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? 

Tomorrow I am packing up my car and my dog and heading to Texas for three weeks.

Three weeks.

I haven’t spent that much time in Texas in the last ten years. And of course, I pick three of the hottest weeks of the year. {I need to have my head checked.}

“Why would you submit yourself to such torturous heat and humidity?,”  you ask.

Well, several reasons.

First and most importantly, I am going to spend some quality time with the family. While my immediate family is typically spread across the Southern half of United States, for the month of July everyone is congregating in Dallas. And I realized this might be my only opportunity to experience a true “summer vacation” with my three adorable-but-growing-like-weeds nieces. I am stoked to be a part of their daily lives for several weeks.

I want to hang out with friends, old and new. There are a host of people in Texas that I love that I never get to see. I hope over the next few weeks I can change that.

I need to get out of Nashville and force myself to find some time and space to dream. So far, my job search has consisted of me reacting to one opportunity or another. Don’t get me wrong, I realize how extraordinarily blessed I am to have opportunities to react to. But I also know how desperately I need to pause, take deep breaths and allow myself to process through what I want my life, and my next career move, to look like. Even though it totally freaks me out.

And lastly, I am attending the Echo Conference. Some of my favorite creatives are descending upon Dallas, Texas, from July 27th to the 29th. And you all know, I am a girl who hates missing a good conference.

I am going to miss Nashville, my church, my friends, my people, but I am sure looking forward to my Texas-sized road trip.

So, the question of the day is, what music, podcasts and/or audio books do you recommend for my road trip tomorrow? 

Oh, and if you are in Texas. Look me up. I would love to see you!

The arrival of In-N-Out Burger to North Texas has prompted happy tears, 3 hour drive-thru lines, and even made Frisco and Allen popular tourist donation for hungry Oklahomans craving a Double-Double. But it has me completely stressed out.

Now I LOVE In-N-Out. And I LOVE North Texas. But I fiercely believe that every once in a while TWO RIGHTS make a WRONG.

Here is where the tension lies. I am headed to Dallas tonight and can only stay for 2 and a half days. And Texas is the home of so many incredible culinary experiences that I can’t figure out how to work in a trip to In-N-Out into my already overcrowded eating schedule.

I believe with your prayers and advice I can surely figure this out, but it is going to be STRESSFUL.

Here’s the question..If you were in Dallas for two and a half days, which restaurants would you have to visit?

Or…What’s your In-N-Out order?

And I know three things.

One, I’m exhausted.

Two, my head is spinning from all the ideas I heard… and people I met.

And three, I heart Portland.

Here are a few reasons’s way:

I love Stumptown Coffee.

I love Powell’s Bookstore.

I love Little Big Burger.

I love how stunning and walkable the city is.

I love Multnomah Falls.

I love Baby Norman… in plaid.

I love Jam on Hawthorne and their ridiculously delicious brunch.

I love Olympic Provisions.

(And watching LV Hanson decide the vegan lifestyle is not in fact for him.)

I love Imago Dei and their beautiful stripped down worship experience.

I even love Mount Tabor.

(I just wish someone had told me to wear different shoes.)

But most of all I love the people I got to experience Portland with.

Do you heart Portland? What do you love most about it?

Admittedly I left on the brink of burn-out. 2011 has me…reeling.

And the Recreate Cruise, on the aforementioned Celebrity Century, was just what the doctor ordered.

5 days of sun and sea, food and drink, entertainment and rest, challenging ideas and encouragement. And 5 days of what I needed most, an opportunity to disconnect and silence all the noise that has taken over my everyday.

(Friends, here is where I tell you that I will be THE FIRST person to sign-up for the 2012 Recreate Cruise. Randy and Chris Elrod were phenomenal hosts. And the speakers, Pete Wilson, Michael Hyatt, and Ken Davis each delivered thought-provoking messages that spoke right to my heart. And the other attendees, well, they were not creepy at all. They were beautiful, honest, and passionate. I think you should go ahead and start saving RIGHT NOW so you can join me as we float someplace fabulous next Spring. You will not regret it.)

The Voyage of Celebrity Century was everything I could ask for in a vacation…and more.

But it was just that. An epic vacation. A temporary escape from the hustle and bustle of real life. A time-out to catch my breathe and recharge smack dab in an emotionally draining round.

From time to time as I watched the ocean rock and sipped on my mudslide, I was haunted by my subconscious.

This is not real. This is not life. This is comfortable. Real comfortable. But this is not what I have called you to. Rest up, so when this vacation ends, as it inevitably will, you are refreshed, renewed, and ready for battle.

And so I heeded its warning. I soaked the experience up. So I could come back with a renewed focus on fighting the good fight.

Tomorrow morning I leave for a five day Carribean cruise with a bunch of friends. Yes, picture me here.

