let me be ok with it...

Since our move to a new state and new town and new home...
I have experienced lots of stillness.
lots of quietness, a little bit of loneliness, some sadness.

Just adjustment at its finest I think.
adjustment to a new place,
a new home,
a new baby on the way,
new friends to be made.
toddlerhood, weaning, and pregnancy all at once.
just a whole new season for us as a family.

I've been letting it get to me and letting Satan have a foothold in the quietness.
Today I found myself in the echoey pit of it.
But tonight as my sweet little girl pointed at her "lalas"
(the little stereo in her playroom that she sings "la la" to)
I found some breakthrough in the quietness, as I turned on her worship music.

one song in particular, I know God put it there for me to hear tonight.


"Still"
by Watermark

The more I get alone

The more I see I need to get alone more, more
Cause just when I think that I'm alone
Your Spirit calls out to me
And even silence has a song
Cause that's when you come
Sing over me

Still, let me be still
Let me be OK
With the quiet in my heart

Still, I want to be still
I'm so quick to move
Instead of listening to you
Shut my mouth
Crush my pride
Give me the tears
Of a broken life,
Still

Oh this world, it falls around me
And flutters all it's beauty in my eyes
But let me choose the solitude
Simplicity has always simply changed my life
Cause even stillness makes me move
Cause that's when my heart
Learns to dance with you

Still, let me be still
Let me be OK
With the quiet in my heart
Still, I want to be still
I'm so quick to move
Instead of listening to you
I'm your child
Tame my heart
Obedience
To me impart
Still

La la la la la, Hold me
La la la la la, Cleanse me
La la la la la, Change me, Oh God
Change me while I am
Still,
let me be still
And know that you are God
And you are always enough
Still, I want to be still
To take all that I am
And simply lift it up

Shut my mouth
Crush my pride
Give me the tears
Of a broken life,
Still.



I am realizing that the newness and stillness
I am feeling in this new season
is a good thing.
in my husband's wise words,
it is almost like a "detox",
from the hustle-bustle big city life
where there is always something to do or go to or get done.
always distractions from the heart issues.

But I am thankful for this season.
The quietness still rings loud in my ears right now,
but I know there is clarity, simplicity, and healing
that God has for me
in this stillness.

10 things: loving our new home!

I am long overdue for an update....so bear with me as I catch you up just a bit!
I mentioned it the other day in my very quick post,
but I have missed my little blogging world,
and am now catching up on yall's worlds too!


Abigail has loved playing in the empty boxes....
which made for good toys the first few days until I got hers unpacked!


Here are a few things I am loving so far about our new life here in Norman
(in no particular order)...

1. Our street backs up to a little private lake,
which we have walked or run around every day already.
I know its going to be a peaceful place for me to go.
It's even called "Tranquility Lake".
ahhhh.


2. Subway DRIVE THRU!! um, yes please!
I love me some Subway for lunch but never go because its always when punkin is getting sleepy and I don't want to get her all out just to stand in line.
{Lets just say I've had Subway more than normal the last week and a half.}

3. less people here.
A LOT less people. Dallas is so huge and so crowded.
Its already been nice to not feel like you are (literally) one of a million people out on the road when you just want to go to the grocery store.

(I had to include this sweet picture of A helping me put together a bookshelf!)

4. Parker's job is such a blessing.
Though he's having to work a lot right now because it is a transition for him,
its so nice to hear him be happy about the people he works with and how his days go.
(oh, and it takes him about 6 minutes to get to work...door to door.
he went the same distance in Dallas and it took about 30 minutes!)

5. The "Y". Im finding its a hoppin' place here in Norman.
We joined to have a place to work out, but it has a lot of great family activities too.
Abigail and I went to a "Mommy and Me" class this week where we sang songs
and jumped up and down a lot...so fun!
We start swim lessons there next week, and have already been in the pool several times.
Whenever A sees the pool she says "fish?!"
she will learn to be a fishy soon. :)


(Abigail could not believe that she could see dada from our window, she yelled "dada" the whole time he was mowing the front yard!)

6. Colorado Blue Spruce Trees.
We had no idea until we moved in that these little trees were visible from
the big picture windows in the living room and also from our bedroom upstairs.
This is special to us because we felt like it was a gift from the Lord.
If you know us, you know our dream is to live in Colorado someday,
So when we saw them, we felt like the Lord put them there to remind us that
HE KNOWS the desires of our hearts.
And I get to be reminded of that every single morning when I open the curtains.
(oh, and we are literally the only house in the neighborhood with these trees...SO God.)


7. We are loving our new house, and it already feels like home.
(Ill give you a tour soon after its finished being painted!)
I have hung a few pictures but have more work to do for sure.
We have met several neighbors who are all just lovely.


8. One of the biggest blessings is how well Abigail has adjusted.
I appreciate the prayers for that, we felt them!
It took her a few days but I think she has had fun using her curious ways to
explore a new home!

