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?

Five years ago almost to the day, I got Molly as an early 30th birthday gift. I had been debating a dog but could never seem to pull the trigger. So the boy I was dating at the time pulled it for me. Molly was 4 months old with a shiny black and white coat and a head cock that could melt your heart in two-seconds flat. Unfortunately, she was a terrible puppy. A truly terrible puppy.

Almost everyday she did the unthinkable, she peed in her sacred space, her big black wire kennel. I’d rush home from work excited to bond only to find her bouncing around in a puddle of her urine. I’d have to toss her in the sink, bathe her, and towel her dry. Not to mention a thorough scrub down of the kennel and the utility room. It wasn’t just the peeing that made her so terrible. She was a barker. She was a jumper. And she got into everything. She especially loved to shred paper so it was quite convenient that I worked for a bookstore chain and had lots of books around for her to make into piles of worthless confetti.

I seriously debated getting rid of her. She wreaked havoc on my life those first few months. The boy who had given her to me didn’t stick around. But Molly did. And she bloomed into the best dog that ever existed. Ask anyone who has met her. Molly is the absolute best. {I am pretty sure as we pulled out of town last week, she left a bigger whole in the heart of Nashville than I ever could.}

A year later I was offered a new job in a new town. So I packed up my life and my dog and headed to Nashville. I will never forget snuggling up with Molls in my empty Sylvan Park apartment as we waited for the moving vans to arrive. We were going to tackle this adventure together.

And here I am today, 4 years later ready embarking on another adventure. Only this time it seemed selfish to force her to suffer through the turmoil of the transition. So I left sweet Molly with my parents for a month or two so I can get settled before adding a dog into the mix.

Leaving her this morning was absolutely brutal. It wreaked havoc on my heart like none of my other goodbyes. I know that she is in great hands. She will be living the high life with long walks, playful scuffles with my parents’ maltese Lily, and of course bountiful trips to the lake and the pet spa.

It is me that I worry about. Molly is my partner in crime. Molly is my alarm system. Molly is who I talk to so I don’t have to admit that I talk to to myself. And Molly is the warm body that lays her head on my crook of my leg as I settle down to sleep reminding me that I am not alone.

So can I ask you to pray for me as I embark on this journey without the comfort of my sweet pup?

And will you share with me a little about your favorite four-legged friend?

STORY is a conference for the creative class. The theme for 2011 is IMAGINE NATION which speaks to the power of spiritual imagination. In Exodus 35, the artist of Israel came together to build a dwelling place for God. They carved poles, fashioned gold, and constructed curtains “with cherubim woven into them by expert hands.” The job of these artists was to envision the kindgom and use their gifts to heighten peoples spiritual imaginations. An Imagine Nation.

Join a tribe of creative artists attempting to learn more about their craft, story telling, and imagination. One of the story tellers at STORY this year is Daniel Bashta. I first heard Daniel’s name associated with his popular worship song, “Like a Lion.” And I had no idea that Daniel and I had so much in common. We both have attended Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama. And we both have a heart for adoption. You won’t want to miss this short interview of Daniel.

1. What is your best personal definition of a STORY? 

For me a story is all about the struggle and the fight. It’s a personal journey to pioneer the unchartered. From something that was once dead we see fierce life and hope breathed into desolate dreams and made beautiful full of miracles!

2. What is one way you have found to grow or engage your imagination? 

I don’t want to limit myself just to what I am comfortable with. I believe we should always be evolving. If we are not evolving in our story then we are dying. For me dead creativity points back to a dead God. I want my expression to hold a huge spotlight on this roaring Jesus. Usually I will push myself to find new displays of something artistic to help spark something. I will also put myself in uncomfortable situations in order to start fresh conversations. I like to surround myself with other creative people that maybe don’t have the same theology or beliefs as me, but we both have an appreciation for the spirt of creativity . I believe throwing some tension  in the pot is a healthy thing. It forces us to fight for what we believe and for why we create.

3. In your experience what is the best nontraditional form or STORY telling you have seen, heard, or experienced? 

My wife and I have just gone through the miraculous adventure of adoption. There is a time in the process after the baby is born that the birth mom has to sign away her rights forever. When that day came I’ve never seen a signature tell a more selfless story. There are always two sides of every story. For the birth mother she was being so bold in wanting a better life for the baby. For my wife and I the signature meant that the story of our lives would forever be changed and that our son would have a name change and that there is nothing that can ever be done to change that. One signature told a story so reckless in love. The story of the Gospel was awakened in me like never before.

