My blog friend Kat does this Music Monday thing every…. well… Monday. And this time I could not resist the theme: Music that Moves You. She said talk about one or two songs. I don’t follow directions well.

Because I knew exactly what I wanted to write about. This is my new iTunes playlist- a collection of songs that are literally moving me.

It’s simply titled NASHVILLE.

1. Brandon Heath- “Don’t Get Comfortable”. I blogged about this song about a month ago, and it still sings loudly in my head when fear knocks.

Lyric that moves me: “You are gonna live like you used to dream.“

2. Tara Leigh Cobble- “Somehow Stay”. It makes me feel like packing up and crying at the same time. I blogged about this song in February, when God reminded me that He is giver so I don’t have to be a grabber.

Lyric that moves me: “You are closing the space between my fingers. You say Your love will stay.“

3. Matt Wertz- “All I Know”. Sometimes I need to remember that it’s good that I know nothing about Nashville. And no one in Nashville. Except Jesus.

Lyric that moves me: “All I know is the bleeding in my heart and the healing in Your touch.”

4. Christy Nockels- “Hosanna”. This song is from the new Passion: God of our City CD. It’s good. Get it.

Lyric that moves me: “Break my heart for what breaks Yours. Everything I am for Your kingdom’s cause.“

5. Billy Ray & Miley Cyrus- “Ready, Set, Don’t Go”. Go ahead, mock me. But I still can’t listen to the whole thing without getting choked up.

Lyric that moves me: “I’m at the starting line of the rest of my life, I’m ready as I’ve ever been.”

6. Shane and Shane- “Vision of You”. In the end, this move isn’t about me. It’s about Him.

Lyric that moves me: “May the vision of You be the death of me.“

7. Hillsong United- “Saviour King”. This one just makes me love to worship, y’all. Ask BooMama. She knows.

Lyric that moves me: “I give my life to honor this- the love of Christ, the Saviour King.“

8. David Crowder* Band- “Glory of it All”. My very favorite thing about Crowder is his ability to write beautifully. He just also happens to be an awesome musician.

Lyric that moves me: “Everything will change. Things will never be the same. We will never be the same.“

9. Dave Barnes- “Nothing Fancy”. Because in the end, it’s only because God loves me.

Lyric that moves me: “There’s nothing fancy about the way I love You, but it sure is fancy how You love me.“

[Which, by the way, if you go to Dave's site today, you can hear the whole album for free. What? That's ridiculous.... ly awesome.]

So there it is as of today, Monday March 31, 2008. It will change. I add to this playlist all the time. Because I need these songs.

This is the music that moves me.

I blog.

Just for your personal knowledge, I am currently feeling sane. And I vaguely remember that I used to feel this way on a regular basis. So that’s good.

Our Scotland mission team is up at Lake Burton for an overnight retreat. It has been beyond excellent. I’m at a total advantage because I have a personal relationship with each person on the team, whereas some of them only interact when our team meets. So it’s cool to be with a bunch of my friends and watch my friends become friends with my friends.

Yep. You heard me.

Last night we took spiritual gifts tests and then shared them. After each person listed their top 3 or 5 gifts, other team members would answer the question “So why is it important for this person to be on our team?”. Nothing brightens my insides like listening to people build each other up like that. It was glorious. Truly.

Packing update? MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. I’m all moved out of the house, which was WAY less sad yesterday than I planned. I totally mourned the loss on Tuesday night as I drove around Kennesaw. I cried the whole time [shock and awe, I know]. Letting God know my deepest fears, expressed in sadness over the loss of particular paint colors, was so comforting.

It’s so weird. Because He is the one moving me, it’s His voice that said Nashville. And if there is one that I know, it’s that God sold my house. So I recognize that He is the one causing all this. For my good.

Yet at the same time, He is the one comforting me in my sadness over following Him. I think if I knew how to use the word “conundrum“, I would use it here. A puzzle of sorts, a confusing mix.

But with God involved, it’s a beautiful conundrum, if that even works. Here’s what I know it is. Beautiful.

Kurt just said Amen. And there are Belgian waffles.

That’s my cue. Carbs are calling.

Love.

I just am.

So tonight, instead of trying to put together a group of words that are literally hilarious in my mind (though apparently not quite as blog-friendly as I thought), I offer someone who is genuinely funny and completely blog-friendly.

Have I already shown y’all this? Even if I have, it deserves a re-view. Dave Barnes is funny, y’all. Seriously. Did you buy his CD yet? If you don’t do the pre-order thing, then you can get it Tuesday. But I’m for real, go pre-order. It rules.

Tomorrow I will write a real post. Hopefully in a peaceful place. I haven’t found that place, but I hear it does exist outside of the home I just sold. We’ll see.

