Life in Augusta: "That's where they have the Masters!"

Well, it seems like my average time between posts is about three months.  Maybe that will change someday... but I'm not making any promises!  I usually feel like I should "catch up" on posts, but I'm going to give up on that and just start with where we are right now... and we're in Augusta, GA!  We've been here since the end of June, so we are learning the area and making friends.  When we found out we were moving here we would usually get one of two responses when we told people we were going to Augusta.

One was: "Oh, yeah, that's great!  That's where the Masters is held!"
The other:  "Augusta?  Why?  Is it for military or medical?"

After a few times, I learned that if they answered the first, that meant they had never been to Augusta.
The second response meant that they had been there for more than just Masters week. haha.


Yes, the Masters is here (I pass Augusta National almost every day)... and one week out of every year it is a tourist destination.  The other 51 weeks it is an old Southern river city during an economic crisis.  It wants to be revived, and has great potential, but is resistant to change.  People move here for two reasons:  Military (coming to Ft. Gordon) or Medical (coming to the medical school or to work at one of the many hospitals).  There are also those who have lived here forever (old money) and don't know why anyone would want to leave, those hit hard by the bad economy and struggling to make it, those trying to revive the downtown, and students at ASU or Paine College. I also don't know how many people have told me "yeah, we were only planning to stay here are year.  Now its been [insert number way beyond one]."  Oh, and there are the gypsies.  Yup, there's a gypsy community.  I still haven't seen it, but I will let you know when I do, haha!! 

There isn't as much to do in Augusta as in the Triangle and there are no white sandy beaches like in Sarasota, but I'm learning to appreciate what is here.  After being in Florida for a year, I enjoy seeing a little bit more change of season... cool mornings and evenings.  I am teaching dance again and that is wonderful!   We took a day trip to Savannah/Tybee Island.

A couple pictures from Savannah!

We enjoy spending time with Steve's co-workers, as well as friends we have made in church and in our neighborhood. Augusta is also close enough to drive back to NC for the weekend.  I was able to go up for both Joy and Julie's baby shower and I will be able to go up next week after my new niece is born! 

Steve and his co-residents when we all went bowling

Springtime in Florida! Part I

They don't call it "Season" for nothing. 

We had someone visiting seven weekends between March 1st and May 31st. It was so much fun and I never uploaded pictures... so I'm going to do a few posts of pictures from our last few months in Sarasota.  After that, I'll introduce you to our new home!

First, Jo came for spring break!!

[pictures forthcoming]

Second, Dan, Joy and the little girls came!!

 Yummy Gelato!

 Gotta love the St. Armands Circle statues, haha!

my job

This is where I work... on the 8th floor:

One of the advantages of working for a food company... free lunch.  One of the best things about working for BH: all the meats, cheese, and condiments are gluten free, so I just have to bring my g-free bread.

I love the fact that my office building is right in downtown Sarasota.  It is only 5 minutes from home and there are great places to walk and sit during my lunch hour!  Right behind the building is a little courtyard with tables and benches, I usually try to eat out there if it is a nice day.

However, eating out there means sitting right next to the constipated sumo wrestler...

I enjoy my job... I mean, it has its moments and there can be a lot of drama sometimes at this office.  My co-receptionist compared our position to a hairdresser or bartender.  We are the sounding board for everyone to share their joys, trials, complaints and frustrations (usually the last two)... . . Employees or guests come by and talk and and we can't get our of listening because we can't leave, haha.

Abide

Recently I have been feeling that I am not bearing fruit as a disciple of Jesus. I felt like I had lost the vision that I had a few months ago of God's purposes, I was lacking faith for what He was doing in and through and around me.  I was on a plane yesterday thinking about this and the Spirit of God spoke to me with the words of Jesus from John 15:  "Abide in me... and you will bear much fruit."

Abide.

That single word kept coming back.  He did not say "work harder" or "try harder", but abide.  Dwell in Jesus, spend time with Him. Listen to Him, live in Him. 

I had a lot of time sitting at the airport waiting for flights yesterday and this song was constantly coming to my mind... the first verse and chorus were all I could remember, but I just kept hearing it in my head, so today I looked up the rest of the lyrics.  (side note:  whenever I think of this song I hear Joe Jackson's voice singing it)

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,

And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.

Oh, the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!

There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.

There is no friend like Jesus.