 4. If you could encourage a creative person with one tip on being imaginative what would you tell them? 

Be Unique, Be bold. For me the most stunning art is not flawless. For me true beauty comes from the grit, guts and blood within. Our culture has somehow dictated that we take all the flaws out, the very thing that sets us apart. My encouragement for every creative person is to unlock each unique calling that God himself has breathed into each of us. I believe the world will take notice when we represent the real creative story of who Jesus, the creator is, not some colored in the lines fairy tale.

5. What is one thing you are excited about sharing with the tribes attending STORY 2011? 

I don’t want to get too spiritual, but I am expectant that God will unleash dreamers out of the STORY conference. I believe He will awaken the dreams that have been dead for so long and we will stir up commotions in our cities from the beauty we create out of the reflection of who He is.

I’m also really excited that there are no late late night sessions…:)

If you’re a writer, filmmaker, artist, performer, entrepreneur, church leader, communicator, or other type of creative, you won’t want to miss STORY 2011. To register visit the STORY eventbrite page or if you need a little more information visit the STORY site.

The Moving Edition

Tomorrow morning I get on an American Airlines flight and head to Orange County to begin my new adventure. I am thankful that I will be greeted by a few familiar faces, that I have found a lovely place to lay my head {once my bed and all my stuff make their way}, and that I have a job that is sure to keep me quite busy.

Here is a quick list of things I have learned as I work my way through this transition:

1. I am terrible at goodbyes. Terrible. For the last two weeks, I have struggled to be present with some of my closest friends, to not allow myself to be distracted by the impending cross-country move, and it has been immensely difficult. How do you say goodbye to friends and mentors who have supported and championed you along the way? How do you leave a church that renewed your faith? How do walk away from families who have loved on you when you weren’t in a place to love yourself? Words don’t suffice. Finally Sunday after church and lunch, I got in my car, turned up the radio, pulled out of town and began to process through everything I was thinking and feeling.

2. Emotions are complicated. When we sit down and start sorting through what we are really feeling, we realize that the joy is right there with the grief, and the hope is right there with the fear. We need to give ourselves some time and grace to untangle them so that each is given the proper acknowledgment.

3. The world we exist in will naturally evolve in our absence. I realized this after making my last big move four years ago. Until that time, I operated under the freakishly naive assumption that my previous life would exist for me to step back in to whenever it was convenient for me. Not the case. I will change. My friends will change. My world will change. My friendships will change. Their friendships will change. Their world will change. I will never be able to go back and step into the same exact role I have previously played. But I will always be able to go back and meet everyone where they are.

4. As much as we try to invision our future, we have no idea what God has in store for us. Remember in January when I wrote this, I had NO IDEA {not even an inkling} that God would be preparing me for a move where I would do life day-in-day-out with these friends. I don’t think I can say it better than I said it then.

As hard as I try, as creatively as dream, I can not even begin to imagine what God has in store for me tomorrow, next week, or next year.

I know that there will be strangers who become friends, and friends who will become strangers. I know that there will be sadness and joy, love and heartbreak, death and new life. But I can’t begin to imagine the possibility that is in store.

So, here’s to 2011 and to a God who is weaving together a beautiful story that is simply and wonderfully unfathomable!

5. Road trips are for indulgences. And the ultimate indulgence de jour is the Nutter Butter Blizzard from Dairy Queen. I know that this seems a little out of place here but if you takeaway anything from this post, takeaway this…you need to indulge in a Cool Treat next time you pass a DQ. Life is too short not to.

What have you been learning lately?

PS – See you tomorrow California. Nashville, I miss you already! Thank you for being so incredibly wonderful to me.

The movers got here this morning and my stuff is being loaded on a truck to make its way to California. It all feels surreal. The last meals at all my favorite Nashville haunts, the lingering goodbyes, and the talk of a new job, a new life, in a faraway land.

Surreal.

As I try to make sense of it all, I keep thinking about the strange things that Californians say and wonder if someday soon these words and phrases will slip out of my mouth…

I am kind of sick of In-N-Out. Can we eat something else?

That earthquake was nothing. It was only a 5.2.

Be careful on the roads. It’s raining outside.

It’s freezing outside. {said in the winter when it hits 50}

It’s really hot and humid today. {said in the summer when it hits the upper 80s}

That wave was gnarly. {I am still not sure what gnarly means.  And is it good or bad?}

What should we do this weekend? Go to Disneyland? LA? San Diego?

What other strange things have you heard Californians say?