A highlight of each year for me is the girl's retreat with all of my wonderful friends that I met in Ohio! I absolutely LOVE that we do this and can only begin to imagine the fun cities that we'll get to explore together over the years.
This year, our retreat was in Nashville, TN and was organized by Holly Dotson & Angie Kelly. I was so excited to go experience Nashville - and excited to take my trusty little sidekick, Sam, along. He was barely 5 months old, which was the perfect age to take him.
Several weeks before the retreat, I found out that Kirsten was flying in on Wednesday. I had felt like my Southwest airline ticket was a little high, so after finding out she was going early and spending a night alone there, I checked to see what it would cost to change my ticket. I ended up saving money by switching it and Jon was kind enough to let me go a day early!
Sam and I got the kids off to school/preschool and then my mom drove us to the airport. It was pouring rain (which ended up causing all our clothes to be soaking wet when we arrived at our hotel that night), but the plane still took off on time and it ended up being great flights.
I arrived in Nashville about an hour and a half before Kirsten, so Sam and I hung out. It was so wonderful to see her again and have some extra time to catch up on each other's lives. We rented a minivan and checked into our hotel, which was only a couple minutes from the airport. There was a Ruby Tuesday's just up the street too and since we used to go to lunch their with our friend Jodi, we ate there. It was a fun night!
The next morning, Kirsten ran back to the airport to get Angie Kelly and then after eating breakfast at the hotel, got all packed back up and ran on some errands.
We were able to meet Holly & Sarah Burt at a restaurant called The Silly Goose. Sam didn't love the loud atmosphere, but it was fun to experience a new little restaurant.
**ALL these pictures were taken by Kirsten and she is kind enough to let us all just copy them. Seriously - thank you so much for capturing all the memories! **
After that, we drove to the house where we'd stay for the rest of the weekend! Holly did a fabulous job finding a house right on the river. Every night, a showboat-type boat would float up the river and play music. It was fun to watch!
Sam and I were so lucky to get the Master bedroom so that he could take naps/sleep as needed. Kirsten shared with us - it was enormous!
Kirsten ran to the store, Holly ran to Costco and one-by-one all our wonderful friends starting arriving. Those who came this year were: me, Kirsten, Holly, Angie K., Sarah, Angie Lines, Ali Crockett, Lisa Hymas, Lisa Nelson, Jenn Howell (I met her for the first time and really enjoyed getting to know her), Lonica Rowley, Melinda Noakes and Ariel Silver.
We had a delicious dinner of BBQ Chicken Salad - sooo good!
Ali holding Sam
Everyone was so sweet about holding him and helping with him - what a treat!
Angie Kelly was in charge of our evening activities. The first night, she had asked us all to bring a beauty item and we all shared tips, secrets, etc. I always leave the retreats with so many great ideas!
We also shared an embarrassing story from the year and we laughed our heads off! So, so funny!
The next morning, we all got ready and drove to Franklin, TN. Holly lived in Franklin and it's a cute town. We were planning on touring the Carnton Plantation, but a school group was coming and we had to wait. So, we went into Franklin first, walked through cute little shops (I fed Sam in the van) and then had a delicious lunch at Puckett's.
The Carnton Plantation was great! Sam pooped his diaper right as the tour was starting and Holly was so sweet to take him back to the car to change him and meet back up with us. I have the best of friends!
I'm using a description that Kirsten put on her blog to describe the events that occurred at Carnton:
"On the afternoon of November 30, 1864, Carnton was witness to one of the bloodiest battles of the entire Civil War. The Confederate Army of Tennessee furiously assaulted the Federal army entrenched along the southern edge of Franklin. The resulting battle involved a massive frontal assault larger than Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg. The majority of the combat occurred in the dark and at close quarters. The Battle of Franklin lasted barely five hours and led to some 9,500 soldiers being killed, wounded, captured, or counted as missing. Nearly 7,000 of that number were Confederate troops. Carnton served as the largest field hospital in the area for hundreds of wounded and dying Confederate soldiers."
There was still blood stains on the floor boards from the soldiers who had their limbs amputated, etc.
So, so humbling!
We made our way back through rush-hour traffic, but ended up taking a beautiful way back - lots of green, lush areas in Tennessee.
Gorgeous Lonica gave us (but mostly me, a makeup lesson) when we got back! I seriously need help people!
That night (which was Friday), we gathered again to talk about things that bring us joy, things that make us happy and our favorite Conference talk. We brought something to exchange with each other. This was one of my favorite parts of the retreat. The 13 of us (plus Sam) literally laughed and cried together.
During our talking, I got a phone call from my mom, telling me that my grandma had just passed away. I knew she was close to dying because she hadn't eaten or drank anything for several days. I was so happy for her to not be ridden with Alzheimer's any more and that she was reunited with my grandpa, her parents, brothers and friends. But, I was sad too. She is a great woman and I love her dearly.
What a blessing to be surrounded by amazing women and friends and to have them cry with me! I am truly, truly blessed! As a group, we have hard trials. We are not immune from them. But, these women certainly give me the strength to keep going. I think our years in Ohio were years of having babies, being poor, living away from family and now as we each face real-life struggles, we have each other!
The next morning, we got up and ready and headed to the Grand Ole Opry and the Gaylord Opryland Hotel! Definitely a highlight!
I loved the Grand Ole Opry! What a cool place where amazing performers have performed! It was so fun to tour it. We got to see where the performers enter, where their names are inducted into the Wall of Fame, the dressing rooms and we even got to stand on the very stage they perform on!
Our group photo: Kirsten, Lisa H., Lisa N., Holly, Ali, me, Lonica, Angie L.
Sarah, Jenn, Ariel, Melinsa & Angie K.
The Gaylord Hotel was pretty amazing - tons and tons of beautiful green vegetation, waterfalls, etc. Lots of restaurants and little shops! Breathtaking!
That afternoon, several girls went shopping and then we headed to downtown Nashville - often referred to as NashVegas! That statement was 100% true! It was a Saturday night and it was rockin'! It was so loud, there was music blasting out of every store/bar and there were so many people! The group I was with walked around for a little bit, ducking into a boot store. It was fun to watch Lisa H. pick out a pair!
A three-story bar
I think Kirsten looks great in a cowboy hat! Yee haw!
We tried to get the whole group to meet up for dinner, but it ended up being easier to split up. We went to a restaurant called Merchants. While we waited for a table, I nursed Sam and my group went and looked at the Ryman Auditorium, where country music was performed before the Grand Ole Opry. Dinner was delicious!
By that time, it was starting to get dark! Sam had been so, so good, but was getting tired and I was ready to go back to the house to pack and get him to bed. Kirsten and I decided to head back to the house as we both had early flights. The others were able to find some super fun, more family-friendly places to line dance, etc. They were cute and would send us pics and videos during the evening.
Kirsten and I were able to have a couple hours more of talking, which was such a blessing to me. She is such a strength and inspiration to me and understands me like no one else. I felt bad that she missed the fun dancing part of the night to come back with the old woman with the baby, but it was a wonderful night! Another car load got home and we visited with them for awhile before going to bed. The last group to get home apparently stayed up all night talking!
Nashville was incredible! It was a wonderful time to be with amazing women who I continue to look up to and learn from each year! Sam was such an angel baby and it was fun to have him along. The trip home was good and it was really wonderful to see Jon and the kids again. Hannah called me every day I was gone. I am so incredibly blessed with an eternal family and with eternal friends!
Next year - Portland!
