ready or not…
Yep, I’m moving to Nashville with the Hodges!
Some of you already knew this, but Nash is where I was ultimately wanting to land. I decided months ago that while I may not know what’s next for me, I do know that I want to chase down community. (Cue The Little Mermaid: “I wanna be where the people are…”)
Nashville has an incredible church and some amazing people that have already felt like home to me. I just needed to detour to the left coast on my way south. Because again, in my heart to chase community, God knew I needed the Hodges. They have been such a refuge for me. I am beyond thankful for friends who’ve become family.
Brent is the new North Campus pastor for Cross Point Church. So we all get to make this move together. As a family of five. I am really excited to be able to embrace this new journey and season together.
We’re leaving Friday, June 10th to drive from Oregon to Tennessee. That is gonna be one heck of a road trip! Make sure you’re following all of us on Twitter so you can drive cross-country with us! I’m sure it’ll be a wild ride!
Ready or not, Nashville… Here we come!
@greenenough4me says:
So excited for you!
So, so excited.
Nashville isn’t that far from where I’ll be this summer. Maybe our paths will cross.
Would LOVE to hug you.
xoxo, Alece!
@gritandglory says:
i would LOVE that, sidnie!
Alece,
Yay so excited for you.. Nashville is such a great place to be and I have no doubt that you will be surrounded by an amazing community of people..
@gritandglory says:
i agree, bindu! thank you!
@koalainscotland says:
Wow! Very cool.
You’ll be closer toScotland now too!
;)
@gritandglory says:
ha! i love your perspective!
@kylereed says:
yesssss, bring it
@gritandglory says:
it’s already been broughten!
I am beyond excited for u friend. I had a feeling you would eventually end up there :) oh my gosh so excited :) squee! Twitvids pls of the hodgepodge road trip
@gritandglory says:
oh i am sure there will be an overabundance of pics/vids from the neverending roadtrip! brace yourself.
@jclayville says:
“spread it?” hahahaha! love you. it’s like you’ll be closer… but not really.
@gritandglory says:
but kinda closer…. -ish… right?
@julespreever says:
So exciting! I always said that if I had to live in a city, Nashville would be the place I would choose. But for now I just visit occasionally. Will be praying for you all!!
@gritandglory says:
such a great city. i’m really looking forward to being there.
YAY!!!!!!!!! I am excited for the Hodges, but BEYOND excited that you have family like them!! SO awesome. I know what it’s like to have friends who are closer than family, and it is a blessing like none other. So excited for you!!!
@gritandglory says:
thank you so much, anneth!
@mjdagenhart says:
SO excited for you, ‘lece!!
@gritandglory says:
ohhhhh thanks, ‘risa!
@Allison0105 says:
So happy for you!! Now that you’re going to be living 6 hours away AND in my usual road trip destination city I will hopefully be hugging your neck SOON!!
@gritandglory says:
bring it, girl!
@anitashawaii says:
Congratulations! It’s so exciting when God moves you to a place you know you can call home.
@gritandglory says:
amen! thanks, anita.
@hisloverevealed says:
Can’t put into words how excited I am for you and the Hodges. I really feel like God is going to do incredible things through and for all of you there. I’ll be praying that everything lines up just as it needs to.
@gritandglory says:
thank you for all your prayers, kelli. we need ‘em!
@iloveblogs44 says:
That’s totally awesome! If your road trip brings you through my neck of the woods, lemme know…otherwise one of these days I’m totally coming to Nashville :) SO excited for you and them!
@gritandglory says:
thank you for being so excited for us — it’s incredible!
@momdiggity says:
So excited for you guys, can’t wait to see what God has ahead for you!
@gritandglory says:
thanks, KK! so appreciate you being excited with/for us!
@kedamak says:
You know I’m completely excited for you guys! Love to all
@gritandglory says:
eeeee! thanks, girl!
@hopefulleigh says:
That is so exciting! I know you have plenty of friends in Nash already but once the moving dust settles, I’d love to meet you. Keep me posted and let me know if there’s anything I can do to help!
@gritandglory says:
that would be wonderful! can’t wait.
@dubdynomite says:
This is exciting!
I have no doubt that you are right where you need to be right now. Looking forward to seeing what is in store for you.
@gritandglory says:
me too, john. thank you!
So blessed to do life with you!
@gritandglory says:
i’m the blessed one. thanks for salt-laking me into the family.
@tashanks says:
Nashville is a wonderful town and Cross Point is a wonderful church (where I attended while living in Nashville). Blessings to you and much peace in all your transition!
@gritandglory says:
i didn’t know you’d lived there, tiffanie! if you get back there for a visit, lemme know!
@mat2820b says:
I so love how God works everything together :) Praying for you all xx
@gritandglory says:
…for my good and His glory. even when i can’t see it. amen.
;)
@tamhodge says:
here we go!!!
love you, cornroll.
@gritandglory says:
i’m so glad we’re on this ride together, starfish.
Awesome! how fun! Maybe I will meet you someday. My in-laws live in Nashville (Franklin) and pastor a church there. http://www.immanuelnashville.com/
@gritandglory says:
oh wow, erin. that’s awesome! holla when you come visit them.
