The Flight from Phoenix

Just a fun, quick story to share.

After our trip to the Big Dutch, Elijah, Jon, and I were flying from
Phoenix back to Houston.  The 3 of us occupied our own row on the
Southwest flight, with me in the aisle seat, Elijah by the window, and
Jon in the middle.  The guy across the aisle from me had dozed off,
but left his Rubik's cube on his tray table.  Jon and Elijah kept
nudging me to take his Cube.  After several minutes of junior high
girl silent communication between the 3 of us, I reached across the
aisle, picked up the Rubik's cube, signaled for his neighbor to stay
silent and handed the toy to Jon.

Now, Jon can solve a Rubik's cube faster than rabbits can ... .
Seriously.  He says its just an algorithm, which shows you his
nerdiness.  However, it's an amazing talent.  Within 30 seconds we had
this thing solved and back on the tray table of the rightful owner.
When he woke up, he picked it up sleepily, began to solve it, realized
it was completed, and looked around.  We couldn't help but giggle.  He
was a very nice guy, about our age, and I had a nice conversation with
him about Non-algorithm things.




This is the tale of the Flight from Phoenix.

The festivities

Wow, what a whirlwind! We had Christmas together Sunday night, Christmas with Patrick's parents Monday night, Christmas with my parents Tuesday night, and headed to Baltimore on Wednesday. Christmas day was full of our standard 4 stops for 4 Christmases. It has been crazy busy and wonderful. Many, many more details to come!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were very afraid. But the angel said to them, "Do not fear; for behold, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests!"

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

All I want for Christmas...

I'm not sure this has ever been done on our blog. I want you to do the following:













Did you follow? I want you to find Behold the Lamb of God by Andrew Peterson, put it on your iPod (or other digital music players, I don't discriminate), and listen to it 10 times. It will make you happy.

I think this is possibly the greatest album of all time. Yes, it's that good. Yes, I understand it's a bold statement. Yes, I'm willing to put my rep on the line for it.

And I don't care if I have to fly to the North Pole in a single-engine Cessna in the middle of a blizzard at night to see his show live next year, I'm going to do it. In fact, it's my goal to see it twice next year to make up for not seeing it this year.

It's the holiday season....

Whoa! This year has FLOWN by! We have had so much going on, the weeks have been jam packed. Lots of work and lots of fun stuff after work. We are both very ready for a vacation. Sometimes I think it would be so much easier if we didn't have to sleep. Can you believe Christmas is one week from today?! I feel like I haven't gotten to slow down enough for it to feel like Christmas yet. So today starts the all out, 100% holiday festive feelings.

Until this year, my mom has always gotten me a little gift every day of December. It's a tradition started by my aunt who gave my mom a little cardboard tree with a box on it for every day that you were supposed to put a little gift in. The tree fell apart several years ago and has been replaced with something fancier. And this year, since I am married, the tradition stopped. I believe it was Patrick's intention to somewhat carry it on, but he has been working like a crazy person all of December. (On a side note, I heard through the grapevine that my father told him not to because if he did he would always have to. Hmph.) A few weeks ago, we were in a store discussing the cost of hair products. I normally spend a little more on conditioner because I feel that is more effective than spending a lot of money on shampoo. However, my favorite shampoo is REALLY expensive and comes in a very small bottle. So I never buy it since it seems like such a waste. This year, since Patrick has been working so much and had little time to do any shopping, he bought me my favorite shampoo to make up for lots of little gifts. And it makes my hair smell SO good! That was an exciting early gift.

Another exciting gift... we got an email earlier this week at work that we will be closed on January 2nd!!! YAY! We are closed on the 1st, but they decided to give us the day off on the 2nd as well. That was a wonderful gift. I was already very content with that week because we get back from Baltimore on New Years Eve and then would have New Years Day to just rest and enjoy. Now we have the 2nd and the weekend. I believe we are going to see my dad's family that Saturday for Christmas so that will be fun as well.