She is lighting up our life and our days as normal...
and is already gaining a new fan base here in Norman. :)


9. Oh, and we have already survived our first bad Oklahoma storm.
It wasn't a tornado, but out of nowhere last night there were 85 mph winds for about 2o minutes ripping through town. Though our cars got a few dings from the hail, we are blessed to not have house damage and to have electricity (a lot of folks still dont have it)
it was CRAZY to hear and watch. a little scary too,

but Abigail and Dada watched the storm together...

10. God is with us.
We feel His purposes and His love with us here.
We felt that in Dallas too, but it is nice to know He brought us here all on His own,
and to feel His presence with us in a new place is so comforting.
We are thankful!

I do have more on my heart to share, but just needed to do a little update on our move and our adjustment...
so visit again soon!
LOVE YALL!!!


out of hiding!!

Well, Hello!!! Im back...

and wow have I missed you!

We moved states a week ago (from TX to OK),
and just got internet hooked up....
so this little "hiatus" from blogging is over!
yay!

I am itching to catch up on yall's blogs and whats going on in your life,
and also to catch you up on our little life,
and our new beginning here in Norman.

I dont have a lot of time at this moment but I just had to pop in and say hi!

I do just want to say...
Though not having TV or internet has definately been kind of nice,
(and helpful to not distract from unpacking)....
I have missed the daily encouragement and uplifting words you guys share!

Cant wait to get back and catch up.
LOVE YALL!!!

things I'm missing already

One month from tonight we will be spending our first night

...feeling a bit pouty-faced today.

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Not quite ready to go into a big emotional talk about
how much we will miss when we move,
but am thinking today about some of the things I will miss the most about our life in Dallas.
Obviously PEOPLE top the list.
Our family, Our friends, Our spiritual family.

but (just a couple) other things Im already missing today...

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I will miss beautiful afternoons at the Arboretum with my girl,
and picnics there with friends, watching babies basking on blankets.
(or now run around everywhere!)

Ill miss driving through Burger House for my frozen lemonade.
(they know me there...I will miss Maria,
who has made bad days better just by handing me
my favorite drink through the window.)

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We will miss the grandparents.
They have been rocks in our life and Abigail already knows them so well.
Though we will definitely miss our built-in babysitters,
even more, we will miss the LOVE they bring us each time we see them.
We look forward to "extra-quality" time with them when we are in town.

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I will miss our mall, but not for the shopping.
It has been a place for me to walk with Abigail when the weather isn't great,
a place to go wave to the duckies,
and also where we have spent countless Fridays,
going to Mommy and Me Yoga and Baby Bounce with our friends.

And on that note, I can't express how much I will miss my Mommy and Me group friends, who have been a support system for me in this huge transition to motherhood.
Who will I sit and compare feeding, sleeping, and pooping stories with?!
(you know who you are and I LOVE YOU GUYS!)

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But for now, I will remember what God has given us here,
AND what He has waiting for us there.
I am counting my blessings in both places
and trusting He has our best in mind.

and finding this in a box helped a little bit too,
trying to help mama pack...and smile.

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M-O-V-I-N-G!!!

It's time to share what's going on with us lately....

We are.....

M - missing our friends and family so much already.
O - open to all that's in store in this next season.
V - very excited to live in a "small town".
I - incredibly blessed by our supportive family as we make this move.
N - nesting...I LOVE nesting in a new home!
G - grateful for the opportunity we've been given.


(this is how the house will look for the next few weeks...
boxes, boxes, and more boxes!)

Yep, MOVING. Away from the big city Dallas life and on to....
(drum roll please)
Norman, Oklahoma!

We lived there our first year of marriage while Parker finished law school at OU,
and love the town, so we are excited to go back as a family.
Its about 100,000 people, which is a little more up our alley than the million or so in Dallas.
Its a great college town with lots to do and see.
(though we will still be rooting for our Aggies when they come to play OU this year!)

(the beautiful OU campus)


Parker is joining up with his roommate and friend from law school who has had a little practice there in town, doing the same kind of law Parker's been doing on his own here.
It is a great opportunity for him to grow,
and a great opportunity for our family to move.

(praying for renters for our house here!)
If you know us, you know we've tried to move away from Dallas several times (Colorado, Australia, etc), but the Lord has always shut the door, even at
the last minute...making it clear that we would be in Dallas until He said to go.

And now He is SHOVING
doors open for us.

We have had quite a few trials and doors close (so thankful for those looking back) throughout our journey, and not just when it comes to moving. But He has ALWAYS made
His plan and details for our life better than our own.

Though its emotional to be leaving what we know (especially grandparents),
We are believing Him for this
next season in Norman, and are excited to see what's in store.


We will be moving the first of June,
(only 5 short weeks away!!)
I will share more about all this soon...

So thankful for you all, we love you so much!


Sharing what's on my heart today with other bloggy friends over here:

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