A Year In Laredo!

As of the beginning of August, we have been in Laredo for a full year.  It's hard for me to believe that we've been here for that long.  When I think back to when we first moved here, I remember a lot of anxiety and uncertainty about this place.  As the months trudged on, the anxiety dissipated, and I grew more at ease in my new surroundings.

I've been on an emotional roller coaster the past year.  I've had some ups, like when family would come to visit or we'd take a little family trip or I'd just have a special day with the kids.  And I've had lots of downs.  I'm sad to say that there have been more downs than ups for me.  There have been some hard things that have happened in the last year that I'm not really going to go into because they're very personal.  I made it through those hardships, though, and I did it with my husband by my side, and he continues to support me.  

His job has been a blessing to us.  I miss him when he's working long hours, and I miss him when he's home and so tired and out of it because he works so hard that he's not himself.  However, his job has given us opportunities we've never had before as a family.  His work is finally slowing down, and he's able to spend more time with us, and I'm really glad.

My kids have grown SO much since we moved here.  Look at this!

This is them in July of last year.

This is them in August of this year.

Look how grown up and handsome Evan is getting. And Lauren went from looking like a baby to looking like a toddler.  

My brother and his wife are moving down here in September.  I'm really excited about it.  They came to visit us to look for a place to live.  As we showed them around, I could see some of the same anxieties in them that I had when I moved here.  Scared to be far from family.  Worried about the culture change.  Missing the green trees.  That's a back yard?  Feeling stared at for being the only white person around.  Wondering if you're going to like it here.  Missing all the things you love about where you're moving from.  Wondering if you'll ever eat anything but Mexican food ever again.  Will my family be safe here?  Hoping you make friends. What if something happens back home, and I can't go?

Fear.  Fear of the unknown.  One thing that I have to constantly remind myself when I get down about living here and being so far away is that when we decided to make this move, we felt like it was the right thing to do.  We had a confirmation from God that we were supposed to move here, and for whatever reason, he wants us to be here.  And when I think of it like that, it helps a little bit to know that all of those fears will be taken care of if I just remember that and keep my faith in that decision and in God.

So now that I've been all philosophical and what not.  Let's do a bulleted list of fun.

• Even though my Spanish has improved since moving here, I still freak out a little when someone starts speaking to me in Spanish.
• After a year of living here, you stop counting how many white people are in a room with you.  And when you do see one, you're like, "What's that gringo doing here?"
• I'm still not used to people touching my kids' heads because they're blonde.  
• But I do like that Lauren gets lots of ooos and aaahs because of her light blonde hair.  :)
• Andrew gets a Mexican accent when he talks to his workers, and it makes me laugh.
• I was excited to plant vegetables and flowers, but the Laredo heat killed my dreams.
• I still get nervous when I have to pass through the checkpoint when I leave Laredo, and I say very dumb things.
• I'm afraid of the geese in our neighborhood.
• Evan and Lauren love to learn Spanish words, and I think it's adorable.
• Rain is a novelty, and I treasure it.
• I still love Mexican food.
• I still miss Grapico, but I'm okay with drinking Apple Soda, instead.  :)
• I'm still finding various objects in the shape of Texas.  The latest find: Texas Shaped Pretzels.  They were a big hit with the kids, especially the boot shaped ones.  Because everyone in Texas wears boots...  or something.

Well, that's all I can think of at the moment.  We've got one year down and several more to go!  Viva Laredo!