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We have been in Texas for almost a week now.  One thing I can say is there is nothing like your family.  We have been overwhelmed with greetings and love from both sets of our parents and my brother and sister in law.  The first week has flown by so fast.  Our families have been so helpful, serving us in so many ways...and just reminding us how loved we are:)  I look forward to seeing both of my siblings and families over the next few weeks as well.

We also have been overwhelmed with love from our spiritual family here as well.  Friday night, we were invited to a gathering of a small group that many had attended Life Church over the years...and it just felt like family...seeing everyone again.  Saturday night, we attended Tori's best friend since first grade's quincerra.  Again, what a joy to just be around so many of our spiritual family that we have loved and missed so much.  And then this morning, Lee preached in a church that was birthed shortly after we birthed Life Church, by very good friends of ours.  Just feels good to be "home".

God has been gracious and blessing us, just like He always does.  Friday, we went and tried to purchase Josh a used car.  We just don't have a lot of time, and the search was extremely discouraging.  Josh had a great attitude and NEVER complained...was simply content with the fact that his car might not be as awesome as he might like.  We went to the party, knowing we would need to get up early Saturday morning and hunt again.  As we were leaving close to midnight Friday night, we were all exhausted.  Lee turned to me and said he just didn't feel like looking for a car anymore.  I was like, no, you have to...I can't handle that on my own!  But he was joking because at the party, someone pulled Josh and Lee aside and told them that they felt the Lord telling them to give Josh their old, but very nice, perfect condition car.  As they told me, I just was overwhelmed and began to cry.  One, because I was so relieved not to have to look anymore.  Two, because Josh is not just getting a car...but he is getting a very nice car.  Three, because once again God gently reminded me...He has Josh in the palm of His hand and is taking care of his every need.  I can go back to Belize, knowing that he has a safe, dependable car.  God is so good.

The other thing about this trip is that although I am now a pastor's wife in Belize, my heart has never left or stopped caring for the people here in Katy.  My heart broke for a very dear friend that has had a couple of rough years.  And it was just so easy and natural for me to pray for her...like we had never moved.  I got to see a baby that is now two...that I remember praying with her mom to conceive...crying with her, being with her at her wedding not too many years before that.  Praying over a girl that spent many years in our home here in Katy and tearing up as we watched the slideshow of years past, my daughter and her inseparable.

Sometimes coming home is very hard to see all we have left behind.  But then, I see a pic on Instagram of two girls in Belize...that I would consider spiritual daughters...and realize how deeply I missed seeing them Thursday, this morning, around town.  That is how it is in ministry.  You have your heart in different places.  I am so thankful for our support system here in Texas.  But I am also so thankful for the people in my life in Belize.  There are pros and cons to both lives, both places.  I love the AC here.  It is amazing.  I love shopping here.  But the traffic is insane...all the time.  And our schedule is just so busy, that we constantly are checking our calendars to make sure we are not missing something.  We literally have no free days.  EVERY SINGLE DAY IS PLANNED.

I am thankful for this time at home.  Thankful I got to each lunch with my parents.  Thankful that I got to laugh as Erika could not believe how the restaurant kept refilling our chips and salsa and drinks.  Thankful that she got to rock climb and that Tori got to be a part of her best friend's very special day.  But I am also thankful that God is using our family in Belize.  And I am thankful for the people he has in our lives there.

Everyone has asked how I am doing with Josh staying for college.  If I do not think too deeply, I am great.  He is excited and I am excited for him.  But I love my boy.  And I want to savor every single day we have over the next six weeks.   I covet your prayers for him, but for me too.  I want to leave him strong, not crying and falling apart.  I want him to be able to enjoy this time in his life for all it should be...

We have encountered some difficulties getting Josh's Texas Drivers License.  Please pray as we try to help leave him with as many things in place as possible.  He can drive on his Belize license for now, but we would feel better him getting his Texas license.

This afternoon has been very relaxing.  Which is great because tomorrow the whirlwind of activity starts at 8 am until....I don't know. 

I have not opened my computer since being here.  I am using Lee's.  But if you are my Facebook friend, there are pictures on there.

Right before we left Belize, the Lord gave me the following scripture to pray over Josh.  I am already seeing it come to pass...

Isaiah 55:8-9
⁸ “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
⁹ “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.