Texas is hot. :)

New seasons in life may call for new blog posts, so I've extended this blog to include the current season of my life in Austin, Texas. First, I want to apologize to those of you who have waited to hear from me since I moved here recently. I've done a poor job of making contact, hence the resurrection of the Adventures Abroad blog. I hope to post as regularly as would seem feasible and meaningful for both readers and myself. Many of you have played a very significant role in my successful transition; you need to hear testimonies of the fruit God brings as a result of your prayers and faithful encouragement!

Soooooo, I'm all moved in! My parents and I pulled into Austin on Wednesday afternoon, May 26th in my new '94 white Buick Regal, given to me by my grandparents. The journey to Texas was tolerated pleasantly by all, including the car. We got a kick out of Natural Bridge, VA. Apparently, the rock forms a "natural bridge" across a creek/river/stream/waterway of some kind. I might not go so far as to call it majestic, but it's beautiful to be sure...not so beautiful, however, to necessitate the large hotel, gift shop/cafeteria/info center/wax museum, and required entrance fee. Nothing against Virginia, but it all seemed a bit over-the-top. :) On a less critical note, having used the complex as a rest stop, we certainly pulled out of the parking lot feeling refreshed.

http://cache.virtualtourist.com/3060528-NATURAL_BRIDGE_VIRGINIA-Natural_Bridge.jpg

Austin may not be home to natural bridges, but it's a hub for hundreds of other wonders--natural and otherwise. Bats, hippies, tacos, live music, coffee houses, highway ramps, marathoners, avocados, university students, frozen yogurt, Spanish, barbeque, artists, and the Colorado River...I could go on and on. The city exudes a youthful vibe, enhanced by the artsy and forward-thinking flavor of the population at large. "Green" reigns supreme, regardless of whether you're a corporate office, a light bulb, a person, or a palm tree. Yet I get the sense that many people think deeply about more than just their compost. Austin fosters a community of pseudo-philosophers who often hold definite opinions on life, the world, and civilization. What a wealth of fascinating individuals!

I get to live right in the heart of this vibrant city. Here I've included a few photos of my house, a small 1920's bungalow, the majority of which were taken by Caryn, one of my housemates:

Welcome home!

The front entryway.
(You can see all five rooms in the house from this view. Three of my housemates live in the room through the door on the far right. My room is through the doorway in the back right corner. The bathroom is next to my room. The living room is through the door on the far left, and you can just see the kitchen if you look through it.)

Our kitchen, which has a door leading to the back porch and yard.
My corner of the bedroom my roommate, Mary and I share.

God has blessed me with such a wonderful house full of girls who love Him and love each other. What a gift to live here! I'll only stay here until the end of July, however, when I'll move out to make room for other girls who have already requested to move in for the coming year. I know the Lord has plans for my August living arrangements, but I would appreciate your prayers for the fulfillment of His purposes in that area.

Ok, I need to balance my checkbook and do some other work before bed. Work starts early! With almost a week under my belt so far, I can honestly say I truly enjoy my job and the company community. Similar to my time in Granada last year, I have moments throughout the day when I realize I'm actually an employee of Academic Programs International (API) and I'm full of joy and awe all over again! I'll hopefully post a segment about my first week of training over the weekend so you'll get a sense of what I do.

Bless you, bless you. Thank you for praying for me, for supporting me, for calling and emailing and texting to ask how I'm doing here. Gratitude fills my heart when I consider how God has used each of you to guide and encourage me. You have loved me so faithfully, and so has He.

We'll be in touch,

Brittany