I'm alive, in case you were thinking that I wasn't since I dropped off the face of the blogging universe for the past week.  Last Tuesday was completely bittersweet as we left the state we call home along with friends and family to uproot and move to a place where we will start a new chapter in our lives, a place that will be filled with new memories.  It's hard to believe that just like that, in a matter of one day, we became residents of Texas.  We are officially home sweet home.  There have been two states in my life that I have considered home, where I have become the woman I am today.  This year we add a third state, and it might be the most one yet.  

Tennessee has my earliest roots, where I have memories of growing up in a beautiful area right next to the Smoky Mountains.  It will always have a special place in my heart.  I got my first kiss, learned to cook in the kitchen with my mom, inherited two sisters (aka bff's) who I still am close with today, and was shaped into a young woman.  I will always consider myself a Tennessee girl no matter where this journey takes me.  But there was one other place that weasled it's way into my heart and became home in the most unexpected way.

Louisiana was a state I never wanted to move to.  God had other plans.  I met Canean, fell in love and moved on a temporary basis with the intention on not staying there for more than two years.  When the time came, turns out Canean was ready to leave and I wasn't.  There was something about this place where the culture is so evident, the people are unique and kind, and the food is...well, I don't have to tell you about the food.  I think this place is where I truly grew up and for lack of better word, blossomed.  I learned new things about myself and my independence along with my ability to compromise with an amazing man that I would spend the rest of my life with.  I became a woman, a wife, honed my creative skills, met new sisters, and found out who I really was and what I wanted to be in this world.  Funny thing is that I lived in Louisiana longer than any one city in Tennessee growing up, which is crazy to think about it.  

So needless to say, when the time came for our big move to Texas last week, it was hard.  I was emotional to leave this other place that I was so comfortable with and that felt like home.  I knew it was part of God's master plan for Canean and I, but that didn't stop my selfish reasons for being sad about leaving.  But along with that attachment and my human nature wanting to stay in my comfort zone, there was also excitement.

Texas will be the third state to become home to me.  I know it will feel like home eventually because our baby will be born here this year.  We will become parents, become a little less selfish, have to rely on each other more than ever, and I will be finding out things about myself and what it means to become a mom (the most important role I'll ever have in my life besides being a wife to Canean) all the while still chasing after my dreams.  I have some exciting new business collaborations coming up this year as well and am so pumped for what God has in store for our life here in Texas.  

Is it true what they say that everything is bigger and better in Texas?  Well, I'll be finding out soon and I'll let you know...until then I am going to jump without fear and allow myself to be open to this new chapter in my life that still needs to be written.

Before I left Louisiana, a dear friend gave me the necklace I am wearing in the picture above.  It was made by Mimosa Handcrafted, and on it there is a tiny Louisiana, Tennessee, and...Texas. (My home sweet homes.)

P.S. My kitchen is finally in working order, so I promise I will have some recipes coming at you soon!