Remind me on the bad days.

Remind me of nights like last night…. when I’m sitting in a venue surrounded by friends that I love. When familiar faces I haven’t seen yet keep popping up in my peripheral vision. When the hugs are plentiful and the joy is palpable. When the musicians make me laugh because they are funny on stage and funny in person.

We were at a concert that, for lack of better words, just felt like a ton of our friends in one room singing along to our favorite Christmas songs. I never wanted to cry… I kept thinking I would. But instead, I can’t wipe last night’s smile off my face. I just smile when I think about what happens when our friends pay money to watch our friends perform. It’s good.

On the bad days, remind me of how lucky I am to have friends that make me swell with pride. I have spent the last few days spending every waking moment away from my computer [as you can probably tell… sorry.] and in the presence of my people here. I am so proud of them. Not in a mom way, that’s weird. But in a, “man, five months away can sure make you appreciate your people and their talent.”

Do you tell your friends that you are proud of them? I wonder, and hope, that my friends know that their art slays me. That the girls at the Mocha Club office inspire me with their hustle. That good songs become great songs with the songwriters are caring and loving friends. So I’ve spent many a moment across the table from someone saying things like, “you’re amazing,” or “you know not everyone can do that, right?”

Needless to say, I am basking in the warmth of my Nashville life- of new opportunities to serve my church and old friends who pick up right where we left off. I am spending day after day running into people I love in public places and the surprise on my face is never feigned. I mean it. Probably the biggest thing I missed in Scotland was running into people I knew in public. So it’s the highlight of my day every time it happens.

There are some whoa-awesome book things going on [not just the Christmas pack] that I can’t talk about but keep me pretty busy… as SOON as I can spill it, I will. Don’t you worry about that. And on the days when I hate writing [which, if you are writer, you know those days come along], remind me of the days like today when I’m set to burst over wishing I could tell you things.

Sorry the blog has been quiet. Re-entry hasn’t been 100% easy and processing with my people has been necessary. But also, sitting with my people has been necessary. Listening to stories of heartbreak over burritos. Listening to stories of weddings over sushi. Listening to stories of births over candy jars. Listening to stories of revival over apple cider.

And sharing my stories as well.

I’m happy to be home. I’m glad for the beautiful season the Lord is giving me upon returning to Nashville.

But I know it won’t always be easy. It’s definitely not a flawless town with flawless people. Things will settle into normal and life will get busy and there will be days, for the rest of my life, when I miss Edinburgh with every breath.

So someday, long from now, when I somehow forget that I am right smack in the middle of exactly where I want to be, remind me.

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