An update from the road...

Day 1: (October 25th)
I got a late start due to goodbye breakfast at Cracker Barrel with my Nashville friends. We were very loud and joyful at the breakfast table, so much so that we actually received a compliment from a couple strangers. They said we made their breakfast more enjoyable by how much fun we had. We took a bunch of group photos outside of CB, which made some people stare. Tears were shed - mostly by me. It was a long day of driving which ended near Topeka, KS at a rest stop. This was when I discovered the amazing rest stops that are actually service stations in Kansas. They have, not only clean bathrooms, but also gas pumps, convenience stores and fast food restaurants all in one location in the median. It was great!

Day 2:
Sleeping in a car packed with all your worldly possessions is not the most comfortable thing. I Kept startling awake thinking I had fallen asleep while driving. I left the service area at 6:15am and witnessed a beautiful sunrise which made up for the lack of sleep. :) When driving through Topeka I saw a small car (similar to mine) with a Vermont license plate, packed full with belongings. I wonder where they are moving to? I drove on the part of I-70 which was the first section of interstate to be built in the US. Why did they chose Kansas for this first section? I saw a church called 'JC Naz' which was apparently a Nazarene church. I arrived in Denver at a very decent time (about 3pm) and had a very nice chat with my good friend Sweet Leesh, before everyone (her husband, brother and sister-in-law) all arrived for dinner. I really enjoyed dinner with all of them, and we played some fun games afterwards too.

Day 3:
Denver has been issued a Winter Storm Warning. They are expecting it to snow, starting tonight and going through Thursday. Up to 18 inches is expected. So I am going to stay a couple extra nights with Sweet Leesh and her husband. This afternoon we went to Red Rocks Amphitheater and took lots of pictures. Tonight we had dinner at Sweet Leesh's parents house and got to play Apples to Apples with the whole family afterwards. It brought back many fun memories, due to the fact they were the ones who helped teach me to play that game in the first place.

Day 4: (October 28)
I slept in this morning and by the time I woke up there was a couple inches of snow. Sweet Leesh and her husband went to a special lecture at the Bear Valley school this morning. It was bad enough when they got out of that, they decided to go get more food supplies for the next couple days. When they got back we ate and watched movies all afternoon. Its about 10pm now and there is at least 9" of snow from what I can see. It is still snowing too. I think I may have to change my route home from here, in addition to waiting a couple extra nights.

Words are inadequate...

... for the mix of feelings I'm experiencing at the moment.
I've just gotten back to the house from a wonderful night with the girls (Miss Grey, BarlowGirl, and Sunny B) where we did pedicures, watched Anne of Green Gables, and ate popcorn. I love these friends of mine! I am lucky to have such amazing friends.
Today it has hit me. Everything was so 'matter-of-fact' until today. I don't know why or when exactly it happened, but it hit me at some point today that I really am moving back to WA and that I leave the day after tomorrow. This was, and still is, my choice. I have chosen to go back to WA and in doing that, leave my friends behind. Of course, the selfish part of me would much rather just take them along, but that is impractical and somewhat unfair to them.
I have chosen to move back because I have missed Washington, my family there, and my church family especially. This seems like a good decision. This may sound hoaky, but I feel like this is the right decision right now. That community is where I belong right now. One major thing I have gained from this year of living in Tennessee, is a much greater appreciation for my church family, and the community provided there. Like everything else, it has its flaws (how could it not, consisting of humans as it does?) but I know those flaws and understand them.
I want to take this last quiet moment to say, that I will never ever regret my decision to move to Tennessee. The experiences I have had while living here for a year were worth every minute I missed home and family. Because of this adventure, I have gained much confidence in myself and cemented bonds of friendship that I feel will last forever. Nothing could make me regret that.
To my friends in Tennessee - whether you are a new friend, or an old one... I'm not always good at being able to verbally express my appreciation for you, but please know that your friendships mean the world to me! Believe me when I say, this was not an easy decision to make, or to follow through with. Nothing and no one can take your places in my heart. I promise to come visit often. I love you all!

15 Things I will miss about TN

Since I did one about my home state, I thought it only fitting that I do a list for the state I'm leaving...

15. the amazing fall color
14. walking downtown at night without being accosted
13. friendliness from strangers
12. being within easy driving distance to multiple states
11. warm summer evenings
10. fireflies
9. crazy country sayings
8. poofy shaped clouds
7. the fried okra and hot rolls
6. having a Sonic less than 5 min away
5. thunderstorms that shake the whole house
4. all the many shades of green during the summer
3. being able to play with BarlowGirl's kids anytime I want
2. my coworkers
1. my friends

a nice relaxing day...and the discovery of a new BBC film

Late last night I slipped some Valentines Day notes under the doors of my sleeping housemates, and this morning I woke to find that my best friend had left a note and a lavender hyacinth plant for me outside my door. She had also left a single rose outside Lady Dee's room with a note. It was very thoughtful of BarlowGirl, and a lovely little surprise! My room is now filled with the sweet fragrance of spring.
My original plans for the day included going to the movie theater to see "He's Just Not That Into You" even if I went alone. What actually came of the day was that I spent most of it quietly in my room enjoying a newly discovered made-for-tv BBC production based on the novel by Charles Dickens called "Bleak House". Netflix had it available as an 'Instant Play' movie, so I started it out of curiosity and liked it so much I couldn't stop. Most of the BBC productions of classic English literature I have seen I have thoroughly enjoyed and this was no different. Every couple episodes I would take a break and wander downstairs to get some refreshment and see how everyone else was doing. Halfway through the day the mail was brought in and I had received a packet with publications to help me plan my trip through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Just flipping through the pamphlets raised my excitement! But there will be more on that later... for now, I would like to wish you all a Happy Valentines Day, and I hope that your's was as relaxing and enjoyable as mine was!