Close, but far far away.

I've been thinking a lot lately about what is going to happen in just a few months. I will finally be a college graduate (amen), I will be moving back to a familiar place, and yet I will be leaving a place I have grown to love. It's hard to explain to people the feeling of being excited to move home, but at the same time wishing that I could stay. I know that I am going to miss Nashville. The city, the music, the people, and possibly even the weather. Strange to think that I knew nothing of this bustling, guitar strumming, honky-tonk singing city just a couple of years ago.
My expectations were so severely wrong. But amazing! Eye-opening, reality-checking, but most of all this experience has forced me to grow up in the most beautiful way possible.

I have to say there are so many things that I wish I never forget. I will list them below, to eliminate the difficulty of writing a paragraph that would be confusing.
Here they are, in an order that is all equally important. Thank you, Nashville for:

1. participating in a growing, life-long friendship with the most joyful, loving girl I know
2. giving me new friends who have given me so many great memories, and photos to cherish
3. inspiring me
4. telling me i'm not good enough (strange, I know, but this has been something that has solidified my courage and determination through music. it seems backwards but maybe i'm just crazy.)
5. showing me how to teach, adapt, and listen to children
6. all of the great places to eat. fried chicken, fried cookie dough, fried fish....it will never be the same without you.
but most of all, Nashville has given me the whole-hearted belief that the growing of love is stronger than the tearing of distance. (that's number 7)

Now it's time to grade essays and write lesson plans. I'm not even a teacher yet!
-Rachel

So, again, it's been a while. Today is Saturday and that means catching up on homework so I'm not completely overwhelmed next week. This semester will definitely be the hardest i've had in college yet. I have 20 units, and 6 practicums, 4 of which include 10 hour microteaching experiences. AAH! But on a more exciting note, this means I will be graduating in May! YAY!

I've been using these last months in Nashville to to all of the touristy things that Jessica and I can think of. A couple of weeks ago we visited the historical town of Franklin Tennessee. It was really cute, and it looked just like Paso! :) We saw The Carter House, which Jess and I thought was owned by President Carter at one point, but instead it was owned by a soldier in the civil war. An epic battle too place at this man's house and you can still see some bullets lodged in the brick barn.

We also have had a few snow days this winter. It has been very very cold, but when the snow falls it's bearable, due to the entertainment it provides.

Last Wednesday Jess and I celebrated her birthday by going to a John Mayer concert. It was filled with spectacular light shows and squealing guitar solo's, and also a heartfelt apology for his recent behavior in an awful interview. His tears told the story of a troubled pop star who struggles with going too far to be entertaining. Sad. But an enjoyable show nonetheless.

Now my life is filled with watching my friends and roomates go off to spend time with their significant others in this season of chocolate and hearts. I don't blame them, I would be too. I just wish I could do the same. I miss Randy, and I miss my friends and family back home. You all mean so much to me and I can't wait to be home to do the things that I love to do.

-Rachy




Jessica and I waiting for the concert to start


"Gravity"




Hockey Stadium transformed into a concert venue.

Downtown in the winter time
A snowy walking bridge


My buried car

The Carter House


Makeshift Sleds
the Parthenon in January
Can