sweet sweet southern hospitality!!!

Hello all!

It is 1:36 pm on Tuesday morning. I am back at the Frothy Monkey enjoying a cup of tea and listening to some good tunes- Tracy Chapman to be specific. :)

I meant to write last night but I was so exhausted that I couldn't find the energy to! So, yesterday was pretty awesome. I went to the Burgess Falls State Park- as you saw if you watched my last video. The Waterfall was amazing. It was so sweet to be able to get so close to it and just relax and take it all in. On my hike I was pleasantly reminded of my little chloe dog when a cute little chocolate lab puppy came running up the path to me and jumped up and laid its muddy little paws all over me!!

After the Burgess Falls I headed back to Nashville. Sarah, the girl I met at the Frothy Monkey on Sunday invited me to come to her girls group, so I joined them last night around 7pm at a coffee house called the Ugly Mug. The time with the girls was so precious and will never be forgotten. I had the privilege to spend a couple hours with some of the sweetest girls who have such an intense passion to live their lives for God. We all shared a bit about ourselves and what was currently going on in our lives. They were all such an encouragement. I will be forever changed by the time spent with them.

Thank you Sarah, Julie, Ashley, Michelle, and and Jessica for such welcoming hearts.

Ashley was SO kind to offer to let me stay at her place last night- so I did. I was and still am blown away by her generosity. I met her at 7pm last night and within 2 hours she had invited me to stay with her. After girls group at the Ugly Mug, we went over the the Anchor (the church). One of the Anchors ministries is that they are a venue. They hope that the venue will help bring in some younger kids from the community. Last night, they had a battle of the bands.This morning, Ashley's fiance Andy cooked us breakfast. It was delicious and I am officially being completely spoiled here in Nashville. Thank you Ashley!!!!

Today I think I am going to go to the Country Music Hall of Fame. I am going to a community group tonight at 7pm. (I was invited by Laura, the girl I met at the Belmont Church on Sunday morning.)

I have been told that I should check out the Blue Bird Cafe. After church group tonight I will head over and enjoy some live music! I can't wait!!!!

Ok! Time to get outta here and do more exploring!!

Meet Ashley

green grass,a mountain pass... blue sky, delicious pie... friendly folk, sunshine soaked... skirts that twirl, I'm one happy girl.

1:00 pm...

... and that was my attempt at poetry! Pretty sad I know! :o)

Unfortunately, I had to leave the Brentwood Bed & Breakfast this morning- but it was nice to feel like a princess for 13 hours I must say! Breakfast was wonderful! Lisa, the woman that owns the bed and breakfast is an AMAZING cook! I got to sit with the two people who are from Batavia, and then two women who were in town visiting their mother. We got to know each other a bit and then I told them I HAD to take their pictures so I would always be able to remember the wonderful breakfast we shared. They agreed even though they thought I was a bit crazy for wanting pictures of strangers.

I made my way to the Hillsboro area and saw a coffee house while driving that looked interesting so I pulled over and stopped in. The coffee house is called FIDO. Everybody is SO friendly and I got to chat with some of the staff here.

Laura, the girl I met on Sunday at the Belmont Church told me that it was an absolute must that I go to the Burgess Falls State Park and check out the waterfalls there... so that is what I am going to do today! It is about an hour and a half away and I will be heading out soon to go there.

There is a thrift store across the street and I have been eying it... and I am pretty sure I hear it calling my name. I love thrift store shopping so I think I will stop in and see what they have going on. Maybe I will make some more friends there!

I miss you all and wish I could bring a bit of Nashville home for all you. It is absolutely gorgeous.

Mom, give the Chloe dog a kiss on the nose for me. I miss her way too much!!!

That's all for now. :o)

Nashville had me at hello...

I LOVEEE IT HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I woke up this morning and went to Belmont Church in Nashville. I was immediately greeted with an abundance of warm welcomes! The church probably holds about 350 people between the main floor and the balcony. Worship time was UNBELIEVABLE. God's presence just seemed to radiate through the whole building. A verse that the pastor really focused on was:

1 Peter 3:15
... in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.

The pastor explained that the only way we are going to get through the trials and tribulations of life is to set our focus and our hearts and minds on God!

In the beginning of the service after worship- they asked us to greet one another and sit down. I introduced myself to a young woman next to me. She has lived here for about 9 years and is a pediatric nurse. I shared with her that I was on a little excursion and we agreed to chat more after the service was over. Once the service ended we started talking a bit more- but before I could even say anything she invited me to stay at her house while I was in town! Seriously!!?? I know! Crazy! I told her that I might take her up on that for one of the nights! I also had asked her if the church had any community groups that met during the week that I could be a part of-- and you'll never guess... she leads a group for people my age on Tuesday nights! Really?? I am so blown away. So- on Tuesday night I will be checking out a community group and then staying the night at my new friend Laura's house. :o)

Since I am a lover of coffee houses, I thought I would ask some people at the church for some recommendations for a quaint little coffee house. I was directed to go to the Frothy Monkey. Quite the name- and it is quite the coffee house! It is in a small house on the side of the road. I walked in and it was completely full! I was a little nervous where I was going to sit- so I asked the barista what I should do- she said "just ask somebody if you can join their table, these are community tables"- so I joined a table with 3 other people. Everybody is so friendly and the people here really live in community with one another. The barista- Sarah, invited me to come to her church with her tonight at 6pm. I think I might do that! I was also invited to go back to Belmont Church tonight to hear somebody speak about what is going on in Darfur. Not sure which one I will go to but either way I am looking forward to tonight!

Turns out it is quite the small world. While I was sitting here blogging, I looked over and recognized a girl. Turns out she is friends with my friend Audra- and I have seen photos of her on Audras facebook page. Apparently she lives right in the area! So I went over and said hello. crazy!

Ok- that is all for now, I am going to go do some exploring. I'll check back later! :o)

Rise & Shine!

I have arrived!

A Tennessee Excursion!!

Hello friends and family!

I have decided to take advantage of my spring break and take a little road trip to Tennessee! I am headed to Nashville tonight! I will be updating this site with videos, photos, and blogs about how my trip is going so feel free to check in over the next few days! You can make comments on blogs that I post or just stop by to see what I am up to! (I will be gone until Wednesday)

I am SO excited to visit a new state and explore what it has to offer!


Love you all!!