Pumpkins and Praise!

What a weekend-- we started with pumpkins and ended with praise!

On Saturday, we took the kiddos for their first pumpkin patch experience at Gentry Farm out in Franklin. Scott actually had Mr. Gentry as a teacher and coach at Brentwood Academy. He spent many winter breaks working on the farm in high school. We ran into Mr. Gentry and they had a chance to catch up which was nice. The farm is beautiful and we had the perfect fall day!

The kids had a great time-- although Scott and Luke got separated from us and got lost in the corn maze!

Our sweet little pumpkins reluctantly pause from play for a photo op for Mommy! It is SO hard to believe how fast they are both growing! Next year Caroline will be running through the pumpkin patch trying to keep up with Luke!

As the day wound down-- and naptime approached, the photo ops became harder to come by! But, a fun time was had by all!

On Sunday, ZOE was privileged to participate in A Light for the City. We joined the Nashville Chorus, Greater Nashville Community Gospel Choir, and others in a night of worship and praise in the new Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Other featured artists included Marty Goetz, Ashley Cleveland, Buddy Greene, and Mandisa of American Idol fame.

Not only did we sing with the 400 plus choir, but we were also asked to perform "How Great is Our God" as well as to sing the lead part on an arrangement of "As the Deer" with the entire chorus. Words can't describe the experience! The music was so powerful and genuinely beautiful-- Scott said that during the first few opening numbers he thought he was in heaven!

Some of the best highlights:

• The GNCG choir singing "They Didn't Know"-- an incredible piece about Jesus and his sacrifice for us. They received a standing ovation, and I think we were all moved to tears.
• The entire chorus singing "How Great Thou Art"-- it was wonderful to see the sold out house singing along with all of us! It felt like the roof was going to come off!
• Buddy Greene on the harmonica-- accompanied by an accordion. Amazing!
• The prayer before the start of the show led by the director of the GNCG choir, Sam Robinson. He reminded us of what an opportunity we had to "christen" the new symphony hall with God's Spirit. He also remarked how neither "Prima" or "Donna" showed up for the show, but that we were all working together to touch the community.
• Mandisa leading us in "Shackles"! We were all dancing-- as best we could! :)
• The last song-- "Total Praise" and the "amens" at the end-- that was one of the ALL time best singing experiences of my life! The passion of director Sam Robinson was beyond anything I had ever seen! The music went straight through to the core and the entire room was in the Spirit!

ZOE has been so blessed to participate in community activities here in Music City. Next month it is the Ryman! Yeah, God!

You can see more ZOE photos from last night and a post about the conference on the ZOE blog site.