little Matt Miller is all grown up

On October 15, 2010, Matt Miller married the lovely Lindsay Pabst in Blowing Rock, NC. Not only were the leaves perfect and all wedding festivities gorgeous, but we also had a lovely weekend with the Lutes family. Those of you who know Matt realize that a marriage has been a long-time coming and we can not be more thrilled for our dear friend.

During the ceremony, the minister reminded Lindsay and Matt that the biggest blessing and challenge of marriage is the reality that you are never again aware of/responsible for just yourself anymore. Your partner is just that - a partner. A partner that necessitates consideration and love - even when it's the hardest gift to give.


Because the wedding was on Friday, we had the gift of a "free Saturday" in the mountains. Lutes took us to the Cone estate and we had a lovely hike together. David and David even had a "hills are alive" moment. Ok, I asked them to do it for the sake of snapping the photo, but still.

Enjoy the photos by clicking on the album cover above...

Coming Home

Three weeks ago, we ventured back to Wake Forest Homecoming for David's 10th reunion. And, while the campus has changed and grown, the feeling of those college years remain. It's a strange combination of freedom, safety, and naivete. The idea that home comes in many forms is a comforting thought for me these days and I am struck again at the blessing of spending our college years in such a cozy, and admittedly idyllic, home.

I am also so grateful for the friends (and their kids!) we caught a glimpse of as well. Especially sweet was meeting Colin and Ann Ross' new baby, miss Mary.

I didn't get great photos, but I wanted to post a few for posterity's sake ...


David's freshman year composite picture...


a lovely afternoon at the Griggs home


back at the frat house


another loss for the Deacons ... wah wah

Two

Our youngest niece, miss Ivy, turned two last week. As the whole parenthood reality gets closer, I am more struck than ever by how fast time passes.

Enjoy these precious pictures from Mommy Liz ...

2 to the 5

Last Friday, baby brother Robert turned 25 years old. Oh, how time flies ... and how my love for that kid has only grown. Here's Rob at his bday party at adult day camp. Happy birthday, Tino!

Levity

Isn't it funny how life throws in moments that can only be interpreted as opportunities for levity - lightness of mind and spirit. Yesterday was our chance to choose lightness, I suppose.

As I turned on the shower last night at 9:00 to end a lovely day off from work, both our toilets and showers started spewing up water. After valiant attempts at plungering, we called the emergency plumber - who arrived at 11:00 and left at 2:00 a.m. In the mean time, my 3 1/2 month pregnant self needed to pee ... so into several SOLO cups I went and then out to our bushes I dumped. At 11:30, I started dry-heaving b/c I was so tired so I left David and the plumber to fend for themselves.

As I was drifting off to sleep, I was struck by my reaction to this unexpected twist in the evening: annoyed initially, but completely resigned in the end - it was what it was, as they say. In contrast to David, contentment in the midst of chaos is not something I typically do well. Apparently it takes a plumbing emergency to remind me how levity is oh so good for my soul.

For those of you who are wondering...the blocking culprit in the end was a root that has grown up inside our pipe. I mean, really.