“Agape to you.”

Today when we went for our walk we saw a lady walking toward us carrying what looked like an overnight bag and coat. I joked to the boys that she was running away from home. When we got to where she was we started a casual conversation with her. Immediately we discovered she had no teeth, and maybe an accent, so it was next to impossible to understand what she was saying. What we did manage to understand was that she was going to catch the train and go to the hospital to have something done with her mouth/teeth I guess. So we chatted for a minute and then kept walking down the road.

I felt like I should have offered to drive her but I didn’t! We just kept walking to the end of the road. I talked to the boys and told them what I was thinking. We decided to run home so I could get the car and pick her up. She walked fast! By the time we got home, she was already past our house so I had to go find her. Was in such a hurry I forgot my phone and my glasses. Good thing I didn’t have to see anything or make a call.

So I find her right down the road and I stop and pick her up. We tried talking on the way to the train station. I felt really terrible because I couldn’t make out what she was saying. I thought I should have brought some water for her, but I didn’t. I thought I should have given her my phone number, but I didn’t. Three times I thought to do something but I didn’t do it. What is wrong with me?

But you know the best thing? Right before she got out of my car, she took my hand, smiled and thanked me, and said, “Agape to you.”

Well, I made a lot of cookies. Tomorrow we are going to go visit her and a couple of our other neighbors that we never met. We are only a couple years too late, but I guess that’s slightly better than never going at all.

“Hi, we’re the Veghs. We live next door (or 2 houses down). Sorry we didn’t come over to welcome you to the neighborhood 2 years ago… we are just pathetic Christians.”

Yeah, that sounds nice for starters.

Sorry God. You got to do some work on me.

Sunday at Preakness

Ryan sang a couple of songs at church on Sunday. I only posted one b/c the other one bombed. But here's a picture of Pastor Karl with Ryan's guitar. I think everyone got nervous when he picked it up.
(j/k =))

Too bad my camera doesn't have a zoom on it like my car does. Deep Enough to Dream (from a distance)

Grace Church on the Mount Talent Show

water lady...

One of our silly moments in TN. Ryan put a water bottle on my head. I didn't know what it was at first, so I just kept walking down the hall balancing it. Pretty talented, huh?

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme

Well, not exactly.

rosemary and dill

parsley and chives

sweet basil

too busy to plant anything for Earth Day so we did it today. I did some herbs in pots, but couldn’t find all the ones I wanted, so I’ll have to make another trip for those.

I ended up only getting tomatoes and cayenne peppers for my garden, since those are my favorite things. Last year we didn’t get squat out of our plants b/c of 2 months of continuous rain in the beginning of the season. When you live in wetlands, everything gets rotten and yucky (but we must protect our precious insects). So, we’re hopeful about getting something good this year. Oh, I got those really cool stepping stones and I love them! They are made out of recycled grocery bags, and the best part is they are light enough to pick up and move around, unlike the huge slates I put in there last year. Nearly killed myself lugging them in there. Now they are gone! yay!

What do you think this is? haha... well, I was so sure it was an owl in our woods. Kyle got his camera and took a picture of it. Guess it was just a tree stump. Oh well, excitement comes and goes.

Earth day...

The earth is not my mother, it is my temporary home. I don’t worship it. I worship my Father, the Creator of the universe, the One who promises me a permanent home in heaven.

So, today is Earth Day.  We are celebrating the Dandelions in our front yard.  Aren't they beautiful? Seriously though, I don't have any problems with taking care of the earth, I mean, I do my part.  We recycle just about everything, and that's all fine and good.  But it makes me crazy when people worship the planet instead of God. We are foreigners here, this is not our home.  We are citizens of heaven.  So, while we want our temporary home to be nice while we're here, it is not our job to keep the earth running smoothly.  God has the earth and every planet in the palm of His hand.  He holds the galaxies together.  We see His magnificent creation wherever we look. His glory shines through the works of His hands.  That is why Romans 1 says that men are without excuse. 

1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

(here are some more pics I found on Kyle's camera)

This is the inside of the Foundry

I was so proud of myself for pumping my own gas.  It wasn't as hard as I thought, but I'm glad I don't have to do it again anytime soon!  (Ben and Jerry were happy to reward me.)

Ryan and Jesse from one of their last lessons. 

Kyle's pictures :)

Well, here are some shots from Kyle's camera. It took me forever to go through his 280 pictures!! hehe...crazy kid. He does like photography. I tried not to duplicate any that I took.

obviously, on the plane. capturing the sunset. TACO MAMACITA, where we had lunch with Jesse Nemitz, Brett Manning and the rest from Singing Success.
Center for the visiual Arts and some other buildings we saw on our walk.

