Dallas Days

Lots of pictures for the Mamas!

We're in Texas!

Of course, there was a lot of driving between Point A and Point B.

Point A? Our driveway, 8:15PM.

Brooklyn even got a tiny taste of snow somewhere in Louisiana. And I DO mean taste! Notice how she's eating it?

We spent many hours doing this:

This photo cracks me up! Ty was tired of my snapping photos and so stuck a cheese stick in front of the lens. A certain nose instinctively followed the path of the cheese stick. The result? This gem of a photo.

 

Overall, our drive went quite well. I had a bit of a nasty stint driving through Louisiana, but Ty did all the driving except for my handful of hours. By the end of the trip, we were joking that there was no life before the car.

It took Brooklyn about an hour to settle down in the backseat. Once she realized we weren't arriving at our destination anytime soon, she snuggled up and made herself comfy. In one crazy moment, she jumped up into the front seat and into my lap. Apparently the sunroof on our new car makes a frightening sound when opened.

Once we arrived, we settled in at our host home, walked Brooklyn, took quick showers, and got right back into the car. Both of us wanted to nap for hours, but we decided to make it to bed time (which turned out to be 7:30PM, by the way.)

Our destination that Friday afternoon? White Rock Lake Park!

It's a 10-mile loop around the lake! Where was this when I was marathon training?!

You can drive to most sides of the lake. Some places have picnic areas and boat rentals.

Next stop: Taco Joint.

As I mentioned, we hit the hay before 8PM. Needless to say, Brooklyn was ready to wake up the next morning...

Ty and Brooklyn dropped me off at school for my audition on Saturday morning. They are the best support team! I think quite a bit of this happened while I was busy...

Audition went great! But it was the rest of the day that made Saturday just plain awesome!

We picked up our friends, Matt and Hannah, and headed to...

...the dog park!

                                       White Rock Lake Park has a dog park connected to it!

Have I mentioned I love this park?

Especially with good friends.

Even if it was freezing!

I need to mention just how wonderful our stay at the Hudgins' has been. Mrs. H was our Mexico trip mom way back in 2008. She is also the real mama of one of our dear friends from home. She and her husband have made our stay delightful. They feed us, love on our doggie, give us directions, and even let us throw parties!

Hannah and Matt are also teammates from that same Mexico trip, so you could say this was a mini-reunion. And yes, we had Mexican food for dinner!

Love these friends!

On Sunday we went to The Village Church. It was freezing. Even with the heated seats in our car.

The wait time for the shuttle to the satellite campus was a little long.

Wait, what?

You read that right! We couldn't help but feel like we were momentarily at Disney. Church was wonderful in many ways, but we are just not accustomed to droves of people on a Sunday morning!

Sunday afternoon included a fire in the fireplace and lots of relaxing. A rainy day was the perfect excuse to sit on the couch and toast our feet. (Or our paws.)

Another sweet friend here, Sarita, kindly arranged her church piano as my practice instrument this week!

We are thankful for God's family here, who has been present and active throughout our trip!

Monday lunch was a treat, because we met up with Ty's great-aunt Sharry and her son, Cal! They are so much fun and availed themselves to us regarding anything Dallas! Cal even escorted us to the arts district in Fort Worth and pointed out all the best places to visit.

Aunt Sharry insisted this photo be edited to say she looks way to young to be Cal's mom!

After our adventure in Fort Worth, we picked up the doggie and hit a (mostly) nearby dog park. This place was awesome! It backed up into the woods, while still being fenced.

Again, we returned back "home" to find a hot meal and great company! Like I said, we are being spoiled!

Today is our last full day in Dallas. Sometime tomorrow we'll head to our next destination. Looking forward to seeing more dear ones!

The Serious Post

By now, some of you know that Tyler and I are considering the possibility of relocating, at least for a time. This has been a topic of conversation around our home for about a year now. I've applied to three schools for graduate studies in piano. One audition is down. Two more are just around the corner.

"Auditions? Sounds exhausting..."

We aren't any closer to making a decision - that's not really the point here -  but we are excited to be walking one step at a time by faith and with the support of our families and close friends. A huge part of my silence on this issue (including our wonderful survey trip last year) was due to the fact that I didn't want to post my plans when I was unsure of the outcome. But you know what? I'm not afraid of "failing." By Grace, my perspective is changing from that unhealthy pass/fail goal mentality. We want to be where God wants us in every season, wherever that may be and whatever that may mean.

That said, my mom and I had a super fun, 48-hour trip to Texas last weekend.

Highlights included fresh tacos, gluten-free goodies, a run in 20-degree weather (this Florida girl has tougher skin than we thought!), and seeing Frozen for the first time. 

(Side note: I've jumped on the bandwagon: Frozen exceeded all my expectations. I can't stop listening to the soundtrack; it's been my non-stop packing/getting ready music. I purchased the Deluxe Edition just in time for our upcoming road trip! Sorry, Ty!)

Mom experienced Taco Joint for the first time!

I could survive on tacos.

Tu-Lu's = Gluten Free Heaven

Mallow Bar? Yes, please.

I should probably purchase a pair of running leggings. I really couldn't feel my legs at the end of this run.

Beautiful winter!

Freezing at Frozen! This was the perfect pre-audition activity!

Post-audition DQ.

Of course there was practicing and the actual audition, but that was truly a small part of our quick trip. It's ironic how so many hours go into such a short event. It meant so much to me that my mom came along. Without her, I may have just moped around nervously. Instead, we had a blast exploring together!

Brooklyn says, "Piano is overrated."

Don't worry, Brooklyn. After the long drive, there will be plenty of outside time in beautiful Texas for you.

"That's a promise, right?"

We leave tonight! Your prayers are appreciated.

With that, I leave you with some non-Frozen words that have been looping in my mind.

~

"For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield."

-Psalm 5:12

"But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he will become a sanctuary..."

-Isaiah 8:13-14a

"I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted."

-Job 42:2

"The LORD of hosts has sworn: 'As I have planned, so it shall be, and as I have purposed so it shall stand.'"

-Isaiah 14:24

"For he will complete what he appoints for me, and many such things are in his mind."

-Job. 23:14

"God is unchanging in His person, purposes, and promises; and yet He feels emotions and interacts responsively with His creation." - Randy Pope

"Most people, if they really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise...if I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." -C.S. Lewis

It Is Finished

The Hope and Joy of Christmas are incomplete without the Promise and Assurance of Resurrection Sunday.

It just so happens that a reminder of the Resurrection was wrapped beneath our tree this year in the form of the album, "The Water & The Blood," by Dustin Kensrue and Mars Hill Music.

I recommend this album to you in every respect. This is coming from a girl with snobby music tastes. Rarely have I found such a beautiful union of rich theology and musicality.

I am thankful that for all my shortcomings in 2013 and all the challenges looming ahead in 2014, there is One greater. And for music that pours Truth over me.

(Click here for an acoustic video of the song.)

"It Is Finished," by Dustin Kensrue

There's no deed that can redeem us
There's no rite, no magic word
Only by the work of Jesus
Can salvation be secured

It is finished! He has done it!
Let your weary heart rejoice
Our redemption is accomplished
Raise a shout with ragged voice

And go bravely into battle
Knowing he has won the war
It is finished, lift your head
And weep no more

There's no sacrifice to offer
There's no penance to complete
Freely drink of living water
Without money come and feast

Let every sinner rejoice
Hear the dying victor's cry
Raise up your voice
Sing it out through earth and sky