Women are like cars.

I have finally moved into my own place! I was just telling my roommate that something about moving to this place has given me a sense of empowerment that I have never had. It's really fantastic. I love my house, my new roommates, my new possibilities.

I finally feel like transition is happening. Since moving here one week ago, I have finally called back people who mean the world to me but who I have not kept in touch with. The move created a stress reliever for me that gave me time and encouragement to get some other things done (including applying for more jobs).

My time here has been the best time of my life so far. I am enjoying and growing in community in a mighty way. Every day, someone new comes into my life that I am able to bless or that blesses me. And then there's men. Either there are more of them in this part of the country, or they have more courage than the ones in DC. Either way, there are certainly more of them interested in me than ever before. I've had more conversations about relationships than I ever have - and I'm a woman - I talk about men all of the time! So thank you, men in Tennessee. You have not only given me a great conversation topic and made my life more interesting, but you have given me great joy in the last few months through your conversations.

I was just talking with my new friend, Tony, about relationships. It turns out that Tony has great insight into relationships. We just met this week but have already had some great conversations. I thought I would share tonight's analogy with you.

Yes, chemistry is important. Whether or not you are attracted to another person is important. However, it's what's on the inside that counts. It's like a car. You can be attracted to the body, but the important thing is that the engine works. A great sports car will look good when you're standing next to it, but if the engine doesn't run or has something seriously wrong with it, you're going to waste your time and money!

Skunk

Just in case you ever needed to know, here is the recipe for taking a skunk smell off of a dog:

• pint hydrogen peroxide
• 2/3 cup baking soda
• 1 tablespoon of citrus-based liquid soap

Then add a can of Oust to the surrounding area and you're good to go!

And to add an update:
I'm moving to my own place on Saturday. It's close to church so that I can create community with my neighbors and my church. I'm still attempting to find a "real" job, and I'm upset that I missed a month's worth of episodes of Chuck.

It's a Small World, After All

Today I served a man who is in town for a few weeks, but just happens to actually live down the street from where I moved from in Virginia. Weird. I miss you, Edison St.
Last week I went swing dancing and met a cool girl, Shawna. The next night at church, Shawna sat right next to me. We are now going to be roommates.
My friend Erin from grade school took a vacation to D. C. and spent a lot of time with my good friend, Matt, before they realized that they both knew me.
Do you have a small world story? I have tons, but unfortunately am too hungry right now to think of any more.

Affirmation

I believe that God affirms our decisions in one way or another. It's a way of him reminding us that he's on our side, that he loves us and will never leave us. My decisions for the last few months have been consistently affirmed by God. Words can't describe my experiences over the last few months. Each decision has been graciously affirmed and I am really looking forward to see what happens next. Although admittedly, I'm a little fearful that it will be something really not good - so part of this blog is a reminder of the joys of God these months so that I can look back and use them to get me through a tough time.

I tried to explain these last few months to my dear friend Matt Pritchard last night during a debrief conversation, and am glad that he just knew what I was talking about. the best way for me to attempt to share with you is by remembering a scene from the movie Hope Floats. Sandra Bullock's character tells her daughter that she always thought she was meant to be something great and extraordinary, but in the grand picture she wasn't something great, she was just a woman. But when I look at her character, she was something great....

I always thought and still think that I was meant to be something great and extraordinary. As I'm growing up a little, I realize that my idea of "great" isn't what I really wanted or what God wanted for me. But - with God in me, I am great. It's not really me though - it's God. The every day miracles that I see around me are what he created me to be a part of, and that is extraordinary. From a friend at work who wants to share her life story, to the guy who eats dinner by himself and notices that I enjoy my job. My job isn't to make great tips (but it really helps so please tip well :) ), but to just love the people that are in my presence each day. And God doing that in me - is always extraordinary. And people know it. The next lesson is to learn how to teach those people that I'm not just a good waitress, but that Jesus Christ lives in me and is the one that is loving them through me. Not easy in 20 minutes of a dining experience or conversation, so let's see if we can keep the conversation going. I hope that the Greatness of God will also extend past Applebee's and to my family, neighbors, and other community. I hope that for you also!

Off to a long weekend trip with dear friends for a wedding. Pictures will come next week, sorry for the day Ruhiyyih! Oh - and since you're one of the few that reads this - I want to say that I appreciate your cleanliness around the house. It certainly is helping me at this stage of my life, since I'm not as clean as others in my community. :-) Working on it though! Love ya girl.

Rewind

Thanks to my cousins, I am now able to download photos that I've taken since moving to Nashville. Enjoy the photos of my first Thanksgiving here!

Appreciation

I appreciate people who work together. Life isn't meant to be lived on our own. Tonight, when the pregnant woman with the broken tailbone came to work anyway - no one offered to help her out. I don't believe that's Jesus.

There are, however, times when people do come together. Like helping each other roll silverware to make the job go faster, or taking a table for someone when they are feeling sick, or helping to figure out who stole your server book to take your tips for the night. People are meant to come together and serve each other, were we created for anything else?

On a similar note, I believe that God comes to us in different ways. Such as a distant friend who encourages us at just the right moment, or putting something in our way to slow us down when we are too busy and try to rush into things. For example (of course - did you think this just came out of no where?), when I moved to Nashville 2 months ago I was ready to jump into anything and everything. I had enough of the slowness that I experienced in D. C. I didn't want to spend 2 years finding friends, being 23 and going on zero dates, working in a job I didn't enjoy, or waiting to be involved in a church community. Oh No - I wanted everything to happen all at once, and I was determined to make it so. God has done a fabulous job of slowing me down, while still fulfilling my needs for relationships and money.

Here's to Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith - and his father who never stops loving me in ways that I didn't know I needed.

Midnight Thoughts

I have too many thoughts on my mind right now to attempt sleeping. I read, then watched a movie, journaled, and now it's blog time.

I have moved on in my job at Applebee's and am now waitressing and working in the kitchen instead of hosting, and loving it most of the time. Mostly, I love getting to know my coworkers. They have great stories and I love loving them. I've served some really cool people, too!

I've started to think about where and when I want to move to my own place here in Nashvegas. I finally found a church home, which will help. I was bursting full of joy and energy after attending this church tonight. I know that God is calling me to this community, he made it clear to many in miraculous ways. I already know at least 7 people in this church, and that was before I met others tonight! This community resembles the community I was a part of in D. C., and I am anxious to become involved. Plus, it meets at night so I can now work Sunday mornings and minister to the church crowd! I have always heard bad stories about the church crowd at restaurants, now is my chance to see how much truth is in that and to see how God can influence those stories through me.

This weekend I had many special privileges that I would like to tell you about. Friday night, I got to see my friend Roger and meet his lovely esposa, Holly. We had a great time of conversation along with Molly and Justin - my precious friends here in Nashville. Saturday I had an exhausting day of serving, but it ended with an amazingly deep conversation with one of the cooks. Less than two hours later, I was on the dance floor learning the cha-cha and showing off my swing dancing moves with my friend Luke. He's a great dancer, ladies! We topped the night off with ice cream and conversation. (can you tell I love conversation?)

Today - well, yesterday - I thoroughly enjoyed a Sabbath. After sleeping in, I watched movies with my cousin-in-law, then it was off to meet my new church community!

It's been a full weekend for me here! I feel richly blessed and full of joy. Although, I must admit, there is much on my mind regarding relationships here in Nashville. I appreciate prayers as I continue to settle in this new town and seek out God in new ways.

Peace be with you!

Disclaimer: As much as I don't want to sleep right now, I'm pretty tired so I'm not writing all that well. I hope you still enjoyed it!