I have a ton of jokes, miles of them, about this bag labeled “twin”. Then I really studied the picture and got a little freaked out- it really does look like the outline of a child- at least the child’s left leg.

So I decided that if a photo sans joke freaks me out [and I packed the bag so I know that there is no kid in there suffocating for the sake of humor], probably for you non-packers, a photo with a joke might freak you out so severely that it sends you over the edge.

And I try to keep you on edge. Much like myself. See, it gives us something to bond over. Our tender mental states.

Packing update, you say? Well, with a little more than 24 hours to go until moving trucks arrive to haul my life [and my "ideas" and my "big jugs"] away, I’ve pretty much worked tirelessly for 4 days, and I have come to this conclusion.

I wish I was a turtle.

I would carry my house and belongings on my back.

And I would carry some pancakes.

Because all the donuts are gone and I have found that nothing takes the edge off a stressful moving week like a well placed stack of carbs. They are a delicious lullaby to a tired chubby baby.

Carbs compared to lullabies? Sheesh… how do you even BEGIN to untangle THAT issue? Paging Dr. Freud.

Thank you and good night.

And here are some reasons why:

1) It is 11:42pm and I am just beginning my nightly internet tour. Tragic. Dear students, I apologize now for what will transpire tomorrow.

2) I have been packing my house for hours….days… a lifetime? That’s what it feels like. And in the end, it appears that I own five toothbrushes still in their original packaging. WHY?!? What person needs five extra toothbrushes? Can I add that I really despise brushing my teeth. I do not like it and you can not make me. All the more reason that I should not have so many spares. Need one?

3) I’ve had a dozen donuts …. or so ….. in my house since Saturday morning and I just have to say that I am a weak weak woman. I love them. It’s a shame. Or a skill. That’s still to be decided. Don’t judge me.

4) I know that I’ve gotten a bit of important first class mail in the last few days (uhh… bills, info on my dude Fred, Real Simple magazine… these kinds of things). But where is that mail now, you ask? In my backseat? In a trash bag? In the yard sale pile? In the refrigerator? Your guess is as good as mine. Thank you, packing Annie, for losing everything that matters. Including your mind.

5) Tomorrow is one of my favorite nights- book club!! And I have yet to finish even one of the books. Which is an embarrassment. But yes, I will still attend, dang it. Any opportunity to escape this cardboard smellin’ house, full of packed boxes and that weird random leftover minutiae, is an opportunity I will embrace.

6) We finished packing the entire downstairs yesterday- boxed, taped, and labeled. I accidentally labeled one box “ideas”- I hope ALL my ideas aren’t in there. That box won’t be opened for six months. Another box was labeled (by someone else)- “big jugs”. Ahem …. I’m leaving that one alone.

And then tonight, in a bag in the back of my closet, I found one knife. And one fork. Their future is yet to be decided.

7) I am officially eight days behind in my homework for the current Beth Moore Bible study that I am doing. For those of you BMoore fans, you know what a shame it is to get that far behind. Here’s to hoping that post-move out (Friday), I’ll have some major catchup time.

Trouser jeans. Where art thou? Deep sigh.

And these are the reasons that I am officially NOT the winner tonight.

But, it all feels better when I get to giveaway a free book to…..

MY NASHVILLE FRIEND MARISA!!

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:

6 

Timestamp: 2008-03-25 03:45:36 UTC

Yahoo! Marisa works for MOCHA CLUB, an awesome ministry. And she deserves a free book for putting up with me as I stress about moving up there alone. She’s a real trooper. And I’m not even there yet. Yikes.

I’ll be sending the book to you soon, Marisa. I promise I haven’t packed it. I can see it right now across the room.

Forgive me this week as I blog either a) rarely or b) about inappropriate things. That happens when I’m tired.

Today is Easter. Blogging on Sunday. This is getting ridiculous. I wish Chick-fil-A was this wishy-washy about being open on Sundays.

Don’t forget, you’ve got about 20 hours to try to win a free book.

Also, thanks to all the super sweet friends of mine who came over this weekend to help me pack. Your love looked like Jesus.

But these are not the reasons I chose to break my Sunday blog rule. I couldn’t wait!! I just had to show you my new favorite girl!!

Welcome to our world Carys Lee Watkins!!

(Daughter of my best friend Haley and her awesome husband Jeff. Little sister to my favorite dude Jarrett, who you saw in similar form only 14 months ago.)

Carys (said “Care-is”) made her grand arrival around 4:45am this morning- on her due date. As Molly and I drug our sleeping bodies into the hospital, I said, “It’s got to be a girl. Only a girl would insist on coming on her due date in the middle of the night.” And low and behold, I was right!

Yeah, we’re all tired, sister. Cut the drama. Yawning. Please. I don’t bore you. Yet.