Tonight is date night. We have been spending our Thursday nights going to dinner, watching the office, and looking at Christmas lights. Tonight there is not a new Office (I don't think) so we are going to dinner, finishing up some Christmas stuff, and then going in search of a new area to look at lights. We have thoroughly exhausted our part of town. It's time for some new festive scenery. I am SO excited that it's almost Christmas! And tomorrow is Friday. Yay!

Merry 7 days to Christmas!

Christmas, come quick!

I have been working more late nights this week. I worked about 50 hours last week, which I never considered a huge deal... until I was the one working those hours. In order to get that done, you have to work pretty late some nights. I have going to the gym to workout in the morning, and really enjoy that, but I don't usually get into the office until about 8 AM or so. This means I'm working late a few nights a week....

That scrunches everything else together. I would like to apologize to the professional world for ever doubting their long days and hard work. However, I will pat myself on the back for doing my best not to whine about it.

I am glad to be at home with my wife tonight.

You know what's better than working a long day, opening up the door, and being hit with the smell of a fabulous dinner your wife made?

Absolutely nothing.

I love you my wife. She's the best!

It's a Wonderful Life

Becky and I had a good day Saturday. We got up and took the Flicks to the airport to fly to catch their flight to New York for their week of fun. Then we came back home and took a short nap. After about an hour or so I went to the gym to workout, followed by a short trip to Marshall's to do some (what I thought would be Christmas) shopping. I found two dress shirts on sale, a pair of thermal's for my upcoming backpacking trip to Big Bend, and got a Christmas present for someone special. Then we went and ran some errands, Becky found some decorations to make the tree look fabulous, and did a quick swap at the dry-cleaners.

For the evening, we had planned on going to Lights in the Heights, but Becky was a little tired, so we went to La Hacienda and watched "It's a Wonderful Life" (arguably the greatest movie of all time, not really, but it is wonderful). At La Hacienda, we bumped into my boss on the BP project. It was ironic because when I told him where I lived he asked if I had been to La Hacienda and he told me he goes there every weekend. Well, we get there on my first trip, and he was there with his family. He came up and said hey and brought his daughter, who is very cute.

That's about all for our Saturday. We don't have small group or anything planned today, so it should be a nice, relaxing day.

HOUSTON SNOW!

IT SNOWED TODAY! There were lots and lots of snowflakes, BIG ones, outside my window at work! I think it's supposed to be 70 on Saturday, but today it snowed!

This was the first time since I was 5 that there was real snow... all the other times I have been in Baltimore. With the freezing cold and no snow of course.

One big fat snowflake stuck to the window but I didn't get my camera out in time to catch it. However... Patrick had to work really late and when he got home he was a really good sport and went outside with me to capture the moment!!

We set up the tripod and I'm pretty sure everyone who drove by thought we were incredibly awesome.

5 months (and some)

We missed an anniversary! Well, we didn't miss it. But we missed telling you! 5 months on December 5th. I know you are thinking MUST they celebrate every single month?? YES! We must. I can't believe how quickly 5 months has flown by.

Tonight I (Becky) had dinner with my good friend Amanda who I have not seen in a ridiculously long time and that was very nice. Patrick has been working a lot of extra hours lately, and especially this week. I know that's no fun for him at all, but he's excited to be staffed on a project he feels like he really contributes too. Plus it's really really close to home which is very helpful when you are working lots of overtime. And on top of that we have tons going on right now, so we're both busy busy at work and after work.

This weekend we have Patrick's company party, and apparently it's a cocktail dress affair. So I need to bust out my fancy clothes. I have a girls night after that so it's sure to be a late night. I'm thinking Saturday will probably be a crash day, a finish Christmas shopping day, and a Lights in the Heights night! Yes!

Anyway, this is a quick post, it's late. Patrick's in bed so I am off.

Merry 16 days until Christmas!!

I'm a good American

I always tell Becky I'm a good American. I really am. I'm honest, fair, and proud of our country. I work hard, but am still polite to the elderly. I care about the less fortunate.

