Well, we’re hitting the open r(h)oads again. I hope you like that double entendre. I wrote it just for you.

The rumors (mostly started by me) are true – we are packing up our bags, leaving the SF Bay Area that I grew up in, and moving cross country to Charleston, South Carolina, gem of the south, heart of lowcountry, home of history and large bugs and gators (or so I’m told) (see earlier posts on CHS here and here). My Southern Gentleman got a fab job offer in Charleston, and so we felt God’s leading to reconnect with his roots (arborist joke), join his sister and bro-in-law, and embark on a new grand adventure. When the king of the universe beckons you on an adventure, you fall in line, you know what I’m sayin?

So, we find ourselves in utter upheaval. It’s funny how change brings excitement and the feeling of being “alive”, but also brings an onslaught of fears, anxieties, and unknowns. There are a lot of complex emotions going on in our home right now and I’ll just be real and say that 98% of them are mine, haha!

A taste of my inner dialogue:

How are we going to purge all this crap in time for the movers? Do I really need this 4th spatula? Do they have Sur La Table out there? Where will we live? Should we avoid old historic homes because of the flying cockroaches? Will our massive NASA-launch-pad sectional couch fit anywhere? What the heck am I going to wear? How hot is it really? Will the humidity affect my hair and turn me into the blonde Diana Ross?? Will I fit in? Do I want to fit in? Will I miss the cooky Bay Area? Is there innovation there? Am I allowed to say what I’m really thinking? Will we find a good, gospel-centered church where people are just being real and living life under Jesus together? How will I meet people if I’m working from home remotely? Who will my friends be? Will I have friends? Will I feel like I’m in The Help? Do I get to drink mint juleps on a porch in a rocking chair? Will I be pressured to fake bake because of my genetically translucent white skin, because if yes, so help me God I will lash out! It’s not my fault!

Aren’t you glad you’re not in my mind all the time? It’s a scary place!

But in the midst of all the uncertainty, there is also an absolutely thrilling feeling. I am an adventuress. I always have been. When I can get past the fear and just jump, my adventures are always followed by times of incredible growth, joy and depth. I recently heard a sermon by Francis Chan about why we’re all so bored in the church these days. We’ve got our satellite campuses, our fancy, air-conditioned, audio-enabled sanctuaries, ready to hear about the message for the week. We wonder why God isn’t doing crazy, magical, earth shattering things and why we can’t feel Him. Meanwhile, the Bible shows that God manifested his crazy big power and presence when his people were taking big, hairy, scary risks for Him. Not sitting safely in comfort.

I realized that I have been craving an adventure. I’m bored. I want to feel alive – that feeling of “I really feel alive because there’s a chance I could not be!” This doesn’t have to be extreme sports. This can happen in the heart. My HOBL’s and my life phrase right now comes from Mark Twain:

“Why not go out on a limb? That’s where the fruit is.”

So. Here we are. Creeping out on a (southern) limb, in search of fruit. Stay tuned.

Here’s our new house. Jk.

 Here we are, dancing the Charleston in 1925. We look so young!…