...I can't get the words right...I'm afraid I'll leave someone out...I don't have all the pictures I wish I had...I'm worried I'll offend new friends here in Texas...I could never say Thank You enough.
I've started and stopped this post...
...because sometimes I cry when I think too much about Pennsylvania and the amazing and wonderful friends and church we left behind.
So I've mostly avoided writing about how I'm feeling and instead have simply blogged about a few things we've done here and there...but it seems that now is the time.
Maybe it's because it's been a bit over a year now...maybe it's because we're getting settled into our new home here...which makes living in Texas seem pretty official.
...maybe it's because my heart is ready.
...and maybe it's because I just got home from a blessed retreat with the ladies at Grace Church, our church home here in Frisco. We ended our retreat by thanking God for friendships old and new...and I found myself so thankful as I reflected on the friends God has given us.
So, here goes...
I miss Pennsylvania and I miss Covenant Fellowship Church and I really, really, really miss our friends who shared life with us...I deeply, sometimes desperately, miss home. I miss friends who know me well and loved me anyway.
I miss the ladies who laughed with me, cried with me, celebrated with me, and encouraged me. I miss the men who poured into Steve's life and prayed for him and encouraged him. I miss my kids' friends. I miss our Community Group. I miss our home school co-op. I miss being surrounded by history and weekend afternoons spent at Valley Forge. I miss the beauty of the state and the beautiful forests. I miss the colors in the fall. I miss knowing there is an ocean an hour away (even though we never actually went to the Jersey shore). I miss summer concerts at the Community Arts Center in Wallingford and Rose Tree Park in Media. I miss July 4th in Philadelphia...they really know how to celebrate our nation's birthday :) I miss Fairmount Park in the city and walks along the Schuylkill River. I miss the changing of the seasons and watching my girls sled with their friends.
I've been a bit caught off guard by how deeply I miss "home"...considering that I very much disliked it the first year...but after that, well, God changed everything. He really took us to a low place and then began "rebuilding" Steve and I...growing us, changing us. It was very hard and, somehow, it was wonderful too...does that even make sense?
I think that I've been afraid that expressing the sadness I have over leaving PA meant I was ungrateful for where God has brought us. Instead, I've come to understand that the missing is really because of His care for us and the beautiful connections He made for us while we were there. Sometimes my heart hurts because of His kindness and grace, because of the special people He brought into our lives...does that make sense?
And missing one place does not mean that I dislike another...I mean, I still miss Colorado :)
Things are good here in Texas, very good, and I praise our Lord for His goodness. Seriously friends, missing PA has nothing to do with anything bad here in Texas...by God's grace we are really enjoying the blessing of God allowing us to get "rooted and planted" here in the Lone Star State :)
One of our last nights in PA was spent with friends at a Christmas party. At one point they gathered around us, laid hands on us, and prayed for us. One prayer was for quick connections and friendships here in Texas...that prayer was answered quickly and continues to be answered! We love Grace Church here in Frisco...they have welcomed us with open arms and we love worshiping here and are very thankful for how God is knitting us into this body of believers. We have friends who don't feel all that "new"...they are a blessing and I praise God for them :)
And while the scenery here in this part of Texas is a bit lacking, we sure do enjoy lots of sunshine :)
Steve's job is going very well and some exciting things are happening with his research. We get to spend lots more time together as a family...Steve no longer works on Saturdays and is usually home by late afternoon. In general, we are much less stressed. The girls and I have connected with a local home school co-op that is wonderful. We get to (or maybe it's have to) swim...a lot...to survive the heat. We even have an awesome kid sitter...no worries though, Jaclyn, you will always be special to all of us :) And we are thankful for our new home too. Yes, we know our Lord led us here and we are thankful for His kindness.
I guess it just takes time...takes time for the tearing to mend. It takes time to get to know people and places. It just takes time...
And I don't miss everything in PA...I sure don't miss Steve being in graduate school...that's for sure! And car horns...they don't use them much in these parts :)
Here are some pics of PA friends I am so thankful for...and for every picture I do have, there are many (many, many, many, many) more I wish I had taken. I am also aware that Steve and I and our family may be personally responsible for many, many, many of the jewels God will place in our friends' crowns...they really loved us well and God used us to give them many opportunities for selfless serving...I can never say Thank You enough :)
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| Steve and Bill teaching the kids in Promise Kingdom! |
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| Kim and Paula and me~ |
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| The POD Squad~ |
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| Christmas 2011, a few days before we left PA...such dear friends! |
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| Gray and Whitney~ |
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| Hanging out~ |
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| Friends!!! |
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| Our community group's worship team~ |
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| Kevin and Whit~ |
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| Our Community Group!!!!!! |
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| Our fearless leaders...Bill and Ramona~ When you see Ramona in heaven and her crown is too heavy for her to wear, it's because of my very dirty refrigerator...she cleaned it to a spotless shine before we moved! |
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| Whitney and me~ |
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| Steve and Todd~ |
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| Windsor and me~ |
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| The Elias Family...Bella still talks about Maureen's lemon meringue pie! |
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| Kathy and me~ |
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| The Whitfields~ |
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| Susan and me! I also helped Susan add jewels to her crown...she helped paint, clean, organize, and pack...along with everything else she helped me through in our years of friendship~ |
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| Cathy and me~ |
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| Steve, Rick, and Jesse |
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| Good friends~ |
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| Stevie, Christina, and me...and babies! |
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| The Marones...Donna made the blanket Gray can't live without :) |
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| Roth and Gonz kids~ |
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| Tom and Gray~ |
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| Metzger and Gonz kids~ |
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| Donna and me~ |
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| My friend Michelle...we met in NC when we were 24 years old...we're a bit older now :) |
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| Friends! |
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| awww! |
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| Miss you, Colleen~ |
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| The Senyo Family~ |
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| Gray was comfy with Trish~ |
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| Gray playing with Kathy's cool beads! |
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| Worship~ |
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| Miss Jaclyn and the girls :) |
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| Friends...Fisher and Gonz kids at Linvilla Orchard! |
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| Funny friends at the Franklin Institute! |
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| The Kalvelages! Love you! |
Let a friend know how much you love them!
Blessings!
Rach~
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