Last week got off to a rough start. A funk enveloped me and I wasn’t sure I was going to find my way out.

Moving can be hard. A thirty-fifth birthday can be hard. Together they became the double whammy that did me in…at least for a couple of days.

But sometime Wednesday morning the tide turned. And instead of grieving faraway friends, failed attempts at romance, and fruitless dreams, I started seeing the love that I often take for granted.

It was everywhere once I just opened my heart wide enough to see it, and receive it.

A hijacked blog. Love.

A Facebook wall and Twitter feed full of familiar faces sharing their birthday greetings. Love.

A Skype call with my three favorite nieces. Love.

Not one, or two, but three beautiful bouquets of flowers. Love.

A leisurely birthday lunch with a team of co-workers. Love.

A post-Rooted birthday tapas celebration. Love.

The perfect birthday dessert, a “colossal cupcake” from Crumbs. Love.

A weekend with a dear friend I’ve known for the better part of the last decade. Love.

Everywhere. Love.

Even in  the suddenly dulled aching of my grief. Love.

As my sweet friend Ann Voskamp says, “All’s grace.” Yes. Love is near. We just need to open our eyes, and our hearts, and delight in Him and His gifts.

Where have you seen Love lately?  

Hi. Trisha Davis here…

Today I decided to hijack Lindsey’s blog! Because I have moved thirteen times and because I may have dubbed myself  “Queen of Moving Land” if there was such a place. Moving is that season of life where normal no longer feels normal. A season in which familiar is replaced by unfamiliar and “remember when” is no longer spoken. But like all seasons, this season of moving will come to an end and before long normal, familiar and “remember when’s” return.

So while Lindsey is still in the thick of her season of moving I thought her online community could be her normal, her familiar and her “remember when’s” because today is…

Lindsey’s Birthday!

So will you join me today to give this birthday girl the best online birthday party ever? (Remember I’m the queen and if you don’t it’s off with you head)

I’ll go first… Happy Birthday Lindsey! You are a gift and I thank God for the way he has used you in the life of my family, friends and church family. I’m thankful that you have taught me new words that one day Jesus will want to talk about with me. I hope your day is AWESOME!!!

In an effort to begin checking things off my insanely long California bucket list, Saturday night I ventured out with some friends to the LA Galaxy game. It was my first soccer game since I saw “Tatu” play with the Dallas Sidekicks. {I know. I am probably dating myself. But there is no hiding it anyway. I am 35. Or at least I will be Wednesday. Ugh. Pardon my digression, I’m pretty sure it is just another symptom of my old age.}

Back to the soccer game. Or actually back to what my ears bleed during the soccer game.

Two male contemporaries sat directly behind us. And for an hour or so they grated on each of our nerves as they loud-talked about marathoning. One of the men had completed several races. And the other was just beginning his training.

It wasn’t ONLY the deafening decibal at which they spoke that made them annoying. It was also the way in which they conversed with each other.

One spoke without listening. One spoke dropping big words and accomplishments so that he appeared uber-knowledgable. One spoke overstating his meager skills so he might fit in. One gave half-hearted yet wholly-unconvincing assurances. One spoke with an air of superiority. One spoke with a hint of insecurity. And they both took themselves, and their running, way too seriously.

The unease during their exchange was so apparent, it united me and my friends in a mix of agitation and hilarity. But as I reflected back on it this morning, I wondered if someone, anyone, might overhear some of my conversations and observe the same lame conversation skills.

Yep. I fear they might.

And so this is the song I sing, the prayer I pray,

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

And may I not sound like the foolish idiot I regretfully am time and time again.

Have you witnessed, or displayed, any lame conversation skills in recent memory? 

I left Nashville four weeks ago today. And my transition for the most part has been surprisingly smooth.

That doesn’t mean that I don’t have mornings, like this one, where I wake up aching to turn the clock back four weeks and relish in a place that I know and that I feel known.

That is the hardest part about moving…the constant uncertainty. That everything, and I mean everything, is new.

Don’t get me wrong, I love exploring. I love meeting new people. And I love an adventure.

But there are days when I just want to know the fastest way to get from point A to point B. There are days when I just want to be able to stroll into church on Sunday morning and see more friends than strangers. There are days when I just want to savor old routines instead of going through the hassle of establishing new ones. And mostly there are days, when I just want to know and be known.

Have you moved? What did you think was the hardest part?

So I live in California. {I know. I know. You know. And you are frustrated with how long it is taking for me to come to the realization.}

You probably know this too but I’m going to say it anyway. There are a lot of cool things to do in California. And about every day or so I hear myself saying, “I want to go there. I want to do that. I want to see that.” So I decided it was time to start what I’m calling “My Oh-S0-Ambitious California Bucket List.”

Here’s what I have got so far.

The amusement park list.

Disneyland
California Adventure
Knottsberry Farms
Universal Studios
Six Flags Magic Mountain

The night-out list. 

Watch Improv at Groundlings
See a Show at Hotel Cafe {preferably to see Joshua Radin and/or Cary Brothers}
Movie at El Capitan
Concert at the Hollywood Bowl
Grauman’s Chinese Theatre

The museum list. 

Getty Museums
MOCA
LACMA

The daytrip list.

Beverly Hills
San Diego
Malibu
Venice
Santa Monica

The weekend getaway list.

San Francisco
Santa Barbara
Palm Springs
Santa Ynez Valley with a meal at Cold Spring Tavern
Big Bear and/or Mammoth
Hurst Castle

And of course, the food list.

Organic Eats at Food Lab in Melrose
Italian Food at Girasole in Larchmont
Sausage at Wurstkuche
Noodles at Orochon Ramen
Waffles at Bruxi
French Dip at Philippe’s {because Jeremiah said I had to}

But I need your help.

What am I missing? What are the other California must-sees and must-dos? 

I said my last goodbye and pulled out of Nashville eight days ago. And it still hasn’t hit me that this isn’t some supped up vacation.

I have been in Orange County since Wednesday, but haven’t even begun to get settled. {I know what you are thinking. I should be settled by now. I’ve had days. And you’ve seen my twitter stream and are well aware that I have been running around Southern California footloose and fancy free. But don’t judge me, it’s difficult to get settled when your stuff, and your car, are on a semi-truck somewhere between here and there.} Instead for the last week, I have been crashing with friends and living what I’ve deemed “the surreal life.”

My friend Allison flew down from San Francisco and we had a wonderful couple of days exploring Orange County. We strolled through Newport and Laguna. We ventured out into Newport’s Back Bay on standup paddle boards. {No, I didn’t fall in. Well, I didn’t fall completely in.} We made our way down to Dana Point to have a cocktail al fresco at the Ritz Carlton. {The view and the ambiance was definitely worth the extra $5 I paid for my drink.} We ate fish tacos and poke at Bear Flag Fish Company. And we hung out with a host of welcoming Californians.

Yesterday, Allison flew home and I caught my first service at Mariner’s Church. While on the outside Mariner’s looks and feels so different from Cross Point, I love the heart of the church. Like Cross Point, they believe that real life transformation happens in community and so they make it a top priority. I’m really looking forward to getting rooted there.

All my loot should arrive sometime later this week and I’ll be ready to get to work. Truth be told, living “the surreal life” has been nice, but I cannot wait to sleep in my own bed, start my new job, and begin establishing a few healthy routines.

What have you been up to this Labor Day weekend?