Lea Ann Is 40!

"And that's what's right about America!"

Ever since I can remember, one of the biggest family laughs has always been the last sentence of Lea Ann's pageant speech. She practiced and practiced that speech over and over in front of the old cam-recorder until it was perfect. She pumped her fist in the air with gusto and deserved every bit of applause. It's just been the phrase we repeat over and over in random circumstances. This particular weekend was no different. Back on July 4, four out of five of us sisters gathered in Hendersonville, TN to celebrate Lea Ann turning forty. I still feel like I'm twenty and she's thirty-one. She definitely doesn't look forty, does she?!

We flew in from Florida, Amy came from Chattanooga, Jill came in from St. Louis, and my parents came from East Tennessee. Her sweet friends came to celebrate her and we ate home made ice cream, cookies of every kind, pizza, and just about every kind of pie you can imagine! My brother-in-law (with the help of the "brotherhood") threw an outstanding party on their property complete with a white tent, twinkle lights, sparklers, music, a slideshow (made by yours truly), food, family, friends, a tractor, mower, and a custom-made photo booth! (If I got the story straight, my brother-in-law and his friend Adam made this photo booth and it's available for parties and weddings!)

We were together.

It was chaotic with eight grand-babies running around the house but being under one roof doesn't happen often. Sure, there has been some drama (no family is perfect) but this weekend we decided to celebrate her life! We celebrated the sister who started it all. We celebrated the fact that God has been faithful in our family, in her marriage, in her journey through medical school, in her constant forgiving spirit, her beautiful children who are God-fearing and joyful souls, and her ministry to those around her in need. She truly exemplifies the hands and feet of Jesus. She welcomes the needy, lost, addicted, wounded, young, and old into her home. She treats her patients with great care and respect and is concerned deeply about their hearts and souls. She prays and worships the Lord in Spirit and in truth and she is her own brand of spunk. She's a woman who knows her identity in Christ, and she's grounded in truth. We are so thankful for you, Lea Ann! Now, please forgive me for posting this so late!

As we listened to the crickets and cicadas that humid evening, I didn't realize how much I missed those weird bug noises. That noise is found in almost every single outdoor memory that I have growing up in sweet Tennessee.

We don't have cicadas in Florida...

I noticed that I almost slipped into another downward depression of all the reasons why I struggle to live so far away from home.

But this trip was a little different.

I found myself a little more content with this sunny state that we call home. I found myself thankful and in awe instead of comparing and complaining.

In Florida, we have large canopy trees and they're mostly magnificent looking palms.

We have pies and they're usually Key Lime.

We have picnics too and they're usually around a pool or beach.

We don't see many tractors but we do have air boats.

You probably can't find many wild blackberries but you can find wild mangos (all over the place).

We don't have many Canadian geese but we do have all sorts of amazing birds-of-prey.

We don't have as many open fields but we do have open beaches.

And the kicker; although I don't have any blood relatives in Florida, God has provided a family of faith here with whom I feel more at home with than I ever imagined.

A faith family where we all have a part to play, we are all members of one body as 1 Corinthians 12 states. A faith family that is literally from all corners of the globe. We all look different, talk different, have different passions and hobbies but we all desperately need the hope we have in Jesus. Of course I love my family. But what I love most about my family is that we don't put our hope in this world. We put our hope in Jesus and the reality of living a lifetime with Him in Heaven.

On a quick trip to Kroger on this very weekend, I felt out of sorts since this location had been my "neighborhood Kroger" about three years prior. It felt strange walking through those doors knowing that I don't live there any longer. I prayerfully expected to run into just one person, somebody I had known when I used to live in Hendersonville. God is just awesome. Guess who I ran into? Sweet Janine. Janine and I used to work together at Dr. Cohen's office. Janine is such an incredible pillar of the faith, she knows her Bible, and she sure does love Jesus.

And...Janine used to live in PEMBROKE PINES.

Yes, the city we currently live in. Shortly after I announced that we were moving to Florida, she asked me what part and after working with her for almost two years, I discovered she used to live in our current city for many years. What are the chances?! I felt like God was whispering to me, "remember when you didn't want to move to FL and you found out your coworker used to live in that exact same city... I will take care of you... my plans are better than yours... I am able to do exceedingly abundantly more than you can ever think of or hope for...I am your Father!" You are so good, Lord! So good!

Florida has reminded me that home is Christ. I've stopped looking for the next step. Instead, I've begun to consider our great Father who constantly looks after this wayward child. He surprises me with his grace and mercy, with southern pies, sunsets, cicadas, and has given me a new song. I just want to keep singing His praises. After all, this life isn't about my glory, it's about HIS! Thank you, Lord. Thank you.

...And that's what's right about Florida.