To Pete and Lisa

Dave and Pete met in the fall of 1995, as freshmen at Georgia Tech and pledges at Kappa Sigma. "Average" Pete from Iowa is anything but average. Weekends were started with a Friday evening trip to El Torro for Mexican food. followed by band parties and football on Saturday. When I brought cookies or cupcakes on weekends, I always made sure to find Pete, Durovy, and Amro for their part of the homecooked goodness. Graduation came in 2000, and Pete joined the Air Force, twice journeying to the Middle East. Boxes filled with peanut butter bars, cornflake candy, Christmas lights, and other pieces of home were shipped to Pete. Pete was a groomsman in our wedding and has even visited us in Austin.

We were thrilled when we heard the news of his engagement to Lisa. We were honored to go celebrate their wedding in Washington, D.C. Pete and Lisa, we wish you a marriage filled with all the desires of your hearts and hope that you will find joy in the daily activities of building a home and a life together.

Happy Birthday Devin

(Devin and Sutton, at the Renaissance Festival, Spring 1998)

Devin and I met in 1997. Though we now live many miles from Monroe, Georgia, where we were introduced, we reside in the same north Texas area. She opened her classroom to me in 1997, giving me an awesome foundation for my career in education. In 2005, she opened her home and family to Dave and me, giving us an extended family that we so needed since our families are so far away. Constantly, I am amazed at her patience and skill as a parent and her thoughtfulness as a friend. Whether it's reminding her children to use their manners--"Yes, ma'am"--inviting us over for ice cream on Sunday evening, ensuring that we celebrate Easter with "family", advising me where to find the best deal, or listening to my angst, Devin is indeed a true friend. I hope her birthday brings bountiful blessings, for she deserves them.
Happy Birthday, Devin!

Finally

After attending three different graduate schools, I have completed my master's degree!

I started a degree in reading education at Georgia State University in January 2000; I chose reading education as my major since I had only two years of teaching experience and to enter the administration program I needed three years of experience. Purposely, I took only one course each semester since Dave would be graduating from Tech, and I anticipated that he would not find employment in the Atlanta area.

In June 2001, Dave and I married, and I moved to Austin. I waited a year to resume my degree to establish residency and qualify for in-state tuition rates. A year passed, and it was easy not start over. Dave was unhappy at his job, so we thought a move might be on the horizon. In 2003-2004, Dave had a few interviews. In the spring of 2004, he had an offer in Dallas, so we investigated selling our house and moving. The real estate market was down, so a move wasn't a financially sound decision. We decided that I would finish graduate school while we waited for the housing market to recover. I enrolled in Texas State University as an educational administration student and took classes at the Round Rock satellite campus.

In 2005, Dave was made a better offer by the same Dallas company. This time, even though the housing market had not recovered, the offer was one we could not turn down. So, in July 2005, we moved to DFW. I enrolled at the University of North Texas' Educational Administration program since both of my credits from TX State would transfer. Taking one class each semester in 2005-2006, five classes last summer, and two classes each semester of 2006-2007, I have been able to graduate.

This last year has been challenging as I have juggled teaching three classes of high school English, taking two university classes, and acting as testing coordinator for my school and as a substitute administrator. But, I have survived.

Dave applauded my tenacity and the fact that I've graduated "in spite of" him--his words, not mine. Dave has been extremely supportive as I've gone to school. He's had frozen pizza on Tuesday nights for the past two years. I don't recall what he ate when I was in Austin, and there's no telling what he ate last summer. Dave has picked up the slack by doing more chores around the house when I needed to study or work on a paper or assignment. (Darn there goes that excuse reason for not cleaning. ) Dave has encouraged me to get my work done when I've been procrastinating. And, he has helped pay tuition.

