NASHVILLE!!
That's right, I was a tourist in my own hometown, and my parents were gracious enough to let us all stay at their house for the entire weekend. It was such an amazing time. Not only did we get to let the girls experience new things, but we also got to know them on a more personal basis, and reached a new level of sharing our thoughts about Christ. Our theme for the weekend was "Identity", which every teenage girl needs to look at, but it was as beneficial for me as for them in terms of studying God's word and understanding more about my value as HIS daughter.
So here are the pictures (believe me, I took much more) from the jam-packed 48 hour trip.
First activity: Dance Dance Revolution....by the way, Kelsa, I nailed Speed over Beethoven still after three years of no DDRing. :)
This continued all night of course.
Then to bed...all seven girls slept on sleeping bags in the big family room, and it reminded me of my sleepovers I had back in school.
Ester.
Necode.
Sikora.
Then to bed...all seven girls slept on sleeping bags in the big family room, and it reminded me of my sleepovers I had back in school.
Ester.
Necode.
Sikora.Next on the itinerary was a pancake breakfast by none other than my dad! Only one of the girls could eat two of them, and I think she was force fed by the end.
Luckily it was a beautiful day, so when it came time to watch my dad do the potters wheel demonstration, we sat on the back porch. The girls were so funny, they asked two questions:
Luckily it was a beautiful day, so when it came time to watch my dad do the potters wheel demonstration, we sat on the back porch. The girls were so funny, they asked two questions:1. How do you get a house like this? (Made my parents appreciate what they have, my dad actually taught them a little about the finances of such a purchase)
2. Where IS everybody? (In urban neighborhoods like ours, people are always out, not in the suburbs)
Ester, Justine, Katie, Deniza, Necode, and Sikora.
Ellisa, Alisson (barely), Zena, Stacy, and Jan.If you have never watched someone form a pot on the wheel, it is very fascinating. If you have never watched someone while ALSO thinking about how God is the potter and we are the clay, then you are missing out. What a powerful metaphor/image in understanding how we can be used by God.
Starting out, we are a lump of clay. The potter already knows what he will make from this.
The clay must be centered before it is formed, otherwise it will fall apart. Sound familiar?
Next you have to open it up, the potter has to get inside the lump of clay to do this.
Starting out, we are a lump of clay. The potter already knows what he will make from this.
The clay must be centered before it is formed, otherwise it will fall apart. Sound familiar?
Next you have to open it up, the potter has to get inside the lump of clay to do this.girls: "How you do it?" dad: "It's maagic!"
The potter then starts forming what he had in mind for the clay to become. 
Finally the clay is no longer just clay but a vessel to be used another way. How can you be used?
See that one random man in the crowd? That is my dad's friend from high school who happened to "drop-in" to say hi and surprised my dad by speaking up in a sea of girls.
After some quiet time, it was off to Opryland Hotel.
The girls were blown away by all of the water features and landscaping.
Finally the clay is no longer just clay but a vessel to be used another way. How can you be used?
See that one random man in the crowd? That is my dad's friend from high school who happened to "drop-in" to say hi and surprised my dad by speaking up in a sea of girls.
After some quiet time, it was off to Opryland Hotel.
The girls were blown away by all of the water features and landscaping.
They thought these horses were pretty cute, so we took a break for a photo session.
Then they found this guy:
On to something else, we went to Centennial Park to see the Parthenon, and it seemed as though everyone else in Nashville was there that day.
Next was one of the best stops we made. We took them to Lovers Circle, yes, the same lovers circle where people take dates. We wanted them to see all of Nashville.
And we proceeded to ruin many a couple's romantic evening by being ridiculously silly....sorry about that.
Last of our stops on Saturday was Old Spaghetti Factory downtown...the girls were quite reserved at first, but we eventually got them feeling comfortable and had a great dinner.
Group shot at dinner.
Later that night we watched a movie and had a discussion which was really good, so good that it lasted much later than I have stayed up in a very long time. The next morning we had breakfast and then a wonderful (another beautiful day) house church morning with singing, discussion, and prayer.
Then it was so long Nashville, hello Memphis. Thanks again, Mom and Dad, for having us!
