The Grand Finale Weekend

It was bittersweet to return to Nashville for a hockey weekend, so I was determined to make it a fun farewell for my twins. We drove all day Thursday, and Captain stayed here with his father who is in the hospital. We woke early on Friday for 7:10 a.m. mass at Father Ryan High School with Quinn, Caleb, and Aaron. Then we ate breakfast at a 1940s diner near Vanderbilt with Jimmy. Such an intimate setting for close friends to put their heads and hearts together and see where God is leading everyone. The Holy Spirit is definitely at work and consoling my sons along the way with Godly friends who will last a lifetime eternity.
We started our tourist adventure downtown:
1. Viewed the Civil Rights photo exhibit inside the beautiful Library

2. Took self-guided tour of State Capitol
(only 33 senators and 99 representatives who were not in session today).
3. Stayed the longest at the Frist Art Museum. Wonderful exhibit of European impressionists paired with nearly-identical Japanese works from same time period.

We were delighted to see three Mary Cassatts, four Monets, a Van Gogh, Degas, Lautrec, Renoir, and even a Munch (not The Scream, of course). We learned a bit about the war in Baghdad from an artist's perspective...

and the war in Spain against Napoleon in 1808....

4. Went to Centennial Park to see a full-scale replica of the Parthenon (complete with Athena statue inside)...

 and Parthenon Doors.

5. Stopped at Centennial Ice Rink to see if the Nashville Predators were practicing... but they weren't.
6. Drove by the Cathedral and Union Station and Carnton Plantation... too many sites for one day.