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So, we spent last week in LA. I had 2 interviews(the second one being randomly set up by email the day I arrived in California) and we searched long and hard for apartments/houses. I thought that having my interview(the first one, which is the job I REALLY, REALLY want) on the day we arrived would be helpful, because it would get it out of the way and make the rest of the trip easier. But instead, the enemy (and my fearful, self-critical nature) chose to repeatedly tell me about the stupidity of every single thing I did in the interview, and I had to constantly fight for truth(and for my sanity) throughout the remainder of the trip. These are the times when I am the least fun to be married to, and my husband showed a ton of patience in dealing with my fragile, beaten-up self.

And then there was the fact that house searching was depressing as hell. So, needless to say, the week wasn't exactly the vacation for which I had been hoping. Though we did seek the Lord more than we have in... a really long time. I needed so much prayer, and the whole trip reminded us of the HUGE step of faith we are taking in moving out there, and that resulted in more prayer. And all that prayer was just good for us.

We flew into Austin on Sunday and then immediately drove back to College Station. And during the drive, through the fields and fields of green empty space, I realized how much I have come to love Texas. Though I'm sure we will also grow to love California, it was so very good to be back home. And it will be so very hard to leave this place.

On the drive home, I made Tom search his ipod for a song we haven't listened to in ages, and it caused us both to savor the beauty surrounding us...

40 Acres

Out on these Texas plains you can see for a million lives
And there's a thousand exits between here and the state line
About the last time that I saw you
You said call me Pandora, call me a fool

And I'm thinking this view it could do you some good
So drop these scales and take a look

There's 40 acres and redemption to be found
Just along down the way
There is a place where no plow blade has turned the ground
And you will turn it over, 'cause out here hope remains
'Cause out here hope remains...

Out here the Texas sky is as big as the sea
And you're alone in your room like an island floating free
Your spirit's hanging in a bottle out on a tree
You say that you're the black sheep, I say you're still family

So throw that bottle to the waves
They'll bring you in to me and from the shore you will see

Out here the Texas rain is the hardest I've ever seen
It'll wash your house away, but it'll also make you clean
Now these rocks they are crying too
And this whole land is calling out for you

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