The Stars at Night are Big and Bright

Although I wrote this several weeks ago, I kept forgetting to post it. So perhaps the time has come to publish it, you think? The time has finally come for us to leave....'where the stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas.' Where Blue Bell reigns supreme, Whataburger honey-butter chicken biscuits are life, and everyone has their own favorite taco place...and donut establishment. Where each region of the great state is as unique as the one next to it (If you haven't seen this movie or this scene, give it a go. It will make you laugh), and blue bonnet fields are scattered around the state.

I know. I know. For many of you, you have probably heard this so many times in the past few years that it has gotten old by now. I am used to the winks and ‘okay’s that flow from the mouths of friends who don’t want to see us go or either just won’t believe us till it actually happens. We have been like the boy who cried wolf for so many years now. But the apartment is packed and our things are officially in NC.

After graduating from LETU, Chris was planning on us only being in Texas for a few more months...6 to be exact.

That was almost 2.5 years ago. But now that he FINALLY has a commercial flying job, it is time for us to 'fly' on to the next adventure. Back to my home state of NC. Let it be known that I will miss Texas and all of my friends who have become like family here. This has been the longest residence for us in our 9 years of marriage. Roughly 6 years of work, school, church, coffee, and friendships to hopefully last us a life time. Because I do not see this as a good bye to Texas and my friends. I see it as a “see y’all later.”

Recently I saw an interview on the Today show’s Instagram page. Jenna Bush Hager was asked if she missed Texas. Her response (in so many words) was that she was “a homesick Texan living in NYC. She misses the queso and the people.”

While the first half of the statement may not apply to me...I will definitely miss the queso and people and the TACOS. I will miss the Tex-Mex, and weekend trips to Dallas with stop at Buc-ee's inbetween there and Longview.

It is hard to explain Texan culture to anyone who hasn’t lived here. It is definitely its own thing...from the fashion to the food to the people and cities. And even though I never imagined I would live here, in East Texas or anywhere in Texas really, I have a deep love for the state which welcomed us with open arms.

I recently told Chris that I regret having not spent more time traveling the rest of the state. While I have been to San Marcos, Waco, Dallas, Houston, and the surrounding areas of each city....I have not seen San Antonio. I haven’t spent a summer day floating on the river in San Marcos. I have driven across the state in the middle of the night, all the way from East Texas to Amarillo...but that's not important. One thing is for sure: I will be back, Texas. Maybe not to live here, but to visit the state which has captured our heart(s)...Elaina’s definitely.

On that note: I am not sure how she will survive without Bu-cee's.

Or her weekly trips on Friday mornings to the donut store around the corner from our apartment. She doesn't quite understand that we can't take everyone and everything with us. But they are sent her off with a box of (Texas style) kolaches for the trip home. So, hopefully that helped to heal the wound of having to leave Texas.

It isn’t the same in NC, but I am sure we will find our new normal...Chris and I have moved so much in the past 9 years that settling in has become second nature. (As I am about to publish this, I sit in one of the many coffee shops on my list to visit to find a new home away from Silver Grizzly Espresso). On the other side of the coin, I hate to interrupt a 4-year old’s little world...but it is something we have to risk, regardless.

So, now we move on to a new adventure to a city neither of us has lived in before. A state I am from, but that he has only visited off and on for the past 10 years. Closer to my family. Farther away from his. Baby #2 on the way...very soon. But we are in this together with one more move under our belts.

Hasta Luego, Texas. Ya te extraño mucho.