Back To School

Walking to School On The First Day

 Well, the first full week of school is officially under our belts. I would say that this first week was measured only with success for both the Garrett family and Cole Elementary. The boys seem to be adapting to their new teachers and classrooms in a positive way. I personally enjoyed this week's open house meet and greet on Tuesday and Thursday. I left the school both afternoons feeling good about not only the boys amazing teachers, but the whole organization and operation of the school.

Cole Elementary has a student body of 854 students this year and 97 well equipped staff members. The students, faculty, and volunteers are the framework to which the school sets it's high standards. Those standards are what makes this elementary school team celebrated by my family. I appreciate that Cole Elementary believes in every student's ability to achieve big things not only in school, but in their lives, and they are not afraid of holding the children to those standards.

I am expecting a challenging school year for my 1st and 4th grader. However, I feel confident that under Cole Faculty's vision for education and lots of parental involvement both of my students will make first-class gains in their academic achievements, while developing skills they will carry with them for a lifetime. I really do believe in and love this school. I am truly convinced that Cole Elementary's staff, in it's entirety, care about my children's education and dreams almost as much as I do!

Covered With Icing

About a week ago I had a sweet little surprise message in my Facebook inbox. I had won a dozen chocolate covered Oreo cookies for becoming the 600th on the 'Covered With Icing' Facebook page. YUM!!!

Today, I received those cookies via UPS and they couldn’t have come at a better time. It’s been a bit stressful around the Garrett household the past few days with my middle son undergoing a Tonsillectomy, Adenoidectomy, and Myringotomy (tubes in ears). So needless to say, it’s been a bit out of the normal for us. So that little pink box filled with my favorite cookies was just the little pick me up that I need!

Not only was the little pink box cookies my favorite Oreo cookies dipped in chocolate delectable, but they were also notably pretty cookies decorated in a festive Easter/Spring fashion. They were seriously almost too adorable to eat! That is a big ALMOST!!!! Because you all know I had to eat one as soon as I photographed them.

Covered With Icing is a custom cake decorating home based shop owned and run by Heather Noble. Heather has been baking since childhood, and it has now become her passion and dream come true by baking her creations for the public's enjoyment. Covered With Icing is based out of Hendersonville, TN, but also serves the greater Nashville area, Clarksville, and Bowling Green, KY and are a 'by appointment only' establishment. Just in case you are in need of cake for your next special occasion or maybe even want to spoil yourself or someone else with a few chocolate dipped Oreo cookies to bright up a day!

Winter Date Ideas For Nashville, TN

More dream date post coming up later this week, but in the mean time here is a little something to inspire you to get creative, and create your own perfect date.

Winter time is in full swing and so what if the days are gloomy and gray. That doesn’t mean you and your sweet heart should stop coming up with date ideas. After all, the most romantic night of the year is just around the corner. Here are a few ideas to get you started. Some are romantic, some are sporty, and some are just about spending time and doing things together.

1. Get in touch with the artistic side of yourselves with a trip to All Fired Up, a 'paint your own' pottery studio located in Hillsboro Village. The upside to this place is it supplies everything you need. You just show up and create. Another wonderful benefit to this studio is that they allow you to bring in your own food! So you could pack your own little indoor picnic to enjoy while you create a unique piece of ceramic artwork. The price varies depending on which piece you decided to paint, and there is a firing fee. I think you will be pleasantly surprised with how bright and vibrant the pieces are when you return to pick them up. Also the staff is extremely helpful in explaining and even helping you decided on what to paint.

2.Spend an evening ice skating! You have to agree, it’s fun to hold hands while you laugh and concentrate really hard on not falling down to impress your date. Things to remember when hitting the ice(no pun intended); bring a sweater/jacket, gloves are also a good idea as well, and check the calendar for public skating hours. An afternoon of Skating at Centennial Sportsplex is 7.00 dollars per adult. Have fun giggling as you try to keep your balance!

