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| More Fun Snow Pictures |
Sunday, January 31, 2010
A Few More Pictures From our Wintry Blast
We couldn't help but go for some walks this past weekend and enjoy the snow some more.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Long Awaited Update - 2009 Year in Review
We haven't really given much thought lately to posting pictures of the things we have been up to. Life has certainly kept pace while we've been making the most of it in Asheville. More recent events include a trip to Texas, Megan's brother--Patrick's--engagement, and of course more hiking and foraging for wild mushrooms.
To go back from where we left off, which was our last real snow day for the season in March 2009, in May (two months later) I started a new position as the Controller of a company called MultiView. Our company serves the business and accounting needs of hospices all over the country.
Here I have been blessed immeasurably in that I have found a company with a compelling vision, a great business model, and strong leadership. I feel that my experience up to the present has been great preparation for the position I have right now, and even as I write this nearly nine months after starting with the company, I just feel overwhelming gratitude for the Lord providing a place for me to put the very best of my efforts and talents to use. Here are some pictures from the park that is just 5 minutes from the office:
In June of ’09 we went to TX for a week and enjoyed the condo on the Comal River before Daniel’s wedding. Now, there is a tradition developing with this pattern—and not the good kind of tradition. In the summer of 2005 before Megan and my wedding, we went for a family vacation in the same condo (courtesy of good friends the Harrells) in New Braunfels. Mike unfortunately lost his wedding band while swimming in the river. Fast forward to the summer of 2009, and I turn around and do the same thing. Yes, I only had the ring just under four years and I managed to lose it swimming in the Comal the week of Daniel’s wedding, just as Mike had done four years before!
But enough of that, Daniel now has as his wife the lovely Brooke (Fogle) McGinty, and we have been very glad for the occasions on which we’ve been able to get to know her better.
We had some other miscellaneous happenings throughout the summer:
Another huge change is that Megan has her own classroom this year and is merrily teaching third grade at her beloved Asheville Christian Academy. It’s not as if the school belongs to her, of course, but she takes a great deal of pride in teaching there and absolutely loves the Christ-centered environment the school affords. I quite agree and revel in any and every chance I have to make an excuse to go (an occasional volleyball game, their excellent plays, etc.) Even as I write, Megan is halfway through her first year and still in the thick of the year, to be sure, but she enjoys it all immensely despite the incredible workload under which she (and now both of us) labors intensely.
Another excellent addition to the family is well under way, as Megan’s younger brother Patrick is engaged to Ellen Gaston. We had the pleasure of providing shelter for her as she scuttled her way across the country in her now deceased CRV (a whole different story). We took to her with the utmost celerity and secretly wished that Patrick might do the same, and I suppose now that Megan’s sisterly instinct was spot on as he has asked her to be his wife. Hooray! Another reason for a summer trip to TX! These pictures were from the first time we were able to be with them together, but before they were engaged (the engagement pictures are farther along):
For our anniversary this year we played it fairly low-key and went out for a sunrise breakfast at the Pisgah Inn on the Blue Ridge Parkway (they have an amazing view) followed by blueberry picking at Graveyard Fields (a little too early in the season though, but we still picked quite a few).
Also, we felt incredibly blessed to have some family (Megan's aunt and uncle Wendy & Carl and her cousin Zach) come from TX to visit our neck of the woods! They originally were just going to backpack their whole time here, but unfortunately (or fortunately for us, depending on how you look at it) they picked some incredibly rainy days to make a go of it, and decided to enjoy our place instead—what a terrific time!! We took them to Mellow Mushroom, the drum circle at Pritchard Park, and word on the street is they really enjoyed our city =)
We had another visit from Patrick and Ellen--a most agreeable couple, although it was the ill-fated trip for Ellen’s CRV. We went to Hickory Nut Gap with them and shared the nicest McDonald’s in the country (outside the entrance to the Biltmore Estate). They have also been introduced to the Chocolate Lounge, so they are in our "inner circle" with whom we share such jewels of our beloved city. =)
Another vey positive note is that my dad was finally able to pay us a visit. I hadn’t had him outside of his familiar surroundings of TX since he had helped us move originally from TX to Columbia, SC. It was fantastic to have him for a few days and be able to share our world of Asheville with him. We toured around town a little bit and also got to see Mt. Mitchell, so it was a great, albeit brief, time.
