Texas State History Museum

Branched out today, and went on an adventure!
I really have been wanting to go to the Texas Museum since we have been here, but Matt isn't really a big history buff, so I had to take a day and go on my own. Much more difficult than it seems though, because to get there, you have to drive downtown, which is full of one way streets, weird parking, and pedestrians everywhere.
I finally felt comfortable enough to go there today. Hurray for me!
Finding a place to park was a nightmare, but after I did, I was on my way in.

There is this HUGE star right infront of it. Its kind of intimidating, actually. I guess everything is bigger in Texas.
Looked around for a bit, ok, a 2 hour bit, and by that time I was freezing. People here keep their air conditioners up too high! My lips were blue!
The history started out with the native americans that were inhabiting Texas until all the Spanish came and took it over. Then the mexicans took it over. Then the anglos took it over. Then the germans took it over. Finally, it merged with the United states, and they were right back to being seperated again because they sided with the south in the civil war, who were "seperate" from the union of the U.S. It went through the Alamo (we lost) and the capture of Sana Anna, (the guy who won the alamo, hah!) to women who participated during the women's rights movement, and finally, to the cowboy.
This was the most interesting part, because it is what captured people's attention. As much as it is romanacized in Hollywood, the cowboy's (also known as vacaros) life was a hard one. However, with the publication and advertizement of open range, endless acers, and the cowboy, people flocked here.



I was having a great time until I went back through to take pictures for my bolg. Then this old, shrivled lady came and said I wasn't alowed to take pictures. You old prune, I still got some - HAH!

To all that I've accomplished, I give thanks to God

More times than not, I look at what I DON'T have in life instead of what I do have. Tonight, After some dinner with neighbors, the father and his 4 year old daughter took Matt and I to go downtown and watch the bats come out.
There is a bridge downtown that the engineer accedenilly made into a perfect habitat for bats. You see, the crevices that are used for the bridge design are perfect for bat habitats. So at dusk, you see thousands and millions of bats fly out. It really is a sight to behold.
After we got back, and got ready for bed, I started thinking about how great everything is.
I have done everything that I had set out to do.
I have gone to England with my sister the year
I graduated college. That was a fantastic trip. I saw everything I have ever wanted to see and more. Plus, who better to understand me and my travel woes than a sister?
I got married.
I remember stressing out so bad when I was 16 because so many girls were dating, and I wasn't, and I was so afraid that I would end up an old maid and no one would ever marry me. (That I wanted at least!) Now, I am about to celebrate my 2 year aniversery this September!
I moved down to Texas
It was one of those goals that you want to do, but really don't think you ever will. My cousin's wife is from down here, and quite a few celebrities, and all you ever hear is good things about Texas, so for a while, I wanted to live down here. I know that God was really helping me out on this one, because we wouldn't have moved down here if it wern't the only place that offered Matt a job. And out of the 5 interviews that he had, (one of which he worked for the previous Summer,) this is the one he got. We HAD to move. I know I wouldn't have gotten Matt down here any other way, so I know this was God working his magic, helping me fulfill one of my dreams. Now, Texas hasn't been how I have imagined it, but I have never done so much in my life. Because we know we are only going to be here for a year, we are snatching up everything that Texas has to offer. We have hiked in 100 degree weather while it is humid, (mabye 50 percent?) went to some GREAT mexican resturants, watched bats come out in the middle of downtown, and swam in the river with my puppies. Last night, we even went to a place called "The Alamo". It is a movie theatre where you can order food and drinks while you watch a 3-d movie. It was so cool.
Something to try when down here: fried pickles. Delicious.
We are truely "Carpe Diem" or "Seizing the day" while we are here. Tomarrow, I am going to a museum, and then in a couple weeks, we are going tubing.
God has truely blessed me with many wonderful things in my life, and has now given me the blessing of being able to see them.

I love this song!

This song is wonderful! Brit Nicole begins a journey, stopping when she sees troubled people, and taking a chance and telling them about Christ. Its so inspiring, and a great song.

Making the most out of the day.