She is 7 lbs. 14 ounces, and stretched 18 inches. Her hands and feet are beautiful and perfect. She has a full head of DARK hair, but her eyebrows and long eyelashes and almost invisibly blonde, so we’re thinking she’ll be a blondie.

Dang. We love her already. I mean, are you kidding? She’s so cute and tiny.

Every single time a friend of mine has a baby, it amazes me. The Lord handmade Carys for Jeff and Haley. And for us. And for the world.

This experience was very different from when Jarrett was born. Besides the middle of the night business, Haley also had this baby QUICK. Carys wanted out and Haley was glad to oblige. Now Haley’s hard labor has ended, as captured in this photo.

This picture is hilarious. I will say. But what makes it even funnier is that Haley, holding this position, was actually using the button to make her bed recline. The whirring of the bed laying down and her model pose made for quite a good moment.

She is one funny mama, y’all. I cannot thank God enough for Haley and Molly. I love them, their husbands, and their offspring so deeply. And I refuse to write more about that because I’m tired of crying. So I will move on….

Dear Carys,

Nice arrival this morning, but don’t ever wake me up that early again. Just kidding.

I’m so glad to finally meet you. You have been a part of our lives since Haley let us know this summer that you were on the way, but I’m thrilled to be a part of your life now. Listen, I’m moving in a few months, so we’ve really got to hang out a lot between now and August. And I want you to know, Carys, that just because I’m moving doesn’t mean you are any less important to me. You will always be one of my favorites. I will come to your birthday parties and tell you too many times how I’ve loved you since the day you were born. I will cry with pride when you graduate high school and I will sit with your parents at your wedding reception and be amazed at how beautiful you look. And I’m expecting you to babysit my kids in the future, so get ready.

I’m not moving out of your life, just out of your city for a while.

God has made you, called you to be His own, and His plan for you is so much bigger than we can dream for you. Your parents are wise, trust them to hear Him for you. And always love Him more than anything else.

Happy birthday.

Love,
Annie

Come close, listen to the story…

Happy Easter. Jesus is alive. Hallelujah.

I am not one who enjoys fantasy literature. Sue me. I’ve just never been a fan of fake worlds or fake people. Except the ones in my mind that give me advice, but that’s a totally different thing.

When I picked up Andrew Peterson’s novel, On The Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, I was skeptical. The first few chapters introduced me to characters I could not understand, worlds that I had never known, and creatures that I’ve never seen.

And before I could stop myself, I loved it.

I already liked Andrew Peterson as a songwriter. His skills that are so beautifully displayed in his songs are seen here as well- his descriptive language, the creativity, the emotion, all of it. And the HUMOR. Y’all, I laughed out loud multiple times- and this is a young adult book! Genius. The whole thing. Sometimes I would read a chapter and then set the book in my lap just to rethink the chapter and the story. Dorky, but true. Good writing will do that to you.

Here’s the official summary (much better said than I could ever do):

In the quiet land of Skree, the Igiby children—Janner, his younger brother Tink, and their crippled sister Leeli—stumble upon the lost jewels of Anniera and determine to return them. Unfortunately, the scary-bad Gnag the Nameless seeks the jewels for his own evil ends… and so our band of friends, accompanied by their trust dog Nugget, must escape with the help of their mom and grandfather (who happens to be an ex-pirate).

Their journey takes them through an inventively fantastical world of wonders, complete with memorable characters (like Gnag’s evil minions the Fangs and Peet the Sock Man), fanciful creatures (like sea dragons, snickbuzzards, toothy cows, flabbits, and bomnubbles), and captivating places (like the Books & Crannies bookstore, Shaggy Tavern, the Dark Sea of Darkness that divides the land of Skree from Anniera, the Glipwood Forest, Ice Prairies, and the Stony Mountains).

Through fast-paced storytelling, little ditties, songs, and poems, side-splitting asides, sensory descriptions of time and place, and characters rich in heart, courage, and smarts, Andrew Peterson has created a wondrous tale you’ll enjoy and treasure—just like those lost jewels.

Sounds fun, doesn’t it? I haven’t read a book that was so purely enjoyable in a long time. It had its moments of humor, its moments of sadness, and often moments of page-turning suspense that literally kept me awake for the entire flight home from California. Yes, Andrew Peterson, I blame you for my severe jet lag.

Buy a copy for yourself. Buy a copy for a teen in your life. Buy a copy for a stranger and make their day. You can buy a copy HERE.

Lucky for someone, I have a copy to GIVEAWAY! So leave a comment if you’d like a free book!! The giveaway will close Monday at 4pm. GOOD LUCK!!

Well done, I say to you, Andrew Peterson. Thanks for another great collection of words. Don’t quit yet.

Here are a few more pictures from Mt. Hermon. Because I wanna, that’s why.

Linda, did you have salad for lunch?

