How Houston Changed Us.

Well. That’s it. We’ve packed it up. The moving company is en route with my crock pot and we are on the road headed East. We are pumped to be bonafide, Salt-Life wearing, Life Is Good sportin’, paddleboarding Floridians again. I’m looking forward palm trees, key lime pie, & Publix. Oh, sweet Publix.

We have been in Houston for just over two years. If you’ve been here since the beginning, you know it was only supposed to be three months. But, we loved it. When it was nearing time to leave, we knew there was unfinished business there. We didn’t know what it was, we just knew there was something more in Houston for us and something more in us for Houston. I do hope we impacted the city a little, because Houston sure impacted us.

We are changed because of our time here. How could we not be? We left a town of 35k people to a city of about 5 million. There is a lot to love about our little country hometown of Plant City, Florida. I like to tell people it’s the “Southern-most point of the Bible-Belt”. (I made that up, PC. You heard it here first.)

Then, the Bayou City happened to us. Yes, I know Houston didn’t “happen to us”. The Lord used our time in Houston to change us. And, as hard as some of it was, I’m grateful.

We know what it’s like to be the visitors at church. When the pastor says “Greet the people around you”, we see it differently now.

We have become Tex-Mex snobs. We loved fajitas before and were looking forward to the amazing fajitas we would get when we got here. And, for the love of tortillas, we have gotten snobby about them.  What’s your favorite Tex-Mex dish? Where do you get it?

We have become the city mice. We lived fairly rurally in Florida and went straight to downtown Houston. We eventually made it to the burbs, but I’ve not been more than 3 miles from a Target or a Chick-Fil-A in over two years. There's that.

We learned what it’s like to have to pay for water usage. Ugh. For the first time in my entire life, I didn’t have well water. We got our first water bill. Welcome to the city.  We love it, right?!

We learned what it’s like to have to plug in to groups. We had to be so intentional about meeting people and finding our places to serve.  And, then sometimes it didn’t work out. Which brings me to…

We were reminded that sometimes, you just aren’t gonna be everybody’s cup of tea. This was fun. Except not at all. But, there were times when I just had to come to grips with the fact that some people just didn’t care for me. That is all I have to say about that.

We know why Texas pride is different. It’s contagious. Like the good kind. The traditions, like those homecoming mums, are crazy awesome. No one really knows where it came from, but it is so over-the-top Texas that you can’t help but love it. I am equally perplexed and amazed by it. You have the Aggie traditions and Go Texan Day, a bunch of stuff. Anyway, I have long since loved my palm tree stuff, so I’m gonna have to step that up a notch or seven in order to adequately represent.

We are officially a Blue Bell people. We knew of Blue Bell Ice Cream before, and I had heard people go on about it. But, once I visited the creamery in Brenham the first of SIX times (!!), I was sold. And, it really is better.
Also, I’m sorry, Texas Fam, I am a one of a kind, and so is Dr. Pepper, I just don’t love it. I went to the museum, had a float and it was so cute.
I’m not drinking the DP juice.

We view grief differently. One of our pastors at Bayou City Fellowship, Vernon, speaks of pain and suffering like no body’s business. Learning to let people grieve for as long as it takes is counter-cultural. Even counter-church cultural, in some  ways. I was definitely a “get it together, press on!” kind of Christian. Even in my self-talk. So, when I would experience a season of depression or blues or doubt, I would beat myself up over it, rather than allowing for sadness and lament to the Lord. No more. Dude. “Sadness is not a sin” is so very liberating to the Christian who has been told to “Find the Joy!” all the dern time. Which brings me to…

We have been a part of a church plant. Our church was a baby church of six months when we got to Houston. It was a breath of fresh air we didn’t even know we needed! Totally different from anything we had ever been a part of : simple, bare-bones approach to worship services and gatherings; taking the same approach to programs, our calendars have not been filled with “church” activities to do more things “at church” than in the community. I don’t even know how to fully explain it, but it’s been a great experience for us.
We are so sad to leave it. 

We are changed because Jesus didn't waste one minute of time we spent in Texas. Not one. He grew us in ways too deep for a blog.

Mostly, we are changed because we have been loved. These Texans (both born in and brought in) have loved on us in the sweetest ways. 

Houston, We love you back.

BIG BELIEFS, Little Beliefs.

Big Beliefs, Little Beliefs came from Tara over at A Brew of Blessings. It's not a link up, really, but it should be. So, T, get on that! :)) Lists like this are random, but connect us when something resonates. It's mostly for fun, nothing too deep. Enjoy & add your own!

I believe...

~Hot chocolate is a solid comfort drink. 
Not solid as in matter, solid as in dependable.

~Loving your neighbor may mean walking her dogs.

~A new outfit can alter the events of your day.

~So can your shoes.

~Just because you are intentional about including people, 
doesn't mean others are.

~You'll never regret shaving your legs.
Girls. I. Am. Just. Sayin.

~People think about you a lot less than you think they do.
I don't know who said this, but a friend said it this week. So true.

~The first songs of the day set the tone for the rest of your day. 

Choose wisely.

~Assumptions are the worst.

~This world is not my home. 

