsen? Hyde Park?

Now that I'm nearing graduation, I've started considering where I'm going to live. God willing, I'll be working in the city, so now I have to decide how willing I am to pay $$$$ or save money by commuting. cough It's not unlikely that I'll stay with my parents for a few years cough. But I like to imagine.

As I was walking through the city, I was somewhat sizing up the neighborhoods. Lakeview and Lincoln Park are filled with great food and people, but very expensive and pretty void of character. Little Italy and Pilsen are relatively affordable and familiar, but pretty boring. West Loop is close to downtown, but also pretty expensive.

But... as I started thinking about these things, I realized that these things are pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

My most precious memories were made in very unexpected places.

Walking beside me were girls I could call true and precious sisters, yet high school me would have never imagined finding friends like them at UIC.

God did His work in my life.

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." Proverbs 16:9

I love this verse so much. I came across it while compiling thoughts when writing a letter to a coworker (I never ended up giving it to them -- I could never get around to properly articulating my thoughts).

As Christians, how much thought do we put into the small things and stress over every minute detail of our careers, academics, and family? Why do we place our hopes in things so temporal and fleeting? Why do we desire so much control when God has already told us that He has provided the very best for us already?

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

/ᐠ｡‸｡ᐟ\

If things had gone my way in high school, I never would have met my dear friends. I never would have found girls who were polar opposites to me, yet who were also united to me by a far greater power: Christ and His Kingdom.

So I can think about things like my future neighborhood, job, and family, but I want to do it knowing that it all falls within the will of our sovereign Father. In His eternal wisdom, goodness, and love, God knows best.