Nashville & Toby

 Last week was our big adventure to Nashville.  Kevin and I ran the Rock & Roll half marathon in Nashville & have been training for it during this past tax season.  We have also been fundraising with TeamToby to raise money for New Hope Academy in Franklin, TN.  All the money we (and about 80 other people) raised went directly into their scholarship fund.  On Friday before the race, Kevin & I had the chance to go visit New Hope Academy and tour the school.  It was amazing.  We were able to sit in during their school-wide devotion time, join them in worship, and learn more about the school.  Thank you all so much for giving to this wonderful school!  Take a moment to learn more about the school here.  You will be inspired.

After Kevin & I finished our tour of the school we picked up the boys and Grandma Trudy, and headed to the TeamToby pasta party.  All the other Team members and their families were there.  The food was great, decor was fun, and it was a blast to hang out with other team members, and the DiverCity band.

 Toby and his wife, Amanda, starting the evening off...  Think at this point they were talking about the "swag" bags that Toby put together. (Just for the record, Toby's bag is the nicest stuff we have ever received.)

 Then we ate, and mingled.  Above in the red shirt is Tim (guitarist), and Dave (keyboard) in the blue shirt.  Below is a favorite pic of the boys.  They are with Brian (drums).

 And this is a favorite of mine.  This is Nirva.  She has an amazing voice....

 And finally meeting Toby!

 Pretty cool??

 After dinner we headed to the Franklin Theater for a show by Toby & DiverCity.  Our seats were fantastic!!

 Then after the show Kevin & I picked up our bagged breakfast for the next morning.  The students at New Hope Academy helped put them together for each runner (banana, sliced bagel, single serve peanut butter, and a knife) and decorated each bag....  how awesome is that?!

 And here are some of the goodies put together by Toby.... Kieran has already claimed the luggage tag off my backpack, and Kevin & I could live in the hoodie sweatshirts.

After getting up at 4 A.M. on race day, waiting in the start corrals for an hour in the pouring rain, running 13.1 miles in the continual downpour, we had a post-race party with TeamToby in the Stadium Club at LP Field (home of the Tennessee Titans).  Thank goodness that was out of the rain!  Toby, his entire family, the band, members of the school were all there to cheer each runner that came in (and then ushered us to the bathrooms to change out of our dripping clothes).  The run was mentally the toughest I've ever run, due to the rain.  But Kevin and I would do it all again to be a part of something that is changing lives of kids, their families, and their communities.

We were blessed.