Christmas in Orlando!

This year Gwen and I flew down to Orlando for a great Christmas with her family. It was my first Christmas down there and it was a huge blessing. Gwen has a large family and it was a blast spending time with them. We miss them all so much! There is no way we can cover it all in one blog but here are a few of the highlights:

Gwen's Mom and Dad

Gwen's brothers, Todd and TJ holding their ipod nanos (we shaved TJ's head a few nights earlier)

Gwen's brother TJ and his dreads

Gwen and I at the park looking at Christmas lights

The whole crew!

Todd, Dorie, and I
Gwen and her older sister, Brook

Gwen with her stocking on Christmas morning

Benett and I

Gwen's sister Brook, her grandfather, Dadad, her brother-in-law, Kent, her sister Dorie

Gwen and I with her brother Gary

07 Providence Staff Christmas Party

The Providence staff had its annual Christmas party last Thursday night at the North Raleigh Hilton. It was a blast! The food was great and it was so fun hanging out, talking, and laughing with our Providence staff family. Below is most of the youth staff.

Below is our former assistant Sarah, former intern Lori, Shelly, and Gwen.

This is Gwen and Lori. Lori was a great intern for the past couple of years. We're going to miss her!

This is Steve giving Lori her going away present. We can't believe she's gone. Congratulations on graduation Lori and we're praying for you as you move on.

Below is Blake, our middle school pastor, and I.

This is Mike, our Refinery Director.

This is Jeremy. Jeremy is a faithful intern on the youth staff.

This is our senior pastor, David, and Lori and Gwen.

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Can you believe it is almost Christmas again...time flies by. Here are some pics of us by our Christmas tree. Our dear friends Garrett and Lara came over and Lara took these pictures for us. We had a great time hanging out with them:) We love you guys.

Joel put on all the ornaments this year, he did an awesome job, I am so blessed to have such a sweet husband.

The lights were a bit of a hassle this year, but after much patience and communication we had a fully lit tree.

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas. May God richly bless you and your family. We will be spending Christmas in Orlando with my family, so we will post more pics of Christmas after our trip. We love you all and appreciate you so much.

Youth Staff Christmas Party

We had our annual youth staff Christmas party last Wednesday at Steve and Tina's. We had plenty of food, lots of laughs, babies, white elephant gift exchange, and lots of fun as usual. Gwen and I scored a $5 Dominoe's gift certificate, some sipping chocolate, and peppermint oreos. Gwen and I are blessed to serve with such a great team. No, Gwen and I are not in any of these pictures.

Thanksgiving '07

I can't believe Thanksgiving has already come and gone. Gwen and I traveled down to my parents' house Wednesday night and stayed until Saturday evening. It is so good to reunite with family and enjoy long lasting family traditions that warm your heart and leave you feeling incredibly loved. Thursday morning we slept in, watched the parade, and chipped around in the back yard.

Thursday afternoon we went over to my grandparents house to do manly stuff like shoot guns, squirrel hunt, and drive the tractor around Papa's farm.

I took this picture on a road right beside my grandparents' farm. It is certainly beautiful country down there.

Later Thursday evening we went over to my uncle and aunt's house to have Thanksgiving supper. My uncle fried a turkey and it was amazing! It was great to enjoy a memorable meal with family Gwen and I don't see much. We ate, laughed, shared what we were thankful for, and played Thanksgiving trivia. Here is a picture of us and below is the remains of the fried turkey.

Friday morning my dad, brother, and I played golf and the rest of the day was spend laying around the house watching football. Here's a pic of my sinking a long putt (it wasn't that long actually).

The rest of the day consisted of football, napping, ribs and baked potatoes, and family time again. Saturday, Dad, Andrew, Gwen, and I went to a horse sale at Clemson University. It was Gwen's first time attending anything like this. It was a great cultural experience for the city girl.

This Thanksgiving was our first one together with family. Last year we were on our honeymoon! As my family and I were thinking about things we were thankful for something came to mind that meant so much to me. I thought, "each house feels like home." Ever since I can remember, no matter which house I was in, I always felt as if I was at home. Last weekend I was reminded of this fact. Gwen and I are so thankful for our families.

our first anniversary!!!! (part one)

Mine and Gwen's first anniversary is this Sunday! I cannot believe it has been a year already. Gwen and I find ourselves thinking about where we were and what we were doing each day a year ago. God has blessed me with the most wonderful gift in the world-my beautiful wife! Here are a few pictures of our past year together.

Gwen and I back in March

last winter

after the high school ski trip back in February

at the Miami airport after the honeymoon

at a restaurant in Belize (one of my favorite pictures)

Christmas 06

Spring 07

Ben and Kristie's wedding, March 07

Joy Prom 07