Recently, we realized that we have lived in Texas for five years. FIVE YEARS. I can’t believe it’s been that long. It's long enough to feel like home, but short enough to still occasionally ache with homesickness.
So, in honor of our anniversary, a list.
Thank you, Texas. You have changed our life:
1. Our dynamic duo. Our first and only true Texan was born here,
Matea Piper Elizabeth Princess-Star TayTay (OK, the last 4 names were self-appointed). A year and a half later, Abreham Ermias Elias was born in a rural village on the other side of the globe. God would lead us down a 7-month sprint to get
us to him and him to us. In Texas, we met our baby boy & baby girl.
2. Our thinned skin. We break out our hoodies and boots for fall's first day in the 70's. Cold weather feels so much colder here. The long summers are brutal, but still I find myself yearning for their heat during the month or two of winter we get each year.
3. Revamped tastebuds. How did we ever survive without Tex Mex? I never imagined that my firstborn would count our friend Leonor’s spicy homemade tamales as the best thing he'd ever tasted. Will a grocery store ever seem normal again without its own display of peppers and tomatillos?
4. A closet love for country music. It started with an elementary base knowledge of country music. When my friend was hired as a DJ for one of our local country stations, I started tuning in from time to time. This genre grows on us with each passing year. We have gone two-stepping more times than we’d like to admit (and liked it). I have the boots to prove it.
5. Speaking of boots, how was my wardrobe ever complete without them? They seriously go with
everything.
6. Community. Gosh, I have resisted letting people into my life in so many ways. God has shown me a love for people that I never imagined was in me. Maybe it wasn’t and He put it there. Either way, He has been so faithful to us in this way.
7. Big huge skies. I was shocked at the hugeness of the sky here when we first moved. When you remove trees and mountains, you get a big huge beautiful backdrop for the most amazing displays. Clouds, sunsets, thunderstorms…I love these in a new way under the beautiful Texas sky.
8. The
common threads of culture that keep us loving our native Portland. Austin has made us appreciate our roots.
9. Food. Oh my goodness, I love the restaurants here. I think I would go out every single meal if I could. Experiencing new cuisines with Adam is one of my very favorite things in life. Upscale backyard. Mexinesian. Gourmet diner. New American. Sushi fusion. Interior Mexican. I love it all.
10. A faithful God. One who is faithful no matter where we live, but who has shown us His faithfulness in a special way these past several years. He’s been good to give us enough. Enough provision, enough struggles, enough grace for all. May his praise be ever on our lips.