3. Visit a local neighborhood bookstore(no chains bookstores). Spend an evening searching for vintage copies of your favorite classics. You will be surprised what you can learn about one another after spending some time together in a bookstore. Like, what stories got read during each other’s childhood years? What’s the first book your date remembers reading? Who’s your sweetie’s favorite poets and what section did each of you spend the most time in? A couple of suggested bookstores are Bookman/Bookwoman and Elder’s Bookstore. I would also recommend topping the date off with a trip to your favorite coffee house. If you don’t have one, look for one together and skip the hustle and bustle of Starbucks. This is one day you skip all the chains and find something new, even if it’s been around for years. That’s half the fun of this date idea!

4.Volunteering together bring smiles and hope to someone else, while spending quality time together. While this probably isn’t ideal for a first date scenario, it would be perfect for a couple looking to share the spirit of love. Make dinner for your elderly neighbor(cook it together) or serve a meal at the Nashville Rescue Mission. I guarantee it’s a date that will not soon be forgotten by you or the people you took the time to help.

Photo Credit Terasa Lewis

5. Just because it’s cold, and as a dear friend of mine said, "God has decided to turn middle Tennessee into a snow-globe with all this snow and continuing flurries" don’t let that scare you off from bundling up and enjoying the outdoors. Actually, winter time is a perfect chance to take a nature walk. You are likely to spot wild life that you wouldn't see in the summer and spring months. So pack a thermos of your favorite hot cocoa and head on over to Warner Park located 7311 Highway 100, Nashville TN, and enjoy a nice little winter wonderland walk hand in hand. Don’t forget your hat, mittens, and camera on this little adventure!


Hope you have be inspired to create your own special date for your sweet heart. I would love to hear your ideas on what you would do on your perfect/dream date?

When Angels Sing

This is my personal story of my prayer life as a Mother and the power that is in believing in God’s promises. This is the story of the day I heard Angels sing. My son Wesley has had multiple health issues for the majority of his life. One of those health problems has been a handicap in his right foot. Long story short, the muscles in his foot and leg did not function properly. Some muscles were over working causing other muscles to basically not develop. All these factors lead to discomfort and pain when Wesley was on his feet for any length of time. This included grocery shopping, zoo trips, playing outside, riding bike, pretty much anything that required him to be on his feet. We had already had one unsuccessful surgery at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital when Wes was a little under the age of three. I was broken hearted that my son was still in pain, and he was broken hearted that he still couldn't wear cowboy boots. The unsuccessful surgery was at no fault of the hospital or the doctors. We knew going into the surgery that it was all going to be highly educated guess work. There was no case on record quite like Wesley’s, so figuring out a solution was not as easy as referencing medical text books or phoning doctors with similar cases. One thing that made his case so different is the inability for doctors to pin point why the muscles didn’t work. All that being said, after the first surgery I remember thinking this is not the end....This is not what God has planned for my little boy. So, I continued the daily and multiple prayers for my son's healing (1 Thessalonians 5: 17, 18). I refused to believe he was going to walk around the rest of his life in pain.

Wes taking a little rest at one of the early morning doctor visits

After almost 2 years of praying, we felt God leading us in the direction to find a new Doctor for Wesley, and I knew that there was one Doctor out there that God would gift with the wisdom to make my son pain free. This is about the point where I began saying, "I will just know the right Doctor that God has for us comes along". I said it would be as if hear the Angels sing to me from Heaven. So I would patiently wait for that moment of peace during all these trials (James 1: 2-8). We started the journey with a trip back to our home town of Livingston TN to visit a Doctor that has been looking after our families for several generations now. He gave us a couple of referrals. One of those referrals was to the Children’s Shriner’s Hospital in KY. My hopes were high. So we filled out tons of paper work, gathered all Wesley’s medical records, and said many thank you's to our Shriner's Sponsors. Now we just had to wait to see if Wesley would get accepted to be seen at the hospital. I literally jumped for joy when we got the phone call for the appointment. So off to Kentucky we went. I had been faithfully praying, and I knew that there were so many others praying faithfully with us. I just knew this was going to be it. I just knew that on this day the angels would sing. We meet with the Shriner’s doctors and staff. The whole staff was so very kind to us the whole day we were there, but they felt like the answer to Wesley’s problem was to leave it alone. At best, maybe he would grow out of it, and the muscle would begin to develop. My heart sank. I admit I was frustrated, heartbroken, and just emotionally drained by this point. I remember crying a little as we walked back to the car for the journey back to Nashville.

