Hello, Nashville...

We're not friends.

No, really. I'm serious. We're not friends, and I'm not impressed. You're like that girl in high school that everyone says is awesome and so popular, and I just don't get it I don't see what they see. So, for now, and I'm just being authentic here... We're not friends.

I promise, I'll try. And, honestly, I haven't given you a fair shot since I've never crossed into the Nashville city limits...I will. I promise. But south Nashville...sigh. It's just ok. There's nothing grandiose or amazing. Parts are pretty. I see that. But mostly, I think you might be full of hype. Which is funny because everyone I tell says, "oh, I LOVE Nashville!!" Or they at least know "someone who lives there" and they "love it." What? What is it they love?

I'm going to pretend I like you for now. LIKE YOU. Like I like eggs. They're good for me. I crave them sometimes. But mostly, they require some serious accoutrements to make them palatable anytime before 1am at a Waffle House after one too many drinks. And even then, I'm there for the hashbrowns... Scattered, smothered, and covered.  

Just so we're clear... We're not friends.

We're moving to Nashville!

After what seems like a long, drawn-out process, we're moving to Nashville. My husband has been transferred... promoted... and, of course, we're going with him. But that means, packing up our house, prepping to sell it, and then waiting it out. All with two young kids.

Hard stuff ahead...

And I'm hoping to write about it... along with other musings I'm sure. Mostly because I do like to write, and I just haven't. I could give you excuses like my kids, my house, I'm just plain busy, but the truth is, I just haven't tried. Not enough "umph" to make a real go of an actual blog. I get things pretty much half written and then I just teeter out. It's probably called passion...and I don't have it.

But we'll see. They say sometimes if you just DO something and throw yourself into it, things fall into place.

So, here I am.

Where you go, I will go...

Every year, I think about our wedding vows and embrace their meaning immensely more than the year before. It's amazing how a few short words can mean even more today than they did nine years ago. We have grown up in so many ways.

Where you go, I will go. Where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people. And your God will be my God. Taken from Ruth 1:16

Go...I've learned I can't go with you if I don't trust you. I trust you. There are times when I haven't, and we have failed miserably. 

Stay...I've learned I can't stay with you if I'm not willing to wait out the storm. There are times I've gotten wet. Soaking. And you've taken me in and offered warmth.

People... I've learned so much about people. Your people. My people. I've learned we don't need a lot of people. Just the right people.

God... I've learned the placement of God is so intentional here. He's not an after-thought. He's the anchor. Go, stay, and people are hard. But even when I haven't trusted, haven't stayed, and haven't chosen the right people he takes me in an makes the adjustments to my heart. We simply wouldn't have survived without Him.

I feel like these words foreshadowed our marriage. I never knew I'd need them so much. But I need them daily.

Happy anniversary. I love you.