This is the "batman building" b/c when it lights up at night it looks like Batman.
Down Broadway where the action happens.The Visitor Center. Ryman AuditoriumA cool mural.
toy store me and kyle went to.
BMI Building, where Ryan went for a songwriting workshop.That tiny little person is me.BMI lobby.BMI fountain. Here's the roof we parked on just for fun. Being silly with a statue of some guy playing paino, with naked sculpture in the background.
Pic of the Parthenon as we were speeding by at like 15mph. The tunnel we went through to get to the IMAX theater at Opry Mills. Going up to theater. Inside theater hehe... I was able to walk the length of the hallway with this water bottle on my head... hahaha.. I will post video of it. This is the Foundry, where Ryan went most days for his big workshop with Indie University (Indie Heaven). It doesn't look that impressive on the outside, and it was in a not-so-nice area of town, but Keith really is doing a great thing there and making it a huge blessing to independent artists. That is Ryan going in the door. haha...here are a few views from our room.


You want more? Scroll down....

kyle on the spot

Here's the little clip of Darwin asking Kyle to go up and yoyo for the folks at Pucketts.

"pants are too tight, pants are too tight"

Do we eat too much b/c we go out for supper and they just serve too much?? UGH!! I'm gonna pay for this!!

Been too tired and busy. My eyes are bloodshot, and my pants are too tight. Not a good combination. We were up late every night since we’ve been here. Last night was a concert with Indie University. Tonight we were invited to Jesse Nemitz’s 16th State concert but we’re not gonna be able to go. It’s only for 18 and older and Kyle’s only 16. And plus we have to catch an early flight tomorrow morning.

Today Kyle and I saw How To Train Your Dragon at the Opry Mills IMAX theater. That was really fun. Kyle and I had a blast. We tried to go to the Parthenon, but it was too crowded to even get in and park, so we just drove through the masses of cars and people. We had dinner at a place Darwin recommended called La Fiesta. That’s all the pics I have for today. All the rest are on Kyle’s camera. Will have to post them when we get back.


Tonight, Ben and Jerry’s and then pack our bags to come home. I pray that God would use this week to mold and lead Ryan in the right direction for his life. I pray that we would be a stronger family, and that maybe the people in TN have shown us how to be more friendly in NJ. Everyone just seems nicer here.

random Nashville shots

Here are a few random shots.
Last night we ate at Tazza’s. Tonight was at Demo’s. We vote Tazza’s was better.

I think we are all getting tired and worn out, but we have sure learned our way around Nashville! We can get to the Foundry without Tom-Tom now. We are doing good!

We also had fun doing silly stuff, like parking on the “roof” of the parking garage…and riding the elevator up to the top and back down for no reason. We took a stroll down the main drag where Ryman Auditorium is located, and The Stage, and Hard Rock Café, and a bunch of restaurants/saloons, and gift shops are. Today when we went through, the bars were refilling their beer supply.

Fun in the city

Had a great day! Spent HOURS walking around Nashville, took a bunch of pictures. We had breakfast at the oldest restaurant in Nashville according to a homeless guy we ran into 3 times. There was another homeless man asking us for money, but I didn't give him any. I figured if he's able enough to make his way out to the sidewalk, he's able enough to go earn some money. Am I wrong?

Then we went back to Country Music Hall of Fame, b/c we had been there several years ago. I wanted to take a picture of the boys in the same spot they were in last time, but the place changed… so we had to settle with what we got.

We walked over to say hi to Jesse Nemitz at Singing Success, and while we were there we met the very famous Brett Manning! It was great to meet him and get our picture with him (Ryan had met him before). Then Jesse invited us to lunch, so we went to Taco Mamacita’s with the whole gang from Brett Manning’s Studio. Jesse invited us to his concert on Saturday night but we’re not sure if we can go.

Ryan went to a writing session, and then later he went to Indie University for his music workshop. He’ll be busy there the rest of the week.

We’re having an “interesting” time maneuvering through the city. Have gone around in quite a few circles. Here are a few shots of the city, but most of the pictures are on Kyle's camera.

Naked statue in the middle of the circle.

The Red Rooster. Ryan almost sang there last time he was in Nashville.

Country Music Hall of Fame

Here's the new picture of the boys at Country Music Hall of Fame.Visitor Center