Well, we've been here for about three weeks now and the weather is NOT that bad. :)
We love the parsonage, ESPECIALLY the pool! The only problem is, I seem to be cursed with a rain cloud that only shows up when I decide to go swimming. For about a week, everytime I would go out to swim with Jason, it would start to thunder and mom would make us come inside. Brittany likes the pool too. At first, she wouldn't leave the first two steps, but after dad *cough* *cough* threw her in, she seemed to enjoy it a bit more!
Everyone here has been very very welcoming and kind. From the very first night, we were whisked off to dinner plans. We ate at Chuy's Tex-Mex the first night. They just put one in Tulsa and you should try it! It's delicious! But I have to admit, I am tired of Mexican food a little. That's something I never thought I'd say, but literally! It's like they eat nothing but Mexican food and Barbecue down here! I'm not really complaining, because it's all been delicious, but let's just say that I was very grateful to eat Italian food at home this week.
Our first Sunday went well, but was a bit stressful. My problem particularly was that, as I mentioned in the last post, I was on a lot of painkillers for my ankle the last time we came up, so I didn't remember hardly anyone I had met and felt bad to admit that I didn't remember some people even vaguely. I can't even imagine how many names my dad must be trying to remember. But everyone has been very forgiving towards our forgetfulness.
The youth group and the sponsors have been making everything a lot easier for Jason and I. Jason seems to have already made a good friend here who he has had two sleepovers with already. There are a lot of girls in the youth group that are my age and they are a lot of fun and very sweet! We seem to have found a common interest in the British boy band, One Direction, which always gives us something to talk about. :)
We don't know where we are going to school yet which is one of my biggest stresses right now. But we have an appointmnet to visit a nearby Christian high school on Monday. The other big stress for me, is that, unfortunately, I am still on crutches. I went to a new doctor this week and was put into a brace finally. We are very grateful to have found this doctor. He is already helping me to improve and I start physical therapy next week. Thank you for all your prayers and I ask that you keep praying. I'm hoping to be off the crutches by next week.
Despite the new friends we've been making and the fun we've had in the pool, I really really miss home. I haven't been able to stop calling it home yet. I miss my friends and I miss my house and I miss my school and church. But I am learning to trust God to help me know that it will be better soon. My dad is letting me come up for about a week later this month and I am very very excited to come back home for a while!! Thank you for the prayers you've sent our way. We can feel them. You are in our thoughts and prayers everyday.
With Love,
Hope
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Open Doors...?
Saying the trip down here to Houston was difficult is definitely an understatement.
On the Sunday, two days before we left, our air conditioning AND our garage door broke. Then, the day the movers came, our dog got sick and Jason had an allergic reaction to a shot and broke out into a rash. It was not exactly how we were hoping to start out a very stressful week.
We left home late Tuesday evening after what I consider to be the most stressful and sad day of my life. That night we drove to Mustang to say goodbye to my aunts and cousins. The next morning we woke up and began a very very VERY long journey to Houston. We must have been quite a sight driving down the road. Both cars were filled all the way to the top with everything the movers wouldn't take, our dog, Brittany sat in the back of my mom's car, and my dad was pulling his 1948 Chevy on the back of the suburban.
It all started out as a pleasant journey until my dad turned down the music we had been listening to and heard a strange noise. We pulled the car over and to our dismay the wheel bearings were about to bust. We limped the car off the highway and called a tow. As we got back into the car to go to the nearest auto shop, my mom's car would not start. I think at that moment we all began to wonder if we had misunderstood God's voice. If he wanted us to go to Houston, why was he making it so difficult? Where were all these open doors he had been showing us earlier?
We bought a battery for mom's car and the auto shop started to work on the suburban. We all came in, even Brittany, and soaked up their air conditioning and wifi for the FIVE hours we were there. We were all very frustrated, seeing as we hadn't even left Oklahoma yet. But looking back now, we were very blessed. We could have been stuck in the heat, we could have had to stay the night in that town in the middle of no where. But no, we were blessed. The people were kind and got it fixed as quickly as they could. In the five hours we were there, we had a lot of time to contemplate for the first time in a while. The more I thought about it, the more evident it was that the devil was trying with all his might to discourage us and keep us from graciously following God's will. If you're ever in one of those situations were everything that could go wrong, does go wrong, stop and think about it for a while. It's very easy to see the devil working hard to destroy your courage and will power. Maybe this is just me, but thinking about that encourages me to try harder to stay positive. Remaining encouraged in times like that is like beating the devil. And THAT feels great.
