Just North of the FL/GA Line

Obviously, I have not blogged in a very long time. In fact, as far as my sanity is concerned, it has probably been a bit too long. Well I'm back, but instead of bore you with an exhaustive analysis of the happenings of the past few months, I am going to mix it up a little.

Everyone loves music; we all have our favorite artists and songs. But sometimes, maybe once in a blue moon, a song comes along that does more than have you tapping your steering wheel or cashing out to iTunes. Sometimes a song really hits home, or as Kenny Chesney called it, "stamps our lives." I had this experience a few months ago, and really the song tells the story better than I can.

I've always been a big dreamer, but this year I've had to really lean on my faith to realize what I really wanted. I am happier than I ever have been or ever imagined possible. So, with a little help from Lady Antebellum, here's the story of how all my dreams came true. Some of the lyrics have been modified to fit more accordingly into my life, but I think you will find the actual lyrics mostly accurate.

~Lady Antebellum- "Home Is Where the Heart Is"~

I felt I was spinning my wheels
Before too long the road was calling
I packed everything I owned
So sure that I was leaving this small town life behind for good
And not a single tear was falling
It took leaving for me to understand
Sometimes your dreams just aren't what life has planned

Mama said home is where the heart is
When I left that town
I made it all the way to West Virginia  Knoxville, Tennessee
And that's where my heart found
Exactly where I'm supposed to be
It didn't take much time
It's just south of the Mason Dixon north of the Florida/Georgia line

Wow! That's me. I could not wait to get out of the small town life and get to the University of Tennessee. That was my dream. I wanted to be a Vol most of my life. And it definitely lived up to my expectations. I loved Knoxville, I loved the school, and I loved all the new friends I had made and all the new experiences I had encountered.

As you can imagine, I was quite devastated when I had to transfer back home because of UT's rising cost. I considered other schools, but I was certain UT was where I was supposed to be. I guess "sometimes your dreams just aren't what life has planned." So I worked and worked and worked to get back there. In the meantime, I also started talking to a certain, quite good-looking Marine. What started as a trip to a football game with a friend turned into a long distance relationship with my best friend. Which brings me to verse two:

I worked third shift at an all night diner three jobs and went to community college
Only stayed to save a little money for
Enough gas to make it to the east coast Smokey Mountains
That's when I saw the brightest pair of
Deep blue green eyes walking straight into my life
And every night we talked till it became so clear
And I could feel those dreams inside shifting gears
Cause love brought me here

Mama said home is where the heart is
When I left that town
I made it all the way to West Virginia back to Huntsville, Alabama
And that's where my heart found
Exactly where I'm supposed to be
It didn't take much time
It's just south of the Mason Dixon north of the Florida/Georgia line

I worked...and worked...and worked some more. I applied for scholarships, financial aid, and programs to get my tuition reduced. I made multiple trips to Knoxville. I was getting everything worked out to go back. But then the Marine snuck in again.

I applied to a program that would lower my tuition to the in-state rate. All the forms were sent, and I was just waiting for a reply. Ryan (you know, the Marine) had hoped to come home for Easter weekend, but when he wasn't allowed to leave, I headed to Nashville with my home congregation to judge speeches, puppet skits, and debates in the annual Lads to Leaders Convention. Keeping with tradition, I was talking to Ryan at every point possible and was in the process of texting him at Rusty's restaurant when I turned around to see his smiling face walking up. Surprise!

Needless to say, I was ecstatic! The weekend was amazing until we had to say goodbye. That night I checked my e-mail while waiting for Ryan to call. Sitting in my inbox was the approval to have my tuition lowered. I had already heard about my financial aid. This meant everything, let me repeat that, everything-tuition, fees, books, meals- would be paid for.

Naturally, I was excited at first, but then I felt my heart sink to the pit of my stomach. When Ryan called I cried. I didn't say anything to him at the time, but this was my first feeling that maybe moving back to Knoxville wasn't my dream after all.

I kept that feeling to myself for a while, expressing them only to Ryan after we had talked about the possibility of getting married someday. He of course would not give me his opinion; he wanted me to figure it out for myself. So I took it to the Lord. First, I prayed for a sign not to go back to UT. The next day, the girl I had planned to live with backed out. In a way, I was relieved. Then I applied to Jacksonville University. If I was going to get married and move to some strange town, I needed a school to go to. I prayed that if it was meant to be, I would get in and get A LOT of financial aid. Check, and check. Truthfully, it was the answer I wanted, but I still didn't believe it was happening. Cue the last verse.

And I'm standing in my veil about to say I do
As mama smiles with tear drops in her eyes
And then I realize there's something mama (and God) always knew
Love is what I really had left to find

She said home is where the heart is
When I left that town
I made it all the way to West Virginia Knoxville, Tennessee
And that's where my heart found
Exactly where I'm supposed to be
It didn't take much time
It's just south of the Mason Dixon north of the Florida/Georgia line


There's certainly more details to the story. Sometime soon I intend to write just about the angel at O'Charleys. But this is what you need to know for now. I married Ryan. I moved to St Marys, Georgia. I don't have a job. I'm not even in school right now, but will be next semester. I spend quite a bit of time alone. But you know what? I spend quite a bit MORE time smiling. I am so happy, happier than I have ever been. Obviously, marrying Ryan was the right decision, and I wake up every day knowing that I am loved by the most amazing man in the world and that our amazing God has a plan for us. Even when things aren't ideal, I know that God put me here for a reason and put us together for a reason. I am anxious to see what life has in store for us, and I know we can take on anything together.

"Home Is Where the Heart Is" might have been written by Lady Antebellum, but the story was penned by God. He is an excellent author, and, like a great song or novel, I'm intent on seeing how my story unfolds.