... Georgia On My Mind ...

One of the great things about living in Nashville and one of the main reasons we moved to this wonderful city, is that it's centrally located to the states that Trent tours.  (I'll spare you the geography lesson, but go get a map and check it out).  Anyway, we go to Georgia quite often and this last time was to Toccoa Falls College and Hampton, which are both close-ish to Atlanta.  We have been to both before, so it was wonderful to see old friends!

I thought it was nice for this truck to put our monogram on the back.  I'm not sure what the 60 means, though.

Toccoa Falls College.  Beautiful campus and sweet kids.  Can I call them kids?  Probably not. I took this while sitting at merch.  I'm normally in the back, so it was fun to be so close to the action!

We got to Hampton and these treats were waiting on us.  Chocolate covered popcorn, if you're not aware, is addicting...and I'm okay with that.

Our friendly stalker, who also happens to be sweet.

{Worship Sunday AM @ Berea Christian Church}

This sweet woman is Nancy Lynch.  She and her family have known Trent since before I came into the picture and he always spoke highly of them. I am so happy to now call them friends, too.  (I squatted because she is just so tiny, or I'm giant, or both).

{Concert Sunday PM}

This sweet nugget:

A. came in asleep

B. when he woke up played air guitar in rhythm with Trent

C. reminded me of my nephew Griffin

This is Nancy's daughter, Sara Daniel and her husband Brandon.  Amazing couple with amazing hearts. (See Sara, I cropped it). 

When leaving our (amazing) guest quarters, we got to our car and saw the note on the door.  Adorable.  Then Janet brought us our goodie bag.  I had to document because it was just so yummy and perfect!  Yes, that's hummus you see.  You know how I feel about that goodness.

Leaving Hampton...Trent with David Fulton (pastor that can build anything)

And me with Janet (wife and wonderful cook/hostess/animal lover) and their dogs are in the pic too.

See ya next time!

GEBV Syndrome

Don't worry.  I'm not sick.  But, I have done a self-diagnosis and have come to the conclusion that I have GEBV Syndrome, aka "Good Ear Bad Voice Syndrome."

Now, please.  I am not asking for people to tell me, "but Shellie, you have such a good voice"  and so on.  (This is directed to my sweet, sweet mommy).


This is real, y'all.


I will be the first to tell you that I am not completely tone deaf.  I love and have always loved music, I took piano lessons for almost 4 years, played alto sax (holla) for 7 years, and can currently play 5 chords on the guitar.  I know...it's a pretty significant resume.  Try to contain yourself.  With all that, I have a decent "ear."  This means I can hear things, right and wrong.  I can pick up bad harmonies, a missed chord, a missed note or two, an off rhythm.  And I can do this pretty easily.  While watching Idol, I sometimes say EXACTLY what the judges say...BEFORE they say it.  Again, try to contain yourself.  I'm actually waiting for them to offer me a guest judge spot...right after Iron Chef calls me to do the same. 


*Anywho*


I sing all the time.  Ask my husband; ask my family.  When I was little, I used to stand in our den at home and sing my own medley of "Delta Dawn," "Yellow Rose of Texas" and "If You're Gonna Play in Texas."  It was precious, I'm sure.   


There is just something in my brain.  Some wire or synapse or something else that doesn't fire correctly.  When I try to sing with Trent?  Something goes wrong.  I'll try to sing harmony and will end up singing the melody.  I'll sing the melody, Trent will take the harmony and I will end up following him up there in harmony land.  I don't understand it.  


It's just all wrong and really not a pretty situation.


So, with my self-diagnosis, I am content with having "GEBV Syndrome."  I am content with my ability to hear bad stuff and not sing pretty stuff.  However, don't think that I won't be belting out some SA-WEET Disney tunes to my future nuggets... "I wanna be where the people are.  I wanna see, wanna see 'em 
dancing'..."

Can you relate?   

Arkansas & Virginia...

While making our way back to the Nashville from the Amarillo, TX, we got to stop halfway in the Van Buren, AR. (Praise the Lord...that stretch of I-40 from Amarillo to Nashville is a beast, for lack of a better word, and we were oh so thankful to be able to spend a few days there).


Heritage UMC had Trent in to do special music and to lead worship in their Sunday AM services.  I love this church.  The people are awesome and the morning light with the stained glass is beautiful.  Plus, it brought me back to my Methodist roots:  "Praise God from whom all blessings flow.  Praise Him all creatures here below..."

That night, there was a full concert in the youth area.  This youth area is awesome.  There is pool, ping-pong, basketball, shuffleboard, and snacks.  I mean, what more do you need?

And...we're on our way home.  BTW, if you are ever in Van Buren, AR please stop at Sweet Bay Coffee Company.  Trust me.

Insert a week (or so) in Nashville...

And we're off to Williamsburg, VA!

Boiled eggs.  A convenient, healthy snack...that stinks up the car.

YAY for Subways that give more than TWO FRIGGIN' napkins.  Can I get an AMEN?  I mean, come on.  If you're going to put THAT MUCH dressing on the sandwich give us some paper to wipe it off our face/hands/clothes.

And YAY for random coffee shop finds with STRONG punch-you-in-your-face-coffee.  The mugs in the middle picture reminded me of this clip from "So I Married an Axe Murderer."  Classic.

Friday night show at Williamsburg Christian Church.

Sound Check:

Show:

We had a day to go see Colonial Williamsburg.  It was rainy and cold, but I tried to get a few pics...

This was for our dear friends Will and Jessica Alley.  (Will married us).  They are expecting a little boy named Henry SOON and are from Virgina.  So, I though this was just too sweet.

