Compared to June, the month of July has been much quieter on the western front. Here goes…
The same tendencies I had in Orlando somehow found their way to Dallas! What?! You mean I have to deal with perfectionism and self-worth and personality quirks here, too? Last week was especially hard, as I was forced to give up my to-do list and wait out a migraine. I am still feeling its effects. I am reminded again how little control I have over my life. I am pressing into the why behind the difficulty, remembering that my Good Father wants to make me more like His Son — for my good and His Glory.
2. I Love City Life
Have I mentioned how perfectly located we are? We are within walking distance of the grocery store, my new favorite GF restaurant, a dozen other restaurants and coffee shops, a movie rental store, a running trail, and school! Church is a ten-minute drive (so far by my new standards!), and our buddy Snyder is within two miles. I rarely venture on the highway, as there is no need to deal with Dallas traffic. As one who commuted every day in Orlando, I am pleasantly surprised by the proximity of everything here! I know this is definitely not the case for most people living in Dallas, especially those in the mid-cities area, so we are extra-thankful to have everything so nearby.
Snyder instituted a weekly event at his dorm, as a way to create opportunities for community on campus. While neither Ty nor I attend DTS, we have never once missed a Friday Game Night since we’ve called Dallas our home. It has been a spectacular way to jump in and meet people from diverse backgrounds. We have grown to be friends with several game night “regulars,” and we look forward to this event every week! It’s a perfect way to unwind after a long week.
We are still blown away by the fact that we stumbled upon this small gem of a church! It is filled with a people who know and love one another and long to prize Jesus as their Ultimate Treasure; the preached Word brings us back to the Truth of Jesus’ Supremacy over our idols and His love for us despite our wanderings — just what we need when we’re suffering from Gospel Amnesia. We partake of (gluten-free!) communion weekly, which I love. It is a nourishment I look forward to every Sunday.
A new couple visited our church this week. They had just moved to Dallas the previous day; they are from New Zealand (he’s American). They are expecting their first child in February, and he will be attending seminary this fall. Our first week at KP, we felt so entirely loved on by the community. Sunday it hit me: we are now part of that community and are called to show hospitality. Before I could even mention it to him, Ty had invited this couple out to lunch. Since they had no furniture or food in their house, they gladly accepted! We enjoyed their company so very much and discovered we have many common interests. (I may be a little too excited that their dog is flying over from New Zealand this week…)
All this made me think: it is time for us to own the fact that we live here and begin reaching out. Instead of waiting for the “established” families to initiate an outing, dinner, or Sunday lunch, why don’t we purse them? They have loved on us so well already; now we need to give back.
Three families live within walking distance, and we have found the courage to drop in and say hello to two so far!
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| Games and Good Folks! |
It is hard not to pack up and move after this! Loving the Lord's leading in your lives! (Although there's one person in that photo who I would hate to see moved to Dallas. He needs to stay put a while!)
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