inspiration and love from the heart of Texas

After Grace returned from her mission, we had the incredible opportunity to go back and visit that sacred spot and see firsthand the life she experienced there. It was emotional, inspiring, and full of the very best of Austin, Texas.

Gosh, there is something about Texas, and we got to experience it with our Texas girl.

Yes, she does feel “Texan” even after living there for only 18 months, and even wore a cowboy hat when she got off the plane for our grand post-mission reunion.

We only had three days, but boy oh boy, we packed those days chock full of everything we possibly could.

We visited all her areas – four of them, visited the most incredible people who she adores – and who adore her right back, and also ate the best food.

Man oh man, Grace was more excited about this opportunity than I think I have ever seen anyone excited in my life! She planned out all our minutes and we hit it all.

Austin, Texas in Three Days

(Missionary style:)

University of Texas LDS Institute

I loved landing in Austin, Grace’s body next to me just hardly able to contain the excitement. She was so worried our timing may not allow her to make it in time to catch the end of institute at the University of Texas. You see, she served there, and they meet for class on Thursday evenings. And oh! she wanted us to see it and meet “her” people at the little dinner they have all together after class.

But guess what? we did make it.

Drove through that gorgeous Texas sunset…

…and got there just in time to watch Grace get some crazy bear-hugs from all those students who love her, and leaders too.

Grace got to serve on campus at the University of Texas for six months of her mission.

That’s one-third of her whole mission.

And she felt like the luckiest girl ever to have that opportunity.

There’s something about serving with kids your same age I think, and in the same stage of life you are in.

Loved that her little note was still up there on the bulletin board (above left).

Texas State Capitol

We visited the state capitol:

This spot was also incredibly beloved by this girl:

And it lived up to the hype.

We thought about taking a little tour, but Grace already knew all kinds of amazing facts about that place, so we let her be our tour guide.

One fun fact: it is the biggest state capitol in all of the U.S.

Let’s take a look at some of the details:

All the governors of Texas lining those walls up there in the middle.

See on the above left even the lights have stars on them?

Do yourself a favor and google the Texas state capitol for more info. because I’m with Grace, it is pretty cool.

We took bird scooters all the way down South Congress…

…across the bridge and back across the other way to Grace’s other favorite spot in Austin: the public library.

The Austin Public Library

And with good reason because it is SO COOL, filled with floating staircases and cool art installations and a rooftop patio with beautiful views.

Delicious Texan Cuisine

Can’t forget the food…Grace took us to some delicious places including Texas BBQ. Terry Blacks with lines weaving in and out like we were waiting for a Disneyland ride and all kinds of yummy TexMex tacos:

The city skyline is so beautiful:

Barton Springs

We went to Barton springs, an icy cold huge swimming lake/pool made from a spring right in the middle of the city. With the skyline looming up as a backdrop.

Grace was dying to get in so the two of us joined everyone else and gloried in that icy cool water in the midst of that muggy city. Dave held out since we were in a rush.

Grace so so happy!

McKinney Falls State Park

McKinney Falls state park was a little bit of a let-down after that, not much water flowing, but we did find blue bonnets and got to do a little mini-hike so it was absolutely worth it.

Grace’s Mission President

Probably one of my top two favorite things: meeting Grace’s beloved mission president.

Honestly, you could just feel the love from that man for Grace, for all the missionaries, for the beauty of the gospel.

He took over an hour to sit and talk with us, answering all our rapid-fire questions about mission life and building Grace up so naturally and beautifully. His wife was out of town (helping a daughter who was getting married), but we felt so lucky we got to be with him!

H.E.B. Texan Grocery Store

Grace took us to H.E.B. which is a Texas grocery store Texans are extremely proud of.

Well, they are pretty much extremely proud of EVERYTHING and we loved being immersed in that Texas brand of pride.

A Visit to Buc-ee’s

Maybe Buc-ee’s was the highlight of the trip for Grace.

That place is crazy!

Grace was giddy to show us the ropes there between our visits, and it lived up to the hype that it is a crazy place I tell you! Hundreds of gas pumps and you can buy literally anything in the world in that place I swear! Every kind of food from cotton candy to brisket sandwiches to swimsuits/tshirts/dishtowels, etc. with the famous Buc-ee seal all over them.

We went to two locations and we even got to meet “Buc-ee” at both spots.

Can you even imagine??

HA!

Grace’s Texas “Family”

The city was all fine and dandy. I mean, we really loved it. But probably my very favorite thing was getting to visit the people who changed Grace’s life in so many ways.

Among the four areas Grace served in was a little Spanish branch in a military town and we listened, fascinated, to the stories of a couple of these families.

They just glowed with goodness.

And also with love for Grace.

And I will remember their stories for a very long time. Maybe some day I can share them (with their permission).

There is just nothing in the world like getting to meet people like that: people who have inspired your daughter in so many ways and loved and lifted her so much, and who she just loves so much right back.

Paddle boarding on Ladybird Lake

We got to paddle board on Ladybird Lake.

It was so beautiful and filled right up with hundreds of people with the same idea.

We paddled toward the skyline, away from the crowds and just took that perfect evening in, sun creating angel slides from the clouds, smooth ripples on the water, Dave and Grace paddling alongside me, it was magical.

The Bats on Congress Bridge

We went to watch the emergence of the bats on Congress Bridge, an Austin claim-to-fame.

All these kayaker’s were waiting too:

We stood on that bridge with hundreds of other bat-waiters and finally they started streaming out…an estimated 750,000 to one million of them, just blurs we could make out against the reflection of the moon and city lights in the river.

I’ll put that video on my Instagram story today.

University of Texas Campus

On our last day Grace gave us a mini tour of the UT campus before church at the institute building.

Church with the cutest kids, some she taught, others who taught her.

We also went to church in another area where Grace served filled with more incredible people:

We drove all the way to another little town where Grace got to serve…a very tiny and old one with most of the buildings for sale or closed up.

Here is main street:

We got to see the building on main street where they met for church:

(And wished we could have gotten there in time for that church service as well and to see all the people Grace loves there.)

But we did get to see the dog shelter where Grace volunteered and hear about all her other volunteer opportunities there (food bank on the right).

Reflections on Grace’s Mission Call, and How God is in the Details

As we drove back to the airport we all just marveled that Grace got to be in those four so very different areas surrounded by some of the best people in the world.

We had big eyes in awe that that spot, the Austin, Texas mission, has become such a sacred spot for our girl. And now for all of us.

We couldn’t help but think about the fact that Grace originally got called to serve in Uruguay.

In the middle of the covid pandemic.

And because of that pandemic, she got reassigned to serve in Austin.

Oh, we all thought it would be temporary. I mean, how long could covid last??

But time kept ticking away. And then, finally, Austin became her official mission about half way through.

It was a difficult to wrap our hearts around at first. But this girl made Austin her home. It was such a perfect match for our girl.

This right here was a match made in Heaven 😉

Missions are so incredible.

We are now Texas lovers forever!

Visiting our other missionarys’ missions

We got to visit Max’s mission shortly after he returned as well, which also led to visiting some of Dave’s mission, also in Taiwan. We also got to visit Claire’s mission in Australia.

• Taiwan!
• An Adventure In Taiwan (part 1)
• Part two of our Taiwan adventure
• THE END OF MAX’S ISLAND AND A “DOUBLE DAY” ON TO ELLE’S
• Visiting Sydney, Australia – Made Beloved by Claire’s LDS Mission