Gone Country (Our trip to Nashville)

Dropping the kids off with Nanny around 10 AM, it felt kind of weird leaving with Magan, but we were off to the Music City. Our first night I had booked in downtown Nashville, as we were going to the Grand Ole Opry that was playing at the Ryman. We arrived at our hotel (only one block from the Ryman) around 3 that afternoon, and got to actually take a nap. I think we both expected one of the little ones to jump on the bed at any time.

For supper we went to Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. Magan liked it, but I was not very impressed. They did have one really tall guy on stilts making balloons for the kids, I was impressed he made it through the restuarant without falling over.

Before we left, we went upstairs to take a look at more areas of the restuarant and came across a crowd of ladies surrounding....Casey James. Casey was one of the American Idol finalist from a few years back (he was the one Kara liked so much). Magan tried to get close but we just snapped a picture and went on our way...he was playing at the opry that night.

Neither of us being "big" country fans, I think both of us were really pleased with the Grand Ole Opry. We laughed a lot at the many jokes during the show, and it was very neat how it was done, because it is a live radio show. Little Jimmie Dickens stole the show while he hosted one of the 30 minute sessions. He is 91 years old, about 4.5 feet tall, and one funny little guy. The recent stars that played were Casey James, Craig Morgan (I think I have heard his one song "What I like about Sunday"), and Diamond Rio ("meet in the middle"). I am writing this on the Friday after our visit and listening to the Grand Ole Opry...so I guess I liked it abit.

Little Jimmie Dickens...

The next morning I woke up around 8 and went out to get some breakfast. Magan was still fast asleep. I could not find any place open for a cheap breakfast, so I decided to walk around downtown looking for a place...I went down to the river (saw where the Titans play)...Then I went over to the capital building (where the politicians play)...then back to our hotel where I ended up just getting breakfast there. And back to our room with the breakfast, found Magan still in bed (At 9:12 AM) ...just doesn't happen very often with the kids.

Magan just had to have this picture because the building behind her says "ONE NASHVILLE PLACE". And below is the "Mother Church of Country Music" - The Ryman.

Our next stop was a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Magan and I were both very impressed by this museum. Laid out really well, and a lot of really neat exhibits. The wall of golden records was fun as they had many that you could play as you walked along the wall. Elvis apparently had a TV in his vehicle, and that had to be pretty cool "in the day". And someone else had some guns as hood ornaments on their cars...apparently a guy named "Nudie" was instrumental in decorating some cars and make the flashy suits many of the country stars made popular.

Elvis' TV...

Before we left the museum, we attended a songwriter session where a songwriter named Fred Knobloch shared some songs and stories for about an hour. Really interesting to hear how songwriters survive in a town like Nashville. He sang one of his songs he said was written for any of the new young girl country stars called "Back". Magan and I think it is radio worthy, so if it makes the radio with Lauren Alaina or even a Carrie Underwood...we get the prophet star.

After the museum we had lunch at a restuarant called Demos. It was really good, this was my favorite meal the whole trip. The lasagna was great, and Magan had a whole chicken on her plate and I was very happy to help her clean her plate.

We then drove over to the Opryland area where we went to see a movie...Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. I am now realizing that we can do a lot of stuff when the kids are not with us. :) This is definately what I call a "theater movie" (one you've got to see in the theater). Awesome.

We later went to the Opryland Hotel to walk around abit. We had an interesting Mexican dinner, then had some Haggen Daz ice cream. Then it was getting close to 10 oclock, and that is bedtime...so back to the hotel we went. We moved to the Radisson right next door, so it wasn't too bad...except for the bed...

What is amazing is that I took both of these (above and below) pictures myself, the second one was very tricky.

The beds were a sleep number bed that apparently sends some air into the mattress or lets air out as needed. It felt much like a water bed as when I layed down on my side, the air would push magan up. And because of the reservation and cheaper price I got, we ended up with two double beds...which aren't very big. So in the middle of the night I woke up and found that magan had left me and gotten in the other bed. She said that she kept feeling like she was going to fall off the bed because of the mound created in the middle of the bed. :) Oh well, it was funny the next morning, but I think I will pass on any sleep number beds from here on.

