Ode to Texas

For the last several years, by this time in August we had already made it back down to Texas and had been in the thick of marching band camp.

For the first time in 4 years we’re not making a second 1900 mile drive to return south.

Whether some believe it or not I have very mixed feelings about it. I’ve had mixed feelings since before we left but it’s definitely seemed clear that God was calling us back to Montana.

It came unexpectedly, and just as we were feeling settled. I had started to feel like Texas was home. I got attached. Texas people became my people. Houston became my city. C.E. King students were our kids, a love for them we didn’t know was possible with kiddos that weren’t our own. Our church was a family and thankfully, our friends. We loved our next door neighbors and loved house and cat sitting for them.

We built new family traditions, and shared in our good friend’s family traditions- adopted into their families. We were honored to be present for engagements, marriages, births, having two kids of our own, and we even started to look for a house to buy. We had favorite grocery stores (and finally got a Costco and a Buffalo Wild Wings near us!), nurses/doctors/pediatricians, movie theaters, ice cream/shaved ice shops, and date night destinations. Driving 25 minutes to get somewhere was nothing, and driving an hour and a half and STILL being in Houston was normal.

The job in Montana coming available rocked our world- because of all we would have to give up, it left us unsure of whether or not that was where we should be. Eric’s job was awesome and we thought we would be there for at least another couple years, if not longer. The Lord just kept turning our hearts to Montana. So we said tearful goodbyes (for now) to

our family, friends and church family. (And in no particular order… Blue Bell, Astros Games, House of Pies, IKEA, Air Conditioning, Kolaches, Shipley, Chuy’s, Date nights, Having a Home, Texas Beer, Cheap Gas, H.E.B., Chick Fil A, Whataburger… the list is literally growing the longer we’re away from it all.) I didn’t say goodbye to y’all though. i do believe that will forever be a part of my vocabulary.

Settling back in has been an adjustment. It almost still feels like we’re on summer vacation and should have gone home a few weeks ago. Nailing down a place to live has been stressful and all the bumps and kinks that come along with that have proven to be challenging, to say the least.  But we’ve finally got a place lined up that we’ll be able to move in next week.

Becoming reacquainted with “small town” life,  has also been challenging.(You can’t argue with me that Missoula isn’t small- when you’ve lived in a city of 6 million for several years-Missoula qualifies.) EVERYWHERE I go I run into someone I know. Like the Walmart greeter, Dave, who just retired a few weeks ago. And when I drive somewhere I over anticipate how long it takes to get across town here…. I’m always early now.

It’s beauty. Praise the Lord for making Missoula such a beautiful place… it’s unmatched, in my opinion, and always putting on a show. I love that it’s not too hot to ENJOY being outside. The shade is actually shady and the breezes are {usually} cool and refreshing. And the temperature falls as the sun goes down allowing for a break from the heat of the day.

It IS wonderful to be so near my family, great friends and our community. There are a lot of things I’m looking forward to, but this is my Ode to Texas for being so gosh darned missable. (Said in that Texas drawl.)

Thinking of y’all.