I'm not sure what this building is, and had it not been cold and rainy, I would've figured it out.  But, I'm pretty sure it's important.  At least it looks important...

Colonial goodness:

At a restaurant and at a gift shop.  Either way, I Love Lamp:

Sunday worship at Relevant Church.  I did not take these pictures (Brad O'Hara did); I wish I had a camera like that...one day, one day:

We met some amazing people while in Virginia.  And this is a product of some of those people, Anson Joseph O'Hara.  And sweet Anson's first concert was a Trent Monk concert.  Love that.  Doesn't my man look like a natural?  

This is what we ran into heading back to Nashville.  I was nervous; I don't do bad weather well, much less bad weather in a car.  But, it wasn't a major deal and all was well and we made it home.

We often go into new areas without knowing what to expect.  Will these people be sweet?  Will they be loving and friendly?  Will they get the music and the heart behind it?  Sometimes we are let down, for whatever reason.  But our time in these two cities left us feeling blessed, appreciated, and understood...and for that, we are thankful. 

Cosby Corner

Yes.  I decided to blog about the The Cosby Show.  Is that crazy?  Don't answer that.

My all time favorite episode came on the other day and I got all warm and fuzzy.  It's the one where Cliff and Clair decide to teach Theo a financial lesson about The Real World.  You remember... Harley Weewax?  Here's a clip to jog your memory.


My parents were crazy strict about what we were allowed to watch growing up.  (At the time, it sucked.  But now I'm thankful).  No Simpsons, no Married with Children, no Wonder Years (that ended up changing), no MTV, no Dirty Dancing (I saw this at a slumber party without my mom knowing and was so riddled with guilt I confessed as soon as she picked me up), and Rosanne was quickly taken off the approved list as soon as this happened.  But, The Cosby Show, we were always allowed to watch.  Even now, I can hear that music and be taken back to when TV was less reality (which I love now) and more family friendly.  Good stuff. 


I've created a list of what I remember/love about it.  In no particular order:


1.  The aforementioned episode.  It really is a classic.  You can watch on hulu plus. 


2.  The artwork in the house.  It's just beautiful and I love it!  There's an episode where Vanessa gets in a fight because some girls called her a "rich girl" because she told them her parents spent $11,000 on the painting above the fireplace.

3.  Rudy calling Kenny, "Bud."  Just look how ADORABLE they are: 

4.  Cliff Huxtable and his sweaters.  I mean seriously.  And this is just a taste:

5.  The button worn on Cliff's sweaters.  There it is...on a shirt:

6.  Denise making Theo the "Gordon Gartrell" shirt:

7.  Since I brought up fireplaces...there's one in the kitchen and master bedroom.  Here's the kitchen one.  If it were me, I'd have a set of Christmas stockings at every place of fire.  But, that's just me.    

8.  Since I brought up the kitchen, I like the swinging door.  It can really make a statement when you enter or exit.


9.  When the family sings lip-syncs for the grandparents.  Oh. My. Word. Precious.  And that's just one...but it's by favorite because Rudy is just too much.  


10.  I was never a fan of Elvin, but quite enjoyed when Olivia joined the cast.

11.  When they have a funeral for the goldfish.  


12.  How every season they have a different theme song and intro.  I think this is my favorite.  It's just so sassy and fun.


13.  Dr. Huxtable reminds me of my father.  If you know my father, you understand this very factual statement. 


14.  If more people parented like Cliff and Clair, the world would be a better place.


15.  Denise's wardrobe choices...while appropriate for the time, I still question her.  I feel like she needed to remember the ever important tip "always remove one accessory before leaving the house."  I forget who said that, but I'm pretty sure they are very stylish.

Bad example.  I'd actually wear that.  How bout this:

Wait.  That's cute too.  And I think I own that hat.  Okay...here:

And here.  I mean no disrespect, but hmmmm:

16.  They all hang their coats up AS SOON as they come in the door.  Who does that?  Mine stays on the chair AT LEAST a day or two.

17.  Cliff and his track days...Combustable Huxtable!  Love.


18.  Vanessa gets caught sneaking to a Wretched concert.  I adore how the parents handle it.  


19.  Cockroach:

20.  Sondra always bothered me too.  So, with her and Elvin, Winnie and Nelson (their twins) had no chance...sorry kids.  I'm sure you were adorable.

21.  Poor Dr. Huxtable and his bad eating habits.  He loves the salt and the hoagies.  Who can blame him?  Not me, not me.

22.  Their tiny back yard.


23.  When they go to Jazz Clubs.


24.  Sammy Davis Jr. guest stars and he's just so tiny and cute.

25.  Did I mention that the theme song changed every year?


26.  Theo hiding his newly pierced ear.  Classic Huxtable parenting moment.


27.  Cliff and Clair being lovey-dovey.  

28.  Vanessa and her clarinet playing.


29.  I like cousin Pam.  And her sassy friend Charmaine.

30.  Speaking of them, when they go to spy on Rudy and her friends at a club.  With Lance (Charmaine's boyfriend).


31.  Cliff tap-dancing 


32.  They record with Mr. Stevie Wonder.  "Jammin on the one."  Probably my second favorite.


33.  I would like to point out the Bill Cosby is on Jimmy Fallon as I type tonight and that was not planned.  I'm sure that means something very special.  It has to...


34.  I'd also like to point out that I saw Bill Cosby at the Ferrell Center when I was like 10.


35.  Jello.  (More Cosby and less Huxtable).  And that face:

What are your favorite Cosby moments?