We finally got back on the road and didn't have any major catastophes until we were about two hours away from the parsonage. Jason called, half way laughing and half way gagging, saying that the dog was sick and had an accident in the car. Needless to say, we were very very ready to arrive in Houston. Especially the dog.
We finally arrived at one in the morning and were so suprised at how much we liked the parsonage. We had seen it once before, but I was on so many painkillers for my ankle, that I didn't remember it hardly at all and Jason had only looked at the pool. We excitedly looked at all the rooms and then quickly feel asleep on air mattresses.
The next morning, people were buzzing in and out to help us unload. Their willingness to help out was very kind and encouraging. Brittany started feeling better in a couple of days and now I think she really likes the pool. :) If we got anything from the trip here, it is tenacity to stay focused on the goal without getting distracted by the negative and to keep moving forward. We love and miss you all.
-Hope
On the Sunday, two days before we left, our air conditioning AND our garage door broke. Then, the day the movers came, our dog got sick and Jason had an allergic reaction to a shot and broke out into a rash. It was not exactly how we were hoping to start out a very stressful week.
We left home late Tuesday evening after what I consider to be the most stressful and sad day of my life. That night we drove to Mustang to say goodbye to my aunts and cousins. The next morning we woke up and began a very very VERY long journey to Houston. We must have been quite a sight driving down the road. Both cars were filled all the way to the top with everything the movers wouldn't take, our dog, Brittany sat in the back of my mom's car, and my dad was pulling his 1948 Chevy on the back of the suburban.
It all started out as a pleasant journey until my dad turned down the music we had been listening to and heard a strange noise. We pulled the car over and to our dismay the wheel bearings were about to bust. We limped the car off the highway and called a tow. As we got back into the car to go to the nearest auto shop, my mom's car would not start. I think at that moment we all began to wonder if we had misunderstood God's voice. If he wanted us to go to Houston, why was he making it so difficult? Where were all these open doors he had been showing us earlier?
We bought a battery for mom's car and the auto shop started to work on the suburban. We all came in, even Brittany, and soaked up their air conditioning and wifi for the FIVE hours we were there. We were all very frustrated, seeing as we hadn't even left Oklahoma yet. But looking back now, we were very blessed. We could have been stuck in the heat, we could have had to stay the night in that town in the middle of no where. But no, we were blessed. The people were kind and got it fixed as quickly as they could. In the five hours we were there, we had a lot of time to contemplate for the first time in a while. The more I thought about it, the more evident it was that the devil was trying with all his might to discourage us and keep us from graciously following God's will. If you're ever in one of those situations were everything that could go wrong, does go wrong, stop and think about it for a while. It's very easy to see the devil working hard to destroy your courage and will power. Maybe this is just me, but thinking about that encourages me to try harder to stay positive. Remaining encouraged in times like that is like beating the devil. And THAT feels great.
We finally got back on the road and didn't have any major catastophes until we were about two hours away from the parsonage. Jason called, half way laughing and half way gagging, saying that the dog was sick and had an accident in the car. Needless to say, we were very very ready to arrive in Houston. Especially the dog.
We finally arrived at one in the morning and were so suprised at how much we liked the parsonage. We had seen it once before, but I was on so many painkillers for my ankle, that I didn't remember it hardly at all and Jason had only looked at the pool. We excitedly looked at all the rooms and then quickly feel asleep on air mattresses.
The next morning, people were buzzing in and out to help us unload. Their willingness to help out was very kind and encouraging. Brittany started feeling better in a couple of days and now I think she really likes the pool. :) If we got anything from the trip here, it is tenacity to stay focused on the goal without getting distracted by the negative and to keep moving forward. We love and miss you all.
-Hope
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