Dear Houston: To New Beginnings

Dear Houston, 

I cannot believe we are finally here. I can't believe how humid it is already, even though Felipe says it will only get hotter. I can't believe how big the grocery store is, how confusing the toll roads are on the highways, and how many lizards I've seen on our front porch! I can't believe we're across the street from the coffee shop I am sure to fall in love with, and I really really can't believe how hard it is to unpack your life into a tiny old house that seems like it would rather keep you busy with broken water heaters, refrigerator, dishwasher, and bad plumbing problems (yes, we've had our hands full). 

So far in this crazy city, I've already witnessed a bizarre (and awesome) turtle race at Little Woodrow's Ice House, a dog park + bar in one, and more billboards in Spanish than I ever imagined. Other than that, my contact with the outside world has admittedly been limited. We've been overwhelmed with the amount of work it has taken to get settled in this little bungalow. It was a complete mess when we got here and we were pretty discouraged. But every day we try and remind each other to take it a day at a time, and that we are in fact making progress.. it has character, right? Today as I walked Zoey at 8AM and came back 20 minutes later drenched in sweat (did I mention the rumors are true, it really is hot?!) I became convicted for the first time of my lack of trust in the Lord during this transition time. I don't understand it, but it is so easy to set aside intimacy with Jesus when small and sometimes big tasks weigh you down. It is so tempting during a stressful and busy move to put Him and scripture reading time at the bottom of your "to-do" list. It's funny how a small thing like losing your keys on a morning walk can bring you to pray, but building a new life? Not so much. I am praying -and would greatly appreciate your prayer as well - that the Lord would draw me close to him, and teach me how to cling to Him and rely on Him in the everyday challenges that I am likely to face in the future. I do feel a bit of "emotional paralysis" when I think about Aaron's first work rotation away from home... how will I do it? I rely on him for so much... who will check to make sure the doors are locked when I'm spooked in the middle of the night? I get the same "deer in headlights" kind of fear when I think about Library School in August.. what if I can't do it? What if it's not me and I don't have what it takes? But then I remember I am not called to a Spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline {2 Timothy 1:7}

Anyway, you'll have to excuse my scatter-brained post... being in such a new transition makes it hard to interpret exactly what it is I'm feeling. But I will say, I've never felt a stronger Texas welcome. A friend in Raleigh connected me with a woman here named Jody. Before we moved, we emailed back and forth and she was so helpful and intentional about being here for us. I was so humbled by her willingness to help us feel at home. When we arrived after a 20 hour car ride (with two cats and a dog!!) we were completely exhausted. About an hour after we got there, Jody and her husband and a team of several people showed up ready to help us unload the truck. I was speechless. In an hour, the truck was completely unloaded, there were a few women in my kitchen on hands and knees cleaning, and Jody was passing around drinks and snacks. She brought us toilet paper, paper towels, watermelon, and more. I know that the Lord is so good - there is no way we could have done it by ourselves, and thanks to His provision, we were welcomed by a group of people who truly live out what it means to serve and take on the mindset of Christ. I am so thankful!

Also, speaking of thankfulness, we could not have done this move without my sister, Hannah. She just made a move from Raleigh to small country town in Carthage, North Carolina.  She rode the whole 20 hours with us, became Zoey's babysitter while we tried to find a couch and run all of our errands, scrubbed the bathtub and more, ate PB&J's with us, got more bug bites that first night than all of us combined, dealt with the craziness of our animals in a small hotel room, and helped us with so much more. It was so fun to hang out with her and experience new things with her (like said turtle race and Tex-Mex awesomeness) even though I wish we could have had her for a few more days.

So as of right now, no new house pictures... we haven't quite ventured into the 'unknown' but as soon as we do and I'm able to grab my camera, I will document our time here in this big city. But, one thing is for sure, the food is incredible and the weather is hot.

Amazing salad at Onion Creek: Ranchero Cobb;

 mixed greens, poblano chicken, bacon, cotija cheese, mango, avocado, tomato, green onion.... YUM!

morning coffee walk with Zoey & the twin

we were so excited to see the city of Houston after driving through Alabama and Louisiana for what seemed like FOREVER..

On a different side of things, we are dealing with missing Raleigh.. especially when I think about our friends and family, Mediterranean Irish coffee drinks, being able to do a three point turn in the middle of downtown, and of course, finding Lone Star in place of our beloved PBR {what we like to call the 'People's Beer of Raleigh'} 

But Raleigh, you are so dear to us. We miss and love you! Just to show you how much....

    one last hurrah at The Raleigh Times before our departure with great friends

    goodbye apartment...

    Aaron drove this for 20 HOURS....

    The cats were pretty anxious in the hotel room...

    Zoey didn't seem to mind... ;)