Saturday Surprises

Bryan and I have a lot in common. We love the outdoors, good wine, good music, and the company of the people we love most. However, there is something I religiously watch or record on the Moxi box that he puts up with only because he loves me -

He absolutely loathes this show.

If you know me at all, you know that one of my regrets is never auditioning for the show. I'm not fantastically awesome, but I have a pretty good set of pipes. I'd be interested to see what Simon has to say about me. :-) Alas, I'm now too old.

I have always admired the contestants who make it onto the show and use their time to give glory to God. I love to hear their testimonies and see how HE has changed them.

While I was blog-hopping this afternoon (read: avoiding the gym), I came across a video of Jason Castro. Somehow, I missed the boat on this guy. He's got a new fan in me today...

Tagged!

Sherry, Abby, Nikki and Michelle

This picture is from my 26th birthday at Piedmont Park. Screen on the Green was showing my favorite movie ever - Breakfast at Tiffany's. SotG is one of our favorite summer traditions, and this picture makes me even more ready for summer vacation. I look a little, um, "disheveled" and I clearly remember prancing across the street back to the car. :-)

I thought that "The Texter" took this picture, but (gasp) I see him in the background. I can't remember who else came with us!

Ok, here are the rules:

1. Go to your 4th photo album.
2. Post the 4th picture.
3. Give a little "photo history" for all to read.

I'm tagging - Kari, Nicole and Chris. Get busy!

Whew!

I have worked 4 nights out of the last 5.
I am a babysitting machine.
I am sleeping in tomorrow until I just can't stand it anymore.

And then I get to do it all over again.

Someone remind me that June 5, 2009 will make all of this worth it. :-)

Yesterday

I watched 17 not-so-little heads bow as Rick Warren spoke the invocation.

I smiled at those same seventeen faces when they asked me to hold their hands as President Obama began to speak.

I was amazed at how quiet they were when Obama spoke... and remembered how quiet they are not when I am trying to teach sometimes. :-)

I refused to believe that this excitement could be linked to something evil - some right-wing fear-induced "sin" of my country. A country I am proud to live in. A country that chose change. Change that begins today.

I Resolve...

To try and blog at least once a week this year. :-) I said try. I started this post on 01/02/09, and you see how long it's taken me to finish it!! :-) Here's a few pics to get you caught up on Winter Break 2008-2009!

Our "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree...

Complete with a Charlie!

(Yes K, that monstrous beast is still here!)

I drove to Thomaston, GA to spend time with my "other" family - the Matsons. Mark was my youth minister in high school and he and his wife Angela "adopted" me into their family. There are three other "kids" like me - Allison, Louis and Jenn - and (minus Allie and her hubby) all of us got together to sing at Mark's church and spend time together for the holidays. Sadly, I didn't get many pictures while I was there... life as a Matson is never dull! :-) However, I did get my new favorite picture:

With my baby sister Grace!
Mark and Angela adopted Grace a couple of years ago, and she is the best thing ever!

I also spent my first Christmas with Bryan's family this year - it was also my first holiday away from my own family in almost 30 years. It was wonderful experience, and I am even more excited about becoming a Spann in a few months' time.

We headed to Hazlehurst, GA (Bryan's hometown) on Christmas Eve to spend time with Bryan's parents and grandparents - Nanny and Pa. On Christmas morning, we woke up and spent the day munching on sausage rolls, drinking coffee, opening gifts and watching a John Wayne marathon. (Daddy, you would be proud! I actually enjoyed the JW movies!)

After lunch I got back in the car drove back to Marietta where I met the newlyweds, Jennie and Chris. Bryan had to work the next day, so he stayed at Nanny and Pa's to enjoy some extra family time. The Newlyweds and I made our way to Weaver-Vegas to spend a few days with the Boone family.

This is the result of our annual game of Dirty Santa:

Dad with his Benjamin Franklin "bling-bling."

Boone children...

Being Boone children!

We also drove to Greensboro while we were home to spend time with Mama's family and celebrate Aunt Sherry and Uncle Nash's 50th birthdays. It was so nice to be around cousins I don't get to see very often, and spend time just hanging out together.

Boone girls with Daddy Tom and Mama Carol

Birthday Boy and Girl: Uncle Nash and Aunt Sherry

Mama and her birthday brother

Shook siblings (L to R)
Tommy, Mama, Tia (Louise), Betty, Nash, Norma
Mama Carol and Daddy Tom
You have no idea how rare this happens! :-)

Boone girls with Uncle Nash

Eventually, I had to come home. :-) Here are a few more pictures from the last week of Winter Break...

NYE @ Atkins Park with friends

We did get to spend a night with Bryan's cousins, Jerry and Angie who were in town from Denver, CO for the holidays. It was a special treat for all of us. Jerry and Angie moved from Marietta to Denver a couple of years ago, and we miss spending time with them. Bryan and Jerry were actually born only a few days apart, and grew up a lot of more like brothers than cousins.

Angie and Abby

Bryan and Jerry

I hope this gets me back on the right blogging "foot." I promise I'll try to be better!