Home... Safe

It's kind of cool how the home plate is called home plate. After running the bases and avoiding the other team, if you can just make it home... you are safe.  Safe at home.   

Today was a heart-wrenching day for me in which I realized that I cannot control every influence that enters into my children's lives. At some point they have to face the big bad scary world.  And sometimes the bigness and badness of it seems oh so overwhelming.  And the real killer is that I can't stop it.  I so desperately want to follow my kids to school and stand nearby to make sure that no one hurts my child... no one tells them they aren't good enough, no lies or evil influences get close to their innocent hearts.  But I can't. 

What I can do is make my home safe.  No matter what they face out there in the world... home must be a place where they can walk in the door and leave it behind because here... they are safe.  Loved.  Cherished.  Valued.  Home is where truth can be sorted from lies and one can be refreshed and rejuvenated to face the world again. 

"The most important work you and I will ever do will be within the walls of our own homes." Harold B. Lee 

Home sweet home. 

Ready to Explore the World

Inside

We've quickly learned that there is only one thing to do outside in southern Texas this time of year.   It looks like this:

And the rest of the time... we've found a few things to do indoors as well.

Shadow dancing.

Our mini musician.

Tea parties.

A fort/hut/hide-out etc..

The penny in the flour game.

Sam's favorite game.... hit the ball.

The flour game.

The Unexpected

Before moving to Texas, we got a lot of friendly advice and information about our new state.  We were prepared for the extreme heat and humidity.  (I've almost stopped showering altogether because really... what's the point?)  We heard that there was great food to eat (anyone want some barbeque) and many people talked of the wonderful southern hospitality.  I love that part.  People are so friendly here. 

But here are a few things that were not expected:

#1Bugs.  We opened our blinds one morning to find this little guy popping in to say hello.  He's not the first of this we've seen, but don't worry... totally harmless.  (P.S. this was one night of work on the part of our spider friend.  We'd used that door many times that evening before and it was clear from spider webs. 

I will spare you picture of the cockroaches in our shed, mostly because I have never ventured out to see

them and don't have any plans to.  We try not to talk about it much since Lizzy now freaks out whenever she sees a spider.

 

#2 Rain.  Our street flooded the 2nd week that we were here.  Besides that I freaked out and called to buy flood insurance on the spot... we actually have enjoyed the rain.  The kids love playing in it... it cools things down and I haven't watered the lawn once since we moved.  Andrew actually cried a few days later when it rained hard, but our street didn't flood.  Oh... how he wants another flood.

#3 Wildlife.  Considering the very small amount of time we have spent at parks, we have already seen snakes, rabbits, squirrels and we even had a pet turtle for a few days that we rescued from a busy street.  We named him Crush.

Things to Miss and Things to Love

I have been putting off this post because I've been avoiding the whole sadness thing that goes along with it.  I don't like to be weepy and to wallow in self-pity, but I think it may do me some good to at last admit that I am really sad about our move this time.  Our previous out of state move was nothing but an adventure.  A year was so short and fun, but this feels so much more permanent... and long... and lonely.

But here's the thing.  As I was saying goodbye to people that I love, I decided that it was a very good thing to be sad.  Imagine if we'd lived in Utah for all those years and not been sad to leave it behind.  Now that would really be sad.  So instead of listing everything I  miss... I'm going to list a bunch of things that I love and am so grateful to have been able to love.  Because to love.. and to be loved.... is really, in the end... all that matters.

I love that my kids have been able to have relationships with their wonderful cousins and hope that they will stay close to them even across the country.

I love our good friends and neighbors (and kick myself for not taking more pictures of my girlfriends that I love so much.)

I love my family and Aaron's family.  So so much.  I love family vacations.  I love laughing together and going on trips together.  And talking and joking and playing and celebrating holidays.  I love camping, slip n' slidin' and Grandma's to cuddle my babies.  I love backyard BBQ's, watching each others kids, sitting around a campfire or standing around the kitchen table.  I love that there is so much to love.

I love our old church building and the good friends we made there.

And last, but not least, I love the mountains, the canyons, the beautiful sights that are really unique to Utah.  Isn't it so awesome to have such great recreation only minutes away in Utah?  Dinner and movie can be relaxing as well, but I have learned that it does not rejuvenate and refresh the same way that nature can.  I love love love nature.

And I love the new opportunity that we have to find new things to love here in our Texas. 

Lots of love,

Rachelle

Just dropping in to say hello.   

HELLO!!!!

The End (of 1 year)

I do realize that this stuff happened months ago, but that is no reason to neglect them altogether. 

Andrew's preschool graduation.  It was so adorable. 

Lizzy's last day of school.  In her school play costume and here with her teacher, Mrs. McDonald.