A couple months later we were off to our second referral. We went to a small town called Ringgold, GA to meet with a doctor who is based out of Atlanta GA. Ringgold is about 30 minutes outside Chattanooga. So we decided to stay all night the night before the 9am appointment. We swam in the indoor pool, Wes jumped on the big bed, and we ordered pancakes for breakfast. Wesley thought the whole hotel adventure was just grand. I think it’s the first time he remembered staying in a hotel. At 9 am the next morning Doctor Camasta walked into our lives and folks I heard the Angels sing (an amazing sense of total peace came over me). Dr. Camasta examined Wesley and looked up at us with total confidence and said I think we can fix this, and smiled this unforgettable sincere smile at me that I will never forget. I felt a sigh of relief escape my body as if I had been piled with a thousand pounds of extra weight that was now gone. I felt God at work and my prayers beginning to be answered. It was an overwhelming and humbling experience. I felt like I was glowing with love. I wanted to just tackle Dr. Camasta with a giant bear hug, and tell him how long I had prayed for him. Instead I decided to remain calm and shook his hand and said thank you so very much. Stephen and I both left the office smiling. I had always known that God loved me and would take care of me. I believed that with all my heart, and today I felt that love. It was a deep love. It was a never ending love. God had answered my prayers and it was beautiful. On November 4th, 2009 Dr. Camasta performed the 3 hour surgery to remove one muscle, and clip three others in Wesley’s foot. He also extended his Achilles heel.

Few hours after surgery

Recovery process this was about 5 days after surgery and is the first day really out of bed or off the sofa

The recovery was a painful process. It was hard to explain to my four year old that this was God’s plan. You will see you are going to be so much better soon. We had many sleepless nights, and Wesley was in a cast, moving around very little. If you know Wesley you know that moving around very little is just not him. He is very spirited and always on the go. About 3 weeks after surgery Wesley began to walk on his knees around the house. This was a pitiful sight to see, but it did not seem to bother him.

Don’t get me wrong, I am totally not perfect. I would often lose my focus on God, and try to go through days without Him, and let me just say those where some miserable days for me. I needed God to give me the strength to get me and my family through this, and I knew he would. God loves me. He loves Wesley, and He answered my prayer. My son Wesley while he still walks with a limp, and this journey is far from over he has now been pain free for year this November!!!!!!

Wesley riding a Bike this is a big deal for us!!!

Autumn in Tennessee{fun Fall activities}

Autumn is upon us. Autumn is a time of harvest and gathering together with family and friends. I always think of this time of year as perfect marshmallow roasting weather. Autumn brings the loss of the bees, butterflies, and long summer days, but in return Autumn brings a kind of flower itself as it turns the leaves an array of reds, oranges, and yellows. Autumn also brings in the mellow breeze of a perfect day for family adventures and couples retreats. With this in mind, I thought I would compile a list of fun Fall activities in Tennessee. There is entertainment for all ages, groups and budgets scattered all over the beautiful state of Tennessee this Autumn.

Fall Events List by MysticIris on Polyvore.com

(1) Nestled away in the quiet, but bustling little town of Cookeville, TN is Hidden Hollow State Park. The park is located on Mt. Pleasent Rd and is considered a family friendly park in Middle Tennessee. This year the park will host Haunted Hollow, a kid friendly family fun zone with hayrides, haunted forest, carnival games, mazes, and maybe even some live music. The fun happens every weekend in October starting the weekend of October 8, 2010. $

(2) Looking for something a little more on the romantic side this fall and maybe even something indoors? You might be interested in "She Loves Me" a play by Joe Masteroft, Jerry Bock, and Sheldon Harnick showing at Cumberland County Playhouse in the adventure theater. "She Loves Me" has become two movies "The Little Shop Around the Corner" and "You've Got Mail". This big-hearted musical with a small, but talented cast runs November 18, 2010- December 18, 2010. $$$

