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.

Today is the day.

Today is the day we all have been waiting for, or at least the day I have been waiting for.

Today is the official release date for my pastor and Thomas Nelson author Pete Wilson’s debut book Plan B.

Have you ever had a shattered dream? An unmet expectation? A failed plan?

Does it feel like life is full of disappointment?

If so, you need this book.

If not, you still need this book. (Because unfortunately sooner or later, I’m pretty sure that you will be knocked down, feeling hopeless, and desperate for understanding.)

Plan B is a life-changing reminder that God does his best work in hopeless situations.

Find more information about Plan B here.

Buy Plan B on Amazon here.

I promise, you won’t regret it.

What shattered dream are you battling right now?

I am one of those people who has lots of circles of friends. Single girl friends, church friends, work friends, “campus” friends, Powered by Hope friends, blogging friends, twitter friends, high school friends, college friends, Birmingham friends, camp friends…just to name a few.

So naturally I have several friends who have never had the opportunity to meet. Sometimes it is easier to keep the circles separate.

But sometimes it is fun to find a few friends from two different groups and introduce them, to play “matchmaker.”

Now, I am not talking about matchmaking in a romantic way. (Although that can be fun too.) Here’s what I’m talking about:

A few months ago I arranged a happy hour with the sole purpose of introducing my friends Bryan and Suzanne Norman to Matthew and Alyson Costner. I have known “the Normans” for a few years. They are some of my favorite people on the planet. They are passionate. They love good food. And they are great for a deep conversation about anything from faith to politics or for a night out singing karaoke (You should see Bryan do Springsteen’s “Born to Run.”) (more…)

Right now I am making the journey home after three long-but-amazing days in New York City for the O’Reilly’s Tools of Change for Publishing conference.

And while I am feeling the pressure to get out a thought-provoking blog post, I feel like all my circuits are…well, a little overloaded.

Here’s are just a few of my miscellaneous thoughts from thirty thousand feet… (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…)

…that this year is off to a slow start.

But, well that is just not the case. I can’t believe how much has already happened in 2010. And get this…it is only January 13. (more…)

Today was one of those days where I learned new things. I love learning new things. And maybe some of you love learning new things too, so I am sharing them with you so perhaps you can share in my “knowledgeable bliss.”

1. Mashable lists Michael Hyatt as one of the most influential twitterers shaping the world of publishing.

In my personal opinion, Hyatt should be number 1, but I know that I am probably biased. (He is my boss and does sign my paychecks.) But I am glad others are taking notice, because he should be commended for the work he is doing to transform Thomas Nelson and our industry.

2. Tweepml exists.

Tweepml is this amazing website that allows anyone to EASILY create and share groups of Twitter users. Once someone builds a list you can add a relevant group of friends with just one click. Seriously you must try it.

And be sure to check out the groups I created today: Thomas Nelson Employees, Thomas Nelson Authors, and Women of Faith & Revolve Speakers.

3. Bit.ly is just as cool as Tr.im, if not cooler.

What is bit.ly you ask?

If you are looking for a way to abbreviate URLs be sure to register. It not only gives you visibility to how many people have clicked on your links, but also conversations that are happening about your links.

And that is all you are getting for today.

Now your turn, what did you learn today?

A week or so ago, I traveled to Dallas, Texas for the Women of Faith Conference.

Women of Faith is a division of Thomas Nelson and so it was essentially a work trip. And candidly, without my connection to Thomas Nelson, I probably wouldn’t have attended a Women of Faith conference.

You see I don’t typically enjoy being in extremely large groups of women, and that is what this is, a group of 16,000 women to be specific. (I know its weird, but sometimes lot and lots of women in a confined space make me feel overwhelmed and not in a good way.)

Not attending Women of Faith would have been a big mistake because Women of Faith should not be missed. Here’s why:

1. Mary Graham and her team know how to produce an event. For fifteen hours you can sit in a chair and be totally and completely entertained. There is literally never a dull moment. (more…)

Luckily, I have always been someone who embraced change. I say luckily because my world has changed a lot. Over the last 32 years, I have changed schools, cities, workplaces, job functions, homes, cell phone numbers, and friends.

My first real experience with change was when I was elementary school. My family moved the summer between 3rd and 4th grade and I had to change schools. It was traumatic. I made the change, but there was plenty of kicking and screaming (Literally kicking and screaming, usually my classmates).  But life went on, I made new friends, and I realized that change wasn’t so bad. More recently, at my last employer, Books-A-Million, in five years I had five different roles (Special Events Manager, Assistant Buyer, Buyer, Director of Special Events and Director of Advertising and Promotions). Man, did we waste some business cards! But I learned a ton, worked for some amazing people, and the depth of experience I accumulated has been wonderful for my career.

Candidly, even though I embrace the process of change, sometimes I do not enjoy the effects of change. And when that happens, I really have to work at staying positive and trying to find the good in the situation. There is always good in the situation, whether it be personal growth or strengthened faith. (more…)