@ineffableGod says:
Congrats! I think this is the first time I came over here. But, I’ve heard wonderful things about you all through the blogosphere!
@gritandglory says:
don’t believe everything you hear, jon! ;)
very happy for you! I know how invaluable community is!
I haven’t been in touch with you lately… sorry about that. Things have been sooooooooooo crazy busy here with homeschooling four kids, potty training another one, and building a life here in Dayton Ohio. WE found a great great church that I am absolutely in love with. That was my one prayer that God would have the Air Force move us where there was a really good church for us and it is literally everything I ever wanted in a church. Their vision (Christian Life Center is the name) is to reach not only their church, but they partner with local churches who are small to support them in their ministries (this is awesome), they also partner with a ministry in Swaziland (I love Africa! Because of you) and build them buildings and support orphanages and so many many things, they also feed the homeless, and reach the city…. I could go on and on…… It’s huge, but it’s also awesome…
Anyway, and I have found some great girls here that are younger then me, so like little sisters, but God has connected our hearts and we encourage each other.
Sorry if this was long…It just had been so long. You are always in my thoughts and prayers, beautiful Alece!
@gritandglory says:
i am SO SO SO glad to hear you’ve found such an amazing church home, anna! WOW!
I am glad you have also! :)
i’m so pleased with this…. drive through kansas, please :)
@gritandglory says:
i hope this somehow means we get to see you often-ish.
if i get my way it certainly does.
@loverebeccaanne says:
such a great god-movement… i’m so happy that he worked these things out so you can be in a place your heart loves, and with people who love your heart.
<3
@gritandglory says:
“with people who love your heart” — wow. thank you, friend.
(i will miss YOU on this coast though!)
@loverebeccaanne says:
truth. i so wanted to come up and visit this weekend. end of a paycheck, though… no bueno. and a holiday. which is great timing for me, but not so great for most other people. :-)
i LOVE YOU. so much.
That was worth watching just to see your face at the “spread it” part, alone!!! Somebody better warn Nashville, I think — this is one family having waaaaay too much fun together. :)
Keep seeing. He’s already there ahead of you. Love you.
@gritandglory says:
all our faces in that end shot are SO funny to me. it still cracks me up!
@lindseyfoj says:
Yay! I am so happy for you! I love to see “His hand” in your journey AND that He has put you in family! WONDERFUL! Happy Road-Tripping!!
@gritandglory says:
thank you SO much, lindsey!
@Han_kyoul says:
Awesome!!! I’m glad to hear that God is moving in you, building community around you, given you a family to be part of, placing you in the city you wanted to be. God really is good, ain’t he?
@gritandglory says:
He so is! thanks for being excited with/for me, douglas!
@christielici0us says:
Well, now I can add YOU to the list of reasons why I LOVE Nashville! :) I WILL be coming there to see you at some point. Consider yourself warned!
Best wishes and lots of happiness in your new start!
@gritandglory says:
i’m considering myself warned. ha! ;)
shut up!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That’s soooo stinkin exciting! I’m only an hour away…we definitely need to get together.
TN is quite an amazing place…my search for community led me here too. And I’ve never looked back or regretted it. TN changed my life
@gritandglory says:
i am so so glad your heart has found home there, adriane.
Aw that’s so cool! I didn’t know the hodges had half grown kids! That’s pretty cool and I bet it makes living with them such a blast. I’m so happy for all of you! God is sure going before you all preparing the way. I will be praying for safe travels. Love you!
@gritandglory says:
thanks, faith. love you!
@karenhammons says:
I am soooo excited for you guys!! Congrats!
@gritandglory says:
YAY! thank you, friend!
@cassgirl says:
God knew FF!!
love you!!
@gritandglory says:
yes He did! ;)
love you!
@tonyjalicea says:
This sounds like fantastic news! I’m so happy for you, Alece!
Okay, this is getting weird — you will be the 5th blogger I read who lives in Nashville and goes to Crosspoint Church(granted, two of them are Crosspoint pastors but still…). And I happen to live just east of Nashville city limits ;-)
Congrats on a NEW beginning. Enjoy :)
Woot! Congrats! If you head north to Seattle before TN, p-l-e-a-s-e let me come give you a quick hug. Love you all! xoxox, R
@sjedwards says:
Hey! I’m in Nashville! WooHoo!
@marniarnold says:
Woo hoo! You know, Charlotte isn’t too awful far of a drive. ;)
Hubby and I are already trying to plan a visit with the three of us sometime this year – just not sure when. We want to go somewhere this year – just one place – and Nashville is calling for us to visit as well. :)
I am so excited for you Alece…and the Hodges family! Nashville and Cross Point are about to absolutely blessed in many ways!
So not excited…. :( You could have waited until I got to go through Oregon and meet you… sigh…
Ok, one day Nashville. I think it is like playing tag or catch me if you can.
Enjoy Nashville, though.
@rachelshaver says:
So… we just started following each other on twitter and I just read (pretty much) your entire blog. We can’t wait to have you here in Nashville, and at CP with us! The more, the merrier! Have a safe trip! We’ll see you soon!
Best,
Rachel