Nashville Trip: visiting the Sisters

When Jason got asked to help with the Glory conference, we were really excited to get to Nashville.  Nashville has so many awesome things to see, two of which are the Dominican Sisters and our dear friends the Havens.  When we told Margaret Mary that we were going to see more Sisters and get to see where they lived, she was ecstatic. I mean screaming and jumping up and down.  When we pulled up to the Sister's place and the big gates swung open wide, MM was screaming, sticking her fingers in her mouth and was just pain giddy.  We got out with our friends and they ran to the Chapel where the Sisters were beginning evening prayer...

Did I mention MM insisted on wearing her Nun outfit?  She kept on saying "They are going to be so excited to see me!," and I couldn't help but reflect on her sweet statement.  These sisters are holy and they always rejoice when they see children; I love that my daughter can recognize and feel their love towards her. 

We knocked on the door and a sister led us to the chapel...

don't you love how MM is squatting just like the sister? 

My picture does not do the church, or the sisters justice.  To walk into a beautiful church and to see habits everywhere sitting in contemplative prayer...it takes your breath away. I almost felt as though I was being scandalous trying to capture such beauty.

Margaret Mary was so happy to see the sisters pray like in the St. Therese movie.  At one point while they are praying evening prayer, both sides turn to face eachother and sing "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen"   MM joined along with them. :)  The movie about St. Therese has been very influential on my little girl.  She kept on saying she wanted to do a chore (like St. Therese did) with the sisters.  We told her we would ask them.  When a sister handed her a rag to dust a display case, my daughter was overjoyed.

Here the sisters are showing the girls the courtyard. 

MM doing her beloved chore. 

We then headed outside to a real treat.  It was free time for the Sisters and they were everywhere: playing cards, talking together, swinging together, etc.  For the girls it was like a "Where's Waldo" game. "I see one!," they would yell and then run with each other laughing over to say hi and talk to them.

These Sisters were singing songs to Mary during their free time.  When the girls ran up to them, they let them hold their song books and and they all sang together.   Behind Mary is a cemetery where the Sisters are buried when they die.

Peter loved this Sister.  He was a little stand offish at first but kept on reaching out for her hand.  When she finally held him, he was content and happy. 

It was probably one the best days of MM's life.  When it was time to leave, the tears started.  Once in the car, she calmed down and asked with a dreamy smile, "Are all Sisters beautiful?" I had to nod yes; if you guys could only see the beauty the radiates from these ladies faces...

More on the Nashville trip to come!