So How's the Country?

Casey, Braelyn and I have been in Brenham 6 months now. I can hardly believe it. Today on our morning walk at Hohlt Park I was thinking about this and also the question I am asked every time I go back to the city..."So how's the country?" Apparently it is a great mystery how us country folk manage to pass the time. Don't get me wrong...I completely understand. I am, myself, a born and raised city girl. Anyways, you would think that by now I would have a well constructed answer to this question, but inevitably, I am caught off guard and ramble on about how it is so pretty and it's a nice change of pace, and then the closer..."It's good. We really like it." Now these are not lies. I mean all of those things. But, perhaps my answer is lacking in its ability to satisfy the curiosity that is plaguing so many of our city friends. So, while pushing my "buggy" (yes, someone did call my stroller a buggy) around the park this morning, I decided to answer, once and for all, what I truly think about the country.

Things I reckon I fancy:
1. My daily walks with Braelyn at Hohlt Park. It is a beautiful park, surrounded by trees and a little creek. There are soccer fields in the middle and the walking trail is exactly one mile around. It's precious time with Braelyn and I enjoy seeing the now familiar faces of the Hohlt park regulars.

2. Getting together for dinner isn't such a major event. For some reason, when we lived in Sugar Land, making arrangements for our family to eat a meal with another family in the middle of the week was a ridiculously impossible task. We were always so busy, and if we actually had a night off we wanted to stay in, turn our phones off, and watch Office episodes until Pam and Jim got together. Anyways, the point is that now, we have people over all the time...even at a moments notice! The house isn't spotless, dinner certainly isn't gourmet, but nobody cares. We just have fun getting together. Why was it so hard before?

3. I don't invent things to do. When I lived in SL, I always felt like I should be going somewhere, meeting someone, or buying something. Here, there's nowhere to go, someone's probably coming over later, and while there are cute antique stores with plenty to buy, the budget won't allow it. So, I am becoming more content being at home. And as a bonus, I have become quite the reader.

4. It's true...people are very friendly.

5. Practically no one is on a diet or works out.

6. I am never in traffic.

7. The Lord has blessed us with amazing friends. This would have been a much harder transition without these relationships.

Things that aren't so peaches and cream in Blue Bell country:
1. I miss mom and dad, and my friends back home. I go home a lot, but you know, it's not the same. And both sets of grandparents live there, who are more than willing to babysit anytime! Ugh...we miss that!

2. Since I did live in Sugar Land my whole life, I still get that "I'm home" feeling when I am there. I know where things are, my friends and family are there...it's home. It's hard to compete with 26 years.

3. I miss TARGET and CHIC-FIL-A!

So there's that. That's how the country is for this city girl. I really do like it. We're happy here. Casey and I are truly taking time to enjoy each other and our baby girl. And most importantly, we find that we are growing in faith. The Lord has provided for us in all ways, and has invited us to join Him in His work. It is an exciting time.