Thoughts from Andrea
Posted by Chris
Just wanted to share a few moments with you (from Andrea)...
The first thing Si asked when we told him we were moving to Tennessee - "Do they speak English over there?" Fortunately we have discovered that they do - although unlike the dialect we are accustomed to. For the Coffeyville-ians who thought I had an accent - I have to tell you that in this environment people want to know where I'm from because I obviously do not have an accent like they do. I can already feel the Tennessee accent beginning to creep in, however. I simply can't help it - it's just like when I finish watching a movie like "Steel Magnolias" or get off the phone with one of my 'southern' friends or family members - the accent simply clings to me for a while the way the smell of pumpkin pie lingers in the kitchen long after baking is done. I suppose after some time I will simply succumb to it and not even know that the finality of the change has occurred... until I talk with one of you on the phone and you happily point it out to me! In the meantime, I will enjoy the novelty of having a Sooner sound. Speaking of the Sooners, this is another area in which we will have much novelty - especially with January 4th coming quickly. There are many Auburn fans around here who believe they should have been in the championship game rather than Oklahoma. Chris has found an ingenious way of handling this: he tells them he thinks Auburn should have been in the championship game rather than USC. Although he is genuine in this thought, it is rather convenient that he thinks it I must say. It has helped him at work, in particular, to circumvent some rather awkward moments. It seems the first thing people around here want to know upon learning we came from Oklahoma is if we are Sooner fans - to which we can only say "Boomer Sooner"! (Amber - when you come, bring your entire Sooner ensemble!)
The first thing Micah wanted to know upon learning of our move was - "Are we going to live in the LifeWay building?" Fortunately our new home has proved to be a much better choice. Other than the expected overwhelmed-ness of first days in a new home, we are enjoying it. I can see our 'home' starting to emerge from this 'house' and it is a welcome relief to me. Now if only we can grow accustomed to the sunrise and sunset in this part of the country. The sun sets a full 45 minutes earlier in Tennessee than in the OK/TX region we have discovered. Therefore, by 5:15 - it is dark... and I mean dark. At 4 o'clock the sun is going down and supper and bed are not far behind. We've found ourselves going to bed a little earlier as a result as I think the earlier darkness makes us sleepy sooner than we expect. We keep looking at the clock in the evenings through sleepy eyes and saying to each other 'it's only 9 o'clock'.
Josiah and Micah seem to be adjusting well so far. After a tearful few moments the night before we left, they are genuinely excited by the prospect of new friends. They have met a 6 year old boy from 2 doors down and played outside with him twice (the 2 days that it has been above freezing since we got here). They played with Joy Emery's kids on Friday and will again next week (ages 7, 6, and 2 1/2). A sidenote here: Joy's husband's name is Chris so his name is Chris Emery - sounds funny to us, huh? We will be seeing Craig and Barbara Webb and their children (ages 11, 8, and 3) later today if the roads improve. I am praying that we find a church home before long and look forward to establishing our new little 'community'. We have 2 churches, in particular, we wish to visit and will be at one of those this evening for a Christmas Eve service.
Emerie seems to be adjusting the best of us all. We did, however, get off to a rather conspicuous beginning the day we left Oklahoma. Upon finding my precious African violets, both of them in full bloom, in a box on the floor of the living room, she proceeded to 'pick' every single flower off of both plants and all but 4 leaves on one of them as well. She was quite proud of herself and would say 'flower - flower!' - or something that sounded like it. Mommy was almost in tears as it had taken 6 months after the KS/OK move to get them to bloom again, but it makes a good story, anyhow. And she's right - the flowers were pretty enough to pick.
While Christmas tomorrow seems a little surreal even now, we welcome it with open hearts. I thank You, Jesus, that You are indeed Immanuel, God with us. I am so thankful that the same Lord is with me in Kansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, on earth and in heaven. Thank you, Lord Jesus. The Lord also reminded me this week from Isaiah that "He gently leads those with young" (speaking of the word picture of our Lord as shepherd)... Chris and I definitely have 'young' and I am so grateful for His gentle leading of us and pray we will also gently lead those in our charge. Thank you, too, Debbie, for that sweet reminder so many months ago.
To our families: we miss you so - especially this weekend! But know that visiting Nashville is not like visiting Cleveland or something - there is so much to do here and a beautiful place to live and raise a family. We pray that the distance will not seem long between loved ones. Daddy, please give my love to Emmie, Howard and Susie today. I miss you. Mom, the furniture is working out just as we planned - thank you and love you!
To our friends: our door is still and will continue to be open. We figure that now you may not come as often, but you will most likely stay longer! (Keep saving, Rene, Kelli and Sara - just get yourself here and we'll feed you!) Blaire: There is an attorney on television commercials here named Blair (no 'e')Durham (a guy) - he particularly likes to help people in auto accidents - woohoo! You will get a big laugh out of it when you come to school here (hint, hint). All of you: Ya'll come! There is much to do and would be a great road trip.
Cheryl and Trish: Let's get that conference call thing working! Many years ago (right around my first move from Oklahoma to Missouri in 1995) Trish gave me a framed picture that says "Our hearts our next door neighbors though our homes are far apart". I put that picture on my bathroom counter yesterday and had sweet thoughts of you both. Thank you, God, for Alexander Graham Bell. Thank you, Lord, for my precious friends. I miss you both so much.
Okay - this is starting to sound like a high school awards banquet or maybe even the Oscars, so I'm going to close. If I wasn't sentimental, I wouldn't be me. And, after all, this is the season for spreading the Lord's love and being thankful for those He has placed in our lives.
