A couple weeks ago, Lauren and I took a short road trip over to Nashville for a very important evening. Of course, my car decided to act up the day before we were to leave so I ended up having to rent a car for the trip. The first rental place mom and I went to were totally out of cars! Great. The second place we went had only one car left. I said "Oh no...and it's going to be a really expensive one isn't it?? I need the cheapest thing possible!!" The very nice man behind the Budget counter clicked away at his computer and ended up giving me a better deal than any I had seen online for an economy car. (I had looked before leaving the house just to have an idea of price in mind.)
This is the car we "had" to take...
A Ford Mustang?? Yes, please!! :) Soooo fun for a girls' trip!! That little car is pretty darn H.O.T.!! :)
We got to Nashville Wednesday evening and just chilled in the hotel room. Thursday morning we started off by meeting our friend Rebekah for breakfast with her boys. This was Lauren's first time meeting one of our favorite little guys...
Isaac!!! :) I kept watching him across the table the whole time just thinking how amazing God is and that I could still hardly believe he was really HERE sitting across from me!! :) Isaac is so sweet and is learning English like crazy! The restaurant we went to was called the Puffy Muffin (!) and was way yummy. They also had a bakery right across from where we were sitting that had a whoole bunch of yummy looking treats! Isaac was very excited to get to pick out a cookie for each of the kids in his family and talked about it the whole time we were eating. :) And if you have seen the video of him that was Rebekah's first glimpse of him...where he is laughing so hard? Yeah...totally still laughs just like that - and it's one of the best sounds EVER!! :)
And of course this little peanut was there too! His eyelashes are still about the longest I have ever seen! He is into being verry independent and wanted to do all the eating all by himself!! :)
After breakfast we tore ourselves away from Rebekah and boys (there is never enough time spent together!!) and while they headed home for naptime, Lauren and I headed to one of my favorite areas - Green Hills Mall. I had to introduce Lauren to the store Charming Charlies... {{drool!!}} Abby and Emily were the first to introduce me to this store and kept saying I was going to loove it. The second I stepped inside I realized why - everything in the store (jewelry, purses, hair items, etc.) is arranged...BY COLOR!! Oh my heavens. Those who know me well know I loove lots and lots of color and when it's all organized and separated into groups of the same or similar colors?? Even better! :)
So we wandered around for a while and then decided to go get lunch...and when I come to Green Hills mall...which is MAYBE once a year...I cannot leave without a certain item...which just so happened to be our lunch that day...
Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory!!! Yes, it was a very healthy lunch, thank you for noticing. :}
Next was a walk through another favorite store and one that always makes me think of Wendy because it's her favorite too:
Anthropology. It always smells soo good in here! We never actually buy much in this store because it is crazy expensive...but "window shopping" in here is always fun!
Next, I knew that Lipscomb University was just around the corner and Lauren has a friend who is a freshman there this year. Lauren would love to go there herself...if she won the lottery...lol...and I knew she has always wanted to go up on campus, so we did. It is a beautiful campus! We met her friend Samantha, who showed us around a little bit.
(Hey M, this pic is for you...you can't tell very well in this pic, but can you see that the continents are actually popped out from the wall a little bit and there are rope lights running just behind the perimeter of each one?? It was so cool! I think you should do this in your classroom! You already have the basic map on the wall! :)
After that we headed to the Target by our hotel because somehow I had forgotten to pack makeup! Hello! Thankfully, Target has a new cheap brand of makeup where everything is either $1-$3 so picking up a couple essential items only cost a few dollars.
Then it was back to the hotel to crash for a few minutes and then get ready for the evening.
Oh yeah, lookin' hot! :)
First we headed up to the newly re-opened Opry Mills Mall for dinner at Chuy's, a delicious Mexican restaurant.
This was the silverware holder at our table.....interesting!
Then it was on to the main event of the trip at the schermejirjihgisafjfkghrualjfklsf symphony center!! lol! Yes, you read that right. I could never remember how it was pronounced so that's about what I called it. :}
(**note: I took none of the following pictures - I borrowed them from Show Hope's fbook page since photography wasn't allowed.**)
As I was pulling into the parking garage, the lady in the white car in front of me pulling in from the opposite direction, gave me the strangest look and I was wondering what her problem was lol just as it sunk in - it was my friend and college roommate, Jodi!! Neither of us had any idea the other one was going to be there! So fun!
Show Hope puts on a one night performance of Cinderella each year (this was the 3rd year), partially in honor and memory of Maria, Steven Curtis Chapman's little girl, partially to raise awareness and money for Show Hope. All the proceeds go to Show Hope, which allows even more families to bring their children home through adoption.
Ah, yes, adoption - the first reason I wanted to go... :)
Steven, Mary Beth, Shaohannah, and Stevie Joy Chapman introduced the program.
Their production was awesome! Melinda Dolittle from American Idol was one of the step sisters and the girl who played the fairy godmother was the voice of Arial in Disney's Little Mermaid. :)
After the musical was over, Steven Chapman came back out on stage and sang his Cinderella song and then they showed the Show Hope video - the one that has Isaac and Rebekah and family in it!!
The second reason I wanted to come. :)
And THEN...right after the video...
They had Rebekah and family walk out on stage!! Mr. Chapman introduced them and talked to Isaac, who he had met before on his trips to MBHOH. Rebekah spoke and got to thank everyone who gives to Show Hope for playing a part in bringing both her boys home.
Then another little Show Hope guy came out and sang Amazing Grace with Steven. Soo precious!! Those who hadn't already teared up over the Cinderella song...or the Show Hope video...or seeing Isaac on stage...definitely teared up at this! :)
Finally all the Show Hope families who were there were invited out on stage to sing and the audience was asked to sing along as well. I thought oh yeah right, how the heck are we supposed to sing when we're all tearing up! lol :)
It was an amazing night for an amazing organization and an amazing family (who happen to be amazing friends of mine...). :) It went by way too quickly.
Rebekah, just tell me when Isaac is comfortable and secure in being babysat for a day and we'll come steal you away with Lauren and me for cheesecake and shopping! :)