Tonight was a good example of my good-American-ness. We left the Flick's (our small group leader's house) and were going to drive by the McGown's (he used to be our youth minister and married us) because he always has an award-winning Christmas light display and, to be honest, Becky and I are suckers for a good Christmas light display. We drove by their house, gave it three thumbs up (one for each arm) and were on our way.

We were on our way home when I saw a little puppy wandering down the sidewalk on his own. I thought there was no way for that to be good, so I turned on the hazards, pulled over, called the little pup, and went in search of his home. I went to the closest house to see if it was their dog and they gave me a good lead, saying that it looked like their old neighbor's dog who just moved thinking the dog might have wandered "home" after the big move. So, like Detectives Benson and Stabler (from Law & Order: Special Victim's Unit), I followed up on this lead. They said they would keep it and contact their landlord (whose dog it may have been). Then, another neighbor came up the drive and said the little dog was his. I was excited and sad, because I knew if this dog couldn't find its true home, he would become mine. He was the cutest, sweetest little guy who just nuzzled up right next to me. My heart melted.

But he found his way home and I'm a good American for doing this.

And we're back in 3...2...1...

Sorry it's been such a long time. It has been a hectic week with later work nights and other not-so-fortunate events.

On Monday, we had a good ... Scratch that. On Monday, we had a great friend who was lost. My truck (Patrick) was hit by another car on the way to the mall to get some Christmas shopping done. I was changing lanes and this girl came across the highway and hit me on my shot-gun side. I don't want to write out the whole incident here, but it wasn't fun. I was able to drive away and I'm not injured, so I won't complain too much.

The good news is that Becky and I did Dave Ramsey. DR is the man! He taught us all about insurance and told us to keep an emergency fund. So, the effects of the accident are less than what they could have been. Thanks Dave for the sound wisdom!

I also started a new project at work that is really close to the house. Even closer than my last one. I'm working at a large, London-based energy company with a huge campus in west Houston. It takes me like 6 minutes to get to work in the morning and about 4 minutes to get home. I really enjoy it and I think it will be a good opportunity for me. I've gotten some really good feedback from the Managing Director (what would be a Partner) on the project for how I handled some time with the client, so I really appreciated that. Also related to work, I think I'm going to go back to my previous client (a men's retail company that guarantees your satisfaction) because the client said she liked me. Woo hoo! Ok, that's enough about work.

I went to the mall today to get some Christmas shopping done (since Monday's events were cut short). I really put quite the dent in my shopping, so I was excited about that. I mostly did some shopping for Becky, but I got a few other things, too. This is good because I'll be pretty busy at work this next week (working 50+).

We've also put the Christmas lights up. Becky did a great job decorating the interior and yours truly got the outside lights put up. Last weekend was Phase I then we went and drove around the neighborhood and saw some stiff competition, so I had to ramp it up to Phase II this weekend. Thanks to the in-laws for the extra lights! See the pictures below!











We went to Chuy's tonight for Becky's dad's birthday. It was pretty good. I owe Chuy's an apology. Before, I haven't been to impressed, but I think tonight (and our last visit with Isaac and Christina) were marked improvements. It was good to spend time with the family. After dinner we went back to their house and watched the Big 12 Championship with them. Keep my father in your prayers as he goes through this loss.

Those are the highlights and lowlights of our week. Sorry we didn't blog more, but life happens.

Craigslist finds!

We don't have very many pictures of our house on here, so I thought I would post pictures of the stuff we have bought off of Craigslist.

This one is our first Craigslist find, a butcher block cabinet. Which matches the new butcher block countertop Patrick made me PERFECTLY!

My second Craigslist find was the lamp in the corner of this picture. There was one at Target I wanted, but this one was cooler and WAY cheaper. We're kind of out of order, but the most recent Craigslist find is Patrick's leather chair.

The end table came after the lamp. I know Patrick was really excited to have that out of the way because I am somewhat picky. :-)

This is not a Craigslist find. This is the shelf Patrick hung for me this weekend. :-)

Also not a Craigslist find. For some reason, this is a really weird looking picture. But it's us at Chris and Leslie's rehearsal dinner.