We're goin' to Jackson...

Johnny and June did it... and now so are we.

We're moving to Jackson.

The weeks since we've known about this move have been full of extreme emotional confusion. There are moments that I can't wait to go back home, then I remember that I have dear, dear friends that I'm leaving behind...

Elizabeth, Corrie, Carlie and Anna

Buck and Rachel Rogers

Susanna Patterson

Mercer Girls at our Wedding

 ...to only name a few.

I've been in Macon almost four years...Greg almost six. When I came here to work for RUF, I was convinced that I would not let Macon change me.

I was wrong.

It started with my roommate, Elizabeth. Then across the street, our friend Carlie. The girls who moved here the same week I did - Corrie and Anna. Before I knew it, I was beyond blessed with friends who loved me well and encouraged me daily. We've been through a lot together since then...dates and break-ups, birthdays and bar-passings, engagements, weddings, and now, pregnancies (Carlie).

Girls messing around,  4th of July 2010

Panama City Beach Weekend

Susanna, Corrie, Carlie and Elizabeth

David and Elizabeth, Carlie and Anders - 4th of July 2011

My time with RUF girls also grew into relationships so dear to me. They have shown me more than they realize and I am so proud of them!

Senior girls at a Mercer Basketball Game

Mistletoga - RUF Christmas party 2010; Nativity Scene

Then, of course, Greg came along and changed my life. The Lord is so good in bringing together two people who were very unlikely to meet. But he gets to go with me to J-town, so I'll move on...

After we got married in October 2010, we made wonderful friendships with other couples in our Sunday School. I feel like we're just getting started with many of those relationships...

This list doesn't even include Zach, G's brother (Junior at Mercer), Buck and Phillip (RUF staff), our church, the FPD family where I work now, G's friends from the base, and people Greg went to school with.

Zach - Greg's younger twin

Buck and Rachel, Eli, Rosie and Sarabelle Rogers

So, yep, Macon has gotten to me. It's been a rough couple of months preparing to leave. I hate it. I hate leaving people. It's like graduating from college, but you're the only one going away...

So, on a happy note: Why are we leaving? Good question.

My wonderful husband has taken a job working with youth at the church I grew up in in Jackson. He'll be working full time and taking classes part-time at Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS). Remember his first day of school? Same school, different campus.

Greg's been feeling the call to ministry for a while, and we are really excited about this opportunity! We could have gone several different places, but chose Jackson to be near to my family. We've got wonderful, hard and exciting things to look forward to, people to love and friends to make. But that won't come without terribly missing our people and places in Macon.

So, I thought I was just a Mississippi girl. As it turns out, I've got a little Georgia in me too :)

My Rooms Got Hitched!

Well, since I've actually posted a blog, my friend and former rooms, Elizabeth Hall, got engaged AND married. The post below this one screams my procrastination with the word "October," but to my credit, they had a short (4 month) engagement.

I moved to Macon almost four years ago... fresh out of Ole Miss, ready to do this whole "RUF intern" thing. I ask people for money, then I move to a strange place and hang out with college freshmen. I didn't know anyone here until the day I moved in. If this tells anything about what type of person Elizabeth is, she willingly let me live with her (after a few emails to make sure I wasn't completely kook).

Roomies for about three weeks at this point!

Apparently, I passed the test and invaded her life. She greeted me at the door, late that night, with a huge hug in her PJ's. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship :)

We thought we could play back then, but now we've both married musicians and have decided that is good enough :)

Celebrating Lizzy's finished Marathon! November 2008

New Years 2010

Elizabeth is one of the most amazing people I know and I couldn't be more happy for her! She married David, who she has actually known for years. They used to do music for Mercer RUF together, but didn't ever think about dating until last year. Once it happened, it went fast!

It was still new... I had to "puppet master" to have this picture taken :)

David and Elizabeth are perfect for each other... they are both super fun, full of quirks, one-liners and being around them makes you just feel better. I've also never seen Liz more happy than she has been since David. It's wonderful to watch your friends fall in love!

I gasped when she walked into the Bridal suite... GORGEOUS!

Elizabeth...Thank you for being a wonderful friend and amazing example. David...thank you for loving my friend and taking wonderful care of her. Greg and I were so honored to be a part of your day.  We're so happy for you both!!!