move #1: Atlanta

I have officially moved to Atlanta. It's crazy! Honestly, it still doesn't seem to be a reality. This weekend my wonderful friends, Monica and Melissa helped me move my stuff to Suzanne's apartment. The time together was also used to celebrate Suzanne's birthday complete with Clemson Basketball (tough loss), taco dip and amazing homemade ice cream! 

So what am I doing in Atlanta? Well it's a bit of an interesting story. Originally, the plan was to move to Charlottesville the first of February. But after that plan was set in motion, an organization in Denver, Kingdom Building Ministries asked me to consider being a part of their summer team and after wrestling through what to do, I accepted.  By this point I had already submitted my resignation at work and found myself with a 3 month space of time to fill and a lot of unanswered questions. After more prayer and research and listening, I made the decision to move to Atlanta until the first of May, when I will go to Denver until mid August. 

Honestly, I'm really excited about this time. I'm excited about a new season. About living with a very dear friend for a few months. Excited that all of this feels very right even though I have absolutely no clue how anything will unfold. 

There's definitely sadness in leaving what I know and love well. The week leading up to moving day was filled with friends and feeling absolutely covered in love by people who have become my family. There will most likely be a posting about that in the near future. 

This is the brief synopsis. My goal is to keep this updated as much as I can throughout this next year. Who knows, maybe it will become a habit and I don't need to be called out as one who hasn't updated in six months. No promises though. 

new year's resolution? no.

I don't like new year's resolutions. Really. I think that I have failed at every single one I have ever set for myself. And honestly, who needs the disappointment? However, in my disdain of resolutions I have embraced the mentality to simply pass over the offering of a new season and continue on with my busy life. Probably not the best alternative. Some friends of mine have adopted the practice of a word of the year. I'm not quite sure how I feel about that either. But I think I like it. There is something beautifully intentional about it and yet does not bind you to a specific habit that taunts failure. So I think I am going to do a trial run with this 'word of the year' idea. 

Open. 

This past Sunday evening I gathered with the All Souls community of believers in Charlottesville. It was a very sweet time. As the time unfolded, I found myself noticing the space that we occupied. It's located in the heart of downtown. The wall to the outside is glass. It is very open. The seats are arranged such that they overlook the downtown mall a bit while also are position towards each other, in a sort of broad semi circle. It's very open.  I remembered how it unnerved me a bit the last time I had been there. Made me feel a little uncomfortable. But I now found myself decidedly loving the space. For it's openness. It's honesty. It's desire and intentionality to be with the city. And I could go on. But that's where the word first came. Open. 

Tonight a group women gathered in a space-made-sacred (that included coffee and chocolate) to intentionally pursue the heart of Christ through the meditation of Scripture. I'm always a bit wary during times like this. Will God really reveal himself? Will I fabricate something out of my own selfish desire? But over the past couple of years, I have been learning that, for me, expectation is actually a beautiful expression of hope and that God delights in our expectation of him. Through the words of the Gospel of John and space given over for reflection, this word 'open' revisited me. 

There are details of my current journey that reveal why this word, as both an adjective and verb would be difficult for me to adopt as my own, but they will wait for a later time. For now, God is calling me to be open. Open to change. To the unknown. Open to who God has made me and is molding me into. Open to express. Open to receive love and in turn, be open to love others well. 

I'm not exactly sure how the next chapter of my life will unfold. This next year will be an exercise of faith and trust. And it's my hearts to desire to respond with my hands and heart open to whatever may come. 

As requested...

After quite an electronic assault and a couple of favorite bloggers going on strike because of my silence, I am revisiting the world of blogging. Hopefully this blog won't qualify as "fake" or "wimpy ass." My friends, if you stop writing, then I won't have anything to read...

This is a feeble attempt at reentering the blogging community as a participant and not solely a consumer -

First, let me explain the reason behind why I have been silent for so long - time. Poor excuse, I know. However, my time over the past year has been limited in every capacity and I intentionally made a decision to invest my time in other ways. The thought of putting effort into composing some sort of logical conglomeration of words has daunting.

Which leads to another reason - a difficult path I've been walking. This past year has been filled with quite a bit of struggle, questioning, fear, lonliness and uncertainty. Not exactly the topics I care to dwell on any more than necessary. However, I am slowly being drawn into a season that seems to be carrying hope and new life. So there is hope that this post is not simply an effort to bring an end to the current blogging strike of desired voices.

But Carin is right - there have been several events of this past year that deserve honorable mention...

Cooper River Bridge Run - my birthday present from Carin. It was a dream of mine that after eight years of dreaming finally came true. It was incredible!

SNOW! An amazing amount of snow fell in SC. And it was beautiful.

A trip to Florida to visit my Pop Pop. My dad was also there and it was great to spend some quality time with the two of them.

A fantastic trip to Hilton Head with a couple of good friends. Yes. It is freezing and we are on the beach. Yes. That is the alligator that almost ate Suzanne.

A visit from my sister...so good!!!

Other honorable mentions:

• An amazing trip to Colorado
• Birthday celebration in Atlanta
• Finding out I have Celiac Disease (no more bread, my friends)
• Shopping on Black Friday
• A run in the rain that I will never forget. Carin wanted me to abandon her and Monica had to come pick us up. (You might get this full story later)
• A few fantastic trips to Virginia
• My friend being really sick. Followed by my friend being healed after a year and a half.
• Friends moving - a lot of them. And I miss them more than I thought I would. I should probably let them know.
• A successful trip to see my family over Christmas. This was truly monumental.

The past year has been very busy and full. The next year already promises to hold many adventures.

I have to admit it....

Melissa, Justin, Erin, Suzanne and Carin - I actually enjoyed this. And I will TRY to continue posting. But if I post too often people really wouldn't know what to do, so I have to find a fine balance.

I have caved to the social pressure. SO STOP HARASSING ME!!!!!!!!!! Erin, it's all up to you now.