And, I’m going to need you to look closer at this book that someone wanted us to pay $10 for- “How to avoid computer related injuries”. Here’s a clue- don’t make the computer mad and it won’t try to injury you. Duh.

Here on the left are the roomies- Anissa and Valerie.

And here on the right is Robin Jones Gunn, myself, and my friend Rachel. This was after a long and life changing discussion regarding hobos.

I’m back home now.
Flying the red eye from California to Atlanta is not cool. At all. Famous people jet from LA to NYC all the time on this type of flight. I discovered that the red eye is one more reason that I am truly grateful that I am not famous. That, and the crazy amount of money I would hate to have to sort through, all the free goods that I would have to store, and the endless hand cramps for autographs.

That was my first mistake- flying overnight. My second mistake? Laying down when I got home at 7am. [That, of course, after my chauffeurs Ashley and Marie took me immediately from the airport to Stilesboro Biscuits so I could again infuse my blood stream with Southern flavored grease.]

I laid down for a short nap at 7am and woke up at 4pm. Oh boy. Something tells me that we have what we might call a “rough night” ahead of us. And here has been my afternoon- sending what feels like at least 30 emails regarding Nashville, eating Chinese food, searching Craig’s List, catching up on the blogdom, packing to move……

Ok, by “packing”, I mean mainly in my mind. I have every honest intention of physically loading boxes with my stuff, but that hasn’t happened yet today. To put a positive spin on it, I have totally thought through how I want to pack. So in my mind, my home is full of carefully packed and labeled boxes.

Doesn’t that count for anything?

I was really nervous when I made my CaliPrayin’ list. What kind of fool puts a list of prayer requests on her blog for the world to see? I want my dreams and deep heart prayers to be secret- so no one, including myself, ends up disappointed in the end. If zero people know what I’m praying for, zero people see it not work out.

But that’s not brave. And we all know if there is one thing I’m shooting for it’s to increase my brave-o-meter. So instead, I invite you in to my fear, hoping that the company I keep, and the God I serve, will be my courage.

I asked God for too much this week. A nicer person, someone more rational, would have made a shorter list for Him. Not all these- divine appointments, safety, conversations with Him, wisdom, courage. And this….

“Please God, just send me one friend. I’m really scared to be alone in California. I’ll survive if I end up sitting by myself at everything, but if its alright, could I laugh this week with someone?“

Then I told God, in too many words, how scary my life feels right now. How Mt. Hermon feels like a practice Nashville. And how I need Him.

And His response. Oh. His response. I asked for too much …. and He gave more.

He knows me, y’all. He knows me so well it’s ridiculous. Because He knew when I asked for one, He wanted to give me three. And a Canadian pastor. The ratio is one to four. 1 to 4. That is too much.

First was Mel. A soft spoken, kind hearted blogger, who within minutes of my first email, replied with enthusiasm. And more than that, offered me a seat at her lunch table. And we ate every meal together from then on.

Then Linda. She’s completely irreverent and hilarious, much like someone else you may know [ahem]. And at the same time, she is Godly and compassionate and caring.

Then Sarah. A true friend. When she writes, it’s like listening to a violin. Beautiful. Her heart, the calm that surrounds her, TALKING to her, is the symphony. Her writing is just a part.

How? How did He know? How did He make four women truly love each other in mere days? It’s more than I understand. Truly.

(Then yesterday, the addition of the Canadian pastor, Brad, only added to the hilarity and good times. He’s also a Mennonite, which means GOOD CINNAMON ROLLS, people. And he’s wise and a great writer- always good to combine with quality humor.)

And I’ve done a poor job explaining the fullness of these people to you. I apologize to you and them. But when you buy their books, or read their blogs, you will see their hearts and know I am blessed. Or watch the video. Videos. Because we are funny.

Last night, pre-most hilarious video ever, we had a service. On my left in the pew, the three women. On my right, the Canadian pastor. And as I sat there, tears came to my eyes [If you are surprised, welcome to my blog. You are new. I cry a lot- including now as I type].

I was sitting in the MIDDLE OF THE BLESSING. I was literally SITTING IN AN ABUNDANTLY ANSWERED PRAYER. And what we see with our physical eyes, y’all. It’s only a glimpse. All those other prayers? He answered those, too. In a 1 to 4 fashion that amazed me. Amazes me now.

Someone later stopped me. I had never met this older woman but she jabbed me in the nametag and said, “Do you know what Annie means?”

After recovering from the awkward personal touching moment, I said, “No ma’am.”

“Grace,” she replied, “and do you know what grace is?”

That is one of those questions that you don’t know how to answer. “Yes …. I think… I mean, no … maybe …. is this a trick question?”

She looked me in the eyes, finger still touching my name, and said, “It means that God gives abundantly simply because of His great love for us.”

Her answer stopped me in my tracks.

And that same song sang through my head.

If grace is an ocean, I am sinking.