I’m sure that 2020 will go down in the books as a year none of us will ever forget. When the ball dropped to close out 2019, I don’t think any of us foresaw living through a pandemic. Now, I’m a pretty optimistic person, but I’ve had my days this year where I got in my feels and started putting my concentration and focus on things that didn’t “go my way,” instead of focusing on positive things. And friends, it just didn’t serve anyone well for me to dwell on the negatives. I couldn’t be a good wife or a good friend – and my husband and friends needed me. And when all else is uncertain, I know that my joy and my peace come from the Lord.
The positives
But, when I started focusing on the positives, there was so much good that I had been turning a blind eye to. To name a few, we met more of our neighbors than we had before. So many people were out with their families – riding bikes and walking with their kids. We made some new friendships in the neighborhood while everyone was out and about.
I was able to connect with some friends (and former sorority sisters) of mine virtually. We try to make an effort to connect via text, but I don’t think we have ever considered a Zoom call, but I’ve seen them several times via Zoom since March.
And one of the best things to come out of this situation (lemonade out of lemons – am I right?) is that Aaron and I have been more open and available to exploring things right in our own backyard. Now, we are pretty active people, but there are some outdoor spots around Houston we haven’t explored. Our old house used to be very close to Memorial Park (one of the largest parks in Houston). So, one Sunday, we decided we were going to explore their new Eastern Glades section. And I’m so glad we did. You can read all the details about it here, but in short, it’s a new section of Memorial Park.
Eastern Glades at Memorial Park
We parked off the Picnic Loop, and decided we were going to do the full walking loop to get the Eastern Glades. It’s just at 3-miles total. And WOW, it was incredible. It had only been opened for a couple of weeks when we decided to go, and it was beautiful. It has a massive lawn so you can bring chairs, adult beverages, a picnic…. Hines Lake has a great view at sunset. There are paved boardwalks around the lake.
When the weather is nice, this place is a must see. It felt like a small oasis in the middle of Houston. We live a bit further out, but we will definitely make it a point to go back frequently! So, I guess this is my way of saying to get out and explore your own backyard wherever that might be!
See you back here tomorrow,
Kira
