Leen In Tennessee

A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to spend five days with my best friend. She flew in early morning October 10th. We ran to each other and it was so cute. 

One thing that really stunk about Aleah's visit was that the weather was incredibly gloomy almost the entire time she was here. But we had brief moments of sunshine and took full advantage by snapping lots of pictures. 

In our adventures,  I took her to the walking bridge downtown, several coffee shops, quality taco restaurants, Leiper's Fork, a pumpkin patch, and the Natchez Trace bridge. Other places too, but among these places we were able to capture photos. 

I had the best time. It had been two months since I had last seen her on the morning I drove away to move down here, and I am pleased to say that absolutely nothing had changed. We just happened to be in Nashville. I was reminded, though, how much of a blessing friendship is. And not just any friendship. The best friends kind. The kind where each of you knows what the other one means with out words. The kind where you both are the only ones laughing at something that no one else finds funny. The kind where you're both black so you both understand the struggle of humidity and the hair on your head. The kind where you share dreams for your life and can only pray that you'll both be there to experience them together. 

I can't wait to see her again. I wish it were at thanksgiving, but it will be at Christmas. I'll be buying my plane tickets to come home shortly, and I am so excited. But that is another story, another post. 

Outside of Pinewood.

I had driven by this shed in Leiper's Fork several times. I always thought it was so beautiful and looked like the perfect place for a photo shoot. After church with my friend Madison, I took both of them there and, come on. They are models.

We somehow all ended up with a picture of us looking down. Cute.

Gentry's Farm.

I know you wanted to see a picture of my eyes closed. So you're welcome.

On top of the Natchez Trace bridge.

Me, trying to give Aleah a heart attack. 

This is her, "I'm terrified inside but I'm just going to laugh uncontrollably to hide it from anyone" face.

This is her, "yeah, I'm terrified and I hate this and take the dang photo already" face.

Sweet sun!

Love this of her.

From underneath.

Currently

Last week on the second of October, I had the entire day off. Which has been rare since I got here. A day to do whatever I wanted. I got up, called my mom, vented about working at Starbucks (which is becoming a regular thing // please pray I find another job. I am just not happy at this store y'all) and thanked her for the laundry money she sent me in the mail. 

Next was doing the laundry, using the laundry money and that was that. Then I just got in my car and decided to drive. With no destination in mind. I took back roads from the city and found myself in Franklin. I stopped for coffee, and then continued on. 

Just outside of the town I stumbled upon a tiny hut that had pumpkins galore every where you looked. And this made my heart so heavy with joy. I really love the fall time more than any other time. More than Christmas, more than my birthday, more than the day I graduated high school. There just simply isn't a way for me to be upset with perfect weather, beautiful colors and warm sweaters at my reach. It's the most magical time of life to me. I am the happiest I could possibly be in the month of October.

I bought about a dozen little baby pumpkins for very cheap. Then continued on. After that, I made my way into Leiper's Fork. If you're ever in Tennessee and are looking to experience something that doesn't seem real, go there. It is the most picturesque town. It looks like it belongs in the movies. It's completely adorable. Very tiny, but so full of character. I stopped there and visited the public library. There were several books for sale and I managed to find Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald for ONE dollar. I've been wanting to read that for so long! 

I spent the rest of the day driving through the country. The mountains here are so beautiful. The trees here are so beautiful. The southern quality of everything rustic, domestic, scenic here is so beautiful. The people here are beautiful. The everything here is beautiful. It was one of the best days of my life. Here are some photos I took.

Right now, I am too excited for words because Aleah is here. Seeing her for the first time in two months was wonderful. We ran to each other in the airport, it was really cute. I've been waiting for this time since I left! It's so good to have her by my side again, though it honestly feels like nothing has changed. We just happen to be in Nashville. We have many adventures planned. And you can expect to see a post about that very soon. Until then, happy October eleventh. 

Currently - 

Reading - Still The Book Thief. At Barista Parlor, right now, actually. Aleah is here!

Eating - Still yogurt. Lot's of yogurt. But also, Nutella. Spoonfuls and sandwiches. As you can tell, I am clearly making the best choices for my body. 

Thinking About - What my life will end up looking like when I get to where I'm supposed to be. Which doesn't make sense at all because I don't think we're supposed to be one thing or in one place for our entire lives. So I guess, what I'm supposed to be doing while I'm here.

Enjoying - Aleah's company and good coffee and tacos.

Listening To - Bon Iver is playing here right now. Apart from that, Local Natives. A lot of it.

Watching - The Office. And Criminal Minds, but mostly The Office.

Missing - My sister. Wichita. Zane. My mom. The Donut Whole. Kansas sunsets.

Loving - All the new friends I'm making. Autumn. Tennessee mountains. My new church.

Currently.