I know. I know. It’s not fair to throw that in your face. Please don’t hate me. I couldn’t resist.

But I SO need this trip. I don’t know if you can tell by the desperate sound of some of my recent blog posts. (Yeah, they’ve been rather brutal lately. Sorry for worrying you, friends. About once a week someone calls and says “I just read your blog. Are you okay?”)

And yes, I am okay, but I am also spent. I am in desperate need of a break, a time away to process, afternoons where the only decision I need to make is what SPF to apply, and an opportunity to disconnect.

Yep, I said it. Disconnect. I am going to disconnect.

I am a little SUPER nervous about the whole thing.

Can I really go five days without phone calls, tweets, facebook updates, blog posts, and emails?

I guess I am about to find out.

When was the last time you disconnected? Was it good for you OR totally disastrous?

Oh, and any advice for a novice cruiser? Yeah, I am not even sure if that is what you call someone who cruises. Guess I will find out that as well.

Two weeks from tomorrow I will head to Atlanta for Catalyst East.

Love. It.

Seriously, I can’t wait. I can’t wait to caravan down with friends. I can’t wait to be inspired. I can’t wait to hear some of today’s best speakers talk about issues that are relevant to me, my church, my leadership, and my faith.

I can’t wait to see old friends.

And I am even excited to meet a few new friends.

Here are a few of the Catalyst events I am especially looking forward to…

On Wednesday evening, I am attending Brad Ruggles’ Bloggers Meetup. It was a GREAT TIME last year. This year it will be even better because it is supporting Thrive Africa, an incredible organization led by my friend Alece. So get down to Atlanta early, pay your $5, and come hang out! Details here.

On Thursday, I am attending the Cultivate Her and Leading and Loving It luncheon sponsored by Mercy Ministries. I know that is a mouthful, but essentially all you need to know is this…if you are woman attending Catalyst, you should be there! Space is limited so be sure to RSVP sooner rather than later. Details here.

Are you attending Catalyst? If so, what are you looking forward to? Who are you excited to hear? Who are you hoping to meet?

PS – It’s not too late to register for the conference. Just go here and the Catalyst concierge team will take care of you. And don’t forget the Catalyst Labs ticket. You wouldn’t want to miss Pete Wilson, Michael Hyatt, and Anne Jackson, now would you?

It was a trip I will never forget. On Monday as I began the long process of saying goodbye, I kept waiting for someone to cue up Michael W. Smith’s “Friends are Friends Forever” so I could unleash the steady stream tears that were just a blink away (it always worked at summer camp).

Here are a few quick highlights:

Listening to Kass and Chad make BEAUTIFUL music as we lounged around Casa Markley.

Coming from behind and beating a competitive “Team California” at Taboo.

Eating freshly baked molasses cookies courtesy of Tam.

Watching Harry Connick Jr. do his thing with the LA Philharmonic on a perfect summer evening at the Hollywood Bowl.

Having the opportunity to pray with Britt Merrick for his family and his courageous daughter Daisy.

Tackling hard questions about life, purpose, and next steps over some delicious Broccoli Chicken Casserole.

Feeling challenged, but empowered, understood, accepted, and most importantly loved.

So…what is going on in your world?

PS – Will you join me in praying for Daisy and the Merrick family? Here is their story. They are standing so faithfully in the midst of a giant battle against cancer. Let’s stand with them.

Saturday morning I flew out to sunny Southern California. I had been looking for a great excuse to escape the oppressive Tennessee heat and this really cool opportunity (more about that later) popped up at the last minutes to spend a couple of days with friends in Cali-forn-ia.  How could I say no to that?

So…

After several hours in the sky, I landed at John Wayne International Airport and a perfect day ensued.

I lingered over a LONG girly brunch with Bianca and Anne.

I got a haircut. And by cut, I mean CUT. (see exhibit A above)

I went to Mariner’s Church to see my friend Kyle Zimmerman lead worship.

And I heard a powerful message from Jeff Pries that felt like it was a not so subtle nudging,

“Lindsey, here’s how you deal with your terrible tally problem.”

Jeff said that a good relationship is one where people know their feelings (even the deep, dark, scary ones) and communicate them in humility and love.

He said that there is ALWAYS a gap in relationships between expectation and reality. And he said that you have to make a choice.

You have to choose whether you are going to expect the worst OR believe the best.

I am ready to make that choice.

I want to be someone who chooses recklessly, boldly, even naively, to believe the best.

I want to be someone who loves awkwardly.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and IT KEEPS NO RECORD OF BEING WRONGED. It does not rejoice in injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is awkward.

How was your weekend?

PS – Here’s a link to watch the complete message.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures of my nieces.

Aren’t they adorable?

How did you spend your long weekend?