Hats off Houston

Alex and I have been spending the last week or so checking off a few of our favorite things in Houston... Here's what we've got so far on the docket!

We got an amazing New Orlean's style snocone at Mam's House of Ice (since it might be hard to find a good one where it actually snows!). We love this place and go quite a bit in the constant heat here in Htown!

We stopped by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo!

Alex found a very appropriate truck...

I got my beloved once-yearly corn dog...it was glorious as per yearly usual 

And we hit up our favorite Tex Mex in Houston at El Tiempo Cantina. Yum!

This this weekend we got to celebrate Easter and spend some time with our people...

Friday I got to spend the day wedding dress shopping with a precious friend and bride to be!

Saturday Alex rode his last bike race with his team through Bike Barn Houston

Then our precious amazing friends from our Sunday school class threw us a farewell party...it was the best and hardest moment thus far. These are our people (most of them pictured but not everyone! If you're missing you know who you are and know we love you!). This is our community. We love them dearly and they are definitely some of the hardest "see you laters" we will have/have had. We love you 3 Strand'ers. You're an unbelievably amazing group of people. Never stop being the amazing community you are. You are an unbelievable blessing and have been to us beyond what we could possibly express. 

Sunday came and we headed off to St Luke's United Methodist Church to attend our last Sunday of worship at our home church. We have attended St Luke's for years and have then been a part of The Story at St Luke's for the last year. We love our church home and I definitely cried through the majority of the service. If you are looking for an incredible church home in Houston - I would highly encourage you to try it out. 

Afterwards we got to have brunch with more of our fantastic church friends and then later dinner with my lovely family. I can't even start on how much we will miss our Texas family (although we know we are not too far away!)

Today I got to have dinner with (most) of my fantastic work team. We have been a solid little team for nearly 4 years now (although a few have moved and we have gained a few) but they are an amazing team. I will miss them tremendously. 

I am blessed. 

We are blessed.

"See you later" is really hard. 

Hats off Houston...we love you too. 

Here's to moving week! It's gonna be a crazy one! Stay tuned!

--Hannah--

A Good Friday

I love Good Friday.

Growing up we celebrated Easter like Christmas and I love it.

Easter brought and continues to constantly bring centering, remembrance and renewal in my life.

As we prepare for this Easter weekend - I have found myself struggling with "hanging on." Whether that's hanging on to my preconceived expectations, the material things I don't want to let go of or the people and places I don't want to be away from. It's been a week of lots of ups and downs.

Nonetheless - his joy comes in the morning.

The last few weeks- the Lord has really been working on me - in particular in anxiety, trust, and faith in his provision and path even when I don't understand. My little "Jesus calling" devotions have been on.point. and super touching to my heart. Yesterday's was so timely and really spoke to me in this time of trust and transition.

See what I mean? On point! 

I pray in this season of Easter remembrance we remember his promise to always be with us - even to the end of days and that through the passion he has overcome the world. 

Always. 

In all things. 

Amen. 

-Hannah-

Last Stands in Houston...

Well Friends...We've made a list and we are checking them off. More on that later! 

Highest on the list of things we have to say "see you later" to are all the friends we're leaving behind. That one will never be checked off. Our friends here in Houston have been our rock. Our support. Our life line. Countless times they have stepped up when either of us needed help. There is no simple way to thank them once for EVERYTHING they've done. If you've read any of Hannah's last blog ( www.bikeridesandboobies.blogspot.com ), you know the support we've received. 

The list is long of what has happened the last two years. I'll hit the highlights:

2014:

January- Hannah tests positive for BRCA 1 at MD Anderson

May- Europe Trip

June- Beach Trip

July - Hannah's double mastectomy

          First hospital "return"

August- Alex's first bike race win

October- Hannah's 1st round of reconstructive surgery

               Alex's trip to Norway

November- IM Sign-up

December- Alex voted racing team captain

                   IM training starts full swing for Hannah

2015: 

February- Ski Utah with Hannah's family 

                 Tyler&Meg's engagement

March- Apartment broken into

April- Car broken into

          Hannah hits peak weeks for Ironman training

May- Alex wins first major bike race

         Hannah's father dies in a motorcycle accident

         Hannah's 30th birthday

         Hannah finishes IMTX

         Alex upgrades to Cat 3

         We start looking for a house

June- We find a house

          Beach trip with Alex's family

          Alex's 31st Birthday

          Hannah's 2nd round of reconstructive surgery

          Hannah's Dad's funeral/memorial service

July- Alex goes for triple bypass in Colorado 

        Alex has ensuing Colorado Hospital visit from a bike crash and doesn't get to ride the triple bypass :-(

        House closing

        Alex's hospital follow ups

August- Move into new house

I'll let May-June-July settle in for a minute

As we continue...

October- First round of lay-offs at Alex's work

               Find out we're pregnant (surprise!)

              Tyler&Meg's wedding

November- Spread Hannah's dad's ashes

                   Share with families pregnancy

December- Hannah's grandparents move to assisted living

2016:

January- Alex is laid off from work

February- Job offer in Colorado

March- we put our house on the market

             begin relocation Colorado

That's a lot. And those are just the highlights! 

We wouldn't be standing here today if it weren't for our friends and family. It takes a village to raise a child, but that village never leaves. 

One of the hardest parts of this move is not only leaving our friends, but also leaving the children of my friends and missing out on their lives. For example, we have two couples with 5-year old children. Getting to watch their joyful innocence is wonderful. We were having a tough day on the same night one family was set to come over. But it was their joyful innocence and playful attitudes that we needed to calm our anxiety. Their parents weren't half bad company either. :D Weeks later after playing with their kids, I was told we made their night time prayers.

I do find comfort in knowing that we will find a new community. Houston won't be the only one we fit into. It doesn't make it much easier though to leave so many here that we love and care for so much. 

So, even though we know this would never be enough, if you are one of these precious people in our lives that has walked these last two years (and more) with us...THANK YOU. 

You will never know how much each and every one of you mean to us. We love you and we will miss you so much (even though we are only a short Southwest flight away! Come see us!). 

So there you go guys - our last 2 years in a very short nutshell. It's been a wild ride and we know our next move will only take us up from here (literally and figuratively!). Thanks for following along on our journey! Here we go!

--Alex

So we are moving....

Yep...moving.

Alex and I are picking up, packing up and headed to Denver, CO!

Can you believe it?!?

So welcome to our little blog. We will be using this to keep everyone up on our adventures as we transplant from Texas to Colorado!

Hope you enjoy!

Love,
Hannah and Alex