just because

I got a text from a friend on Sunday reminding me that this time last year we were both packing up our houses for a cross country move. Oh all the emotions came flooding back! I texted my mom and told her I could still feel every emotion from that time. I remember feeling afraid. Certain, but afraid. I knew we were doing what God called us to. But that didn’t take away fear of the unknown. New Mexico? What in the world? EVERYTHING in my life was upside down. I like everything in its place. My purse goes in the same place every day when I get home, my boots are lined up in a specific order in my closet. Only certain things are allowed on the kitchen counter, etc. Yes, I am that girl.   (I do have some grace for Jay and G J some.) But for over a month my house was a mess. Boxes, a million to do lists, empty places where sold furniture used to sit. It was too much. My heart was excited, afraid and sad. I was sad to leave my family. I’d never lived in...

I really do love living in the mountains. I LOVE the beauty. I appreciate the peacefulness. I appreciate nature (i've never been much of a nature girl!) I like the quiet. Living in a place like this really does calm my heart and mind. I've learned how to be still living here. I've learned how to be ok with quiet. In Georgia there was always somewhere to go and something to do. Or at least the option. Here we only have one grocery store, a family dollar, some locals shops and restaurants. That's it. Sure, we stay busy with normal life and spending time with friends but we don't create busyness by running to this place and that store just for the heck of it. I like the relaxed feel of Angel Fire. It probably helps that it's a place people come to retire or vacation, ha. I love Gabe's school. It is truly a family atmosphere. I think the teachers are outstanding. The students seem to know it's a safe place and seem to know they are loved (not just ta...

G quotes for your enjoyment Age 4: “mom, your hair looks great but mine looks better.” “do king snakes only bite kings?” he walked into the playroom at chick-fil-a and said “what’s up ladies?” (I may have prompted that.) Words he used in sentence at age 4: similar, hollow, exoskeleton, intelligent, replicate and extraordinary. At age 4 he asked me what I wanted for Christmas. That sweet heart. “son of a nutcracker!” age 2 & 3:   Jay and I were talking to him about his obedience and he said “all of this talking makes me boring.” he asked jay "whatcha doin' brotha?" because our neighbors called jay "mr. jay" when they all played in our backyard.  G would refer to any man as "mr. jay" in our backyard. he called pancakes “tantakes.” guitar = "tar" when retelling David & Goliath he would call it a "wing shot" and end it with "the giant berry, berry died." "i l...

I just told Jay how much I love it here. I recently posted a blog about what the Lord has done in my heart here. I'm still not over it. My heart & mind feel as fresh as the mountain air. CHEESY but so very true and my heart is full. God has blown us away with His faithfulness. He is everywhere. He amazes me daily, hourly. He has helped Gabe's heart go from "I'm never leaving Columbus." back in May to "I hope we never leave Angel Fire, ever." I feel ya kid. I feel ya. Here's a few stories I wish I could tell each of you over coffee... One Friday night, a month ago or so, we made coffee and put out some snacks in preparation for our weekly service. (Still being held at our house for three more weeks!) We had a rather small group that night I think there may have been 10 of us. We began like any other night - in worship. We began singing our last song and I kid you not it sounded like there were 200+ people singing with us. At first I thou...

It's been just over 4 months since we left GA. I can't even begin to tell you all that these 4 months have brought. But I'm going to try... Leaving Columbus was hard. Leaving family was the worst. I'll never forget that last Sunday with my family. I'll never forget weeping through church sitting next to my family thinking "I can't leave them." I'll never forget crying...let's be honest...weeping the entire time I drove that Sunday afternoon. I cried most of Monday as well. (I'm crying now just typing about it.)  I knew I loved my family but the thought of not seeing them at least once a week broke me hard.  The first several weeks I cried every Saturday evening. I don't know what it was about Saturdays but I fell apart. I missed my family. I wanted to be able to see them at church the next morning. I missed my church family, my running buddies, my neighbors...I missed "normal" life.  But as the weeks went on the Lo...

Wow, it has definitely been a whirlwind since I lost posted. We are still loving this Angel Fire life. I won't lie...I do get homesick often (ok sometimes daily) but I am sure we are right where we are supposed to be. The past several weeks have been so much fun. First my brother, his wife and 5 kids arrived. Y'all. I could hardly contain myself the morning of their arrival. I told Jay I was tempted to drive towards them just so I could see them faster. We had so much fun together. We ALLLLLLLL stayed at our house which was extra fun! People, stuff, food, clothes, etc everywhere and I loved every minute of it. We had one snag in the trip when G got crazy sick. I mean temp of 104, saying things that didn't make any sense and shaking uncontrollably. The timing made me question God but I know it was His timing because Josh & Claire were here to calm me down, pray with us and keep our spirits up. I won't go into details of all that we did but it was a good time! I w...

Tomorrow will be our 4th week in Angel Fire. We are still trying to find a routine and settling in but it definitely feels right. It feels like home. If God told me today that I could move back to Columbus if I wanted to I would say no. I'd ask Him to send my family HERE (ha!) but I would say no to leaving. Here's why: Life here is much slower. Could be because there's not really anywhere to go (haha) but it is such a gift to our family. We aren't in a hurry. People here are kind. They aren't in a hurry either so they take the time to say hello and introduce themselves. The mountains are GORGEOUS. The lake near is house is beautiful and such a peaceful place to run in the morning. Deer and Elk all around. (Bears too apparently. Thankfully I haven't seen one.) the crime rate is like 0. I love watching mountain bikers ride down the mountain. I can't get over the fact that they do that. I posted randomly on the Angel Fire "better than the p...