Crazy busy month!

Hi sweet friends! I can't believe it has almost been a month since I last posted! It has been a very busy month, so I guess I can use that as an excuse ;-) Still, those are the times when it is most enriching to share what all has happened. I will try to do better with my posting during the Christmas season- my favorite time of year!

Dan and Ashley's Wedding

Ashley and Dan are married :-)! The whole weekend was filled with fun and sweet memories and really went so smoothly. The ceremony was held under a beautiful tree in the meadow at the Houstonian with candlelight all around. It was sooo romantic. There was not a dry eye there as Ashley walked down the path to meet Dan and be given away by her parents. Below are a couple of the photos taken by the photographer.

I was so happy to get to participate in the fun events and to see Ashley experience these days that will be a part of her story and her joy now. Weddings are wonderful!


Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was so special this year! Greg and I hosted both families and really enjoyed getting to be at home for this holiday and serve everyone. We pulled out the china and the pretty table cloth for my family (Mom, David, and Lauren came.) It was a FEAST! We have many food restrictions between us, so we had many dishes available in order to fill each person's plate with a decent helping of food. There is just something so enjoyable about being with family and having a place to really catch up. It's good to have phones now that help people stay in touch, but it just is so much better to talk in person (and over a good meal :-) ).

Greg's Mom, Dad, and sister, Kristy, came the next couple days and we had a low key fun lunch with them at C&J's BBQ on Saturday. C&J's has become the favorite and the craving for this side of the family. C&J's is where we had our rehearsal dinner when we got married, and it was fun to be in the particular location for Thanksgiving where we celebrated that night.

I did not post a thankful list during Thanksgiving. Now would be a great time :-)
* I am thankful for a God who is real, present and relevant to everything I encounter in my life, and who loves me and the world deeply. I am thankful for Christ's birth, His death, and for His eternal existence and reign.

*I am thankful for a husband who is full of love, who is passionate about his family and his work, and who makes me laugh and feel safe. I am thankful for all the memories we share and for how we grow together.
*I am thankful for a family that lets me in to their lives and that teaches, inspires, and supports. *I am thankful for a good job that has many fun days and many wonderful people to work with. I am thankful for my boss and his generosity.
*I am thankful for friends that I get to share life with. Friendships are this beautiful breath of fresh air in a life that could otherwise become very predictable. I am always amazed at my friends' capacity to love, encourage, accept, and challenge me.
*I am thankful for God's provision is Greg's dissertation work and job search. He completed (amazingly!!) 102 interviews in 3 months time and has had his own interviews for a job next year. Though we don't see these two big hurdles completed yet, we are confident that the Lord is at work in these areas and will bring these to completion in His timing.
*I am thankful for Buddy. He is SO fun! And such a stroke to the ole ego when he cuddles up next to me and jumps and does circles when I get home.

2nd Annual Flag Football Game
Ok no one told me how SORE you can get playing flag football!! I hardly panted and definitely did not break a sweat, yet I somehow pulled and yanked every muscle in my body! It was so bad that when I was driving on Monday, there were times when it hurt just to swing my foot from the accelerator to the brake. Next year I suggest a soccer match :-) Seriously, though, I had fun playin with the guys and with Mel and Anna. I got a sack(!!) when I rushed the quarterback and pulled the flag off. Plus I got a cool t-shirt out of the deal.