Y'all. I live in Nashville. I fully plan on sharing with you how it has been and how I'm feeling about it as soon as I can, but I need time to really know how I feel. I've been here an entire month now (what?) and my emotions are still fluctuating. They're constantly moving up and down and I don't want to publicly share how I feel about this place when I might change my mind the next day. Does that make sense? I'm still trying to find a place for me to keep my feet on the ground. 

I have been very late in creating a "Currently" post. Summer and life got in the way, but I have decided to make this a monthly thing. And since eleven is my favorite number, I will try my very hardest to share my "Currently" posts on the eleventh of each month. So here we go.

Reading -

The Book Thief. I have been reading this book for a while. It's not a hard read, but it's hard to find time. So far, I love it. It's a fictional book based in Germany during WWII and other historic events. I'm about one fourth of the way through. I'm pretty sure the book is narrated by death. Interesting take, and sort of weird, but I find it very creative. I've never read a book that was narrated by death before. It's also very poetic. I feel like I'm reading song lyrics as I turn the pages. I recommend it!

Eating - 

SO. MUCH. YOGURT. Don't ask me why, because I haven't the slightest clue. Since I've moved, I've gone through one tub of yogurt a week. The kind I buy is Brown Cow from Whole Foods. I wake up and after my eyes have adjusted and I'm alert and ready to move around and such, the first thing that comes into my mind is how much I want yogurt. I just grab a mason jar, cut up some strawberries, pour the yogurt over them, grab a spoon and indulge.

Thinking About -

How life is probably the strangest concept I've ever tried to wrap my mind around. 

Enjoying - 

Off days and quality time with my roommate. And how cool it is to be free to do whatever the heck you want.

Listening To - 

Night Beds, City & Colour, Poema, and Switchfoot. Always, always Switchfoot. 

(heck I'll start throwing this one in there too)

Watching - Criminal Minds. We don't have cable in our quaint little apartment (not that I'd be using it much if we did) but we do have Netflix. And when young nineteen year old women have time to waste in their home, Netflix comes quite in handy. And I love Criminal Minds. Now I can watch it from start to finish. I am too embarrassed to tell you how far along I am in the series. . .

Missing - Familiarity. Knowing people when I walk into places. My old Starbucks and everyone in it. Hugs from my mom. 

Appreciating - FaceTime.

Loving - 

The fact that I live in Nashville. And getting coffee from my favorite shop here called 'Crema.' And how close autumn is. And God's grace.

Here are a few shots of life around here. Most of them are iPhone photos.. Sorry about that! An apartment post is coming soon! Thank you to anyone that actually reads this. It's very sweet of you. I really appreciate it. 

My roommate, Lauren.

Lights at one of my other favorite coffee shops, The Frothy Monkey.

The view from the stairs in the house I nanny at every week.

My new friend Anna Mae. 

It's been raining as much as it's been sunny, and I'm okay with that.

Another favorite coffee shop. 

I wasn't lyin'.

After a storm.

Last night Lauren & I hiked through Percy Warner. It is one of my favorite places in Nashville.

Kindred Spirits: Regan

You know, most siblings in today's society don't have actual stories of how they first met. You were born into the same family, so you've just always known them? That's how it usually goes. That is not the case here. 

Meet my step sister, Regan. Honestly, a more proper name for her would be friend. My best friend. Because that's exactly what she's been to me from the moment we first met.

It was the first day of 5th grade. I was in the back row of the room sitting at my desk being dramatic about something that I thankfully cannot remember. Some girl sitting two seats away from me laughed at just about everything that came out of my mouth. 5th grader me obviously liked that someone new found me so funny, so we started talking and I learned her name was Regan Wright, and she had just moved to the school from another town 30 minutes away. We became immediate friends. 

Unfortunately, the entire duration of the school year is a blur up until about the last week of it. I don't know why we waited until the end of the school year to finally hang out, but we did for some reason. It was a school night. I remember that much because that was a big deal in 5th grade. You didn't have sleepovers on a school night. But after our parents talked on the phone, they both agreed this wouldn't harm anything. An hour and a half later, Regan's dad dropped her off and that's when our parents first met. It seriously must have been love at first sight because less than a couple weeks later they started dating, on into 6th grade, 7th, and then in 8th grade they got married! Such a crazy story! 

But that is how Regan and I met/ became sisters. You wouldn't think we'd be best friends if you based the relationship off of common ground. Our personalities are so different from one another. But that's why I think it's so incredible that she knows me better than I even know myself. It's a serious gift from God. 

Regan has a heart of gold. A heart after God. A heart for others. She's a dreamer. And I love her. Growing up with her has been one of the greatest gifts in my life. I don't think I'd be the same if I'd grown up with out her. I know I wouldn't. If there's anyone I wish a long and happy life of fairytales and love for one's neighbor upon, it's her. She deserves it. She is so precious to me. I'm so proud of her. And I'm so thankful she is my kindred spirit.