(3) Honeysuckle Hill Farms in Springfield, TN is more than just a pumpkin patch. It's a whole discovery of family fun down on the farm. Honeysuckle Hills features a 6 acre corn maze, hillbilly pig races, pedal cars, steer roping, spider slide, petting farm, farmers market, The Kiddie 500 ( tricycle race), jumping pillow, and the new pumpkin train. Wittiness a family feud between the Hatfield's and the McCoys. Better take cover we hear those Hatfield's have a giant pumpkin cannon. Also, don't forget after all the fun you have to take home your very own pumpkin. You will find a super assortment in every color, shape, and size. $

(4) There's an absolute Spooktacular event coming to the Nashville Zoo. Ghouls at Grassmere, a family friendly Halloween event designed to appeal to families with children 12 years and younger. The event helps raise money for the upkeep of the zoo. This year there will be several new treats, along with all the old favorites including many treat stations, kid's costume Parade, gypsy maze, monster mash dance floor, scary-go-around, and so much more. The ghoulish fun begins the weekend of October 15-17 and continues the weekends of Oct 22-23, and Oct 28-30(not open Halloween night). The Nashville Zoo opens the gates at 5pm and closes them at 9pm. So put on your costumes and come out to the Nashville Zoo and join the fun! Hint...Hint, you can purchase tickets on-line in advance to avoid long lines and get a discount. This year is the first year that a Ghouls at Grassmere(GAG) total access pass will be offered. Don't miss out! $$

(5) Join in the Costume fun at one of Tennessee's most popular aquariums. The Fall 2010 Aqua-Scarium Halloween Party is October 29th beginning at 6:30pm and ending at 9:30pm hosted by the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, TN. The event includes the ever popular costumed divers. You can also mingle with the lovable mascots donning their own Halloween costumes, dance the night away, and if you dare touch the unknown at animal encounters. Did I mention you can when prizes and gather lots of yummy treats.
Nonmembers $$$ (includes ticket to the aquarium) and Members $

(6) Dollywood's National Gospel & Harvest Celebration located in Pigeon Forge, TN. Four weeks of Gospel music beginning October 1, 2010. Your not going to want to miss Dollywood's fall celebration with music, crafts, and food located in the breathtaking smokies, nor are you going to want to miss Dollywood's signature fried green tomato's. $$$$

(7) Chester County BBQ Festival, Henderson TN September 30th- October 2nd 2010. The festival will feature arts, crafts, children's area, and the main attraction, BBQ. Enjoy Barbecue cooked with patience, skill, and experience in an open-pit barbecue producing "real barbecue" for all to enjoy. The first barbecue will go on sale by 10 am, September 30th. Admission to the event is free, but some cost will be required to fully enjoy the family friendly festival. You can contact the Chester County Chamber of Commerce for more information. $$

(8) Looking for personal treasures? Now is your chance to find them. September 30 - October 2, 2010 is the 25th annual Roller Coaster Yard Sale with stops at Glasgow KY, Tompkinsville KY, Albany KY, Celina TN, Livingston TN, Byrdstown, TN and many more stops along the way. A three day, 150 mile stretch of crafts, quilts, southern style foods, antiques and second hand treasures of all kinds. Detailed driving directions available on-line click HERE. FREE

(9) The Blue Man Group is coming to Tennessee's Andrew Jackson Hall in Nashville, November 16-21, 2010. The Blue Man Group theatrical show combining music, technology, comedy, and a touch of mystery to each show. Since there is no spoken word during the performances, The Blue Man group crosses over boundaries of all kinds, including age, cultures and language barriers. You are guaranteed to be left wildly entertained by this unique and visually stunning performance. Special note if you sit close to the front you may not want to wear clothing you value. Casual attire is welcome and encouraged for this show. $$$$

