I have put off writing this post for several reasons. This move has been difficult and I did not want to complain. Plus, I really need support and encouragement during this time, and not to hear that we should move to California. We are trying to obey God and this is where He has taken us. I need to bloom where I am planted…wherever that may be…for however long it may be. Anyways here’s a hodgepodge of my thoughts of this move and my first impressions of Texas:
- The kids did excellent during the long drive here. There was some crying and whining, but for the most part they did great. Rod was so patient and let us stop often and not drive too long each day. It took a full three days to get from Utah to Texas.
- We arrived in Texas two weeks ago, and I’m still exhausted. The first few nights we all slept almost 12 hours straight. I still feel so tired, though…both emotionally and physically.
- We stayed in a hotel for a little over a week. We had planned on finding an extended stay hotel and living there for about a month, but they don’t have anything like that here. It was too expensive to stay in a regular hotel for long and thankfully God has provided a house for us to rent.
- Finding a house was not easy. The university started this week and has over 45,000 students. This town is really pretty small and we were competing against thousands of students who were all moving into the area for school. Most of the rentals here are geared towards students.
- God brought us to the perfect house. It is dated and the owners are planning on remodeling in a couple of years. How is that the perfect house you may ask. Because, we can’t mess anything up
The house is just the right size and we really like it. I’ll put up some pictures soon. - Texas has the most and the biggest bugs I have ever seen. I used to always think I was a country girl at heart. Now, I’m not so sure. We looked at a couple of rental houses out in the country, and oh my, the spiders were enormous! There are grasshoppers and crickets everywhere! I mean everywhere…like in stores, yards, restaurants, public bathrooms…everywhere!!! There are also lizards all around. We had one in our hotel bathroom! They are also in our front yard. Every morning when Rod opens the door to go to work, they scurry off the porch! Yucky!!!
- I can’t believe the heat here! It’s not just the heat, but the humidity is overwhelming. When you step outside, it is like stepping into a sauna. This morning at 6 am the temperature was 78 with 96% humidity. I grew up with blazing hot temps, but it was a dry heat. This is just completely different and I’ll be glad when we adjust to this climate.
- The people of Texas really do say y’all. At our very first stop in Texas the lady said y’all and I confess that I laughed at her. I didn’t mean to be rude, but it just struck me as funny. Everyone says it, and many have a southern drawl. I wonder how long it will take us to say y’all.
- It amazes me how some states have their own culture. Utah was like a different country and Texas seems to have its own style as well. It will take us a while to get used to.
- I didn’t realize how acclimated we were to the culture in Utah. I had forgotten what it is like to be treated odd for having a large family. It has also been strange seeing all of the college girls with very short shorts, after being in LDS country.
- Also, after being surrounded by LDS churches, we have been amazed to see all the crosses here. The kids are still pointing out all of the churches with crosses and the billboards with Christian messages.
- A lot of the people here say ma’am and sir. Rod’s employees will say, “Yes, sir” when he tells them to do something. He gets a kick out of it.
- His store is really, really small. He has quite a bit of re-training to do. I think this is going to be a difficult adjustment for him.
- Some of the people here are really nice, but I don’t think it’s any more so than the other places we’ve lived. We haven’t been to church yet, so I’m hopeful that we’ll make friends.
I think we had Texas set up to be a paradise…a place that would automatically feel like home. I had unrealistic expectations. We’ve only been here a couple of weeks, and I’m trying to make this a peaceful place for us. This move has been the most difficult one we’ve ever made. Starting over in a completely new place without many belongings, no connections, with five children and being pregnant has been one of the most challenging tasks I’ve ever undertaken. I thought that since we are following God that He would make it all easy and wonderful, and that has not happened. I am confident that we are doing His will and I have faith that He is working it all out for our good. Maybe not our physical good, but He is developing our character…He is chipping away more of the scum in our lives…transforming us. I don’t know what the future holds, but I know that God is in control and His ways are always better than what I could plan for myself.
Gratitude List:
96.) For a man who will follow God’s leading no matter where it takes us
97.) A house that suits us well
98.) That God is working on us
99.) That God kept us safe on our long drive here and kept our van going
100.) That it’s less than 200 days until our baby arrives (see ticker on the sidebar)
What are you thankful for today?
. So, we’ll catch you on the flip side of the move. We’d appreciate your prayers for safety during the long drive and a smooth transition.