Of course we went hiking around leaf season to enjoy some of the colors. The colors seemed really good this year, but we didn’t get to do quite as much hiking as I would have liked. There were some major transitions at work while I took on increasing responsibilities.
Toward the end of the fall semester, for Thanksgiving break, we decided we could really use a getaway to the mountains. (I know we live in the mountains but it’s not exactly the same thing). We decided we should try to make a tradition for Thanksgiving and went to Fairhaven Ministries mountain cabins in Roan Mountain, TN. It’s just beautiful out that way, in my opinion. I haven't had such a "de-stressing" Thanksgiving ever before, and we were able to have Thanksgiving supper with Megan's team-teacher, Mrs. Simmons, and her husband Lee. That really made up for the lack of family in the area to feel so much a part of someone else's.
This brings us to our Christmas vacation—partly in Tyler, TX and partly in Houston—where Patrick actually proposed to Ellen, his fiancé. It was an incredible time with family on both sides, although for some reason I forgot to cart my camera around while I was in Houston =( I’m getting worse and worse about remembering to take pictures.
Oh yeah, and we’ve made some friends who we’re extremely excited about spending time with. Jonathan and Betsy, and their two twin kids Eli Hannah. We’ve been to each other’s houses and even decided to start up a small group with another couple we’re excited about getting to know: Martha and Brandon.
We also enjoyed a heck of a snowstorm last night, so it was worth putting pictures of our most recent little moment of enjoyment of our local area. With that said, I’m looking forward to an incredible 2010 and all that it has to offer, but hopefully I won’t try and catch up an entire year’s worth of events in one posting ever again (no promises though).
To go back from where we left off, which was our last real snow day for the season in March 2009, in May (two months later) I started a new position as the Controller of a company called MultiView. Our company serves the business and accounting needs of hospices all over the country.
Here I have been blessed immeasurably in that I have found a company with a compelling vision, a great business model, and strong leadership. I feel that my experience up to the present has been great preparation for the position I have right now, and even as I write this nearly nine months after starting with the company, I just feel overwhelming gratitude for the Lord providing a place for me to put the very best of my efforts and talents to use. Here are some pictures from the park that is just 5 minutes from the office:
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| Walk Around Fletcher Park |
In June of ’09 we went to TX for a week and enjoyed the condo on the Comal River before Daniel’s wedding. Now, there is a tradition developing with this pattern—and not the good kind of tradition. In the summer of 2005 before Megan and my wedding, we went for a family vacation in the same condo (courtesy of good friends the Harrells) in New Braunfels. Mike unfortunately lost his wedding band while swimming in the river. Fast forward to the summer of 2009, and I turn around and do the same thing. Yes, I only had the ring just under four years and I managed to lose it swimming in the Comal the week of Daniel’s wedding, just as Mike had done four years before!
But enough of that, Daniel now has as his wife the lovely Brooke (Fogle) McGinty, and we have been very glad for the occasions on which we’ve been able to get to know her better.
 |
| Vacation in Texas for Daniel and Brooke's Wedding |
We had some other miscellaneous happenings throughout the summer:
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| ACA Teachers Gathering |
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| Gardening Around the House - Midway |
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| Mountain Laurel in Montreat |
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| Great Smoky Mountains - Clingman's Dome |
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| Camping Trip to Linville Falls |
Another huge change is that Megan has her own classroom this year and is merrily teaching third grade at her beloved Asheville Christian Academy. It’s not as if the school belongs to her, of course, but she takes a great deal of pride in teaching there and absolutely loves the Christ-centered environment the school affords. I quite agree and revel in any and every chance I have to make an excuse to go (an occasional volleyball game, their excellent plays, etc.) Even as I write, Megan is halfway through her first year and still in the thick of the year, to be sure, but she enjoys it all immensely despite the incredible workload under which she (and now both of us) labors intensely.
