Pseudo Beginning

I had written a whole page on the past week....and it got erased. Learned a hard - not fun lesson with that tonight.
UPDATE - Recovered it!!! YAY!!



After leaving Texas and beginning life here in Batesville, I feel called to start a blog. Some place to journal all of my thoughts and adventures to share with family and friends as well as share my beliefs. I'm also pseudo-avoiding writing my speech...

This past week has been hard. (If there was ever an understatement, that is it.) A week ago today (Wed. 8/4), I was waiting on the packers to finish packing the house up. The house that had slowly become a home to us over the past 2.5 years. There I was, watching it become a house yet again. A beautiful house, but just a dwelling. Sometime that day, I talked with my mom about my Grandma and she was doing better (she had had an infection the weekend previous, but the antibiotics were working). Chelsea and I went to dinner that night and just enjoyed being goofy.

Thursday - brought my last lunch in Beaumont, the people who moved the boxes from the house to the truck, and my last WUMC Young Adult Bible Study (as a Texan). More tears were shed, lots of prayers were said, and I just tried to take it all in.

Friday - My last breakfast as a Texan (Waffle House!!) with some of my favorite people - Rachel, Donny, Kelly, Rob, and Chelsea. We said our goodbyes (without tears) and I began my journey to Arkansas. As I drove home, I knew I needed to go see my grandparents which I did. I didn't stay long probably for many reasons, but as I left I kissed my Grandma and told her "I love you" as I do with every visit. My parents, sister, and I went to dinner at my favorite Mexican restaurant and then we all went to bed.

Saturday - Ate a wonderful homemade breakfast, visited Blitz (got to see Grace and Elle at my parents), and headed towards Batesville. The drive to Batesville was beautiful and I felt as if I was coming home. We looked at houses and found 2 we liked. The one we liked best, we felt was out of our price range, the other we liked, but we were stuck on the first. We made plans that night for Dad to come look on Sunday.

Sunday - I wake up to my mom calling. She was calling to tell me Grandma had died sometime during the night. It's one thing knowing that she could pass at any time and how sick she was. It's a complete other to know that she is gone FOREVER. Mom then told me that Grandma and Granddad had agreed on cremation, so if I wanted to see her I would have to do it in the next 24 hours. (Oh, btw, I start my job the next day) and that she and dad were still planning on coming up.Sometime during this conversation, I feel the overwhelming feeling that I was supposed to speak at Grandma's funeral (I know that this is from God). Long story short, we got on the road to Little Rock where we visited with Grandad and the family, went to see Grandma so I could say my last goodbye and pray for her/our family. We ate lunch at one of the many spots that as a family we would eat at and then headed back to Batesville. I drove Mom back and Dad drove the hubs, so me breaking down was not an option. I did tell her that I wanted to be a part of the memorial service, but not the background on why... We looked at houses, talked about what they thought, and they made the trek back while I ironed clothes and tried to prepare for my first day. Sometime during the day, I felt like we were supposed to go with the first house, we re-did the numbers and now what seemed impossible was very possible (yes, Engineer made a typo error.). So we made an offer on that house.

Monday - First Day on the job. Figured out my cellphone doesn't work in my office. Countered the offers made by the sellers - not once, but twice. Felt at peace about it. Found out that AJ was probably not getting the job at Southside, but knew that they were working to help provide him with something. Ate at Josie's -  AWESOME food...beautiful views..

Tuesday - Second day on the job..Settled on our final offer and signed the final contract letter. Found out AJ definitely didn't get the job. :( The administration is trying to develop ways for him to make money though. :) Got word that I would get to speak at the memorial service and that I should write out what I was going to say...AAHHH! I also set up Skype..YAY! And briefly IM'ed with Rachel and Donny, who we miss!! Also, we found out that the mom of one of our TX friends is not doing well..and that scares me.

Wednesday - Today - Day 3. The sellers signed the offer contract!!Woohoo!!! Grandma's obituary ran today (http://www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/services.asp?locid=25&page=odetail&id=21214). I read it this evening and cried. It still amazes me what an awesome person she was not just to her family but to everyone. I started writing my speech...I've thought alot about it in the past days, but writing it is very hard. I'm not sure of what I want to say, but more importantly, I want to be sure I'm saying what God wants me to say. (Does that make sense?) I guess all of this has me missing our friends back in Texas, who I know are lifting us up in prayer, missing my family, missing having someone (besides hubby) to talk with who can help me to cheer up. Friday will be here soon enough and we will be making the trip back to Little Rock. This trip I dread more than the one last Sunday, probably because it's far enough away that I can dwell on  it.

Please pray for my family in the upcoming days. Pray for our continued strength through the loss of an amazing, Godly woman. Pray for our friends in Texas.