I'm the New Kid

So as you know, I've lived in Tennessee for a whopping month now. And it's great! Don't get me wrong! However, I'm not the biggest fan of being the new kid. I've NEVER been the new kid. I've NEVER had to make friends completely from scratch. I've NEVER been somewhere where I truly do not know anyone (except for my fabulous husband and precious puppy, of course).

Anyway, it hit me hard the other day when we went to Sunday School for the first time. And that's really hard, by the way! You wouldn't think going to church is a tough thing, but it is! It's awkward to walk in somewhere and know no one. And then sit down and pray that someone introduces yourself. I'm not my hilarious mother who can walk into a room of strangers and become BFF with all of them. I tend to be the awkward wallflower that prefers someone to approach me first.

That's my cool mom. She's outgoing and doesn't know a stranger.

Anywho, Sunday School was great and we met some really nice people! That night, there was this event at the church called Starlight Spectacular. It was a big event that had a concert with Mandisa and Matthew West. There were vendors with awesome fair-type food (I coached myself out of getting a funnel cake...sadly...) and then fireworks at the end. We showed up late, because it was one hot hot hot day, and we thought getting there when the sun started going down would be a good idea. So, we get there and the guys immediately grab Jamie to go play games. I was so glad for him that the guys just included him right off the bat! That made me a happy wifey :) But then I threw myself a pity party, because for the next 15 minutes, I stood there by myself...waiting...alone...knowing no one...watching everyone have fun...watching all of these people having great conversations with their friends... That was the first time I really thought, "This really bites. I hate being the new kid."

After 15 minutes of "Awkward & Alone Abby", a girl I met in Sunday School grabbed me and asked me to sit with her. Praise be to the Lord Almighty! From then on, I was feeling much better about life. I had a great conversation with this girl about a mission trip that she goes on called Beach Reach. They go to Panama City Beach and do a really cool outreach to the spring breakers! We talked for quite a while, and she was a delight. Then I talked with my friend Jenny (my very first friend in Memphis), she introduced me to some other people who were truly lovely! The night ended up being a really fun night!

However, throughout the evening, I just realized how tough this is going to be. I had a big reality check. I am not going to move here and meet my new BFF4L. I am not going to immediately find mine and Jamie's married friends and fit in perfectly. We don't have history with anyone here. We don't know anyone's stories. We don't know anyone's families. It's just going to be tough to put all of that aside and accept the friendship challenges ahead of us. Jamie is my "Realistic Ralph" who keeps me in check and reminds me that it's going to be tough. He keeps telling me that we're going to meet lots of people and have lots of friends, but it won't be the same as our friendships with Megan, Kendall, JJ, Luke, Mer, Lindsay, Jimmy, Molly, Michael, Ben, Lauren, and so on. We have history with them. We know their families. We've been there for the ups and downs with them. They know everything about us. I'm realizing that it's going to be tough to start all of that over again with brand new people at a totally new stage in our lives.

Don't get me wrong. I love being here and I think moving away is going to make me and Jamie stronger in our marriage and just fall on each other for support, love and friendship. He is my most bestest friend, after all :) The people that I have met here are precious and wonderful and welcoming! But I'm going to have to take it day by day and be patient with everything. God is good and he has a reason for us to be here. It's not just because Jamie has a new job here. There's a bigger reason. Maybe this experience is teaching me to be more welcoming to others when they're the new kid. Maybe this experience is teaching me to trust in Christ alone, having faith that He has a perfect plan for me...even though I'm having lonely times here and there. Who knows? He is perfect though. And He loves me. So I know He'll take care of me :)

Here are some of the people whom I love and miss incredibly:

Me, Jamie, and our wonderful parents

Precious Chi Omegas: Alyssa, Lauren, Emily, Ashley, Rachel, Taylor, Kaytlyn

My seester, my mom and I in NYC in Summer 2007

My super rad Big, Kendall

My lovely friend and old roomy, Lauren

Lovely Chi O Family--Ashley and Abby

Molly--my near and dear friend from Kamp--Princi forever!
Megan, Kendall, Hayley, and Carin--outstand friends from high school and college

Molly! Hilarious, loyal, oustanding...nuff said

My gorgeous bridesmaids...Lindsay, Lauren, Kendall, Mer, Megan, Angela and Camie