Church in Brentwood the next morning and back home to see the kids. Wish we could do this more often...but also glad to be back close to those little ones. Of course, the kids wanted to know what we got for them first thing...so we gave Sam and Davis a harmonica which I think are already lost...perhaps a good thing. And Belle got a "Jessie" cowgirl hat.

Lights in the Darkness

We have three beautful faces that brighten my day every day. I love them and know they are some of our greatest gifts from above.
God had a different plan for our fourth little blessing. Eliot went home to shine his light down from above. I find it hard to see his little light sometimes and feel the darkness creeping in. I close my eyes and pray and hold tight to the promise of Heaven where we will meet again....I open my eyes and see three little lights shining around my feet and remember that God knows my heart, He knows that deep down I have strength that only He knew I had.
I will get up and I will work to be the light that He wants me to be too. I will hold Eliot in my heart and I will shine for him here on Earth where he didn't get the chance to shine.
Lord help me be the light in the darkness to bring your children to you, the children you have lost....I know that you want to hold them in your hands and you want to comfort them and watch them grow even more than I want to hold my Eliot, even though that is so hard for me to comprehend. Thank you for the joy of knowing that he is safe with You. I pray that I will help bring your lost children back to their home with You too. I pray that our children will grow and live their life to serve you and to bring more and more of Your children back into Your arms.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1: 2-4)

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God.... Romans 8:28

The Lord is my light and my salvation; Psalm 27:1

I am setting my eyes on your light and it is so beautiful and merciful to me....darkness and sin suck up your beautiful light..... I will not let that be my light, please give me the strength I need to rid my life of that darkness...Amen

I love my sweet baby boy and know that each day brings me closer to holding you again....

Eliot Junkin
December 5, 2011

Monster Jam

That's right...The Monster Jam. I had told Davis last year that we could go when it gets close to his birthday, and luckily I was listening to the radio on Friday when they said the last show was on Saturday. So the boys decided to have a day out, while the girls went shopping. We just bought some tickets from a guy on the street and got some great tickets at about half of the box office cost. We had our ear plugs, juice, and snacks to avoid the high priced foods...so we were ready to go. I was a little hesitant about Davis, as he gets pretty scared with loud stuff, but both him and Sam did great.

The boys quickly found the trucks they had been given by Santa Claus. Sam had "El Toro Loco" (The Crazy Bull right behind us and to the right) and Davis found the Dalmation "Monster Mutt". But then we found out there was a girl driving the Monster Mutt, so we had to cheer for someone else...The Gunslinger. The boys liked Grave Digger, but he got "hurt" early in the races, and had to go out to be fixed...Hopefully He will be back.

Above was the Championship Final race between Ironman and the Gunslinger. We were all pulling for the Gunslinger, but in the end, the Marvel Comic Book Legend beat him to the finish line. After the races, came something you could usually only see in your nightmares. A fire breathing metal dinosaur with claws strong enough to pull a car apart as it ate the car in half...seriously that is what we got to watch it do. AWESOME! The car that was the victim of "Megasaurus'" rage was apparently from Baton Rouge, as it had written on it "LSU rocks", "Go LSU"...Well, Megasaurus took care of this Honey Badger all by itself.

After Megasaurus, we watched the freestyle racing, where the trucks finally started going over the big ramp. Maximum Destruction was our favorite because he went up both sides of the ramp, causing destruction wherever he went....But what's that...

An Engine roared in the distance...The MC grabbed the microphone and said in dismay...Grave Digger is going to race? Then to the thundering crowd cheers, (This is all very similar to the climatic scene in Karate Kid I) we heard death bells ringing...The MC said "Grave Digger is ready to race". The crowd on its feet, Sam came out of his shell and both arms raised as the deafening roar of Grave Digger's engine muted "Bad to the Bone" which had started playing. Then Sam, Davis, and I watched the 30 year monster jam veteran fly across the field making jumps that none of the others had made. And just as is 60 seconds came to an end, he flew across three cars, landed on his side, wheel flew off, and crashed. The crowd erupted and cheered as the Victor, Dennis Anderson, jumped out of his truck. He then took the mike from the MC and said "No matter how small the arena, I just drive hard and fast for each one of you guys"

There is a reason they sell Cotten Candy for $15 bucks with a Grave Digger hat included...Cause he is the best. At least that is what Sam and Davis came away thinking. :) Great Show! And you can see below what they starting building as soon as they got home.