Pressing on....

So here are just a few pictures.  I attempted to take a video tour but it was 8 min long and blogger wouldn't upload it. :(  I'll try again.  So I took a pic of the family/dining room but I didn't pick up first.  So here is our messy house....

Our messy house....

Emery eating in the kitchen so as not to eat on the carpet :)  

That's the door to the back balcony which has a view to the south... wild terrain, a railroad track (that thankfully is quiet), and in the coming months the new expansion of the complex (just around the corner of the next building is a view of downtown Fort Worth).  But hopefully by the time our view is obstructed, we will move to a house!  

I took my coffee out here this morning and forced myself to have some quiet time with the Lord.  It's sad that I have to pray that He will teach me all over again HOW to pray and read His Word.  So today I started in 1 Thess (just because) and used the prayer time to simply praise HIm.  That's always the best way to start.  I am now finding myself wanting to sit back down again before church tonight and read some more.  Yeah!  I'm really looking forward to church and then tomorrow night we are going to a Prophetic service with our friends, that Gateway holds once a year.  I want my heart to be ready for whatever the Lord may have for me.

The Dining Room (with bay windows)

Emery's room! (I've always wanted bay windows in her room!  So awesome! 

And it's so much bigger than her old room)

I hung a few pics and gifts up finally, after 18 months!

Below are pics from my drive to work on Wed.  I had to go in for my drug screening and to get my badge.  The night before, I woke up at midnight, and I just knew that my appt was earlier than what I thought.  But I had it down as 11:30 and had no other record saying otherwise.  So I pulled into the parking lot at 11:15 as my phone rang.  It was Melissa with Human Resources saying I didn't show up at 9:30.  I KNEW IT!!!!  I apologized profusely and then again to the girls in the lab and again to JoAnn, who I stood up at 9:30, who I was meeting. They all were so kind and understanding.  Not a bit of a guilt trip.  Whew!  All went well and I was on my way after only 30 min.  So I headed south to find the Trader Joe's (Yippeeeeeee!!!!)  It was the nicest, and biggest, one I"ve ever been to!  I loaded up on all my favorites and drove the 30min trip back home (next time I'll take a cooler!)

The start of my drive to work

Downtown Fort Worth from the freeway

Coming into downtown (not the prettiest view, I'm sure)

My hospital! (not the greatest shot... overexposed)

Our friends, Steve and Tyrannie and their 5 kids, came over about a half hour after I got home.  We gave them the quick tour, I made them all lattes, the younger girls played with Emery in her bedroom, and we sat around and chatted.  This was the first chance we've had to get together with them since we arrived.  It was a fun time.  Can't wait to hang out more!

Well, today is Saturday, and honestly, the last two days were a little difficult for me.  It wasn't anything major, but just a feeling.  That all has changed.  That all I've known and everyone I've known is not here anymore.  That after this vacation ends tomorrow, we're not going home.  You know those times, when you don't even have to be consciously thinking about it, but that you are just feeling a little 'off'.  Maybe more irritable, tired, melancholy.  Then you realize that reality is setting in.  It's not a bad thing.  I knew it would happen.  It has to.  It's part of letting go of what is behind (although never forgetting) and looking toward what is ahead.  Pressing on for the prize.... for all God has for us.  But I don't think he ever said it would be easy.  I knew this was going into it, I know it now.  The thing I fear the most, is the impending pain, that has the potential of breaking your heart, when you have to face the grief of not having your closest friends and family with you anymore.  Yes, we can text and facebook and call and even see each other through skype.  But for me, the human touch cannot be replaced by anything.  To not be able to hug my best friend or even just sit next to my girlfriends and watch TV, is, at most, excruciating to imagine.  So, my prayer the other night, was this... "Lord, be my friend, be all that I need, equip me for all the grief that I may face.  Fill me to overflowing with joy and peace.  Fill the gaping hole that is now left within me, with the only thing I need, Your Holy Spirit.  Draw me to you at this time.  And when I am ready, lead me to the friends that YOU have for me.  The ones that not only do I need, but that maybe need me as well. Let Your will be done in and thru me."

We went to Southlake Town Center (outdoor shopping center) on Friday and ate lunch at the 

Corner Bakery Cafe. Although not very relaxing, yet so yum!

Today is a better day.  A much better day.  My heart is light.  (I almost forgot, we prayed together for the first time last night... no wonder my day was so good!)  Like I said, I started my day out right with time with Jesus.  Then I mentioned going on a walk with Sean and exploring the surrounding neighborhoods (beautiful houses!).  At first, he didn't want to because he was sore from going to the gym last night.  But then he said okay.  And so off we went for a 1.5 mile walk and then took Emery to play on the grass by the pool.  We saw that there was nobody there, so we came home and changed and went back for some swimming.  It was so fun!  I think this was the first true day that we did something as a family and we weren't stressed.  We had a great time!  We were keeping Emery up so that she would take a long, early afternoon nap and wake up in time for church tonight.  Hopefully, all goes well!   

 My first time taking Emery to the pool

 Sean and I with Emery at the pool on Saturday after our walk

And I got my Texas plates!  Now just need to get my Texas license!

Well, until next time......