Give thanks in all circumstances.
Admittedly, I'm still really searching for the grace to give thanks when there is a cockroach running around my kitchen or when Nicole wakes up every 2 hours all night long. But I'm not off the hook and I thoroughly believe that when I allow myself to dwell on one thing that I am genuinely thankful for, that momentum naturally spill into other areas of my life.
Thankfulness has played an integral roll in allowing me to grow a sincere love for various parts of our life here in Texas. I was thankful for these things, long before I learned to loved them but I can honestly say that genuine thankfulness paved the way for me to sincerely love these parts of my life.
Our neighbors.
I can't imagine what my life would be like without our neighbors. If you've been following our blog from the beginning than you know that only a few days after moving here I met our next door neighbors while Nicole and I were out getting our mail. Dustin and Stacey have been married just a few months longer than Shawn and I have and they have a daughter 6 weeks older than Nicole. Being friends with them has felt completely natural and the depth of our relationship continually blesses me. Dustin and Stacey prayed diligently for neighbors who were Christians and had a baby for months. We prayed for one good friend the entire time we were preparing to move. God answered both our prayers by prompting us to buy a house in a new-to-us suburb of North Dallas.
The grocery stores.
I distinctly remember how much effort it was to learn new prices, produce, products and layouts as I took my maiden trip to the store with Nicole in tow. I think that because I've gone to the grocery store so many times in the 9+ months we've been here, I've had lots of opportunities to take note of the things that I really love about grocery shopping here. First, it was all of the new produce. Tuscan cantaloup, golden honey dew, star fruit. pomelo. cactus paddles, and a plethora of Mexican cheeses have been delightful additions to our diets. Next, I really appreciate the fact that the grocery stores send all of their sale adds in a nice little bundle directly to my house once a week. Comparing prices between stores couldn't be easier and I feel confident and comfortable managing our household budget as a result.
Our peach tree.
When Shawn flew down to look at our house in person last Spring, he discovered peaches growing on a small tree in the backyard. I was thrilled! Those precious little peaches felt like the sweetest housewarming gift I could have ever received. As we prepared to move and faced countless unknowns in the days that followed, that little peach tree was the one thing that I could tangibly look forward to. You can imagine my utter disappointment when I stepped foot into my backyard for the very first time and discovered that every single peach had been chewed up by the gigantic bugs and greedy squirrels taking residence in our yard. I was disappointed about my inedible peaches for a long time but a new season of peaches will soon be upon us and I'm hoping to enjoy the first fruits myself. A few weeks ago, I looked outside my kitchen window to see that our peach tree was full of beautiful purple flowers. Nicole and I have been monitoring the miraculous progression of these buds each day and it's been so much fun. Even if my attempts of protecting my fruit fail, I will still love all of the moments Nicole and I spent looking at the "wa-was" (flowers) together.
I'm already looking forward to sharing more about our list next week. Until then, please know that we appreciate you so much. Thanks for being part of our lives, even from a distance.
With love,
Erica
A cheerful heart is good medicine - Proverbs 17:22a
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