My parents and my in-laws came out to watch me walk across the stage and to celebrate this accomplishment with us. I enjoyed having everyone here and actually walking across the stage since my undergraduate graduation ceremony from the University of Georgia consisted of a line similar to "would the degree candidates from the College of Education please rise." UNT's ceremony became a bit long; more than once while sitting on the floor of the Coliseum, I wondered why I had to come to graduation. I watched the crowd, surprised at how much movement there was in the crowd and how rudely some people were behaving. I chuckled as many of the undergraduate girls hobbled back to their chairs, clearly unaccustomed to wearing high heels.

Following the ceremony, we paused for a few pictures outside, then went inside for punch and fruit.

On the walk back to the car, Daddy and I had to pause at Fouts Field for a photograph.

Following the graduation ceremony, Devin, Jimmy, and their children joined us for cake and ice cream. They've adopted us as part of their family, and it's great to celebrate events with them. They brought me a beautiful potted orchid; I hope it's life is at least as long as my journey for a degree.

Appetizers at Kirby's brought and end to a very long day that was an even longer time in the making.

Super Woman

When I met Devin in 1997, I was convinced that she was Super Woman. Then, Devin was at work just a week or two after having Keaton. She was balancing being a mother to three girls, teaching full time, mentoring a student teacher, and attending graduate school. My friends and I called her Super Woman. Little did we know. . .

Ten years later, I stand by that assessment. Last Sunday, she gave birth to her sixth child, a beautiful girl named Peyton Grace. I went by the hospital Monday to find her up arranging the flowers on her shelf and preparing to get dressed in anticipation of the onslaught of visitors.

Today, we planned to go by to take a pan of lasagna and a breakfast casserole to help with meals next week. While we did take the lasagna and breakfast casserole, we were also fed dinner. Devin looks great. If I didn't know her and saw her on the street, I would not suspect that she had just given birth. She looks fantastic, and she has the energy to feed ten.

What an inspiration!

Happy Birthday Lesa

Today is my aunt, Lesa's birthday. I've been busy this week and have completely forgotten to mail a card, so I'm trying to make up with a blog and a phone call. She's a sensitive soul and will readily forgive my forgetfulness.
Lesa is quite special. I have always loved spending time with her. I remember being taken to a movie by her and her friend, Ava, when I was in kindergarten. I used to love to lay under the willow tree in Granny's front yard and hear Lesa tell the Milk Jug Family stories--I swear, one day we need to write a children's book. When I got to spend the night with her at Granny's house, I would fall asleep to her telling me stories or sometimes by telling me about an episode of The Brady Bunch or The Beverly Hillbillies.
Lesa fostered my love for reading by giving me books such as The Secret Garden and Middlemarch. From her, I gained my love for James Bond movies at a young age. Much of the music she loved, I loved: Duran Duran, Prince, the Go-Gos.
When she left home to go to Atlanta, I remember being so excited that she was going somewhere--and that I would get to visit. And visit I did. I remember seeing an organ grinder and monkey at an Atlanta mall. I recall eating pizza at Everybody's Pizza across the street from Emory University.
Time marches on; we grow up; and sadly, we move apart. Lesa's now a mother to two beautiful girls of her own. I know she's a great mom; she got a fabulous start as a terrific aunt.

Happy Birthday, Lesa!