 |
| Megan's Classroom - Getting Ready |
Another excellent addition to the family is well under way, as Megan’s younger brother Patrick is engaged to Ellen Gaston. We had the pleasure of providing shelter for her as she scuttled her way across the country in her now deceased CRV (a whole different story). We took to her with the utmost celerity and secretly wished that Patrick might do the same, and I suppose now that Megan’s sisterly instinct was spot on as he has asked her to be his wife. Hooray! Another reason for a summer trip to TX! These pictures were from the first time we were able to be with them together, but before they were engaged (the engagement pictures are farther along):
 |
| Patrick & Ellen Pay a Visit |
For our anniversary this year we played it fairly low-key and went out for a sunrise breakfast at the Pisgah Inn on the Blue Ridge Parkway (they have an amazing view) followed by blueberry picking at Graveyard Fields (a little too early in the season though, but we still picked quite a few).
 |
| Anniversary Blueberry Picking |
Also, we felt incredibly blessed to have some family (Megan's aunt and uncle Wendy & Carl and her cousin Zach) come from TX to visit our neck of the woods! They originally were just going to backpack their whole time here, but unfortunately (or fortunately for us, depending on how you look at it) they picked some incredibly rainy days to make a go of it, and decided to enjoy our place instead—what a terrific time!! We took them to Mellow Mushroom, the drum circle at Pritchard Park, and word on the street is they really enjoyed our city =)
 |
| Wendy, Carl, Zach and Patrick Visit Asheville |
We had another visit from Patrick and Ellen--a most agreeable couple, although it was the ill-fated trip for Ellen’s CRV. We went to Hickory Nut Gap with them and shared the nicest McDonald’s in the country (outside the entrance to the Biltmore Estate). They have also been introduced to the Chocolate Lounge, so they are in our "inner circle" with whom we share such jewels of our beloved city. =)
 |
| Ellen and Patrick Visiting |
Another vey positive note is that my dad was finally able to pay us a visit. I hadn’t had him outside of his familiar surroundings of TX since he had helped us move originally from TX to Columbia, SC. It was fantastic to have him for a few days and be able to share our world of Asheville with him. We toured around town a little bit and also got to see Mt. Mitchell, so it was a great, albeit brief, time.
 |
| Dad Pays a Visit and Seeing Mt. Mitchell for the First Time |
Of course we went hiking around leaf season to enjoy some of the colors. The colors seemed really good this year, but we didn’t get to do quite as much hiking as I would have liked. There were some major transitions at work while I took on increasing responsibilities.
 |
| More Fall Hiking in WNC |
Toward the end of the fall semester, for Thanksgiving break, we decided we could really use a getaway to the mountains. (I know we live in the mountains but it’s not exactly the same thing). We decided we should try to make a tradition for Thanksgiving and went to Fairhaven Ministries mountain cabins in Roan Mountain, TN. It’s just beautiful out that way, in my opinion. I haven't had such a "de-stressing" Thanksgiving ever before, and we were able to have Thanksgiving supper with Megan's team-teacher, Mrs. Simmons, and her husband Lee. That really made up for the lack of family in the area to feel so much a part of someone else's.
 |
| Thanksgiving Weekend Getaway to Roan Mountain |
This brings us to our Christmas vacation—partly in Tyler, TX and partly in Houston—where Patrick actually proposed to Ellen, his fiancé. It was an incredible time with family on both sides, although for some reason I forgot to cart my camera around while I was in Houston =( I’m getting worse and worse about remembering to take pictures.
 |
| Christmas Vacation 2009 in Tyler, TX |
Oh yeah, and we’ve made some friends who we’re extremely excited about spending time with. Jonathan and Betsy, and their two twin kids Eli Hannah. We’ve been to each other’s houses and even decided to start up a small group with another couple we’re excited about getting to know: Martha and Brandon.
 |
| Short Winter Hike on Kitsuma Trail & Chocolate Lounge Afterwards |
We also enjoyed a heck of a snowstorm last night, so it was worth putting pictures of our most recent little moment of enjoyment of our local area. With that said, I’m looking forward to an incredible 2010 and all that it has to offer, but hopefully I won’t try and catch up an entire year’s worth of events in one posting ever again (no promises though).
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| January 2010 Snow Storm |
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