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.

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!

Did you attend Catalyst last month? And come home feeling all warm, fuzzy and inspired? But quickly stash away your swag bag and your notes? Only to get immersed back into life as usual?

Or did something (finances, obligations, lack of vacation time) keep you at home? So you watched the seeminglingly-never-ending twitter feed and thought to yourself, “maybe next year?”

If so, you need to hear about a new initiative Catalyst is working on…Catalyst Connect.

Catalyst Connect from Catalyst on Vimeo.

Catalyst is creating intentional and strategic space for you to continue your leadership journey in relationships with those you already trust. Beginning in 2011, Catalyst will launch smaller, more intimate coaching huddles of ~5 other like minded leaders AND regional round table conversations of ~70 local leaders purposed towards facilitating conversation, collaboration, and long term leadership development. We will also encourage and support open source “meet ups” driven and championed by local Catalyst ambassadors. You are the Catalyst in your community, we want to support you and help connect you with other trusted leaders…

Pretty cool, huh?

I sure think so. I have been in one of the trial coaching huddles and it is has been one of the best things I have ever done. No lie, one of the best things I have ever done. I could go on and on about our coach, the group of people I huddle with, the invaluable (albeit painful at times) insight they offer. But I will save that for another post. Right now I want to talk about the meet ups.

On Thursday, November 4, Catalyst is having the official Catalyst Meetup Day. The hope is that we can connect with other local leaders and continue the conversation around “Tension.”

If you are in Nashville, hope you will come out and join us at 7 PM at Cantina Laredo (now, what is a meetup without table side guacamole and a margarita?) Click here for more information.

And for the non-Nashvillians, check out the meetup page to find or start a Catalyst meetup near you.

Do you struggle with taking conference experiences back to real life? If not, what have you done to make the learning, the inspiration, stick?

Yesterday was just another day, in a series of REALLY LONG DAYS.

It was just a tactical conversation, really. A conversation about needing to consolidate my “stuff” in the garage. The thing that set me off. The final straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back.

I rushed into my temporary “home”, a room that is about the size of a closet. I slammed the door, turned off the light, crawled into bed and wept.

I wept for an hour…at least. I wept out of shear exhaustion. I wept because I couldn’t remember the last time I had a good night’s sleep in my incredibly comfortable queen-sized bed. I wept because I couldn’t seem to handle one more to do. I wept for Nashville. I wept for Bellevue. I wept for Crosspoint. I wept out of fear, anger, pride, pain, guilt, thankfulness, and love. I wept because I finally hit my wall.

Have you hit you wall yet?

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

Last Friday I wrote that I had a heavy heart.

Today I am just spent. Spent. Literally I’ve got nothing. Nothing.

Around noon on Sunday I returned to Nashville to be greeted by a few inches of standing water in my basement apartment. My roommate and I spent the better part of the day futilely sweeping water and salvaging items that might be affected if the water rose dramatically.

Monday, thankfully, the waters began to recede and a team of friends appeared to help move all my stuff to a temporary home and to tear out carpet and flooring. We got everything clean and ready for the professionals to takeover, but it became obvious that the space won’t be livable for awhile. Bummer.

Here is what I know:

I have a lot I need to figure out. Most importantly, I need to find new place to live. Quickly. Like by May 15 quickly. (If anyone has any ideas I am looking for a 1-2 bedroom place in Nashville that allows a medium sized dog.)

The next few weeks are going to be filled with uncertainty. Unfortunately uncertainty isn’t really my strong-suit.

I am blessed because the majority of my things are safe and dry. There are thousands of people who lost everything.

Our community is amazingly generous and resilient. I have never been more proud of my church, my neighbors, and my workplace.

And lastly…I am spent. Oh, I said that already…twice.

If you’d like to help flood Nashville flood victims, Cross Point has teams of folks meeting at the Bellevue campus and working everyday this week from 9 AM to 4 PM. For more information, visit here.

Out-of-towners, you can help too. Cross Point has set up a flood relief fund. Donate here.

When I asked for questions you’d like to see my answer on my blog, several people wanted to know what my favorite restaurants Nashville restaurants are.

If you know anything about me, you probably know that I love eating out. Seriously love eating out.

I guess it is something about the experience of sitting down with people you love and having the freedom to relax, share, and enjoy some incredible food and drink. Well…it does my heart good.

So without further adeu, my favorite Nashville restuarants:

12 South Tap Room - In my book, “The Tap Room” has the best patio in Nashville. And they have great sandwiches, salads, tacos, and a diverse selection of beers on tap. Something about this spot just feels like Nashville to me. You always count on great people watching with at diverse cross-section of regulars. hipsters and families with small kids alike. 2318 12th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37204 (615) 463-7552

The City House – Located in German Town, City House is my favorite restaurant in Nashville these days. A former art studio—with exposed brick walls, wood accents and an open and bustling kitchen—features the most incredible pizzas I have eaten this side of the Atlantic. Oh, and don’t forget to explore their cocktail menu – full of interesting and refreshing combinations like “The Bandit.” City House is famous for their “Sunday Supper” which I have never tried but plan to soon.  1222 4th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37208-2714 (615) 736-5838 (more…)

I moved to Nashville two and a half years ago to work for Thomas Nelson. It was a big move for me. BIG. I had been in Birmingham, Alabama, for eight years.

Birmingham was my place. I built a life there. I built a home there.

And candidly I was not certain that the Nashville move would stick. I assumed the move was temporary. I assumed I would get some more experience under my belt that I could take and utilize in other opportunities. I assumed I was done cultivating rich energizing friendships. I assumed that although God was calling me to move He would bring back. I assumed I return to Birmingham after a few years. (more…)

Like There Is Any Easy Answer to That Question

It is funny when people ask where I am from or where home is, I never really know what to say.

I was born in Dallas (Texas), spent my collegiate years in Boulder (Colorado), settled in Birmingham (Alabama) for the eight years after college, and currently live and work in Nashville (Tennessee). I truly believe that I have resided in the best places this country has to offer — minus perhaps Austin (Texas) which would be next on my list.

My Three Nieces - Macon, Kate, and Anne Shelton at My Parent's House in Dallas

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