Whataburger

Ben and I had our first true Texas experience at Whataburger this last week. It's a big deal down here in the Lone Star State.

Whataburger actually started right here in Corpus Christi, Texas, by an entrepreneur named Harmon Dobson. The idea was "to serve a burger so big that it took two hands to hold, and so good that after a single bite customers couldn't help but exclaim, 'What a burger!'" Served on nothing other than Texas toast, I will say that the burger was definitely big, but then of course everything is big in Texas!

While it didn't leave me proclaiming "What a burger!" , it was a fun to experience a little bit of Corpus Christi's culture.

The life of an intern

We filled up our trunk with food for a big BBQ RUF is hosting on campus tonight! We bought over 80 pounds of just meat! Ben and I really felt like interns when we loaded up the CRV and drove away with a full car. I guess this is just intern life.

It's going to be fun and I'm excited to get to meet more of the students here at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi tonight! Hopefully I'll have more pictures of the event to share soon.

We made it!

Well, we made it to Texas and this week marks the beginning of the semester at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

We have been blessed to be able to stay in a wonderful house close to campus. While this may seem silly to some, the Lord providing us this house is a constant reminder of his faithfulness in our life as well as confirmation of our ministry here.

The trip itself was LONG. By the end, when we were driving through Texas (which took almost an entire day), I called up Ben and told him I had nothing else to think about and with no scenery around me (everything is SO flat in Texas) I was loosing my mind! I will be avoiding the drive back to Virginia for as long as I can! If you have any extra frequent flyer miles, let me know!

Thank you all for praying for safe travels! I am thankful to report we had only one flat tire and that the rest of the trip went without a hitch. Driving in and seeing the water was surreal. I knew that Corpus Christi should now be what I called home, but emotionally, I'm just not ready for that yet.

The first week felt like vacation. Ben and I got to spend a lot of time together getting to know the town and settling in, and for that I am thankful. I don't know if I could have faced that first week alone.

As for a church, we have found a wonderful home church in Southside Community Church. At this point, I don't think any other church can live up to the expectations I now have of hospitality. Ben and I were "pounded" (don't worry mom, we weren't given a good beating). "Pounding" is an old southern tradition that welcomes new pastors or missionaries to the church with non perishable items. The term "pounding" stems from when standard grocery items were sold by the pound. It was so sweet of everyone to provide for our needs before they even had seen our faces!

Now it's week two, and reality is setting in. Even with all of the kindness bestowed upon us from our church community, moving to a new place is still so lonely. Ben has gotten swept up with his new job and is enjoying meeting new people and doing what God has called him to do, but I'm working from home, and missing the old routine with familiar faces and places. I'm a person that enjoys knowing what's next, knowing my surroundings and planning for the future. I can't prepare for anything here. I don't know what's next. I don't even know the directions to the grocery store! But, I do know that the Lord has brought us here and He will provide for all of our needs.

Last day at Liberty

Today is my last day working at Liberty University. I can't believe this is actually happening. After two years, I can't believe I am saying goodbye. I am thankful for my time at Liberty. So many friendships and memories at this place.

It's still surreal.

I guess this means Texas is really happening. It still feels like a dream. 

Ocean City 2013

Every year my family heads to Ocean City, New Jersey for a family vacation.

Ben wasn't able to make it due to RUF training in Atlanta, so it was just the five of us enjoying one last Cornfield family vacation before the big move. Our time was filled with lounging on the beach, morning runs, Browns donuts, putt-putt, family dinners, and some much needed quality time. I'm missing it already!

I love my family!

Time flies when you're....moving to TEXAS

Seriously. What has happened over the last few months? Even I can't really answer that. Ben and I found out we're moving to Texas and we've been coping with that impending change ever since. To be honest, I've been coping (think crying, screaming and gnashing of teeth) while Ben has been more excited than ever to live out his dream of ministry. I don't know why I'm being so dramatic about the whole situation. Please do not feel sorry for me. When I married Ben, I knew ministry was part of the picture. We even talked about RUF (Reformed University Fellowship) and someday participating in that ministry together. "Someday" is the key word here. I never had to think about the reality of what getting a job with RUF would mean. Ministry together doesn't sound that bad. In fact, serving the Lord, working together, sharing the Gospel with college students...well, that sounds idyllic. But this is the reality of all those dreams coming to fruition: We are moving across the country. Fundraising. Leaving behind friends and family. Changing jobs. Moving from the known into the unknown. And it's scary!  I felt the pressure to put on a happy face and tell people that I'm excited to move and that Texas sounds exciting and wonderful, but that just isn't true.

So for the past few months, I've been processing and coming to terms with what this move means. And in all my pouting, pessimism, doubting, and frustration (Texas...really Lord?) the Lord has been more faithful than I could have ever imagined. 

There is just so much more to process, stories of answered prayer to be shared, fundraising to be done, boxes to be packed, but this is happening! We're moving to TEXAS to work with RUF.

When I first started this blog, I had no idea that this is the story I would one day share, but here I am, talking to you about Texas and RUF. And, while it has taken me a while to come to terms, I am getting a little excited to move (only a little. Don't buy me cowboy boots just yet). 

Pending fundraising, we are trying to move on August 19. We still have about $5,000 that needs to be in the bank before we can leave, so keep praying with and for us during this transition. Hopefully I'll be a little more faithful about blogging and keeping you up-to-date as this whole transition happens.

Saturday

Ben and I stumbled upon live music in Old City Cemetery this weekend. It was a happy providence.