Time at the River

The weather in TX has been absolutely perfect.  Nice and cool in the morning, warming up to decent temps in the day, usually with a cool breeze.  We didn't get IN the river this weekend, but we did enjoy the weather and the company.  We ended up having a bit of a 15 year anniversary celebration of the first time we came down to the condo during our last year of college.  We stayed in the same condo, and even ended up driving by the dance hall we went to while we were here.  I was officially dubbed the "surrogate, prodigal daughter" of my best friend's parents, and I'm quite ok with this.  I love the fact that I'm a part of so many wonderful families.  

The lovely mat they got for the guest condo.

The view of the river.  There were some people who were staying at other condos who were actually IN the river, but we were a) not that adventurous and b) sans swim suits.

Besides, it was nice to just sit and talk.

My room in the condo - SUPER comfy bed.

The next day we went to Mass.  Here's my outfit - pants from Torrid, shirt from Zara in Korea.  I have to say, I like my shape these days.  The funny thing about weight loss is, when I'm dressed, I can see that I've shrunk but when I take a shower and look at myself in the mirror I still see me as big as I was.  I think it's because I'm fixating on those areas of me that have shrunk, but 'not enough' to my mind.  The games our brains play with us are RUDE!

Post-Mass, post-bfast coma.  She's so cute!!

We then went to her parent's house (known as the Stonehaus) and sat out back reading.  Their rocking chairs and such made for a very nice, super chill day.

I was enjoying as well.

The view of the back yard.  

I could write an entire ode to my Texas family.  These people accepted me when I moved down here, dealt with my awkwardness, enfolded me into their family, and loved me.  In the course of my time here, I also came to love them.  While we were at the river, I got to see extended family members - three aunts and an uncle - who were in town.  When we were leaving, Jess's mom almost made me cry when she asked "when will we see you again?!"  I invited everyone to WY this summer, since I'll be there too and I'd love to play tour guide for my state.  Being in TX has been such a big part of my life and part of what has made it so wonderful is the acceptance and love of my best friend's family.  I am well and truly blessed to have such a wonderful core of people in my life.  To have people that I love like my family in so many parts of the world is... staggering when I think about it.  I hope that I have been able to show them how much I love them as well, though I always feel that I fall short in expressing my feelings.  There were lots of hugs all around, great conversations, and a general feeling of well-being all around.  As much as things have changed in the past 2 years, it's amazing to me how much our feelings for each other haven't.  

Anyway, I had to share some of what we've been doing.  Lots of chatting with family, catching up, having GREAT food (I got my Papa Murphy's and my huevos rancheros), and just generally being with each other.  After a couple of years of painful solitude, being surrounded by the love and support of my TX families has been... incredibly overwhelming.  I missed this so much, and I don't think I really realized it.  It's amazing how looking back on the last 2 years has opened my eyes to how much I truly left behind.  There will be a post on this, I promise, it's just that I think I'm letting time let some of the bitterness wear off.  My job became almost unbearable there at the end, though I'm glad that I toughed it out (that stubbornness that I'm so famous for).  Much love to all, MUAH!  :*