Nashville Update

On the right, you’ll notice the rare and almost extinct Starbucks-Skyper. With no Internet at home, we’re adapting to our surroundings while keeping our loved ones up to date with our weekly shenannigans.

Grandparents are surprisingly capable of learning to Skype when their grandkids are 2,300 miles away. This event on the right would be from our session with our oldest daughter. We miss her alot.

It’s amazing how much you can accomplish in so little time; update DMV driver’s license, register one child for college and two others for junior high, register a vehicle, complete voter registration forms, get library cards and I’ve even flown back to California to speak at a women’s conference – the list goes on and on.

As much as we’ve accomplished to make ourselves official Tennesseans, it still feels pretty foreign and sadly unfamiliar. Getting lost while driving is a common occurrence even with the assistance of our GPS -aptly named “Dory”.

I’m sitting at Starbucks right now and see lots of different friends and groups gathered. They know each other and at least from my  vantage point seem to like each other. If you want to feel disconnected, sit in a coffee house on a Saturday morning. Ouch.

We were created to be relational. I’ve learned that lesson first hand this summer.

BUT, knowing absolutely NO ONE does have its perks:

 

•    No Fear. I won’t run into anyone I know at the grocery store. Ever. Whether I shower or not, put on makeup or not, wear the same t-shirt two days in a row or not…it doesn’t matter. Being anonymous is quite a benefit to personal hygiene or lack thereof.

 

•    No Boredom. This might be one for the record books. It’s summer and I’ve yet to hear the kids say, “I’m bored.” You can’t be bored when you’re in a constant state of discovery—from the town gas station to the local farmer’s market every sight and sound is new.

 

•      No Busyness. So much for being overwhelmed with have-to’s and to-do’s. When you’re not plugged in to a community things run at a much slower pace. I’m really enjoying this part of the move, by the way.

While I wait for Internet to be installed at our home, I’ll attempt to be patient. It’s been a drag not following up on Facebook with friends or keeping up with the world on a regular basis. But, for now, I’m going to enjoy this lull in our life. I have a strong feeling this activity-free, stress-free lifestyle isn’t going to last.

On a good note, I have a few potential books rattling around in my head. One of which I’m working on now. Can’t wait to share about it soon.

In a few weeks I’ll be in Little Rock, Arkansas for my interview with Dennis Rainey’s Family Life Today Radio Show. A few days later, I’ll be boarding a plane for my radio interview with Focus On The Family in Colorado Springs, Colo. Can’t wait for those.

I’ll keep you posted!

 And, just in case you’re wondering…I have said “ya’ll” twice – but DO NOT have a southern drawl. Yet.