I don't want to get too comfortable anywhere.

~Finicky eaters ("I don't like ___, ____, or ____...") used to stress me out.
It's difficult to accommodate a super-picky person. 
Now, "Just bring what you want."

~Writing is a blessing and a curse.

Blessing: It is an effective outlet.

Curse: If you don't write, you don't feel "let out". 

~Being the new girl is just plain hard. 
No matter how old you are, no matter how super-sanguine you are. It's just hard.

~A visit with a friend is therapeutic.

~"We don't work best when we are dragging around our past." - Curtis Jones. 

Context can be found by listening to the Bayou City Fellowship podcast from October 27, 2013. 

~Being a "mean mom" is often a reason to high-five yourself.

~Walking in faith and walking in crazy sometimes look similar.
Our decisions shouldn't always be practical or make sense 
to the world...or even other Christians.

~The early morning decision of brushing teeth first or going to the 
bathroom first is sometimes enough to overwhelm me before daylight.

~People trump everything else.
People over things. People over money. 
People over schedule. People over programs.
People over comfort. People over sleep.
When in doubt, choose people. 

~The voice in your head is often a familiar one. 
That voice might be a little liar.

~Sometimes you know in the first five minutes, "Yep, you are my people."

~Key clicking on your phone is not awesome in a waiting room. 
Or any room where other people are present.

~Pinterest is not necessary for genuine hospitality.
Sandwiches on paper plates served from a sincere place of service is gold. 

~Fall brings a welcomed breeze, even for a Summer Girl.

Let's hear em! 

What do you believe?

Loving My Neighbor.

Last year about this time, I was a spazzy house hunter. (<--Rollicking)
We settled (I was coerced) on a house in an area that I just knew was way too far for Spouse's commute, above our budget, too big, new, and just plain too much. I had never been to this particular area of Houston and I wanted to stick to the areas I knew a little. But, read the post and you'll see, I was in a state. I couldn't make a decision, so Spouse made the call.

Nearly a year later, our lease is up. The homeowner is selling the house (not surprising, the market is on the up & up here) and we have to move.
This is me:

Bitter britches. That's me. I DON'T WANNA MOVE!

I love it here. When they made me live here, I said, "Fine. But we are fillin' it."
I resolved to fill this house. We've done that every chance we could. I try to keep the  Mel's Diner reservation list at a reasonable capacity.

Just a few. Our first guests did not make the board because one of them,
Janae, actually MADE the board.
She wrote the "Mel's Diner" last November. We don't touch it.

This house has been so good to us. It really has. Still, I fuss about the size. I like smaller. I don't like that my tweeners can go upstairs and "hide". I feel like I'm constantly chasing them. They are getting to "that age" ya know and I don't love it. I'm constantly saying, "Can't you do whatever you are doing down here where I can see your face?" To which I get, "I'm reading, Mom. I need some space." Really? You need space? Our bottom floor is nearly the size of our old house! I'm sure you can find somewhere down here! Blessed assurance. Killin me.
I do LOVE that we have a guest room ready at all times. I love that I can offer up a room to anybody at any time. And I have. We've always had an open door policy, but this house has let me up the game quite a bit. Good times.

I also resolved to meet my neighbors and love them. It took us a while, but we've done that. I love our neighbors!

Incidentally, I know it can be tough to meet people in the burbs. In our case, our neighbors come home in the afternoon, pull into the garage, close the garage and go inside. And, they have lawn services, so they aren't out pulling weeds and working in the yard and whatnot. I would walk around the neighborhood and just pray, Lord, you brought us here and it feels like we aren't doing anything! How do I meet these people? 
If you are having trouble meeting neighbors, or are new an area, I recommend this solution:

 No joke. This is the world's best missionary pup. When I would go out jogging or walking, I would  just get the polite, "Morning!", but if you have canine cuteness, you get to stop and chat. It takes us a good hour-or two- to walk the loop in our neighborhood. It's less than a mile.

Maverick &  Little Sister.

Honestly. 5 months old & 4 lb. of presh.

So, we've met these people. And I love them! All of them! We've done the summertime cookouts and pool dates and talked kids and Houston and marriage and music and syphilis and Jesus with them. They are from Illinois, Switzerland, Colombia, Nicaragua, Burma, Miami, and a few of them are even real Houstonians. I love their stories.

 

Look at these people. So much fun. 

This is the one in the video. We were her first babysitters. Ever.
Her parents were going to apply for citizenship. Love. Love. Love.

Do you see that cuteness? The Littles, not those yay-hoos in their swimming trunks. 

And now we have to move! 

I find myself choking down words I've said to the Sisters. 

We have to love where we are. 
We aren't married to a house or a city or even a church. 

We have to be willing to leave people we love, Jesus did. 

We will never know the awesomeness God has for us if we don't follow Him to it.

So, we've found another house. That was another episode. I hate the part of feeling like I am critiquing someone's home. I feel like a total snot. Like it isn't good enough for us or something. I don't love that. I guess you get better at it the more you do it? 

My Spouse & girls are in the beginning stages of packing right this very second. While I'm here blogging. Awesome.

I better get to helping. Mel's Diner has guests tonight. :)