(10) Maybe you are looking for some adventure this Fall season. Well, your sure to find it at Fall Creek Falls State Park. For starters they are offering rock climbing workshops November 5-7, 2010, among many other events this fall. Enjoy any of these events while taking in the beauty and wonder of the Fall foliage and atmosphere. Fall Creek Falls is situated on the Western edge of the Cumberland Plateau in Pikeville, TN. The Park is Tennessee's largest state park with much to offer it's visitors from camping, hiking, fishing, bird watching, and lets not forget the beautiful waterfalls. This state park even offers top rate lodging for those who like indoor private plumbing areas. Cost of this adventure will vary depending on your agenda. $-$$$$

Cost Key
$$$$ Above $30 Each
$$$ Above $20 Each
$$ Under $20 Each
$ Under $10 Each
FREE

Special Note this article also appears at Cookevilletimes.com

5 Summer Date Ideas For Nashville, Tennessee

Movie under the stars
Take your sweetheart to Movies in the Park. To bring the date around to a more romantic mood pack a grown up picnic dinner for two. My suggestions would be Pita bread sandwiches, strawberries, cheese & crackers and teacakes for dessert. Grab a bottle of bubbly, either real or sparkling grape juice will do. Don't forget the wine glasses for the over the top romance. Collect your quilt and head out to Centennial Park. There is no admission fee and the movie starts at sunset. The movies will be playing every Wednesday in the month of June.

Garden Stroll
Cheekwood Botanical Gardens is a beautiful garden located here located here in Nashville, TN. Chilhuly at Cheekwood, Chilhuly Nights, and Live at Cheekwood are just a few of special events hosted at the gardens throughout the year. You and your special love will enjoy strolling through the gardens and taking in the uniquely gorgeous display of colors. Make sure to stop in at the Pineapple Room Restaurant for lunch in it's bistro atmosphere. Take note that reservations are encouraged. The cost of admission is $12 dollars each and the restaurant dishes are priced between $9-$15 dollars.

Take Me Out To The Ballgame
For the more sporty or adventurous couple. grab your baseball cap and have a casual fun filled night at Geer Stadium. Take in one of America's favorite past times and cheer on the Nashville Sounds. Don't forget to enjoy a hot dog,and peanuts for the full baseball game experience. Ticket prices for a sounds game general admission are $14 dollars each. You can save a couple bucks if you purchase your tickets in advance!

Pottery Passion
For the couple who is passionate about not only each other, but also about art, the Brush Fire Pottery Studio is the place for you. Spend the afternoon or evening hours of this date creating your own personal unique piece of art. The prices are affordable and they have a large selection of pottery pieces to choose from. Not only will you and your better half have fun with a quality moment being creative as a couple, at the end of the experience, you will have something tangible to remember your time together. The admission fee to the art studio is $6 dollars each, which covers all the supplies needed to decorate your ceramics. The Pottery pieces range from $6 to $40 dollars.

Hide Out At The Factory
Spend your date in Franklin, TN at The Factory. The Factory is a unique, enchanting place of business, with an assortment of dining options. You can dress causal or get all dressed up for your evening out at The Factory. Spoil yourselves with ice cream and shopping. Even take in a little theater experience at the Boiler Room. So many options for an unforgettable evening out with your special someone hiding out in an old factory. The cost of this date is totally up. You can window shop and spend $0 dollars or you can spend hundreds of dollars and everywhere in-between.

Summer Date Night by MysticIris on Polyvore.com

The Heart of Music City (Flood of 2010)

On May 1st, and 2nd 2010 Nashville, Tn has received the most rain in two days on recorded history causing the great flood of 2010. As so many of the people Nashville and it's surrounding areas have been effected by the flood waters in some way. Building, businesses, homes, vehicles, and sadly even lives have been lost. My heart is just so heavy for the people in the center of this natural disaster. As the Cumberland River continues to rise, and much of downtown Nashville is shutting down. Still I am so encouraged with the hearts of people. It is such a beautiful sight to see neighbors helping neighbors, strangers working hand in hand, and love and concern at the center of actions. I also must take my hat off to the rescue teams, the city officials, and all the people who have worked so hard to keep the public safe. I personally think that these people have done an outstanding job keeping rescue efforts running smoothly, quickly, and without them this disaster could have claimed so many more lives. I just want to encourage people to reach out your helping hands, pull out your wallets, donate your time, pick up your neighborhood streets. If you would like to sign up to volunteer try The Hands On Nashville site or contact the Nashville RedCross. It is going to take this city sometime to get back on her feet. With such beautiful people living in this city I have no doubt she will be just as beautiful and just as strong if not stronger than before. The People are the heart of this city, and with their prayers and hard work these sad days will turn into hope gained moments that brought a city back to life. So hold on to hope, and embrace each other with love!



