18 years...and counting

March 11, 2000 we were on our way to have dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory in St. Louis when Donny handed me a gift. We were driving down the highway and I had an idea what was going to happen, I was pretty sure I knew what was in the gift. I took the box and asked if I was supposed to hold onto it or...and he told me to open it...while we were driving down the highway. Of course I did. Inside the box was a figurine from the Kim Anderson collection.

I collected these sweet little things. I had quite a few to be honest. I still do! I just have nowhere to display them. Moving on...My sister-in-law helped Donny with this part. When I pulled the figurine out, tied around the girl's neck was a ring. I looked at it and looked at Donny, he was driving remember, and he said, "Well?"

Ladies, he knows me better than that ;) My response was, "Well, what? You haven't asked me anything." Giving me a smirk, he asked me to marry him. It's not how most girls envision being proposed to but it was enough for me!

A year and a couple weeks later on March 24, 2001, we stood before God, our friends and family and made a commitment to love one another, to never give up, to stand together in hard times and in good times.

The road hasn't been easy. We've faced a big move from our family and then coming back "home," unexpected job changes/losses, welcomed but unexpected pregnancy, planned pregnancies - all of the pregnancies were fun but not without drama - buying a home, buying cars, traumatic and life-altering accident, and so much more! Through it all, we've never wanted to walk away from one another. We may have wanted to walk away from the situation or prayed for things to be different but never to just walk away from our marriage and family. Long talks, hard discussions, sitting in quietness, so much prayer and making sure that in all ways and in all things, God remains at the center of it all.

This year we celebrated 18 years! To many that may not seem like a lot. Compared to many it's not! But we can't help but believe God has blessed us to be able to make it this far when so many in the world do not. We decided that while this is not a monumental anniversary that we would take our first real getaway without any kids! We have gone away for a night before but never for days...just the two of us...away.

Where did we go? Somewhere we can't wait to take our family to. Isn't that ironic?

Franklin, Tennessee is one of the prettiest and quaintest towns I have seen. It is just a little drive south of Nashville, around 15-20 miles. The main street is lined with fun shops and restaurants unique to the area, plus a Starbucks and Baskin Robbins. I didn't take pictures while we wandered the town. We were having too much fun walking and talking and people watching.

Franklin is also rich with history. We visited one of three Civil War homes and learned quite a bit. The home we visited, Carnton Plantation, was really nowhere near the battles happening in Tennessee however, this one December evening changed everything and they became a makeshift hospital for the Confederate Soldiers killed and wounded.

Imagine sitting in your parlor, late in the afternoon when you look out the window and just out in your yard you see a line of soldiers marching towards the Union Army. The tour guide said that at the time, the Union army was in Nashville and had come towards Franklin and were rebuilding a bridge. The McGavock family owned the Carnton Plantation and had other family in Nashville who sent their son to stay with them believing Franklin to be safer than Nashville...little did they know.

The home has been lived in until the early 80's so quite a bit of remodeling had been done over the years but much work has been done to restore it as close to the era as they can. We did learn that the part of the home was lost in a tornado, roughly 1500 square feet including a kitchen, and has not been replaced. We weren't allowed to take pictures of the inside, but, for those who enjoy this sort of stuff, in the bedrooms upstairs there are blood stains on the wooden floors where it is believed surgeons did their work, and really large stains where it is suspected piles of limbs were laid. My boys would love it!

Front of the McGavock home

Back of home- 5 Confederate Generals died in the battle and laid on the back porch until they were taken for burial.

The only slave home still standing on the property. Sadly, the McGavock's had around 40 slaves.

This is most likely where the 5 Generals were laid.

Many of the soldiers who died here were laid in quickly dug graves. Two years after the battle, McGavock raised money and worked with a team to create a proper cemetery. The men were laid by state and regiment and any known info was engraved in wooden markers. However, as things go, those markers were replaced with smaller, stone pieces only big enough for a number and initials. The family kept a book with the detailed information in the home for reference. This cemetery is opposite the family cemetery where a few of their slaves are actually buried as well.

McGavock Family Cemetery

McGavock Confederate Cemetery

View from one end of the Confederate Cemetery. There are so many unknown soldiers buried here.

This is the reference book with every number corresponding to the grave markers with information known about each of the men.

I really am looking forward to taking my boys down there one day and visiting all of the Civil War sites. These are not free tours however, the price of admission was well worth it!

After walking around Carnton we decided to drive into Nashville and take a look around but the city was very crowded and parking was, well, insane. Now, I have written about one of my favorite podcasters, Annie F. Downs, and that I am reading her devotional, 100 Days To Brave. Saturday's reading mentioned getting out into nature to think about God and how she loves going to Radnor Lake to do this. So, on our way out of the city, I did a map search and found the lake!

Donny and enjoyed a walk on part of the lake trail. It was so pretty and I imagine even more beautiful once the foliage is all in and can't even begin to think of how pretty it must be in the fall. Oh, that bottom row, center picture...that's bamboo!! Now maybe I am just the weirdo but, I never would have expected to see bamboo growing in Tennessee.

Another place I really wanted to go to is The Belonging Co in Nashville for church on Sunday morning. The problem is that as we drove into the city on Saturday to get the lay of the land, we discovered why the church website offers discount codes for Uber and Lyft. Parking in Nashville is BANANAS! So on Sunday morning when we woke up and were getting ready, I told Donny that I didn't think we would be able to find parking and get into the church and that we should just plan to visit when we return to the area and they are in their new building.

Thing is...I really wanted to be in church. So we looked up churches in Franklin. Now because I am an Assemblies of God minister myself, I knew that I could find some quick info by going to their district website. I found several options but one stood out to me and so we drove about 15 minutes to the other side of Franklin and found this sweet church with some of the friendliest people I've ever met!

View of the church from the main road

GraceLand Church felt like home. We were warmly greeted at the door by a young man, probably not even 10 years old and just two steps into the doors, were 4 more friendly faces who took a sincere interest in our being there. It was fun to share that I am a pastor and that we are just visiting while we're out of town. The church, as far as the culture, reminded us of our church. We left very encouraged and felt a confirmation that we are right where we belong.

Leaving the church, we couldn't help but giggle at just how things are in Tennessee. Pulling out of the neighborhood the church sits in front of, we look next to the road and across and see true farm living.

After church we wrapped our trip to Tennessee up with lunch at Rainforest Cafe in Opry Mills. And can I just say that it pays to be Landry members. We walked up to check in and was told the wait would be around an hour, but, when we told them we are members, we jumped to the top of the list and were seated in less than 10 minutes!

We had a wonderful weekend getaway but we really love sharing these moments with our boys. We are thankful for the time away and to reconnect, but can't wait to take them next time we go and show them the area as well.