Louisiana and Mississippi

After being home for what seemed like forever (about 2 months) we hit the road last week and were oh so happy to do so.  I never thought I'd be the type to get cabin fever, but I am.  It's like my suitcase begs me to pack it and I get all stir crazy.
  

The first stop was La Croix Church in Baton Rouge, LA.  We first went to this church in fall of 2010, when it was a new church and they were meeting in a house.  This was our third time and they have a building and keep growing!  It has been fun to witness.

Up close and personal.

Nerrylee and me.  She's the pastor's wife and mother of 5!  Yowza.  And I just love her name.

We've been toting around the cajon in the box it came in for quite some time.  The church had a bag and they gave it to us!  I was shocked.  I might've gotten teary eyed.  These bags are not cheap and I've been searching for used ones on ebay and Craigslist.  I named it La Croix...for obvious reasons.

That night, we stayed with a family from the church (Jay and Deidre Buzbee) and I met who I want to be at 45.  Deidre (the mom/wife) gardens, makes detergent and toothpaste, has chickens and bees, makes homemade bread from wheat she sprouts herself, has home schooled her 4 children (Abigail, Aaron, Emma Grace and Shawn) since day 1 and they have manners!  And the 18 year old makes her own clothes, wears vintage outfits from the 40's, and listens to jazz.  She is so cool.  I loved our time with them.  It was good for the soul.  I will also say that Deidre is an AMAZING cook.  And it's official that the best Jambalaya ever comes from her kitchen.

Emma Grace, Shawn, Deidre, and us.  

With Deidre and Abigail (the coolest 18 year old).

 Onto Zachary, LA.  FBC Zachary had the grand opening of their new (like totally awesome) youth building.  *Sidenote: I loved youth group when I was in high school.  But, we did not have the luxury of playing pool, XBOX and ping-pong while ordering food and drinks from the snack bar.  We went to the China Spring General Store to get Blue Bell ice cream in the car that our youth director let us drive illegally.  Ahhhh, the joys of the country*

Since I'm with Trent on stage more, I'm really finding I do not have good clothes for squatting on a cajon.  I'm either worried about my backside showing, my tummy rolling over my pants or some other kind of wardrobe malfunction, if you catch my drift.  So, I've begun planting the seeds of "I need some new clothes for work purposes" in Trent's head.  I think he gets it.

Now to Natchez, Mississippi for a show at Jefferson Street UMC.

(I would like to point out that I realized I say "Missippi."  Turns out I drop a syllable).

The church put us up in the Grand Hotel right on the Mississippi River.  We felt very fancy and were equally as appreciative.

I told Trent to pose next to the extinguisher because he's on fire.  Cheesy, I know, but it was too hard to resist. 

Reed, Karie Sue, and their son Reynolds.  They also have a daughter, Riley Kate, but she was shy during the picture taking.  Between the two of them, they are on staff at 3 different churches! That baffles me.   

After MS, we went to TX for a bit before heading to Oklahoma and Arkansas....

That'll be the next blog, so stay tuned!

The Five Year Plan

Today I was reading a post over at Team Studer where she listed things to tell herself, 5 years ago.  I LOVED this idea.  And, since we've been home and not on the road, there hasn't been much blog material.  It's quite therapeutic and I highly suggest you give it a go, even if you don't blog.  The original instructions state:

  

"Think of who you were five years ago.  Now, describe five things that have happened to you in the past five years that your self from five years ago would be shocked to find out."

I'm doing more than 5 because that's more fun.

2007:

Five years ago, I was living with my parentals in good ol' China Spring.  Finishing up a stint at Ann Taylor Loft and getting ready to start my first year teaching.

Dear 27 year old self:

• You will meet a long-haired, tattooed musician and you will fall quickly for him and you will marry him.  And you will be happier than ever.
• You will eventually figure out what you're doing as a teacher and even enjoy it. 
• Once you figure it out, you'll resign! Ha.
• You have stopped eating artificial sugar. (That means no Diet Coke Shell)!
• You are now a Mac not a PC.
• Golf doesn't happen much anymore.  But when it does, you enjoy it.
• Remember how you said you couldn't imagine traveling for a living?  Well, child, that's what you do...with that long-haired, tattooed musician.
• And you want to keep traveling, raising nuggets in an RV.
• And you want to homeschool them.  
• Yes, after living in AR and MS, you now live in Nashville, TN and you STILL have a TX drivers license. 
• Your husband cooks for you.
• Sweet stuff in the morning makes you gag a little.  You much prefer bacon.
• Eating sushi is enjoyable. 
• So is camping in a tent.
• You don't own a scale. The way your clothes fit is your scale.
• You don't get on Myspace every day.  (It's kind of out. Gasp).
• You still don't have children but are getting closer!  Hang in there...
• It's 2% milk now. Not skim.
• You actually enjoy reading.
• Cereal only happens as a late night snack.  
• Julie is going to have #4, Griffin. Carrie will have #1, Blake.
• You play percussion and know 3 chords on the guitar.  
• You've stopped biting your nails.  
• You blog.
• You don't carry a checkbook and balancing it doesn't rule your life.
• You own leggings and skinny jeans.  
• You have gotten two more tattoos and Daddy knows about all of them.
• You make your own laundry and dish detergent and deodorant.
• You always put on sunscreen! 
• You hope you can adopt one day.
• Your husband prays with you and for you.
• And he thinks you're funny. 