Love to you all. May His love fall fresh on you today and have a very merry Christmas.
The first thing Si asked when we told him we were moving to Tennessee - "Do they speak English over there?" Fortunately we have discovered that they do - although unlike the dialect we are accustomed to. For the Coffeyville-ians who thought I had an accent - I have to tell you that in this environment people want to know where I'm from because I obviously do not have an accent like they do. I can already feel the Tennessee accent beginning to creep in, however. I simply can't help it - it's just like when I finish watching a movie like "Steel Magnolias" or get off the phone with one of my 'southern' friends or family members - the accent simply clings to me for a while the way the smell of pumpkin pie lingers in the kitchen long after baking is done. I suppose after some time I will simply succumb to it and not even know that the finality of the change has occurred... until I talk with one of you on the phone and you happily point it out to me! In the meantime, I will enjoy the novelty of having a Sooner sound. Speaking of the Sooners, this is another area in which we will have much novelty - especially with January 4th coming quickly. There are many Auburn fans around here who believe they should have been in the championship game rather than Oklahoma. Chris has found an ingenious way of handling this: he tells them he thinks Auburn should have been in the championship game rather than USC. Although he is genuine in this thought, it is rather convenient that he thinks it I must say. It has helped him at work, in particular, to circumvent some rather awkward moments. It seems the first thing people around here want to know upon learning we came from Oklahoma is if we are Sooner fans - to which we can only say "Boomer Sooner"! (Amber - when you come, bring your entire Sooner ensemble!)
The first thing Micah wanted to know upon learning of our move was - "Are we going to live in the LifeWay building?" Fortunately our new home has proved to be a much better choice. Other than the expected overwhelmed-ness of first days in a new home, we are enjoying it. I can see our 'home' starting to emerge from this 'house' and it is a welcome relief to me. Now if only we can grow accustomed to the sunrise and sunset in this part of the country. The sun sets a full 45 minutes earlier in Tennessee than in the OK/TX region we have discovered. Therefore, by 5:15 - it is dark... and I mean dark. At 4 o'clock the sun is going down and supper and bed are not far behind. We've found ourselves going to bed a little earlier as a result as I think the earlier darkness makes us sleepy sooner than we expect. We keep looking at the clock in the evenings through sleepy eyes and saying to each other 'it's only 9 o'clock'.
Josiah and Micah seem to be adjusting well so far. After a tearful few moments the night before we left, they are genuinely excited by the prospect of new friends. They have met a 6 year old boy from 2 doors down and played outside with him twice (the 2 days that it has been above freezing since we got here). They played with Joy Emery's kids on Friday and will again next week (ages 7, 6, and 2 1/2). A sidenote here: Joy's husband's name is Chris so his name is Chris Emery - sounds funny to us, huh? We will be seeing Craig and Barbara Webb and their children (ages 11, 8, and 3) later today if the roads improve. I am praying that we find a church home before long and look forward to establishing our new little 'community'. We have 2 churches, in particular, we wish to visit and will be at one of those this evening for a Christmas Eve service.
Emerie seems to be adjusting the best of us all. We did, however, get off to a rather conspicuous beginning the day we left Oklahoma. Upon finding my precious African violets, both of them in full bloom, in a box on the floor of the living room, she proceeded to 'pick' every single flower off of both plants and all but 4 leaves on one of them as well. She was quite proud of herself and would say 'flower - flower!' - or something that sounded like it. Mommy was almost in tears as it had taken 6 months after the KS/OK move to get them to bloom again, but it makes a good story, anyhow. And she's right - the flowers were pretty enough to pick.
While Christmas tomorrow seems a little surreal even now, we welcome it with open hearts. I thank You, Jesus, that You are indeed Immanuel, God with us. I am so thankful that the same Lord is with me in Kansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, on earth and in heaven. Thank you, Lord Jesus. The Lord also reminded me this week from Isaiah that "He gently leads those with young" (speaking of the word picture of our Lord as shepherd)... Chris and I definitely have 'young' and I am so grateful for His gentle leading of us and pray we will also gently lead those in our charge. Thank you, too, Debbie, for that sweet reminder so many months ago.
To our families: we miss you so - especially this weekend! But know that visiting Nashville is not like visiting Cleveland or something - there is so much to do here and a beautiful place to live and raise a family. We pray that the distance will not seem long between loved ones. Daddy, please give my love to Emmie, Howard and Susie today. I miss you. Mom, the furniture is working out just as we planned - thank you and love you!
To our friends: our door is still and will continue to be open. We figure that now you may not come as often, but you will most likely stay longer! (Keep saving, Rene, Kelli and Sara - just get yourself here and we'll feed you!) Blaire: There is an attorney on television commercials here named Blair (no 'e')Durham (a guy) - he particularly likes to help people in auto accidents - woohoo! You will get a big laugh out of it when you come to school here (hint, hint). All of you: Ya'll come! There is much to do and would be a great road trip.
Cheryl and Trish: Let's get that conference call thing working! Many years ago (right around my first move from Oklahoma to Missouri in 1995) Trish gave me a framed picture that says "Our hearts our next door neighbors though our homes are far apart". I put that picture on my bathroom counter yesterday and had sweet thoughts of you both. Thank you, God, for Alexander Graham Bell. Thank you, Lord, for my precious friends. I miss you both so much.
Okay - this is starting to sound like a high school awards banquet or maybe even the Oscars, so I'm going to close. If I wasn't sentimental, I wouldn't be me. And, after all, this is the season for spreading the Lord's love and being thankful for those He has placed in our lives.
Love to you all. May His love fall fresh on you today and have a very merry Christmas.
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