Highlights of 2008

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. "

~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Forever...
Chad-o and I officially became king and queen of the ‘hood. On July 26, 2008 we exchanged marriage vows during an intimate and personal ceremony held at Nemacolin Woodlands. We were fortunate to be surrounded by our most favorite people as we embarked on a lifetime of adventure and time together. Our wedding was simple and unique, completely us, and perfect in every way. Blessed we are…


Spanning the Globe...
We love to travel, and this summer we set sail for some places that neither of us had ever ventured to. Our journey started in Tampa, as we boarded a cruise ship heading throughout the Caribbean. We enjoyed many new experiences such as swimming with the stingrays in the Grand Caymans, visiting the Mayan ruins and avoiding shady drug dealers in Belize, strolling the streets and shops of Cozumel, and soaking up the sun at Fosters Beach in Roatan, Honduras. We made terrific new friends, had the coolest dinner table in the dinning room, and were forever grateful that our bathing suits didn’t match.


Vegas proved another delightful time, as we carved our turkey and ate pumpkin pie in the desert. We love our families, but also covet our Vegas getaways. On Thanksgiving Day we flew into Sin City and had the most fabulous time. From our insane profits playing craps, the craziness at O’Shea’s, seeing David Spade perform standup comedy, to spending a day at the spa, watching the huge Steelers win over the Patriots at Caesar’s Palace, posing as undercover cops, and all the random fun walking the streets, Vegas earned two thumbs up.


New Experiences...
I enjoy learning. I can sit and listen to people talk, I’ll people watch for hours, and I’ve even been known to eavesdrop on a conversation or two. I like to be in the “know”. Anyhow, this fall I decided to spread my wings, tackle some new challenges, and build my personal resume. After enrolling in classes to learn the finer points of stained glass and photography, I was off and running. I don’t remember a time when I felt so personally fulfilled. The classes opened my eyes to the importance of allowing my creative juices to flow. Plus, it was beyond refreshing not to be graded or writing a reflection on my work. It was pure, raw, and natural. I wasn’t looking for any accolades or awards…it was for me, and it was wonderful! Currently, I’m addicted to my camera and am basking in the glow of my Tiffany lamp.


My Blog...
My dear pal, Greta, receives all blame for getting me hooked on blogging. After reading her entries and oohhing and aahhing over her pictures, I decided that I’d give it a shot. I must admit that it’s ridiculously fun to write, post photos, and design layouts. Not to mention, I have a visual archive of 2008.