One month of figuring out the lovely new land of Tennessee.. Here are some bits and pieces of what we’ve been up to!

Been exploring (and being bit by) all the new bugs!

Spontaneously bought a new flag and was so glad I did because everyone has one on their house and it just makes me so happy :)

Such a blessing to have the sweetest friends here!

Snuck my plant here under the guise of a box labeled “art” and it’s still alive! Think of my momma each time I water it :)

The first week or so was kind of hard. I don’t think I had really processed anything that was happening cause I was in such task mode for months and months but all of a sudden we were swimming in a mess of boxes, I couldn’t (and still can’t!) figure out where the heck I am.. I always find myself going the wrong direction and getting so lost, everything seems so unfamiliar for obvious reasons and I just kept having that feeling of uh oh what are we doing?? So it’s been nice to find little encouragements on the ground here and there to get me out of my funk :)

I remembered how we were so stressed about finding a rental and couldn’t find one that would allow dogs and cats and was big enough to work from home and have a homeschool area and all the things we needed.. and we were sitting there having this very discouraged conversation about where to go when at that very moment, my phone rang.. and it was the woman from a rental I had applied for after having been turned down to all the others that would have worked.. and she said, “lot’s of people are interested but if you’re ok renting without seeing it first, it’s yours if you want it! .. but it’s not available till mid to late July..” which was precisely when we were planning on moving and obviously we wouldn’t be able to see it first and it just felt like such a perfect miracle! It’s just so crazy to me how we’ve been praying that God would open and shut doors and put us or keep us where He wanted us and it’s like He just flung them all open and plopped us here :) Being able to sell our house so easily and figure out all the logistics that needed to take place and all the things.. It’s been awfully comforting, despite the feeling of a big step backwards, that I really feel like He helped us along the whole way. So once I stopped pouting and ignored all the shoddy work everywhere that inevitably comes with a rental, I realized I just love living here! There’s no pressure on making it look nice! Ha! I wake up to the most beautiful view of green trees! (well, until winter comes but STILL!) I have the most giant bath tub! It’s been the best possible neighborhood experience! The kids can ride their bikes around the block by themselves without me worrying! They spend most of their free time playing with the other neighbor kids which has been such a gift! Our other neighbors brought us cookies :’) Another neighbor invited us over for the most delicious smoked ribs! He also happens to be from Los Gatos and gave us Santa Cruz cups to remind us of home :D I’ve heard it said people in TN are nice but it’s a noticeable difference over all! They have been so nice! Greg was having a hard time getting something heavy into the garage and our neighbor comes running across the street to help! Anyways, it’s just a silly thing but it’s really been so nice to be surrounded by such kind, friendly people.

Sat in the DMV for 5 hours to get our (truly horrible) pictures taken for our licenses! Got caught in a tremendous rainstorm on the way back to the car! The kids thought it was the coolest thing :)

Celebrated Luke’s birthday for the millionth time!

Took him to the high ropes course. He got attacked by bugs. I conquered my fear of heights. Some of us had more fun than others.

Maisey has been making herself at home :) she’s been the sweetest little comfort to have around <3 I’m just so thankful for her.

Stayed up late watching heat lightning :)

Been love love loving the warm rain and having a front porch to watch it all on!

Boys got their first barber shop haircut!

Luke’s like, “no offense mom, but I think I wanna go back there..” :)

Every place we’ve lived, we’ve stumbled into a nice restaurant in our hideous street clothes without knowing it was nice. Accidentally kept the tradition.. they seated us upstairs so as to not be seen by passerby’s ;)

Greg got a steak as big as his head.

Found a metal man and a big chair

Been waking up with the strange desire to purchase more guns ;)

Love that this boy still plays with his trains :) I just love those kids so much

Got my first tick ;) Greg casually mentions “you have a tick on your ear” and walks away. I didn’t know if it was crawling… if it was going to go innnn my ear.. didn’t know he went to get tweezers… :)

Greg took Abbie to go see Lindsey Stirling again on a little daddy daughter date and i’m not jealous at all.

I also had extreme ponytail envy.

Realized recycling is not a thing here.. still can’t figure out how to get a recycling bin.. and this is what every post-shopping trip looks like. I think they put one item in each bag? even milk gets a bag! I never need to buy poop bags again.

Had the BEST time at the fair! It was so cute and wholesome and lovely and had all the boardwalk rides my kids loved so that was nice :)

Went on this ride with Noah that got me laughing SO hard it still makes me laugh.. For whatever reason, our car was flinging around much more forcefully than everyone else’s. My glasses went flying off my face, my neck muscles had a hard time keeping my head steady, my hair made it so I couldn’t see anything and we were quite a site!

Took the kids to the river since I heard swimming holes are a thing here? They saw it and were like, WHAT? No way am I going in that!!! IT’S BROWN!!!! but then I forced them to and they ended up having the best time :)

Started school! I’ve been so worried about this year but I’ve been having the best time with them! Two weeks down ;)

Been exploring the most beautiful forests with the cutest tiny frogs!

That. Cat. :( has been hunting all the birds! We tried to rescue the sweetest dove.. in my head she magically regrew all her feathers overnight and is now living her best life <3

That. Cat. :( has also been bringing in all the fleas ..cause someone forgot to give her her flea medicine last month :/ whoops. but still. I am currently not a fan of that. cat. Counted over a hundred bites on one leg alone! I’m quite itchy :)

Took the kids to one of the civil war sites yesterday and found myself unexpectedly moved by it all! So grateful for all the lives given to bring freedom to us all!

This girl has been gifted with extra tongue ;)

I really love it here. I love driving around despite never knowing where I’m going! I love the weather I love the heat I love the rain! I love that it’s not super crowded! I love the friendly people! Every church we’ve visited has been amazing! I just really like living here and am so grateful the Lord kinda nudged us along :) I don’t like the bugs. So there we go – one month down!