august highlights.

I cannot believe August has already flown right by. Here are a few highlights from the eighth month of the year.

• I received my first snail mail in my house from two of my favorite people--- Mrs. Susie and Alex.
• My mom, sister and I had a girls day out the first week I moved in!
• I realized I do have an obsession with one fruit... GRAPES.
• My friend Hannah (from Plano) bought me my fave book just because.
• School finally arrived!!!

SO excited for cooler weather and football!

millsap & mineral wells.

Not only have I recently moved and started a new job, but my little sister has also set out on a new adventure! She moved outside of Fort Worth and works as a vet tech for an equine vet. I thought it was time for me to head west and see the place she now calls home.

Her and I are definitely living in two very different places! She lives on a ranch with cows, very large grasshoppers and silence. And I live in the city with parks, toll ways and noise. Both of our new towns are perfect for a getaway. On Friday night we ate way too much mexican (I woke up still feeling miserably full) and fro-yo and then she showed me the downtown of her little town. After dinner we were walking around and I said, "Where are we?!" It is still weird that we are adults and far from home. It's a surreal feeling at times.

On Saturday I woke up to watch the sunrise, read my Bible and drink my cup of heaven while Katelyn got some extra zzz's. It was such blessing to see the sky go from black to streaks of orange then pinks and yellows to finally light as the sun rose above the horizon.  Earth is so beautiful. I can't imagine what heaven will look like. While Katelyn was still asleep, I did some research and found that there was a state park just a few miles from where she lived. I thought it was the perfect opportunity to explore! So explore we did. The Mineral Wells State Park offers swimming, boating, fishing, rock climbing, horseback riding, hiking, and biking. We decided to hike the hills and brought Skyler along too. Unfortunately, Skyler is a bit of a diva and acted like she was dying the entire time, but we forced her to keep up the pace. It was a lot of fun! And how have I not mentioned the weather yet?! The past few days have been a miracle!! The high has been in the late 80's!!! Y'all this Texas and it's August. It's a miracle. During our hike, I told Katelyn it felt like we should be heading home to make a pot of gumbo and turn the LSU game on. Isn't it like October? It felt like it. Ah. It was such a great day! I am so thankful that my sister is so close to me now!

I headed home later that afternoon. Back to the city life. :) Stephen and I went and saw the movie "Jobs." It's about Steve Jobs the Apple guy. I would recommend it! It was very interesting to see what his life was like and how Apple was invented.

It's been a wonderful, restful weekend. My last relaxing weekend of the summer. Time to put my big-girl, multi-tasking pants on tomorrow. Vines High here I come!

One of Katelyn's many views.

pool, party, puzzles, & bracezz.

Have I only lived here one week? I can't believe it - it feels like I've been here at least a month. I think it's because I've done SO much in one week with packing, church and work stuff.

This past weekend was my first official weekend here by myself and I didn't even cry! Haha. Saturday afternoon my friend, Linnette (whom I met through my friend Ilianna at BU), came over and we had some really nice pool/sunshine time. Linnette is from El Salvador and came to the U.S. for college! In 2011 I went to El Salvador on a mission trip so Linnette actually knows someone that has been to her native country. Most people don't go on their family vacays to El Salvy. It was fun to get to talk to her about it! She recently moved to this area about six months ago -- it's comforting to know I'm not the only new kid on the block.

Saturday night my friend, Lauren, from back home threw her husband, Logan, a surprise birthday party! They rented out a little karaoke room at a restaurant/bar in Uptown. It was quite comical to listen to Lauren sing "I've Got Friends in Low Places." :) I haven't had a chance to hangout with Lauren, Logan or her sister, Kaiti, in a long time so it was great to catch up with them! Lauren will soon be starting her first year teaching second grade -- good luck, Lauren!

Then Sunday morning I visited a bible study at a new church called Cottonwood Creek Baptist and met two really sweet girls, Tiffany and Kasie. Even though I hadn't ever visited CWC before, everyone was so warm and friendly it felt like I'd been going for years. I just thanked Jesus for pouring out His mercy on me! On Sunday evenings the young adults class gets together for hangout/game-night time and they invited me to go! I was super pumped about spending more time with the people I met on Sunday morning. The young adults director, Kurtis, usually hosts it at his and his roomies house. We just hung out and attempted to put together a 500 piece puzzle, but ended up peacing out on it. It takes a lot more patience than I expected to put a puzzle together! I met three other girls that I think are going to be my new best friends!! Lauren, Julie and Brittany. Brittany is actually from Louisiana too! They were all so stinkin' sweet! I am so excited about the people Christ has already put in my life after only being here one week. He knew I was anticipating having to make new friends and He has totally been providing for me. He cares about me so much. It's humbling.

And you know what else is humbling? Getting. Braces. MmHm I got them on this morning. Honestly though they aren't that bad. I really needed them (even though I had them on for three years previously) so I might as well get it over with now! I'm embracing them. Hopefully my freshman babies will look younger than me.

Today is officially my last day of summer. Tomorrow I start new teacher in-service and next week I have professional development. It has been a whirlwind of a summer, but absolutely perfect at the same time. I read a quote on Friday that said, "God gives His best to those who leave the choice to Him." Over the past year I have sought Him daily about moving and getting a job in Dallas --- asking Him everyday if He would grant me the opportunity to move to a new city and letting Him direct my footsteps. I left the choice up to Him and I believe He gave me His best. Leave your life choices to Him. He knows us far better than we know ourselves.

"When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." Colossians 3:4 (ESV)

Sunshine & pool.

Birthday celebration & karaoke. 

Mouth of metal. 

all things new.

I sit staring out of my new office window of my new house in a new city and I really don't know where to start. I am still trying to process all that has happened this summer... Jesus has moved in remarkable, unexplainable ways. I am still speechless. Humbled. Shocked. Excited. Nervous.

In early July I blogged about how I had gotten a new job in the Dallas area. Welp, I am finally moved and living here! My parents and I have worked like dawgs the past five days packing, organizing, loading, and unloading. You really do not realize how much you accumulate until you have to put ALL of your belongings in boxes and haul those boxes to another state. But I am finally starting to feel like I've accomplished a few things. I do still have to organize my new classroom at my new school (!), but that shouldn't take days of work. 

I visited a bible study at an awesome church on Saturday night and reallyyy enjoyed it! I already made new friends. Eek! Ellen is an elementary teacher that just moved to this area too and seems like one of the sweetest people in the world so that's exciting! I am actually having coffee with the young adults director for another church tomorrow morning. I am in prayer and seeking discernment on what church Jesus wants me to get connected with. 

It is already starting to feel like home around here and that is an answer to prayer. So thanks to any of you who have been praying for a smooth transition for me because your prayers are being answered! :) My sister is off of work this week and got here yesterday. Her, my mom and I ate at the cutest little cafe in downtown Frisco -- downtown Frisco is so cute and quaint. I loved it. 

Extremely excited about this new city, my new job, owning a new home (to me), joining a new church, and having the opportunity to meet new people.  

Home. 

My sweet friend, George, helped me move-in.

Hannah surprised me the day I moved in!

New school!

Dream job!