Tennessee.

 goodbye, Portland.....

helloooo, Tennessee.

 

This past weekend, I got to make a quick (all-by-myself) trip back to Tennessee!  I went to pay a visit to my sweet long-time friends who've all had babies in the last nine-ish months.  We did the usual....eat, chat, sleep, repeat, repeat....and Saturday we got to visit the Clinton Antique Fair (remember?).  It was like pure bliss every time I stepped out of the AC into that warm blanket of heat outside!  

I also got to get in a quick visit to our old church body & some sweet friends there.  It went by too quickly, but I was so thankful for it!  

Things I enjoyed that I wouldn't have anticipated?  

....the sound of the leaves all rustling in the wind. It was like I hadn't heard it in ages....all those big trees nestled up together in the breeze.  Maybe because of all the evergreens here?

....slow, southern middle-of-nowhere accents.  They've just been part of my everyday life....and it felt so familiar hearing them all the time even though I never think about it here.

....meeting an "Edith Catherine" on the street.  So fun! And she wasn't even old:).

....humidity.

...the joy of coming home, especially the kids' responses! (i kind of anticipated that one....but it still blew me away.)

I also got to spend a lot of time traveling....hanging out between the stars & the soil....and thinking, reading, etc.  It's amazing how time alone....even if it's after being stuck on a plane for two extra hours... feels like a welcome little detour.  I thought about motherhood a lot.... & the Lord used this time to show me how weak my mothering efforts are...but how strong He is.  I am so thankful for this vocation He's called me to....and inspired to change and grow to be the mom He can make me.  But I'm so thankful His gospel covers all my failures!  ("My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.") 

Anyway, it was a good 'ole time.  

AND MY HUSBAND IS THE GREATEST DAD EVER.  Seriously.  He texted me the last night and said, "I think I'm having more fun than you."  Spoken like a true servant.  I KNOW our kids were on top of the world.  Thank you, babe.