Dallas Days

'So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows' Matt 10:31

Song for the day: The Gentlemen - I'm Not Leaving. A tune from our teens! The days when long hair on guys was cool...

Hi Friends & Family,

For much of this last week we have been ‘on holiday’. At the beginning of the week we were camping in extreme heats out past Fort Worth and just wanted to relax. I’m now reading my forth book this trip and Jimmy has listened to umpteen sermons and podcasts and is on his second book for his summer reading list for September. We’ve been in the pool a lot as well!

Last Saturday we took a trip into Weatherford for their Annual Peach Festival. ‘Peach Festival?’ I hear you say. Yes, lots of peaches. Peach juice, peach ice cream, peach cobbler and just plain old peaches.

We parked up at a shuttle stop and were taken into town in one of those classic American yellow

Weatherford Peach Festival

school buses. After being given a hand fan in the shape of a peach (surprise surprise) on the way in, we wandered through four blocks of endless food stalls from all over the world and craft stall after craft stall covered in more wooden crosses than you could shake a stick at. There were also three stages with local country musicians playing throughout the day. It was hot, very hot. And not totally interesting if you’re not keen on peaches. So we tried some peach ice cream and sat in the shade to do some people watching. One thing that helped with the heat that I haven’t seen in England before (maybe because I’m not a festival girl) is a mist tent. Just a small gazebo with an automatic water spray and a fan. If there isn’t a pool handy, walking through those is the quickest way to cool down.

That afternoon the humidity and heat hit an all-time high so we went out for dinner and to the cinema to see the new Transformers movie. You have to get creative to find places with AC, right now I’m writing from a mall in Dallas with free wifi and parking! But now we’re hiding from the rain, not sun. (Quick tip for Transformers fans – the first hour or so is good, then it just gets crazy pointless. And you will encounter a very strange Irish accent by a guy who was actually raised in Ireland but sounds like he’s been hanging out with Americans too much.)

On Sunday we had our first visit to The Village Church where we will be worshipping for three Sundays and on the welcome team. We are also popping in two mornings a week to help out with odd bits and bobs that need doing around the building. The Village Churches lead teaching pastor is Matt Chandler, we often listen to his sermons online back home. The Church we are visiting is a

satellite church so each week the church gathers, has a live introduction and music and then Matt’s message is played up on a screen. We thought it would make a difference to the congregations’ responsiveness but it doesn’t appear to. When he did a hand raising exercise to demonstrate a point people lifted their hands, when he made a joke they laughed. It still feels like a normal service. We do intend to visit Matt’s home campus sometime just to see what it’s like but we don’t have to miss our own service because they run once on a Saturday and three times on a Sunday. Everyone we have met so far has been really kind and welcoming. One of the members is also a local weatherman we’ve seen on TV!

Speaking of weather, it’s been pretty unpredictable here. I’ve seen some pictures of the storms back

Fountains at Sundance Square

home but here when the thunder booms you can feel it in your seat. We went into Walmart to pick up a few bits and as we got to the counter and looked outside we couldn’t even see the first row of cars because the rain was so heavy… Scary. Hence we upgraded from the tent to a cabin for a few days. Luxury!! Loved the cabin!

We’re currently couch surfing with a family right near central Dallas. Yesterday we spent the afternoon in Fort Worth, laughing as dozens of kids’ splashed through Sundance Square fountains screaming their heads off.

Love Shack

For the evening we drove further north to the Cowtown Coliseum for the Stockyards Rodeo. After grabbing a quick dinner at the coolest little bar called ‘Love Shack’ that was set up squashed between two shop sides with live music we filed in to find some seats in the Coliseum. With the pleasant whiff of farm yard manure in the air we settle in for the two hour show.  It was fantastic! Real life cow boys with beautiful horses and those crazy bulls! The true Texan experience.

Stockyards Rodeo!

Today was pretty exhausting because we walked alllll over Dallas. Old Red Museum, JFK Memorial, Dallas Museum of Arts… we saw an original Monet! Then for lunch we stopped at House of Blues. (Remember that from Freaky Friday?!) A very surreal part of the day was walking by the road where JFK was assassinated.

After all of that, we just came home to rest weary legs. Looking forward to the Village Church tomorrow!

Love love love  J&J x

p.s there’s a Lush store here in Dallas, all the way from little old Poole :)