sizzling TEXAS!

Hola
Hi
Hello
Oh Hey from CLEBURNE, TEXAS, where it is a SCORCHING 108 degrees.

This part of Texas set a record HIGH today of 70 straight days of temperatures higher than 100, and apparently it doesn’t look like they’ll get any relief any time soon. It’s crazy. It was 71 degrees in Clarksville when I left Sunday, and when I looked up the seven-day forecast for Dallas I ABOUT DIED. Holy smokes. I mean, it’s September.

ANYWAY. 🙂 I really love my job. Have I mentioned that lately? Because I really do. I am also really exhausted, which is why I’m comfortable in Starbucks right now sipping a frappachino (sp?) to get some kind of caffeine (I don’t really drink “normal” coffee or soda – but I NEED caffeine!).

The past few days have just been awesome. Woke up Sunday, flew to Dallas (btw – flying on 9/11 was like flying any other day. Nashville airport was totally on top of their TSA game), and vegged out for the day in Alvarado, TX. Have you seen my SWEET ride for the week? My conversation with the Hertz lady:

“You’ll be driving a Cube.”
– after five seconds of silence “I’m sorry, did you just say a cube?”
“Yep.” (With a smirk) “That’s okay, right?”
– another five seconds of silence, but with a smirk on my face as well “Absolutely!”

Hilarious. Loving this car. It’s so fun to zip around it. I’ve always joked about how goofy it looks, but it’s very roomy and drives just find. Tonya (mother-in-law) thought it was awesome. 😉 Speaking of her, I got to see her yesterday!! First time since Jenn’s wedding in May. She drove up three hours from Austin to spend the afternoon and night with me. We had a GREAT time – hung out at the hotel chatting and catching up, ate some good Tex Mex, and she got to watch me presentation a community event presentation (which she was in awe of!). We ended the night by falling asleep while watching Bachelor Pad. Such trash – whyyy do I love it so much? We had such a great visit, and I’m so glad that we’ve built such a good relationship. Love you, MIL! Thanks again for coming to spend time with me.

She asked me a great question yesterday, and the principal of the school I spoke at today asked me the same question – Do you enjoy teaching more or doing this (speaking for Rachel’s Challenge) more? That’s such a hard question for me to answer because the truth is that I just really, really love spending time with and investing in students. That’s probably my number one passion in life, and I never in my wildest dreams imagined I’d work with kids in this way.

Life is good right now. Jamie will be leaving Afghanistan in just three SHORT months for R&R (Yes, I am about to pee my pants with excitement! Attractive, right?!) and I’m working playing in new cities around the country for the next few months presentng the best message I’ve ever heard. My aunt Lynn started her chemo yesterday, and we’re glad! The sooner she started the sooner it’s over. We talked for about an hour the other day – she’s such a strong woman!! Please keep her in your prayers because no matter how strong she is, the chemo is still a tough, emotional process to healing.

My dad also got a new job – FREAK OUT! What an answer to many prayers. I’m so proud of him. He’s such a rockstar and an incredible role model.

Oh! I almost forgot! Want to mention my visit with AMBERLEE!! Ah we had so much stinkin’ FUN!! She came to visit me for a night last Thursday. I love visitors, especially when they are my best friends!! We did some wine tasting, lots of wedding talk (hers is in six months!!!!!!), some walking at the beautimous Clarksville Greenway, and just some good ‘ol catching up and giggling like we’re 10. Thanks for coming to visit, Amber! Meant the world to me!

xoxo –
Erica