I would like to give credit for the video to Micheal Deppisch. You can also find this video on YouTube. It is so beautifully done and captures so much of life's moments in the past couple days of Nashville and surrounding areas.

Kelli Trontell

I have been itching to blog about inspiring people again the past couple of weeks. Last week I blogged about Allen Mazan Peace Corp Volunteer. This week I find my inspiration in a young Nashville entrepreneur and lover of life Kelli Trontell. I first met the beautiful, enchanting, bubbly red head with the warm smile at a GOA gathering, which is the company both of our husbands work for. My first impression of Kelli was that this girl has exquisite sense of style and a spirit that could melt Antarctica. Kelli is a California native who fell in love with the city of Nashville, TN. Now she calls Music City her home. Kelli describes what she does with her camera as capturing people with sparkle and passion, and a love for life through her lens. I would have to say she does just that with her photographs. Her artful photographs have just the right amount of flare, beauty, and atmosphere. Yet her talentful art seems to leave behind a raw existence of reality which lets the true beauty of her clients showcase in her her work. Kelli's combined love for photography and people are truly a perfect match in making this radiant woman's photographs an exquisite piece of art.

"Lonely in this Crowd"

Adam Ryan...singer, songwriter, dreamer complicated, inspired, focused, small town boy. Guided with passion and a love affair for good music, Adam Ryan is out to prove to the world that not all the good songs have already been written. Adam was raised in a small town in the middle of nowhere Tennessee where Hog-eye runs blood deep, folks drive tractors on the highway, neighbors actually know each other, and family values are still taught by parents. Adam's songs are proof of raw existence told with beauty. Even in the darkest of his songs you hear an under toning hope that breathes life into an untold story. The songs are polished, sustaining and undoubtedly smart. 'Lonely in this Crowd' is undeniably a romance of words told with a heated passion and true complexity of the process of life. Adam Ryan is a blazing young songwriter on the Nashville scene and his delivery of 'Lonely in this Crowd' is worthy of lending your ear to.

Here is what the man behind the lyrics and melodies of 'Lonely in this Crowd' had to say about life, inspiration, the music industry, and the up coming release of his debut album. Read the interview, hear the music and then witness it for yourself on October 1st, Douglas Corner Cafe, Nashville, TN at 6pm.

Q: When did you first start writing songs, and what prompted you to do so?

A: I was kind of a late bloomer. It wasn't until I finished playing baseball in college that I actually sat still long enough and learned to play the guitar. From there, I would write down ideas and then learned that I am my own worst critic. I spent several years fighting the urge to self edit and over analyze. When I moved to Nashville, I was fortunate enough to work at Carnival Music. There I was able to learn what a great song is and was witness to some great stuff in the making. I was one of the first people to ever hear "Anything But Mine" written by Scooter Carusoe. He and I actually recorded the first version of that tune... still have it, it's great. Also, "Angry All the Time" by Bruce Robison... another phenomenal songwriter.

Q: Generally speaking what makes a song a hit?

A: Ask Scooter and Bruce. Ah, you know... people have to identify with it. It's so simple but yet so hard. I just try to write what I know and hope that others can relate.

Q: Do you think it is a good or bad idea to try and "go against the grain" of the typical song writing mold?

A: I try not to think about the mold... that feeds the self critic in me. The best writers are there own thing. There's a Rodney Crowell quote that I love, "Ignorance is the enemy of society. Self-conscieness is the enemy of art." That blew me away when I read it, it's so true.

Q: Who inspires you the most?

