Changes, Changes...

Change is upon us--in many ways. Drew turned in his thesis for publication Tuesday, meaning I must now address him as "Master Drew" (isn't that what you call someone with a Master's?). We celebrated last night with Whole Food's exquisite whole fruit pie, French cider and plenty of congratulatory flowers.

Beyond celebrating Drew's completion of "graduate degree #1" we also took the occasion to celebrate other changes in our lives. With Drew taking on this new position at the church and a new program at the University of Chicago, a lot of newness is coming our way. He worked his final shift at Peet's Coffee & Tea yesterday and it was a bittersweet day, marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

Anne and Louise have been regular Peet's customers for years, usually visiting in the mornings after dropping Louise's older siblings off at school. I now teach Anne's older children piano lessons and love the friendship we have developed--our lives in Chicago wouldn't be the same without them! Louise is thrilled when she finds Drew's moped parked near Peet's because it means Drew's "slinging the bean" inside. Here she is posing with Drew on his last day of work while Drew makes Anne her final "Drew Strait Latte."

So onward we press. What a year we have ahead of us.