What I like about you

You really know how to dance! YEAH!!

Jk, that's an oldies song. But lately I've been thinking a lot about how much I DIS-like my current location, I thought it was about time that I switched gears and started appreciating what I DO like. I'm not completely miserable here in Big D, and I am truly going to miss LOTS of things about it. Because this is my blog, and this is what I do, I've compiled a list.

Things that I will absolutely miss about living in Dallas: (these are not in any order of importance):

• My apartment. I wish I could uproot this place and move it with me. I love the location, I love the space I have, I love that the kitchen cabinets just happen to blend perfectly with my blue and green dishes and green sofa. I even like having my landlord's family close by to keep an eye on things and have grown a little bit attached to their 3 sweetheart babies.
• Jogging in my neighborhood. I live in a quiet pleasant neighborhood and  people are always out running/ walking dogs/ riding bikes/ mowing the lawn, etc. I like feeling like I'm a part of this little community. Somehow getting in my routine jog makes living in Dallas feel a little less like a rat-race.
• Dinners at the Craddock's. Oh man, Sara and Brandon have been my life-savers in Dallas. They lived literally 1 minute away from me when we lived at the Village. Now they have their own house and they were the 1st people I called when my apartment got broken into. Sara has an entire grocery store supply of actual real people food in her freezer. Plus they're just all around good friends who I never tire of hanging out with. Which is probably why I constantly overstay my welcome and eat them out of house and home whenever I get the chance. Never-the-less, I always feel welcome at the Craddock's. I'm going to miss you so much! I can't start thinking about it too hard or I start getting teary.
• Knowing my way around. Might not sound like much, but I'm just now figuring out how to get around in this darned city and I don't like the feeling of not knowing where I am and where I'm going. Story of my life lately though. Figuratively speaking.
• Kasey Wilson. Kasey!!! I will just miss you so much! I will miss our random hang-outs that always seem to end in late-night heart-to-heart conversations, running events together, making Taco Soup, camping trips, planning camping trips, and now your wedding! I'm extremely happy for you and Nathan. I remember when we went on our last camping trip and you were so nervous about how Nathan hadn't responded to your facebook message :) Now you're getting married!!! It's encouraging to be a witness to how God's plan for you has unfolded this past year. I feel like I've made a life-long friendship, thanks for sharing your best friend with me, Erin.
• Being within a 5 mile radius of a Central Market, (2) Tom Thumbs, (2) Whole Food Markets, a Kroger and an Albertson's...I am pretty much never far away from mounds and mounds of food.
• Northpark Mall, Mockingbird Station, Lakewood Strip Mall, Preston Center, Snider Plaza, The Galleria....I may sound like a shopaholic but GOOD GRIEF, you cannot deny that this town has got some excellent shopping. This might make it on the "dislike" list as well because of all the money spending temptations.
• Having an income. NOT having a job, I won't miss that. But I WILL miss that bi-monthly deposit...
• Mallory and Jordan. My sweet little cousin Mallory, oh I will miss you! I've loved having you here close, somehow even if we don't see each other a lot, it's just comforting to know that you're here. I'm so proud of you and Jordan, I know it's ridiculous but I sometimes think it's just amazing that ya'll are old enough to be living on your own in the big city. To me you will always be my little cousin-friend :)
• White Rock Lake. I don't feel that I've taken full advantage of all that you have to offer, White Rock. But I love driving by you, and occasionally riding my bike or taking a jog about your shores. Mostly I like knowing that you're there, like a little bit of wilderness in the middle of all these manicured lawns and concrete.
• Ethnic appreciation nights with Ashley Ketchersid. This is a long standing tradition that will stand the test of time, I am confident. We're going to make it happen again before I leave this place, AK. You can bet your white butt. (Like how I censored that for my blogging audience?)
• Being near my buddies Leigh & Kelly. Oh, my life friends, you will be so missed! Sometimes you make friends in college who for whatever reason don't last. Leigh & Kelly are not those friends. I will miss being within driving distance of you both, but I'm not worried that we will make time to still get together no matter where life's road leads me. You are both so precious to me! And I'm so excited about Leigh's baby girl coming soon! She will be a welcome member of the group, I think I already love her :)
• The Village Church and Church friends. I feel so blessed to have found some really great church friends at The Village. It's a big church, and there is lots of diversity there, but somehow (by somehow I mean, by the grace of God), I found some great people who I can really relate to, and who have walked with me and grown together in our relationship with God. A lot of them have slowly dispersed this past year so it feels right that I should move on too. But we will definitely keep in touch and hopefully reunite someday! And I will definitely be keeping up with what God is doing there through Matt Chandler's podcasts. He is truly doing amazing things through Matt and the people in Dallas. If you haven't experienced it first hand you should really check it out. I'm allowed to plug on my own blog, right?