I don't know what will happen in 5 years, but here's what I hope:

• have kiddos
• have dogs
• have a garden
• still travel
• compost
• have gone on a mission trip
• learn to sew
• go to Hawaii or somewhere else we haven't been
• and maybe have the guts to try a different hairstyle

  And PLEASE remember, 37 year old self...You are clothed in strength and dignity.   Because HE says so.

Ohio Weekend

One of the main reasons we moved to Nashville was the fact that it's so darn close to everything.  Like, Ohio.  Among other states, of course. 

So, when one of Trent's friends (from years ago when they were in youth ministry together in Amarillo) asked him to sing in their wedding, it was easy to say yes.  And naturally, we booked a show while we were up there...

Here we are, standing in Kentucky, but looking at the Cincinnati sky line.  

Allow me to explain... Trent's friend, Brian (the groom, the middle guy) has a dance game with XBOX connect.  I forget what it's called, but you have to follow the movements on the screen and somehow the connect thingy can tell what you're doing and it keeps score and there's a winner.  After us ladies finished our song and dance to Dynamite, we convinced the guys to partake in the best game ever invented.  Their routine was to Take On Me.  (I'd be lying if I said I didn't video the performance.)

The next day, we decided to take in some of the local attractions.  We went to Findlay Market and loved it.  They have tons of different vendors, restaurants, butchers, and bakeries.  Plus some fresh produce.  We sampled potato salad and it was quite delicious.  (But, now that I look back at all the things offered, it's probably the most random sample choice).

Fresh mozzarella.  I told him to be cheesy.  *Ba dum bum*

Cincinnati Music Hall

Fish and Chips at Claddagh Irish Pub at The Levee in Newport, KY.  (This was before the fish and chips arrived and I set my phone camera on a timer while it was propped up against salt and pepper shakers.  Hence the table focus).

Skyline Chili is somewhat of an institution in the Cincinnati area.  I had never tried it and Trent had been craving it since this Ohio trip was planned.  Because most of our days on the road revolve around eating, we went.  It's different and not Texas chili.  It has cinnamon in it.  And it's served on noodles.  I enjoyed it, but, at the end of the day, I like Texas chili better.  (Please notice Trent's face in the picture below.  I wanted to document our experience and he was hungry.  That's why he has a grumpy goose face).  Bless our hearts.  We both get cranky when we need food.

We got checked into our hotel and got ready for the wedding between Emily and Brian.  I just loved how Emily looked.  Very Grecian and very classy.  And she wore flip flops!  Love.  And it doesn't hurt that her dad looks exactly like Barry Weiss from Storage Wars.  Seriously.

Trent sang his song "Move In Closer" during the ceremony.

And Jason Mraz's "I Won't Give Up" for the first dance.

The wedding and reception was beautiful.  These were my favorites:

Instead of a guest book, they had people stamp their fingerprints on a tree.  Instead of a unity candle, Brian, Emily, and Brian's son, poured paint on a canvas.  Then, on the back of the programs (which doubled as fans) they had a bride/groom crossword puzzle.  Hello, clever.  My name is Shellie.  Let's be friends.

 Cleveland...

Trent had a show at Nexus Café and Coffeehouse.  

This was my first show to be up with Trent the whole time.  So, I captured a shot.  I really like it!  I'd like to think it's very artsy.

From L: Trent, me, Isaiah, Maurice and Mickey.  Isaiah and Maurice were the promoters and super cool guys.  Mickey is the owner and amazing chef of Nexus Café.  If you're ever in Cleveland, go there and buys lots of coffee and food =)

After the show, we checked out downtown.  This is 4th Street.  Great area.  Which, for us, means lots of restaurant choices.  We ended up just walking around.  They had "Go Fourth" painted all big and pretty like on the side of a brick building.  Get it?  Go Fourth (like the number but also like Go Forth). It's just about the most clever thing ever, next to a fan/crossword puzzle/ program at a wedding.

I had never been to Ohio, so now my bucket list is shorter.  Hallelujah.  But, the weird thing is, these are the souvenirs I came home with: magnets from Texas and Tennessee, made in China, from a truck stop in Kentucky.  Go figure.

Good-bye-o, O-hi-o!

(That is a stretch but I just had to go for it).