Last Sunday afternoon was a cool sunny one in New York City. I lugged baggage on back and by hand down 2nd Avenue and loved it. The mild weather brought me back to a year ago.

We had just moved to the city. Other than one friend who worked long hours, we were alone in this city of 8 million. The first two months, we moved up and down 2nd Avenue a couple of times. In an overkill way to save money, I hauled our stuff on foot in rolling bags instead of taking taxis. I am The Pack Mule of 2nd Ave.

But a year later, I didn’t mind the trip at all. I walked with a guitar case and a backpack of effects pedals to play with the worship team at church – a church with hundreds of members around the city, but one in which we feel uniquely loved.

We are part of a community. That’s no small feat in NYC, where you can spend years virtually unnoticed if you do it right (or wrong).

And it’s not just church where we’re bonding with people. By God’s grace, Cool Mum has connected with mums all over the neighborhood and is quite possibly reaching them more deeply than anyone else in this city has.

I’ve heard somewhere that if we can make it here, then we can make it anywhere. Well, ‘making it’ comes in different shapes and sizes.

Living it up: yet to be determined.
Living large: If there’s a question, take the tour of the Cool Studio.
Living life: Awww yeah.

God only knows where I’ll be hauling a baggage a year from now. I’m looking forward to the trip. I might even take a taxi.

How has your life changed in the last year?