Texas, Our Texas

It seems that all we've been doing lately is traveling. It has been a beautiful gift for us since all of the traveling we typically do is for work or holiday trips to see family. We've been cross-country traveling, thanks to the generosity of some close friends and their extra time share points, and have had the privilege to see parts of the country we had never seen before. It has been absolutely breathtaking. But every plane ride home, when we glide over those wide open spaces that are Texas, I can't help but feel at home.
This is a "pump jack" for you non-Texans. Oil and cotton...if there were a cow in this picture, it would be a portrait of what pays for 99% of our state economy. You know in movies when they talk about riding off into the sunset? They're talking about Texas...

The greatest part about this picture to me is that when I look at it, even though it is stunning, I realize it is one of the least vivid sunsets we have around here. God really shows off around here come dusk.

I remember as a little girl, riding my horse to the local country store to get candy, or to visit a neighbor. I remember playing hide and seek with the new foals in the barn, and having a goat actually eat my homework. It wasn't always like that, and many of my friends never owned livestock. But for me, the childhood memories this state has allowed me are ones I revisit when the rush hour traffic, parking lots and busy schedules begin to suffocate me.

It's not the only great state. It's not a perfect state. But it's my state. And I'm thankful to call it home.