A: It started at a young age. Steve Earle when I was twelve. Chris Knight, Springsteen... he's something else I discovered late. Owned the Boss box set when I was a kid... not sure why really, just wanted it. But never really dug in to it until a few years ago. I think the best inspiration, for me, happens when I'm tuned in spiritually. I pray God gives me clarity and the peacefulness to hear the stories he wants to tell. I fight to find that space and quietness.... but when it happens, it's a lot of fun.

Q: Which song of yours do you consider to be your best, and why?

A: That's tough. There are different connections to different songs but I guess "Lonely In This Crowd." It's the title track and one that I wrote by myself. It really captured the place I was in at the time. I was sick of the music business, or at least the scene I was in. Was falling for this girl but hated the situation that surrounded it.

Q: Do you co-write often, and do you consider it important to do so?

A: Yes, you should know! Your husband and I tend to get good results. I don't really do the Nashville co-write thing... I tend to comb over things more than that situation allows. I think its good though. There are great writers in this town. Mostly though, I think the best songs come from a real place and not something contrived. Hey, but who knows.

Q: Do you find the struggles of the music business to be worth fighting for the dream?

A: Dreams are always worth fighting for.

Q: Do you believe that music has changed your life?

A: Does a one legged duck swim in a circle?

Q: How do you think your fans view you as a writer, and person?

A: Not sure. Probably like... "Dude, you're hair is so much longer and you look nothing like you did in high-school!"

Q: Why don't you tell us a little about this New EP of yours Lonely in This Crowd?

A: A while in the making but extremely proud of it. Learned so much and can't wait to get back in the studio... I already have the songs. I just need people to buy this one so I can afford to do it! Beyond that, I'd love to hear what other people think about it. I'm too close to it and some of those songs have been around a while. They have changed meanings a few times and are what they are now. Maybe ask your readers to give some feedback. Would love to hear it!

A Movement of Love

A movement of love! The man in this interview I haven't actually seen since my high school years. What I do remember about Jim Florea is his laugh, and the crew he called his friends. They where all stand up guys with hearts for laughter, jokes, music, and Jesus. Always fun to hang around, and they where always on some sort of adventure. So it was no major shock that almost ten years out of high school Jim finds a calling on his life to build a church in Nashville from the Lord. A calling he is obediently following. A calling that will allow seeds to be planted, and steer the people of Nashville to follow Christ. While I have no direct personal connection to this project from the moment I found out about Forward Church. I have felt the Lord's command to pray very heavily for this important piece of God's work, and the people He has called to complete the task of His work. So I decided to spot light Jim Florea man with a calling and a heart to please the Heavenly Father. Here is what Jim had to say about Forward Church and the commands on his own life? Maybe it will inspire many of you to pray for or be a part of Forward Church.

Interview with Church Planter

Q: I hear you have a calling to build a church here in Nashville. Can you explain what that means?

A: It means I'm called to build a church. I don't have all of the answers but what I do know is 3 yrs ago I was called to build a Church in Nashville. Why Nashville? Why Me? I don't know, but what I do know is that God has a plan and I am on board with whatever that is whether I know the meaning or not.


Q: Can you tell us about the team you have supporting this project, and making it come to life?

A: Its pretty hard for me to say that I have formed anything. I don't really know if you are talking about a team of people involved in the Core Group or if your talking about the groups and organizations that are and will be financially supporting us. The River Community Church is what we call our "mother church." They are big financial supporters of us as well as the leadership of our church is a intermediate eldership body for Forward Church. We are also becoming members of TBC and a group called the CPC which are both financial supporters. As far as the Core Group goes, I have spent the last year casting vision with one on ones and with different groups of people to form a small band of people roughly twenty who are in on the vision of Forward Church.

Q: Do you think building relationships will be a key to success of the church?

A: Yes I believe building relationships will be A key to building the Church but not THE key. JESUS IS THE KEY to building Forward Church. Jesus said, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not stand against them." So I am going to spend my time building people and let Jesus worry about building a Church.

Q: Who are your theological or ministerial heroes?

A: That is a tough question. There have been a lot of great men and women that have done great things.


Q: The name of the church is Forward Church correct? Was that inspired?

