east meets south

This past Saturday, I attended one of the many local events going on around town this month. Nashville's Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival highlights Japanese culture, as well as an initiative to plant 100 cherry trees across Nashville's parks, public areas and neighborhoods each year over a 10 year span.  

I participated in the 2.5 mile festival-kick-off walk, listened to the drumming of the Houston-based Kaminari Taiko ensemble, cheered on local martial arts demonstrators, perused vendor booths and enjoyed seeing festival participants adorned in traditional Japanese attire juxtaposed with those sporting modern Japanime costumes.

It was a wonderful morning joining in on the sixth annual celebration of Nashville's Cherry Blossom Festival and who knows...maybe next year I will sport a harajuku costume!

april showers bring may flowers

April is a busy time.  The movement can be felt everywhere.  That is what spring is: movement.  You can see the trees beginning to bud.  Flowers start to open.  More folks are out walking, biking and jogging.  Everyone and everything is waking up from a nice winter's nap.

The Lunchbox Buddies are excited to shake off the slothfulness of winter and participate in the many city-wide community events that Nashville is offering during this month of seasonal transition.  A neighborhood-specific community event that has marked my last three Aprils is the kickoff of our Funny Hill garden.

We've worked to turn the soil and repair some of the bed structures.  Naturally things decay or get overrun when they are left to their own devices for seasons of rest.  But that is the cycle, to rest and then to work. I like that my body and spirit respond to the activity, to the work, with gratitude.

As we enter this busy season of activity, be constructive with your time .  Put energy into trying new things, getting outside to explore, to read new books and think new ideas.  Go ahead and savor the movement and anticipate the enjoyment you will have in reaping your figurative or literal harvest. 

spring fever

This month has been dubbed AWESOME APRIL by VisitMusicCity.Com, and, when you take a look at the comprehensive list of events taking place, it is easy to see why. With categories ranging from musical happenings to sporting events, Nashville is bound to have a little something for everyone over the next few weeks.

Sarah and I have 12 years of Nash Vegas living between us, and we have been blessed to enjoy many of the sights and sounds of this great city. Both as The Lunchbox Buddies and as individuals, we have have had great experiences and would highly recommend many of these Awesome April events to you, including: Ryman Auditorium, Record Store Day, Nashville Sounds, Cheekwood Botanical Gardens, and the Nashville Predators.

With the blue skies and sunshine of springtime upon us, there's no excuse for not taking advantage of some of these great opportunities.

Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival is one option for how to spend your day on Saturday the 12th. The festival's website says describes it as "a celebration of spring and friendship between Japan and America occasioned by the blossoming cherry trees," and explains that the goal is to place 1,000 cherry trees throughout Nashville over the next 10 years! This day long event will include demonstrations, foods, and crafts for individuals and families to enjoy.

The Seventh Annual Iron Fork is being held Wednesday, April 16th.  This tasty event helps raise funds for Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.  Attendees get to sample cocktails and cuisine from over 20 of Nashville's best restaurants.

For our fellow 90's lovers, Weezer, Goo Goo Dolls, and Rob Thomas will all be performing in Nashville during the month of April! Bust out the light wash jeans and your flannel button ups, they're playing our jams!

So whether you are looking to celebrate your love of horror movies, fashion, running, wrestling...whatever! Check out this month's AWESOME APRIL events and get doing.

the open road

The warm(ish) winds and sunny skies of springtime were practically begging me to go on a road trip. So the opportunity to join my co-worker and friend, Kelsey, on a multi-state journey to celebrate the wedding of another co-worker and friend was not something I could pass up. 

We dubbed our mileage and minutes #boldadventures, a theme inspired by the fortune pictured above from my meal the day before we left town. We shared many laughs (particularly my rendition of Hanson's 'Mmmbop'), tender moments, and new experiences along the way.

While we observed many interesting sights from our car windows, the final destination of our journey was Oklamhoma. Our site-seeing included the National Weather Center (I am a bit of a radar geek), Oklahoma University, and the Oklahoma City National Memorial. It was a striking visual representation of the  instanteous change which took place at 9:02 am that fateful April morning in 1995. 

The obvious highlight of the trip was the blessed union of our dear Betsy and Scott. It was such a treat to celebrate their love with friends and family, rejoicing in the special gift God has giving us through the practice of marriage. A favorite moment of mine was when guests had the opportunity to lay hands on the couple in prayer, commissioning them onward in the quest of Kingdom loving and living. 

The people, the scenery, and the memories of the open road are what makes a trip successful. And this journey was a reminder to me that sometimes you just need to get away, out of your comfort zone, and do something different. Springtime is a season of new life, fresh opportunity, and bold adventures. Embrace it! 

spring has sprung

the west is best

An abbreviated photo journal from a recent trip westward to visit my brother Michael.

1. Dave and I skiing in Vail.  

A BIG thanks to sweet Sunny for the passes!!  And to Emily for the ski gear...

def helped me look somewhat ligit.

2. Sunday brunch with the siblings and Uncle John and Aunt Patty at Mercury Cafe.  

Such a hip spot.  We loved the sweet and savory options, as well as the live jazz improv pianist.

3. Michael and Dave at the farm.  

We fed some pigs, visited with the horses, checked out the bees and fish and watched the elementary school field trip kids learn about worms.

4.  Eating wild game at The Buckhorn Exchange, Denver's original steakhouse. 

Where else can you get elk, duck, yak, buffalo and more?!

Not pictured:

Sherpa House in Golden, CO.  Hands down best Chai...possibly ever!?

Spot bike test drive

Downtown Denver, 16th Street Mall, Museum of Art, Legacy Table at the Public Library

Maya Exhibit at Nature and Science Museum

Zoo

Beignets for brunch at Lucile's 

And so, so, SO much more!

penitent & contrite hearts

Today ushers in a special season in the church calendar, Lent. For many, regardless of affiliation or denomination, it is the annual opportunity taken to focus our hearts, submit ourselves more fully to God's calling, and to deny ourselves things that could pose a hindrance to our self-examination and repentance. As you consider the urging of the Holy Spirit, take a moment, an hour, a day, or a weekend, to separate yourself from the mumblings of the world. Turn you eyes and hearts to readings (such as the excerpt below from The Book of Common Prayer), prayers, music, and/or nature. Listen closely for the whispers of truth that will come your way, and prepare your soul for the transformative power of reflection and silence. 

'Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily

lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. '

The Book of Common Prayer