Nashville & SOM moments

Buffalo River Day - details to follow but photo teaser here and now!

Meal made for classmates after canoeing - reminded of me love for feeding people. Though only negative was watching Batman 2 - I always forget how much I dislike this movie! But since I wasn't interested in the movie I got to work on editing the Canoeing photos, so that's a win

Rainstorms with lightening and thunder. We have crazy weather here. Friday night the weather was so crazy on the way home that even walking 15 paces from the restaurant to the car made me soaked. There were so many puddles that I had to take my shoes off so the puddles wouldn't wreck them. Crazy! More thunder, more lightening and more crazy weather. 

Learning Hip Hop with Dorinda and Zach. Me, a small town white girl, attempting hip hop. Terrible. Zach and Dorinda, teachers amazing, excellent. It was a very fun time. I was not good, but I enjoyed it. 


Logan's Road House Restaurant - Happy Hour is 3-6 and 8-10. We got hot rolls, Nachos, Mozza Sticks, Deep fried Pickles (not as good as I'd hoped) and an iced tea for $11. Plus free peanuts and shells get tossed on the floor! And a great time with SOM classmates.


Lunch times with classmates in break room - conversation, laughter, new friendship. 


"Put that in your theological pipe and smoke it" - Paul Barker


"I feel like I've been Bamboozled!" - Dorinda


I feel like I haven't properly explained our classroom. 
It is serious. It is hilarious. It is deep. It is stirring. It is a time of growth. It is a time of stress. It is a time of learning. It is a time to meet Jesus. It is a time to study. It is a time to perform. It is a time to learn that the gospel isn't about performance. It is structured and chaotic. 
It is a perfect mix of learning and structure, with humour and randomness, mixed with depth and time to learn from Jesus. 
It is a wonderful experience. 


First off there's always laughter.
There's always a quip or helpful remark by Paul Barker. 
There's always an outburst from someone as Paul teaches us something mindblowing. 
There's sometimes contagious laughter by Heather T or Constance. 
There's usually a great question from Sherwine. 
There's always a moment of amazement when Abigail gives a public speaking moment. 
There's usually one or two or three breakout performances when doing public speaking that surprises the class with their awesomeness.
There's weekly written tests for Vocab and statements.
There's regular verbal tests for the same.
There's tests turned into games - very serious games.
There's always a rush to turn in assignments by 8:55 each morning.
There's panic at the thought of someone being late - we all feel the stress for each other. 
There's the true fact that "you do not want to be late"
There's also love and friendship between classmates.
There's chatter and talk and laughter. 


It is a great experience. I am very thankful to be a part of it. 

Random Thoughts and some photos

We drove home later than usual the other night. 

The sunset was amazing.

Tuesday night we had Virginia and Rachel from class over for dinner

Roasted Cheesy Potatoes, Garlic Talipia, and Roasted Zucchini and Spaghetti Squash.

Not only was the food great but the conversation was wonderful.

Rachel and Virginia are great friends of ours - we enjoy them a lot and are always thankful for times to get together.

My sister Jenna knows how much I miss her and my nephews.

She sent me the pictures below.

They make me so happy.

My laptop bag finally broke. I had purchased it 6 years ago and the straps finally tore :(

So finally, I needed to get a new one. 

I found this one at Target on sale for $25.

It's pretty and functional!

You can see the case that holds my cords, my laptop case, books and pen bag.

OH! I got invited to something.

A tea party!

Rachel and Virginia's host mom's invited us over for a BBC Pride and Prejudice viewing and  a tea party. I went 4 years ago when they held the tea party for the school girls then and it changed my views on Pride and Prejudice. They made me like it!

So I'm going away.

Woo.

Hair Styles by Tara.

First off - the bun curls.

I put my hair into buns by twisting them and then securing them with hair bands.

Then I sleep with them over night and the next day my hair looks like this! 

Also sometimes people say, 

"Tara, you don't need to straighten your hair, it's already straight"

That is somewhat accurate and somewhat false. 

See this is my bedhead.

Not bad right?

But THIS is my straightened hair.

I just like it a lot better.

Exciting, right?

Aren't you glad you took the time to read about my daily hair straightening needs?

I think I'll end this post on that high note - because how in the world do you top something like that?

Downtown Nashville and Sundaying

Sunday we went to Bethel Franklin and once again thoroughly enjoyed the family feel there - Kevin York spoke and it was excellent. 

We then headed downtown for a last hang out and lunch with the Boer's.

Downtown was picturesque as usual. 

Hot but good to look at.

We ate at Demo's Steak and Spaghetti Restaurant.

Unlimited cheesy breadsticks, and tasty food.

We then began to walk around downtown - seeing stores and the riverfront.

Many many stores.

Becky and I with the REAL Elvis

Can't you tell?

Then we headed down to the riverfront.

We were told we had to go there.

It was freaking HOT.

We were trying to decide how worth the view the heat was. 

Because it was stinking hot.

And I was wearing heels, bad idea.

Though this building was pretty cool.

And some history!

Also cool looking ivy

Then we began the walk around downtown looking for a coffee shop.

Did you know that in Nashville all the coffee shops close at noon on Sundays?

It was afternoon.

It was hot.

We were tired.

We walked for blocks.

I was wearing heels.

We were all exhausted.

Then after walking for an hour we found a Panera.

It was 2:50.

We walked in to discover that they closed at 3pm.

Thankfully they let us sit in the air conditioned building until almost 4.

Thank you Panera.

I love you.

These are the offending heels.

The Boer's and the Morgan's

Also the "Grey-eyed Man of Destiny" was born on May 8th, just like me!

We made it home around 5pm.

Hot, sweaty and sore.

I made my way to the pool for some studying and floating.

The pool does wonder for my sore hip, and I am sooo thankful for that!

After the pool I made us dinner and then we both studied and did homework and went to bed by 9pm. Well I did, Paul went to bed a couple hours after me, as per usual. But regardless much relaxation happened.