Love Where You Live

Earlier today I stumbled across this article, which got me thinking about if/why/how I have been loving my city. I'll be honest, when I first moved to Dallas, I hated it... mostly because it wasn't Houston. But now that I'm going on two years in the Big D, I can honestly say I've grown rather fond of it... all the way down to the inconsiderate drivers, ridiculously hard to navigate highways and big hair (and trust me, just cause it ain't the 80s doesn't mean there isn't some big hair here). One of the most important lessons I've learned since being here is to find contentment and joy in all circumstances and seasons of life. Though I still mourn the loss of good Tex-Mex and being in close proximity to family/friends, I have found that the Lord is faithful to provide in all areas (literally and figuratively). I've grown to really appreciate His plans for my life, and I've learned that regardless of where I am, I am called to love my neighbors, my city, my church and my God. After all, Psalm 24:1 says that "the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein"!

So without further ado, here are some of the things I love most about Dallas:

1. My church. I know I probably drone on and on about it a lot, but I really do love my church. I can't wait to join a multi-gen homegroup in the fall so I can plug in with some non-DBU Village goers!

2. Cafe Brazil. My restaurant of choice simply because it's a DFW staple. It's a little trendy/eccentric, but I'm in college... isn't that what it's all about?!

3. The people. I've met some great people since moving here, and I know that if it wasn't for the Big D, our paths might never have crossed.

4. My school/job. Sometimes loving these two has to be a conscious choice, but they have provided me with some great opportunities and I have learned a TON of stuff since being here.

5. More seasons! I know I'm still not fully experiencing all four seasons, but since being in Dallas I've seen acres of red/orange/yellow trees in the fall, my first snow (like legit, "snow up to my knees" snow!) in the winter, tons of blooming flowers and green trees in the springtime (DBU basically puts 85% of our total revenue into our landscaping department), and of course the typical Texas summers...

6. Two words: STATE FAIR. I know gluttony is a sin, but there is something so right about fried PB&J.

7. Location, location, location. It has all the comforts of the big city, suburbs, country and ghetto all within a 30-45 minute drive!


And since seven is the number of completion, I'll leave it at that! At the end of the day, Dallas is a lot easier to love than I originally thought it would be. In fact, I'd completely understand if you wanted to move here after reading my super convincing list ;)