Getting used to this place

September 11, 2012

So I realized something yesterday as I was trying to navigate around this city and get comfortable here. I’m am having a bit of culture shock. When I moved to Austin 4 years ago it was the first time I had ever lived outside of Michigan. I thought I was moving to the big city! Turns out Austin isn’t all that big city. Sure there are way too many people for such a small place but overall it has a nice mix of downtown and neighborhoods and for the most part they don’t mix too much. I lived in a neighborhood in Austin and it was quiet and I felt very comfortable indeed. I was surrounded by houses as I took my daily walk to the post office. It’s a totally different story here.

This is a big city. I have never lived in a big city. We are surrounded by noise and surrounded by apartment complex after apartment complex, there are so many people, tons of restaurants and little shops on every corner, buses all the time, construction, there is a lot going on. This would be a shock if I had come right from Austin but as we all know I moved here after getting comfortable again in rural Michigan. Basically it’s going to take some time. Bear with me.

There are some things that I found that are helping quite a bit though. The other day I met Walker downtown and he showed me my first peak at Mt. Rainier. On our walk home he took me to this little market with the cutest shops and I bought some of my favorite cheese. The library is about a block from your place and I’ve really stocked up on books and movies. Also for the time being I’m using their internet. We have also been cooking quite a bit which has been fun. We both choose a meal and then we both cook it and we’re set for a couple of days for lunch and dinner.

I’m still working on getting a daily routine which I imagine will be easier when we get internet in our apartment. It sure it nice sitting in the fresh air and using the librarie’s wifi. I can’t complain too much.

 

Baseball!

I’m not the biggest sports fan around but it’s pretty funny that in my first week here I’ve been to 2 baseball games already. This past Friday Walker got box tickets to see the Mariners play and I was super excited about it. I’ve never been to box seats of any kind and I like feeling fancy once in a while. The box we were in was right next to the manager’s box! Wow!

We enjoyed dinner and snacks while watching the game from way up high behind home plate. It was pretty enjoyable. The only part I didn’t enjoy was walking the 3 miles home from downtown. Man was I tired by the time we got home.

Customer’s stories-Rebecca

September 10, 2012

This week I am sharing Rebecca’s story! If you are just joining this week and are wanting to know a bit more about what I’m doing please read this post.

This story is a big one so let’s get right to it. Here is a little bit of Rebecca’s story as she tells it:

There is a very special reason behind why my friend Julie and I love Africa. Neither of
us has ever been, but one thing God has put in our hearts is certain: our daughters are
there. Julie and I became friends when her husband was hired as my youth minister
when I was a junior in high school. I have always admired her patient strength and
gentle kindness to all she encounters. She has three beautiful children, and now lives
in Alabama with her husband, Scott. They are without a doubt family to my family.

It wasn’t long after their move to Alabama that Julie shared with me her decision to
adopt a little girl from Ethiopia. They began the long process of paperwork and visits
last year, and are eagerly awaiting “that call.” Julie has a necklace that is personalized
as a representation of all her children. Each child has a special pendant on the
necklace, and a special place in her heart. When she shared her plan to adopt, I
found Oh So Antsy’s tiny Africa silver pendant. I knew it would be a perfect addition to represent her upcoming daughter’s place on her necklace and in her heart. I ordered it
without delay.

(Tiny Africa necklace)

In the mean time, I came across a book by Katie Davis, called “Kisses from Katie.”
It tells of a young girl who moved to Uganda and has since adopted 13 girls as her
daughters! And God began lighting a fire within me as well: my daughter is in Uganda,
He told me. Now, I have a tiny Africa pendant from Jessica’s shop too. I wear it every
day to remind myself that as I go through this long process of adoption, I do it with
gladness and a joy I can’t fully describe- my daughter, whom I have never met, has a
huge place in my heart and I can’t wait to hold her and love her, laugh and cry with her,
and grow with her in God.

There is no one else to give credit to than God in this amazing story of His redemptive
adoption that He offers to all of us. What a beautiful God we have!

I am so thankful to Jessica for her beautiful pieces and what they represent to Julie and
I. Her shipping is quick and her packaging showed care to individual pieces she makes.
And the pieces themselves are lovely! We are both blessed by them and hope you will
be too.

What an amazing story and I’m truly blessed that Rebecca allowed me to share it with you all today! If you enjoyed her story and others like it please comment below about something that’s maybe been on your heart or that you’ve been moved to do.