My Family

We haven't been all together outside of weddings lately.

It was nice just to enjoy one another without an agenda or big event (we even snuck in a game of Trivial Pursuit).

I miss them already.

So much about our family changed in 2010...I'm looking forward to all that 2011 has in store.

Gift Recap

Here are some of my favorites gifts that were both given and received in my family this year:

I bought these stockings a long time ago and kept them a secret all the way until Christmas. Our family has never had such "fancy" stockings! I love the way they look all together on my mantle at home.

An assortment of fun gifts, but mostly I love the Harry Potter blu-ray set and the Scrabble flash game from Matt.

The new flat screen TV we surprised my parents with...definitely one of my favorite things this Christmas! They had no idea!

These sippy straw glasses that I gave to my brother-in-law. I still can't believe I didn't buy a pair to keep!

These moustache glasses Matt and I bought in New Orleans last week (more on that later).

And last, but certainly not least, the Kinect!! I can't wait to buy the new Michael Jackson dance game that will show its face in 2011.

So there you have it, a brief run down of all the fun and festivities in our home this Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

We had a very Merry (and white) Christmas!

We hope that you did too!

1 Year

It's officially been a year. How is that even possible?

So thankful for the past year and looking forward to many more to come!

We are headed out to celebrate at the end of this week. Can't wait to take a vacation together again. It's no Japan but we seem to be pretty good at finding adventure whenever we travel together. Love you boo!

Happy A-Day

Happy anniversary to one of the most creative, beautiful, thoughtful people in the world, Katie Gilbert. I love you so much, and can't wait to spend each day with you. I love you because of the way you say "hey!" when you come in the door, your face when you are waking up, and the way you spend around 4 minutes on average at the grocery store picking out flavored yogurt.

Thanks to all friends and family which continue to think about us, and care for us. Can't believe it was a year since we were all together in Atlanta.

To my wife: I love you. Also, does a blog post count as a 1st anniversary paper gift? Technically?

SEC Championship

It's true. Last Saturday Matt and I drove to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game between Auburn and South Carolina. I typically try to stay out of the Auburn/Alabama football debate that is ever-present here in the state of Alabama but for just one day, I chose a side. I cheered for Auburn. And it's a good thing I did because they played a great game and beat South Carolina by a long shot.

Although we were a long way up (see below) at the Georgia Dome, we enjoyed a good game and an Auburn victory!

Glendale, AZ here we come....I think I'll cheer for Auburn once again!

Anticipation

This Christmas I am experiencing a heightened sense of anticipation. Although some of it is surely due to the fact that Matt and I basically missed much of Advent last year because of our wedding and honeymoon, I am keenly aware that there are a number of other reasons that I am clinging to this word.

You see, it's been since JULY that I have seen my family (well I guess I got a sneak peek when Mary Beth came in for Samford's homecoming, but that was only 1 night). This is the longest that we have ever gone without seeing one another, without hugging, laughing, or looking one another in the eyes (well there is Skype....). I am experiencing anticipation in a new way, a way that is different than the childhood anticipation of Santa and gifts. It is anticipation of the celebration of life, of health, of a loving family, and faith.

The book we are studying this Advent (Simply Wait) season defines holy anticipation as "that breathtaking space in between what has been, what is, and what is to come." I feel like I am living grounded in just such holy anticipation. May you too feel a bit of this breathtaking space.