Lovely fall weekend

Our new friends (and neighbors) Trent and Jeanne joined us for a confirmation retreat at Wesley Woods on Lake Geneva this weekend. Here is Trent leading songs around the campfire:


The weather was perfect and the lake gorgeous, as always.


Today I had the opportunity to facilitate a conversation about roots of migration (why people come to the US from other places) with University Church's adult Sunday School class. The church, a merger between UCC and Disciples of Christ congregations, is on the University of Chicago campus. Because we rarely get down to Hyde Park, a fabulous neighborhood, we thought we'd spend the afternoon enjoying the incredible weather and the local architecture. So, after a great lunch at The Medici on 57th, a favorite place of some of the "locals" we met at church, we began to wander. It is a truly beautiful campus.

An old gate leading to what I would guess is the original main campus area:


We forgot for a bit that we were in the middle of a huge city. It was just us, the rustling leaves, and a few students here and there in this enclosed courtyard area.


Here's Goose in front of the Robie House, one of Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous buildings and the original "prairie style " house. The FLW Preservation Trust calls it "one of the most important buildings in the history of American architecture."


Considering the fact that the house will be turning 100 pretty soon, I'd say those preservation folks have done a pretty nice job.

As this weekend draws to a close, I'd like to say to this dear season, "I love you, fall. Please stick around a little longer."