Love the one you're with!

I have been in Austin 251 days.

Yesterday, day 250, I sat in traffic for over an hour, our house was
vandalized by some teenage girl spray painting gang symbols all over
our street, hail and thunderstorms dinged my car and caused chaos all
over the city and some kids pulled up all of the supports holding up
my new flowers. I felt betrayed by this city!!

Today, I got to hang out with some new friends, stand around outside
and chat with my nieghbors, witmessed the most beautiful sunset and
discuss the joy of having the oppertunity to baptize two wonderful men
( my stepdad, Adolfo, and cousin, Jonathan) in Barton Springs this
past weekend- a Restoration Community first!! Overnight, (not
withstanding tornadoes and giant hail!) I am reminded that part of
what we are commanded to do is love our nieghbors; and probably our
nieghborhoods and cities too!

If I could write Austin a letter I think it would go like this:

Dear Austin,
I love you.
Or at least I want to love you.
And becuase you're people that God loves I will try not to complain
too much about the weather or roll my eyes in traffic, or refer to you
as "those crazy texans" or EVEN say to myself "But in California ____".
Austin, you are what you are- and you are beautiful and cool in your
own right.
Your people are now my people, I'm sorry it has taken me so long to
come around to the idea that this is my home.
I hope we can continue to become better friends!
Peace,
Lin