Welcome 2014!

all pics and shenanigans are from the New Year's Eve celebration we attended in Houston last night 

I've never really been one to worry too much about New Year's Resolutions.  However, after reading my friend Whitney's Word of the Year, I was so inspired, I decided to adopt one too.  Whitney is one of those people whose radiance shines through.  All in the course of the past year she wrapped up her teaching career, had a beautiful baby girl Olive, and moved cross county.  All with the most positive, lovely attitude.  She's inspiring!

With our move to Houston behind us, and Jon starting at his new firm tomorrow, (Praise God!!) I'm adopting the word  T H R I V E .  I don't want to just go through the motions in the year ahead, I want to thrive!  With my relationships. With my health. With my life.

Another goal is to unplug a bit from my iPhone.  We were at Disney on Ice recently and I was appalled, APPALLED at all the parents seeing the show through the screen of their phones - the worst part was it was mostly women!  Men don't seem to have the same phone addiction as we women do, in my opinion.  Anyway, It was a reality check for me.  I've heard, "Mommy, put down your iPhone!" much more than I'd like to admit since I got my phone last summer.  If you text or email me, but don't hear back until the next day you'll know what's up.  (Does anyone else feel this way?)

I'm also going to pick up some creative projects.  After teaching a handiwork class last year to a group of homeschooled girls,  I felt like I needed a break for awhile.  But I'm itching to start a project again!  Hopefully I'll share some ideas here once I get started.  (It keeps me accountable. :-)

And finally, I'm going to read more this year.  Aside from the homeschool books I'm always reading, I only read one book for pleasure in 2013.  Embarrassing!  I should have time to read if I put my iPhone down, right?  

AND a final goal this year for both Jon and me is to buy a house!  We are hoping to find the house that could be our last one.  We've bought and sold 3 homes in the past 6 years and we are ready to settle in to our final house.  A girl can dream! And pray!

If you are inclined, I'd love to hear your New Years goals!  Please share so we can support each other!

Happy 2014 - wishing you the best of years!

making me laugh today...

 I was lucky enough to snap this pic last weekend, and well, I think it speaks for itself :D

Ten things I've learned after living in Texas for three whole weeks.

Don't worry.  We didn't venture further.  Fun fact:  this is called a Bayou!

1.  Everyone says Ma'am.  It doesn't matter if it's the man at the gas station, the lady at the DMV or the guy serving us dinner at Red Robin.  So the question is, do I need to start saying it?  Do my kids?

2. The drivers around here are aggressive.  Seriously, get out of the way or speed up.  We saw 5 rear-ender car accidents in our first 3 or 4 days here.
"What's that?  You sat at the light for one millisecond after it turned green? BIG MISTAKE."  However, when the nice old lady flies past you at 75 MPH, she will look over with a smile and nod for getting out of her way.

3.  Even people who live in the heat, have always lived in the heat, will probably always live in the heat, complain about the heat.  Big time.

4.  If one lives in a tropical climate, one will have to regularly have their lawns, houses, and in our case, even the car sprayed for ants.  This does not mean that the walls are caving in or the house is rotten.  No need to cry oneself to sleep at night - it's just a fact of life here in Texas.

5.  Sweet tea is SWEET.  I mean really sweet.  Like it's really more of a syrup than a liquid, sweet. As an iced tea lover one of the first things I needed to try was the Southern Sweet Tea and I found that although tasty, I think I'll stick to unsweetened tea.

6.  Texans have a lot of trash.  At our home in Tacoma, we had trash pick up once every two weeks.  Here in Texas trash pick is TWICE A WEEK.  And people use it!  They throw everything to the curb.  The other day I noticed an antique trunk, a rice cooker and a stainless steel tea kettle, and these were all from different houses.  The second hand shopper in me has to practice serious restraint to not go out and pick it all up and re-sell it on Craigslist (or at the very least, take it to Goodwill).

7.  As soon as the weather drops below 85 degrees Texans start wearing jeans, sweaters and boots, scarves and even coats.  I think in comparison to summer weather, 85 is practically chilly.

8.  People from Texas (and maybe from the south in general?), really do say:  "Nice to meet you - you're from 'out west?'" Or:  "Sure!  I know where you're from.  I have an uncle that lives 'up north.'"

9. Texas BBQ tastes nothing like any BBQ that I've ever had "up north."  Or even "out west" for that matter.  I think we've been lied to all these years as to what [real] BBQ is supposed to taste like.  We're in love.

10. Don't try to rush a Texan.  We've quickly learned that things move a lot slower here.  Lines are long, slow moving and nobody seems to mind.  (That's probably why Texas drivers are in such a hurry!)  After impatiently tapping my toe, heaving big sighs of exasperation and peering around to the front to see what the hold up is, I've come to realize that this is just the way it is.

But seriously.  We really like it here.  One of my sisters asked me if it feels like we are in the "deep south".  And I've thought a lot about that.  And the answer is, no, it really doesn't.  It feels just like we could be in Seattle or any or any other city, except for the fact that there are balmy breezes, palm trees, flowers blooming in October and the sky is blue almost everyday.  We feel very fortunate and blessed to be here and are looking forward to getting to know this new place a lot better.  I just better learn to drive a little faster and take my tea a little sweeter.  ;-)

The end of summer