A: One Day, Patrick Mayberry walked out of my office and there was a sign across the hall that said, "Church Offices" and on it was a arrow (->) pointing to the right. Patrick walked over and placed is hand over "Offices" and said, "Dude, Forward Church would be a great name!" Real Spiritual, I know.


Q: You call this a movement of love can you explain why?

A: And now these three remain: faith hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. That is what Jesus tells us. Now the question is, what is love. Jesus tells us this is Love, that I have layed down my life for you, that you ought to lay your lives down for one another. It is pretty self explanatory, Jesus says love is laying down your life, laying down your dreams, laying down your wants; so that is what we are trying to start, a movement of love. Which means us laying down our lives.
to God.
to People.
to the City.
to the World.


Q: What does this vision mean for the people of Nashville?

A: I think Nashville has a rich history of great churches, great ministries, and organizations. I mean lets face it, Nashville has more churches per capital of people than any other city in America. We are excited to be able to partner with everything God is doing in the City. Our vision is simple, it is the same vision of every other church in the world. We are a band with one song. So as far as the people, my hope is that people would get on board with what God has called us to be.

Q: What does this vision mean to you on a personal level?

A: I don't understand the question. I will try to answer it the best I can.
Two years ago when I was walking in Hillsborro Village I felt the Lord say to me, "This is where you will plant a Church." For quite a long time I didn't understand why in Nashville. The more I learned about Nashville, about how 75% of the city is unchurched, about how 95% of the Churches of the city have platoed or declining, my heart broke for the City. So with that said, I am called to the city of Nashville. Until the Lord calls me else where, on a personal level, I will do whatever it takes outside of sinning to spread the Name of Jesus and to fan the flame that is already here in Nashville.

Q: How do you plan to spread the word of Forward Church?

A: Starting the first Sunday in October, we will start meeting in the upstairs of Bongo Java. we will be doing very little marketing at this point. We hope that in January 2010 we will start doing a once a month preview service, then launch full on grand opening on Easter morning. Starting in January we will be doing all kinds of marketing from crazy gorilla style marketing, to mail outs, and everything in between. Our hope is, everyone in West Side of Nashville will have heard about Forward Church. However, we are not under the allusion that fliers grow a church. The best way is by people inviting people, friends inviting friends. I will do my best to encourage the people that are already intended on bringing their friends.


Q: Is there any thing that has happen you never thought would since the start of this calling to place this church in Nashville?

A: Yes, people are showing up! This is not false humility. I have never planted a Church before, nor do I think of myself as very pastoral. I am pretty blown away every time we meet and people are there.

Thanks for the opportunity to share a little piece of my life.

A Wife's Review

Nine years ago this past June I married my high school sweetheart, my best friend, my rock, and my soul mate. A creative type, a fabulous father, a God fearing man, loving husband, and one of the most talent people I have ever known. A passionate songwriter which is one of the many reasons I fell deeply in love with him. I will save you from the millions of other mushie reasons that I love him. Lets get back to the song writing, and music making part of this incredible man. This year with the help of many friends, wonderful musicians, talented voices, a few incredible co-writers, and my very talented brother-in-law the first independent album Four Letter Word was released this year. Which in my humble opinion these songs are Stephen Garrett at his best. Four Letter Word is an album about real, raw, unpredictable love. He blends lyrics and melodies together into a sweet and sour romantic tango of love. His ability to magically weave many personal experiences and being a witness to lives into the lines of so many of his songs. Wearing his heart on his sleeve, and taking a chance on the public feeling, experiencing, and looking for love in much of the same way this album is screaming. All this to say that in my home, and in the deepest unbroken, unjaded pieces of my heart is where I hold my love for this man, this creator of art. Even in the struggles of living this musically lead dream, and the sacrifices that are made by my family as a whole, are so very worth it when I listen to this finished project,this Four Letter Word album all about love. No matter what our future holds I am proud to be the wife of this song writing fool, and I am proud to have a love that is just not breakable!!! So here is to being his Angel!!! And here is to everyone out there taking a look at someone you love, and being proud of the accomplishments,the struggles overcome, and the dreams being lived!!!!