Those of you who know me know that my job is NOT going well. Infact, it is the opposite of going well. Mean customers, disrespectful co-workers, and bosses who just don't give a damm.
Needless to say, its a little hard to get up and going in the morning of days I have to work. Today though, I realized "hey, Im only here for a year, I have to make the most of it! I only (pshh, "only", yeah right) work 8 hours out of the day, and it is a weekend! COME ON!!!!
When I got home, I grabbed Matt and the dogs, and went to Barton Springs, which is really a river. (With sea weed, gross!)We had a great time. Squrit attempted to swim to shore, (I have a video of it down below! Just make sure you hit "Full Screen" and "Play")Kody chased after these people who were trying to play volly ball, and I got to relax and be in the cool water while it was 98 degrees out! It was so much fun.
Friday night, we went to Jardin Carona, which has the BEST mexican food so far. My judgment may have been a bit impared though. Because it was a long wait, we had a few drinks from the bar, and didn't get seated till 9pm. We were feeling pretty good. :P
So, even though I had to work, I really enjoyed this weekend and all it had to offer

Squirts Swim attempt

July 4th weekend

Matt and I have been looking at fun stuff to do in Texas, and we came across some beautiful pictures of Mckenny National Park. It had 2 waterfalls, numerous trails, and lots of naturey stuff. :)
We drove up there on Saturday, it was dog friendly, so we took the boys, and bought a seasonal pass. We figured it was good for a whole year, it will get us into all the parks, and it'll have itself payed off in no time.
Not so sure anymore.
When we were looking at the map, we were feeling really ambitious that day, and decided to hike the 3 mile trek. Mind you, in Texas, in the summer, running about 100 degrees plus humidity. We forgot to take this into account.
We started hiking, and it was really beautiful. Kind of like a scene from "Lord of the Rings". We hiked about a half a mile, and a huge tree is blocking the path. Do we take it as a sign to turn around?
No.
We jump over it, and continue on. About a mile latter, Matt almost stepped on a pair of "sticks", only they wern't sticks, they were bugs! Really, really weird, abnormal icky looking bugs.
*shudder*
Still didn't turn around.
About half way there, there were grasshoppers buzzing so loud, you had to yell to be heard. It was crazy, because it was such a consistant buzz, you didn't even realize it until you opened your mouth to speak, and any words you try to say get drowned out by grasshoppering.
We must have looked pretty funny, because Matt and I kept swatting ourselves - bugs or no- ultra paranoid.
The last 1/2 mile, my poor Squirt just layed down, and looked at me like, "Im not goign any further. Its hot and icky, and its crazy to be hiking when its 100 degrees out!"
So I picked him up and carried him the rest of the way. He might have been hipervetalating. Don't know.
When we finally got to the waterfalls, they were itty bitty! If I stood on the surface of the water, I would have been as tall as the waterfall. And there was trash in the water! EEeew!!!!!!!!!
Still, people were swimming, having a good ole time, but since we had the dogs, we couldn't go in.
I would go back just to go and wade around in the water, but no more hiking and bugs!




On to the acctual 4th of July.
I aggreed to work that day, because it was time in a half. So, got up at 5, showed up at 6, and worked till noon. Wasn't soo bad.
I then got home, took a shower, and we decided to go down to the community center where they were having bbq corn on the cob, watermellon, and all sorts of good things. They even had a chinise booth set up, which was werid, considering it was the forth of July, but whatever.
We bumped into our neighbors, and we found out it was free pool day!!! How exciting!!! We went swimming, ate afterwards, and went home and waited for it to get dark.
We walked over to the dog park/greenbelt with our neighbor and their kid, and watched them from there. They were kind of far away, but I didn't feel like being in a crowd anyway. At the end, Hannah, the little girl, gave me part of her necklace to wear as a bracelett! It was one of those ones that glow in the dark, that break apart and then reattach to themselves.
I have never seen a 4 year old give her toys away to someone else. It was an awsome experiance. It was so selflessss, I will treasure that peice of plastic forever. :)

Rain, Rain,

As all of you are aware, there is a huricane comming to the southern part of Texas. Luckly, I am not in the southern part, but we have been seeing the rain! It has been glorious!!!