Joyful Mama: "Lymlight Adventures": Nashville

Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) and Lyme Disease robbed ten years of my life. In 2019, I was determined to take my life back and try new things despite my physical impairments. Since then, we have embarked on various adventures and trips that inspired my latest "Lymelight Adventures" series.

Last August, our family packed our bags and took a family trip to Nashville, Tennessee for the 2022 Huge Convention. We traveled by Delta who offered outstanding accommodations for my mobility challenges. Our teenage son has also suffered from chronic fatigue, pain, and headaches from Lyme Disease. He is what we call a "spoon" child in which he only has so much energy on reserve while the debilitating pain and weakness comes and goes. We never know what to expect when we are traveling, so we are prepared for any situation. Thankfully, our son felt great for this trip and truly enjoyed himself. We rented a town house with a balcony that had a gorgeous view of the cityscape, which both of our sons absolutely loved! Here are a few highlights of our trip to Nashville.

Country Music Hall of Fame and Johnny Cash Museum

Nashville is the country music capital, rich in music and culture. A trip to the city wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame! On the first morning of the trip, my husband and I toured the Hall of Fame, enjoying the museum artifacts and learning more about various country music legends. Country music was a significant part of our family backgrounds, which made it an enjoyable tourism attraction. We also visited the Johnny Cash Museum and learned more about Cash's music career and faith!

Nashville Zoo

The Nashville Zoo was our family favorite tourist attraction! Gorgeous waterfalls, lush greenery, and bamboo trees made for a breathtaking landscape at the zoo. We couldn't get enough of the spectacular wildlife and scenery, and we took hundreds of photos. At the Nashville Zoo, I was inspired to take more wildlife photographs and started posting daily pictures of nature and wildlife on social media.

Amazing Food

Nashville is also known for its delicious food and restaurants. As a Food Network fanatic, I couldn't wait to check out a few popular sights! We stopped to visit the Chauhan Ale and Masala House, a quaint little pub that serves Indian cuisine. Food Network Chef and Tournament of Champions winner, Maneet Chauhan, owns and operates the Masala House. The ambiance was unique and unpretentious with exposed brick and projections of dancers reflecting on the walls of the establishment for an unexpected experience!

By the request of our youngest son, we also visited Arnold's Country Kitchen, famous for their roast beef, turnip greens, and gooey macaroni and cheese dishes! The atmosphere at Arnold's had a backyard barbeque flare with cafeteria-styled dining and a rustic charm similar to a Famous Dave's. They had a DJ on site who livened up the evening with trivia contests and entertainment. Don't let the relaxed environment fool you because the steaks were outstanding! It was no surprise that this establishment was a Guy Fieri favorite!

Huge Convention Highlights

My husband and I selected Nashville for our 2022 family vacation so that we could attend the annual Huge Convention at the stunning Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. As business owners, we enjoy meeting other entrepreneurs to encourage and uplift each other in growing our companies and discovering the latest trends in business and technology. This year was no exception! Aside from networking and learning more about our trade, we enjoyed the inspirational guest speakers the most. We had the opportunity to meet Keni Thomas, former Army Ranger, country music singer, and author who was featured in the film, Black Hawk Down. He especially inspired my husband, who was a MPI and served as a paratrooper for Operation Desert Storm. The amazing speakers made the Huge Convention unforgettable!

"Lymelight" Adventures

Our trip to Nashville was like balm for our family spirit as we enjoyed all the beauty of the city and its spectacular zoo as well as being galvanized by the annual Huge Convention. Now, our family has entered 2023, ready to embark the next adventure. It has been a very tumultuous thirteen years, and I confess that this "Lymelight" warrior is exhausted from all the sickness, excitement, heartache, and mixed blessings. Life is hard and the times are scary, but God is bigger, and we will be strong and courageous with each escapade before us!

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." --Joshua 1:9

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