Here we are again. April 4th. A day that will live in infamy, at least for me.
Two years ago, Amos and I arrived in Oklahoma City, full of hopes and excitement. My hopes were quickly crushed, smothered under homesickness, the ugliness of the city, and a gaping hole that used to be my identity (friend, neighbor, missions coordinator, note taker, needed).
I was miserable.
Two years later, I am doing a lot better.
In the two years we have been here...
I have found some nice grocery stores, especially in Tulsa. (Hello, Reasor's! I love your cheese samples! :D )
I found my favorite OK hill, also in Tulsa. It definitely isn't a mountain, but it's better than nothing! Sometimes I take a detour, just so I can drive down it.
We have attended two great churches, both with good teaching and friendly community group/Sunday School classes.
We have made some very nice, genuine, encouraging friends, both in OKC and Tulsa.
I have had several jobs: substitute teacher, testing center clerk, and now, administrative assistant at a small corporation.
I have been able to visit California a few times.
We have survived severe weather!
We have so far managed to avoid any collisions. Seriously, the driving in Southern California is nothing compared to driving in Tulsa. Who taught these people how to "drive"?!
We have moved four times in two years. The longest time we spent in one apartment was seven and a half months, and the shortest time (in the drafty bug house with the nutso landlord) was thankfully just three months.
All in all, looking back, it has been tough, but not bad.
Amos and I were talking about our transition last night, and we realized we still aren't used to living here.
We lived in Santa Clarita for almost ten years. We attended our last church, Crossroads, for almost five years. We had a routine, and even when we added things to that routine, it was still manageable.
Here in Oklahoma, we are still getting used to living in one apartment for more than half a year. We are still trying to remember the names of all the friendly people at church. We are still figuring out where to go to eat. We are still dealing with weekly headaches for Amos. We are still wondering when we will have time to fit in our normal California activities, like getting frozen yogurt on Sunday evenings or going on walks. We are still trying to go to bed before 11:00. We are still dealing with stress, known and unknown.
Still.
But.
Our second year was better than our first. Here's to even better things, in year three of this exodus.
"...the LORD will go before you,
and the God of Israel will be your rear guard."
::Isaiah 52:12b
Two years ago, Amos and I arrived in Oklahoma City, full of hopes and excitement. My hopes were quickly crushed, smothered under homesickness, the ugliness of the city, and a gaping hole that used to be my identity (friend, neighbor, missions coordinator, note taker, needed).
I was miserable.
Two years later, I am doing a lot better.
In the two years we have been here...
I have found some nice grocery stores, especially in Tulsa. (Hello, Reasor's! I love your cheese samples! :D )
I found my favorite OK hill, also in Tulsa. It definitely isn't a mountain, but it's better than nothing! Sometimes I take a detour, just so I can drive down it.
We have attended two great churches, both with good teaching and friendly community group/Sunday School classes.
We have made some very nice, genuine, encouraging friends, both in OKC and Tulsa.
I have had several jobs: substitute teacher, testing center clerk, and now, administrative assistant at a small corporation.
I have been able to visit California a few times.
We have survived severe weather!
We have so far managed to avoid any collisions. Seriously, the driving in Southern California is nothing compared to driving in Tulsa. Who taught these people how to "drive"?!
We have moved four times in two years. The longest time we spent in one apartment was seven and a half months, and the shortest time (in the drafty bug house with the nutso landlord) was thankfully just three months.
All in all, looking back, it has been tough, but not bad.
Amos and I were talking about our transition last night, and we realized we still aren't used to living here.
We lived in Santa Clarita for almost ten years. We attended our last church, Crossroads, for almost five years. We had a routine, and even when we added things to that routine, it was still manageable.
Here in Oklahoma, we are still getting used to living in one apartment for more than half a year. We are still trying to remember the names of all the friendly people at church. We are still figuring out where to go to eat. We are still dealing with weekly headaches for Amos. We are still wondering when we will have time to fit in our normal California activities, like getting frozen yogurt on Sunday evenings or going on walks. We are still trying to go to bed before 11:00. We are still dealing with stress, known and unknown.
Still.
But.
Our second year was better than our first. Here's to even better things, in year three of this exodus.
"...the LORD will go before you,
and the God of Israel will be your rear guard."
::Isaiah 52:12b
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