Living in Community

Our church is preaching a series on community (click here to listen) and it really has me thinking of how much God has blessed my journey in Austin, so I wanted to share that with you...

I grew up in a small town in east Texas where all of my immediate family was, at most, thirty minutes from my parent's house. I assumed I would live there my entire life and my children would grow up there. I would marry someone from the same town, or at least only a few towns over, my children would go to the same schools I did and my childhood friends would be our family friends. It is funny how God often has different plans.


My Family

When I graduated high school, I had my heart set on attending The University of Texas at Austin (HOOK'EM), so I moved to Austin that fall. I was miserable. Maybe because I was in an honors chemistry program while majoring in pre-med and I had never even really studied before. Maybe because for the first time I was on my own and my roommate situation wasn't the greatest. It could have been that I went from a super conservative town of a little over five thousand to an ultra liberal town of over one million. But mostly it was because my family was not there. I could not see them everyday, or every week for that matter, and it was hard. After that first year, I was still determined to move back and live as close to my family as possible.

But the next year things began to change.  I did not miss my family any less, and I am convinced I never will, but I did began to to warm up to Austin.  Not because anything in Austin changed, although I did change my major, but because I found my three best friends and began to develop a community here.  These girls have seen me at my worst and best over the last eight years.  They continue to love me, pray for me, encourage me, and just live life with me.  God has only strengthened our bond, even in the midst of our lives starting to drastically change, and I am so very grateful. 

Fantastic 4 Then

Fantastic 4 Now

L had a similar college experience, in the way that he developed some pretty amazing relationships with friends. When I met him I was overwhelmed with this group of guys and how close they all are. The way they are intentional in spending time with one another and being there for each other. I am grateful to be in a marriage were my husband has such a great support system and I am so blessed to know them and their wives!


Some of their group at our wedding

When we got married, we started trying "young married" community groups from our church, in order to form community with couples like us. Our community group now meets weekly and is such a tremendous blessing to us. They too live life with us daily in Austin. We comfort each other and provide, because for most of us, we understand that family is not as close as we would love for them to be. So we become that as much as we can and love on each other. We strive to love like Christ would, we serve, we pray, we have FUN! 

In starting this adoption journey, we once again sought out a community we could travel this journey with. Our adoption group meets a few times a month and has become such a wonderful blessing. We are all traveling a journey that requires much prayer, patience, and encouragement and I could not imagine going through this without them. They are a constant reminder of God's purpose for this life and how to unselfishly loves others.

And finally, last summer, we did have some family move to Austin! L's cousin E and his wonderful wife R moved here. We were very excited, but I honestly underestimated what a blessing God was giving me. R has become one of my best friends and accountability partner. She is a beautiful example of a wife, Jesus lover and friend. God continues to bless our friendship in unexpected ways.

E and R

So through all of this I have come to love Austin. I have also learned to love Austin's knack for music and food. I have learned that Austin is beautiful and I hope that God wants us here forever. The community we have here is unlike anything I have experienced. It supports us and makes us more Holy for Him, which is our ultimate goal.

Dowtown Austin

But there is still that ever so strong longing that comes over me ever time I drive back to east Texas to visit my family. A longing to be able to drive over to my parent's for dinner on a random night, a desire to be able to see my family so much more - because nothing in the whole world will ever replace the feeling of being close to them. However, in all this, I know God has blessed this journey and will continue to do so. 

So, wherever you are, whatever you are doing, make sure you have community. It is what we were made for and will change your life. Jesus did it and we should too.