We're not in Normangee any more

There have been a number of times in our two weeks in atx that we have scratched our head and tried not to look so utterly dumbfounded.

Our boy has felt the changes too. We have also had to redirect pointing and stares. Son, we're not in Normangee any more.

He has also been a little more emotional and talked about each one of his favorite people that he misses so.

In an attempt to convince him that we are not in San Fransisco and we have not forsaken the lone star state, we took him to the Austin Rodeo.







This last week, our son has tried to turn our trailer into an arena. He has spent hours trying to rope our dog, Madi. He will exclaim, "Introducing...Isaac...Thomas...Terry!!!" while he runs in and tries to steer wrestle our dog to the ground.

The other day as we were approaching three solid hours of rodeoing, I decided to secretly tape a little excerpt so you could have a little taste of our cowboy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApqXGBp8FCg

If that weren't enough, he thinks that boots go with any outfit.

Doin' our part

We are doing our part to keep Austin weird.

We left our quarter of a mile worth of concrete driveway in Normangee for our wooden ramp.


We are rockin' the ramp.



And working on being tough.

Classy

Just in case you're new to the country ways, like yours truly, then let me introduce you to how you move redneck style....



Who needs a uhaul when you've got a horse trailer for the "good stuff" and a rickety trailer for the "if-it-falls-off that-trailer-it'll-be-alright-stuff?"

Classy.

We busted into capital of Texas like a tornado. Our new home looks like it was ransacked by some bandits. We tried to make a small dent today but much looms ahead of us tomorrow. I am just plain tuckered out. I have used every last one of my brain cells, it took everything in me to lay my sweet baby girl in her crib tonight, and I have been prying my eyes open for so many hours that I might have to manually shut them.

I can't quite show you the inside but I couldn't go to sleep without showing you a little glimpse of new country castle. Cue theme song


Well, I've got to go draw my polyester curtains and head to my sleeping coma.

Love you all.

I love birthdays

I love birthdays.

We were doing all kinds of preparations for my sister's wedding during Elyana's birthday and then we were in the thick of packing boxes and trying to make heads out of tails with our life when Isaac's birthday rolled around. One night late in February, I had a mommy meltdown about how I felt like the ultimate deadbeat mom and thought my children were deprived of the glory of creative childhood celebrations.

Obviously, I needed a little dose of reality and a heart check.

I keep remembering so many cherished girlhood memories of my mother's thought-filled, Martha Stewart birthday ways. I am a Thanksgiving baby so she even planned an "unbirthday" (like from Alice in Wonderland) in the summer so I could have a swimming party filled with pool rings, diving boards, and sun screen. Sigh...moms are the best.

As I was going through the pictures of his actual birthday, I was reminded of God's sweet grace to orchestrate Isaac's perfect day in the midst of our life that was waste deep in transition.

My boy is a kolache man. While some kids beg for donuts, he asks for kolaches. He woke up to a "kolache date" with our little family and we asked the ranch staff (his bffs) to come along.



Then, the Taylor family offered to come help us pack so the boys got to be ALL boy in our quickly emptying home together with ranch adventures, dog chasing, and sheep escaping to boot.


I love birthdays.

If life couldn't be any sweeter, Charlie and Joe took the kids to Gattiland to eat from the pizza mountain and be over stimulated by all the electronic fun they could handle.



Then, if that isn't the most over the top fun you've ever heard of, kristy and aubrey brought a delicious cookie cake with a tractor (isaac's fav) to small group to celebrate with all of the other loves of his heart.




A few days ago, the kids and I were hoping in the car and just as I had gotten far enough down the road that turning back wasn't an option, I realized that I had forgotten diapers and wipes. I whispered my forgetfulness chastising myself for my absent minded ways that have become so daily present.

Without even skipping a beat Isaac declares, "Mom, don't worry."

A simple command. A reminder of God's truth through my precious three year old.

Thank you sweet boy for speaking the truth over your mama! I love you and hope you know how wild we are about you.

Life as We Have Known It

Its been the little unexpected things that have caused the water to swell in my eyes. The things of life that have become so normal in this season. The things I have taken for granted.

Today as I was packing boxes, Isaac came rushing in. "Magdaleno is at the pool; can I help him?" This scenario has happened hundreds of times but this time the tears came. Isaac looked at me with all concern in his eyes, "mom, are you whining?" With a big sigh I responded, "No son. They are happy tears. God has been so good to us here. He has been so good to your mom when she was a total brat. He has blessed me so much more than I deserve."

I took him outside to help our ranch foreman clean the pool and came back into pack. Within a few minutes, I looked out to see them standing at the fence looking out at the horses. Then the tears in my eyes gave way to overwhelming sobs of utter gratefulness.




We have been spoiled, spoiled, spoiled. This pantry is is more than 15 people could ever need. Nice, well-designed pantry, I will miss you. Yes, I am spoiled rotten.



Then, the beautiful people at New Life didn't just give us a hug good bye on our last Sunday there, they sent us out as missionaries to Austin. They laid their gentle hands on our shoulders and prayed big prayers and believed with us for mighty things as we head to the place that God has called us.

That night it was the unexpected things that stirred my emotions. It was the big, burly men who have many responsibilities, but yet they model true manhood,godliness for our boy.




Its the college people who scooped our kids up in their arms and whispered how much they are going to miss them. It was all the women who have blessed me over and over with their friendship, love and wisdom. We cherish each one and co-laboring with them has been utter joy.

We left sent and well- loved. Thank you.

We are enjoying our last week with life as we have known it.