Least Likely Place...

When our family moved out to the ranch in Spring 2008, I unfortunately came kicking and screaming. My sin-filled heart thought I knew best and it certainly could not have included Normangee, TX... or could it?

When we moved here, we came with the understanding that it was a on a "trial basis." If we didnt like it, we didn't have to stay. I surely gave us a 6 month maximum.

That first 15 months here was quiet, long, and hot. But God was in our midst. He was shaping and refining us.

This time last year, the ranch went up for sale. We didn't know what to expect and knew it would take a specified buyer. We went quite awhile with little interest in the place. But there was one woman who had fallen in love and we weren't sure if it was really in her price range. She came back over the Christmas holidays and gave the offer that was accepted.

Sold? Really. I couldn't believe. After three years of limbo, I was in shock.

Our season in Normangee is coming to a close. In 3 short weeks, all of our belongings will be boxed up and we will be driving to our new home in the hill country.

Lots of mixed emotions.

REALLY sad to leave such a sweet oasis of God's love, New Life Church. Even more heartbroken to leave the precious people that make up that body that we cherish so deeply. We have loved doing life with them and God has taught us so much of what the body of Christ is supposed to be to one another through each and every one of them.

I am so sentimental. I walk through our quickly emptying house and the movie reel of every memory that Joseph and I have together with our little blessings is in this home. This home has been a refuge for our family during the joys and trials and there are so many moments that I treasure.

My prayer has been...Help me to BELIEVE who You say you are and hope not in this world, but in my unchanging God. God be big and help my emotions be small.

We go with peace. We go loved. We go changed. We go in Him.

"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say."
2 Thess 5:16, 17 NLT

Selah.

Deep breaths. Lots of deep breaths in this season

Something I have always wanted to give all of you is a little tour of this small town. Better late than never, right?

So here are a few highlights of Normangee at its finest. (pop. 700)


Here is our exit off of 45 and inevitably when someone new comes to visit they get out of their car and say, "Wow, you guys are OUT HERE." I will miss those faces.



Every small town has to have a monument to the glory days, right?


We have dined out in this little cafe many times. Outsiders are spotted and shunned. Such were we.



A few glimpses of "downtown." Its a hustling and bustling place, you know.


So thankful we had a small Brookshires for the mid-recipe-and-realize-I-am-out-of-milk type emergencies.


And I love that we are surrounded by cattle on almost every side.


Never would have expected to look at this place and this season with such fondness and longing.

More updates to come on where we are going, what we are doing, and adoption stuff.