Lesa, Mama, and Martha
Tampa, June 2004

Let There Be Light

This is the tiny light that was in our front entry when we moved in. I can't figure out what the originial owners were thinking when they chose this dinky light for such a big space. Wait, yes, I do know what they were thinking, "This light is cheap."In October, we went shopping thinking that the light would be our Christmas gift. I can't remember what expense came up that altered our plan, but we didn't get the light. (Dave reminds me that it was tuition.) In February, we decided it would be our Valentine's gift. Life was busy in February, so we still didn't get the light.
Then a catalog came with our light on sale. We ordered the light and waited for it to arrive at the store. Meanwhile, we discussed how to install the light. Getting up to the 22' ceiling to wire in the light would be a challenge. I wanted to rent a scissor lift; Dave felt scaffolding was the way to go. So scaffolding it was.
Mike and Letha were coming on Friday, and I know Dave wanted to get the new light up before they got here. He picked up the scaffolding on Wednesday and started to put it together. There was a small issue--the footprint of the scaffolding was larger than the area in the foyer. No worries, Dave went to Home Depot and returned with feet for the scaffolding. One leg could rest on the stairs, with the adjustable feet on the other legs, keeping everything level. Dave was energized and dancing a jig. Not so fast. The footprint was still too big. Dave decided that we could run the crossbars from the bottom of one section to the bottom of the next to reduce the footprint.
Tired after a long day of work and knowing I didn't possess the physical strength to help him fit the second section of scaffolding onto the first, I persuaded Dave to wait for Mike's arrival--well, my tears of frustration and exhaustion did.
On Sunday morning after the Buffett concert, Dave and Mike began putting the scaffolding together. Being the nervous soul I am, I tried to stay in the kitchen and wash dishes. Letha disappeared for a mid-morning nap. So when the boys needed a hand, I was called in. Dave's plan worked perfectly; though I was nervous through the whole process.
Mike was brave and crawled on the scaffolding to wire in the light. The scaffolding came down, and a beautiful light remained (along with a few scuff marks that need to have some touch-up painting).

Pirate Looks at Thirty

This was our third Buffett concert. We went in the late 1990s in Atlanta, with Mike and Letha and other Kappa Sig friends. Lakewood Ampitheater is a great venue.

Last year, Dave and I went to the Smirnoff Amphitheater to hear Buffett. The tailgating area is great and the ampitheater is just like Lakewood. We had a great time on our blanket watching the show.

We were disappointed with the venue at Pizza Hut Park, a soccer stadium. While our seats were on the "floor", we were so far away, Buffett was ant sized. The big screens were a bit of a help, but I to stretch to see them.

Venue issues aside, the concert was great. Parrot-heads are a fun-loving, easy going group. Jimmy Buffett's music is fun and laid-back. Singing along with your favorites and dancing with the crowd is great. Being able to leave the pressures of modern life behind for a while is invaluable.

Cheeseburger in Paradise

Letha and I smile for the camera.



Dave takes a minute to call Bob and Judy .
Dave says the party's this way. But Mike says it's this way.

Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude

Mike and Letha flew out for the weekend to go to the Jimmy Buffett concert with us. It is always great to spend time with them, and where better than Jimmy Buffett? We have great memories from a concert in Atlanta several years ago. (Sadly, I don't recall the year, but I could do some research to figure it out.)

Mike and Letha started the day with a one-mile jog, since she's training for a 5K. I went to the grocery store for the rest of our Buffett buffet. Dave decided to adjust the tension on the garage door opener, but he was distracted by some neighborhood dogs; I'll blog about that when I get a chance.

We loaded the Camry and headed to Buffett. Making a stop along the way for ice, then another stop for cheese, ketchup, mayo, and aluminum foil for our Cheeseburgers in Paradise, which Dave cooked on our camp stove, since propane was allowed, but not charcoal.
We had to park in a field, but were close enough to the grounds to set up our tailgate on a soft, grassy area with a view of a Port-a-Potty. Initially, we thought ourselves lucky, until we discovered that the potty was privately rented and had a padlock on it.

The public ones were a bit of a walk, but you have to enjoy the crazy Parrotheads and the elaborate set ups many bring with them.

The Buffett crowd is fun-loving and friendly. Some folks tailgating near us invited us over to share their shade. Turns out one of their friends works in Hixon, Tennessee, where Letha's brother also works. These guys shared their port-a-potty with us, too.

Letha hitched a "cool" ride.

My Brother's Family

Sweet Hayden is growing, too fast. I can't wait to get back to Georgia to see him. I hope to go in June. Matthew and Cindy took him in for some Easter pictures. Hayden is six months old. He has two teeth already.






And, it seems Hayden has his daddy's heart, too. Matthew has never loved getting his picture made, but he couldn't look happier.












And, what a happy family. I think Cindy's new hair cut is adorable.