This is a very old building along the Stones River greenway near the trailhead at the Hermitage YMCA. It was part of the Clover Bottom farm, but I'm not sure what its purpose was. It's a fascinating building and I wish I knew about its history. I took Madison there yesterday because I thought she'd enjoy exploring it as much as I did the first time I discovered it. Plus I thought it would be a cool place to snap a picture of her.

What you can't see from this picture is that the entire building is imploding. You can't explore too much inside as it's truly collapsing. There is a sturdy staircase to the second floor which is 80% collapsed into the first floor. We took the stairs up, but didn't leave the top step. While up there you can see an elevator of sorts. It's completely open, but was used for taking something from one level to the other in its day.

I've done a little bit of research online to see if I could find anything regarding the Clover Bottom Farm that would reveal what this building's purpose was, but didn't find anything as of yet. I may have to visit the library to see if there's any books on Nashville history that would include such information. I'd love to see a picture of the farm when it was operable.

I Am Officially a Greenway Geek!

Recently Derek and I have found ourselves enjoying regular walks along the Stones River Greenway. If you do the entire trek it's about six miles roundtrip. Yesterday on the way to church we discussed doing the full six miles later in the afternoon. At about 3:30 on our way home after visiting with friends (Kris & Mary Jo) we saw a digital thermometer on a billboard and it was registering 100 degrees. YIKES!!! Six miles in 100 degree weather? Derek suggested cold water bottles to take with us. I did not like this idea as I did not want to carry the water bottle. Then he was quickly reminded of the $20 hydration packs we saw the night before at the Bass Pro Shops. That sounded like an awesome idea. We ventured out to Bass Pro Shops and purchased matching hydration packs. Neither of us is fond of doing the matching thing, but the options in the $20 hydration packs were red/grey or blue/grey. I wanted the red/grey one because I like red and I don't typically like blue. He wanted the red/grey one as those are Ohio State colors and he couldn't possibly buy the blue one because blue is Michigan's color. So, now, we have matching hydration packs. Aside from them matching, they really were great to have on the greenway. We completed all six miles yesterday and the hands free water was such a treat to have along the way. Our packs hold 1 1/2 liters of water each. They say you should have one liter of water per hour of exercise. I drank my entire 1 1/2 liters before mile 4. I have a water drinking addiction :) Then I shared Derek's water with him for the last two miles. I can see that I'm going to have to buy one of these fun toys for Madison too. She would enjoy it as much as we do.

After three gruelling weeks, Madison is back home :)

Each summer her dad gets three consecutive weeks with her. In summers past, he'd allow me to come get her and spend the day at the pool with her, or take her shopping, or whatever. This year, in light of his latest plots against me, he denied me all access to her during the past three weeks. I'd go to her gymnastics twice a week and see her there, but aside from watching her do her sport through the glass window (that separates the lobby from the gym) and the momentary affection I was allowed before or after class, I was not allowed to have any time with my daughter. Needless to say, it's been a very long three weeks.

Yesterday was a great day! We didn't do anything extraordinary as it was still just a week day. We did what we would do any other normal weekday. We went to the school field behind our house with a bat and ball so Madison could hit some balls, we rode her bicycle around the school parking lot, and we went to her favorite Chinese buffet for dinner.

We both had a hard time falling asleep because we were so excited to be reunited again. Madison couldn't stop talking and moving and expressing how much she missed me and how happy she was to be back home. At one point she broke out in song while we were laying in bed. This is how her song went . . .

I'm in my house right now
Thank you Jesus right now
Praise the Lord right now
I'm with ya my sistah right now

Then we both broke out giggling at her creativity, and silliness.

Madison and I have a bond that the enemy will never penetrate. Try as he might (through Paul or any other means) he will not succeed at his attempts.

I'm an unfit mother who makes dangerous decisions concerning my daughter.

Never in my life did I think those words would be uttered about me. Yet, less than 48 hours ago I was served with papers making that very statement. That statement goes against everything I stand for, everything I strive to provide for my daughter, and everything anyone has ever known about me. Somehow, my ex-husband was able to convince someone that there was validity to his statement, because those words will now forever reside in a public record about me.

Now, I have to go to court and try to convince a judge that the words of my ex-husband are nothing more than bitter jealousy from a scorned man who has yet to accept that he screwed up and lost his family. I have to go and defend my character. . . the character that has been respected by so many for so long. . . the character that has never (until this point) been questioned by anyone. . . the strong character that I take great pride in.

I have to go convince a judge that my daughter doesn't belong anywhere other than where she already is. I have to convince a judge that my daughter's father is not the parent best suited to care for her. I have to prove myself to a judge who does not know me or my daughter.

Please pray that the judge is discerning and that God is mighty on July 11th.