Day 3

Nashville 

"But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing His songs, praying to God who gives me life." Psalm 42:8

This morning, I GOT TO HUG MY MOMMA.
*enter sigh of relief and warm comfy feelings*

If you don't have a momma for whatever reason or are away from yours for a time, then go adopt an auxiliary momma who you can hug when you're moving to Alaska or having any feeling for any reason. She shouldn't be difficult to find. Some women don't have a child for whatever reason or are away from theirs for a time as well. Those women who are meant to be mommas need to hug you as much as you need them to.

I don't know why Hubs & I are allowed to have the moms we do, but we had the sacred blessing of eating brunch with both this morning.

My mom is a tutor / teacher (a.k.a. mentor, prayer warrior, comedian, manager, one-on-one attention-giver, come-in-early, stay-late, mathematician, underpaid & invaluable community servant & molder of young minds, etc.) at Lipscomb Academy, and she had a break in between students, so Hubs, Lea Anne, and I met her at Pancake Pantry. Two words: French. Toast.

Let me tell you something about Hubs' mom, Lea Anne, too. She is a non-traditional student. Translation for you who aren't with it: Lea Anne Woodard decided to step outside her comfort zone, leap from the known to the unknown, enter the entirely alien planet of the next generation's newly-independent coed experience, and go back to school. Bravery is an understatement. 

So, Hubs and I stepped onto Lea Anne's stompin' grounds on the campus of Belmont University, through a sea of high-waist jorts, aztec prints, and maxi skirts to retrieve the last of her books & supplies for her first day of school of fall semester tomorrow! She has breached the boundary of convention and joined the trend and tech of today's youth where pride is not a friend and the generation gap makes the Grand Canyon seem like just an ole crack in the sidewalk on the way up to her Research in Social Work class. I know her three kids are in complete awe of her courage, puffed so proud of her for stepping up to the challenge and casually knocking "Dean's List" off her to-do list. Early mid-50's, people. 

Seriously.

This afternoon, I sculpted this watermelon and, not gonna lie, am pretty proud of this cute little situation.

Also, we made candy bar brownies. 

Y'all do know family = food, right? Southern grandmothers say I love you with homemade deliciousness. And the way you say it back is by plopping seconds on your plate.

Nana Hamrick expressed her devotion with a roast, carrots, mashed potatoes, green beans, lima beans, squash, rolls, sweet tea and more at tonight's family dinner. Aunts, uncles, cousins, dogs, food, laughter. Same ole, same ole, and that's how we like it. That's what we're wanting- what we are soaking up like sponges. When you're temporarily homeless, in the midst of a rather large transition, and refusing to admit how far you'll be away just a week later, there is nothing better than the normal, comfort mingling of the people & places you know so well. I'm the newest welcomed member to this hilarious crew that would do anything for each other. And we just can't wait to get another dose of being totally spoiled loved at my Maw Maw's on Sunday afternoon.