Good Times
Sorry I haven't been posting as regularly as I'd like to... but things are going very well in Austin.
The family is settling in to our new surroundings-- and we're even learning that maybe we don't need as much space as we've always thought we had to have. Not that we want our new house to only have one bathroom like the apartment-- but there is something to be said about simplicity in life. God is teaching us some very valuable lessons about materialism and all kinds of other exciting things. For instance, that without TV, telephone and internet access we actually talk to each other a little more! Go figure...
We spent the 4th of July weekend with our extended family-- the 3rd we did fireworks with my brother and his family who live here in Austin, and then spent the 4th at the Ranch with Deanie's family. It was great to be out at the ranch and not feel the pressure we've always felt before to cram everything into one weekend-- now we can come back every weekend if we want to! Thank you God!!
Then, for the first time we were able to go to our new church together as a family. It was an exceptional Sunday with 5 baptisms. The worship was powerful and Lynn Anderson's lesson on family's and forgiveness was spot-on. It was a great day and I think everyone left church (we were one of the very last families to leave-- we were just surrounding by people talking to us!) feeling "at home." What a blessing!
Our apartment has a pool, so the kids and I have been swimming every evening when I get home from work. That's been a nice little perk. So "swimming pool" has been added to our list of "nice to haves" on our house hunting requirements list. We'll see...
Work continues to be a challenge, but that's what I signed up for. Those of you who know me well know that I wouldn't be happy in any other circumstance. We pitched for a major piece of Dell business last week-- the launch of their new laptop computer. That would be a fun piece of business to win... I'll keep you posted.
Deanie is doing well. She's really learning her way around Austin much better than I expected her to... and I think she really likes it here. She's been out with the realtor a couple of times and has found a few houses she really likes. I know she's loving the idea of being this close to her family. I'm happy for her... she's allowed me to drag her all over the place for the past 17 years, so she's long overdue for this Texas experience.
Pray that all is well with all of you out there.
Father, thank you for your love and abiding presence. Thank you for giving us the goodness in each day. Thank you for the lessons you are teaching me and my family. Amen.
The family is settling in to our new surroundings-- and we're even learning that maybe we don't need as much space as we've always thought we had to have. Not that we want our new house to only have one bathroom like the apartment-- but there is something to be said about simplicity in life. God is teaching us some very valuable lessons about materialism and all kinds of other exciting things. For instance, that without TV, telephone and internet access we actually talk to each other a little more! Go figure...
We spent the 4th of July weekend with our extended family-- the 3rd we did fireworks with my brother and his family who live here in Austin, and then spent the 4th at the Ranch with Deanie's family. It was great to be out at the ranch and not feel the pressure we've always felt before to cram everything into one weekend-- now we can come back every weekend if we want to! Thank you God!!
Then, for the first time we were able to go to our new church together as a family. It was an exceptional Sunday with 5 baptisms. The worship was powerful and Lynn Anderson's lesson on family's and forgiveness was spot-on. It was a great day and I think everyone left church (we were one of the very last families to leave-- we were just surrounding by people talking to us!) feeling "at home." What a blessing!
Our apartment has a pool, so the kids and I have been swimming every evening when I get home from work. That's been a nice little perk. So "swimming pool" has been added to our list of "nice to haves" on our house hunting requirements list. We'll see...
Work continues to be a challenge, but that's what I signed up for. Those of you who know me well know that I wouldn't be happy in any other circumstance. We pitched for a major piece of Dell business last week-- the launch of their new laptop computer. That would be a fun piece of business to win... I'll keep you posted.
Deanie is doing well. She's really learning her way around Austin much better than I expected her to... and I think she really likes it here. She's been out with the realtor a couple of times and has found a few houses she really likes. I know she's loving the idea of being this close to her family. I'm happy for her... she's allowed me to drag her all over the place for the past 17 years, so she's long overdue for this Texas experience.
Pray that all is well with all of you out there.
Father, thank you for your love and abiding presence. Thank you for giving us the goodness in each day. Thank you for the lessons you are teaching me and my family. Amen.
