Snow

Today we enjoyed our second snow in three days, not a typical week in the Piedmont Triad. This afternoon, Laura, Marietta and I drove to a coffee shop near campus, purchased some hot drinks, then went on a snowy walk to and through campus.

This is a shot that Laura made on campus from under a magnolia tree

Laura and Marietta on a bridge

Laura and I with Wait Chapel in the background

A white blanket of snow was covering the ground when we woke up Thursday morning. With the wintry weather came a day off from school for both Laura and I.

Laura's friend from Germany, Marietta Dietrich, has been staying with us since last Sunday. We have thoroughly enjoyed her company. Her boyfriend, Tim Mueller, arrived today. Both of them will be with us for the next week and a half. We have had a great time hosting Marietta and are looking forward to having both of them stay with us. We are in Charlotte for the weekend...should be fun times!

A Weekend in Raleigh

For Christmas, Laura and I gave her parents "a night of hockey" (tickets to go with us to a Carolina 'Canes game). The game was last night, so we spent the weekend with her family in Raleigh. It was a great weekend and a particularly memorable Saturday.

The day started with a walk/run around Lake Lynn with her parents. After lunch we all watched UNC destroy NC State (sorry Wolfpack fans) then Laura, Bill and I went to visit Aunt Lucile. The four of us went for a walk in the woods and then played a couple games of pool in the nice "billiards lounge" at the retirement home where Lucile lives. After billiards, we returned to the Lahti home so that we could all suffer through Wake's miserable performance against B.C. The next stop on our Saturday schedule was the 'Canes v. Avalanche game at the RBC center. We had a great time at the game. Being at a hockey game is totally different than watching it on TV. I have been following the 'Canes since I have been living in NC and have become a casual hockey fan. Unfortunately the 'Canes lost 5-4. But, as the score indicates, it was a great game! After the game we enjoyed some milk shakes and played Can't Stop (an addicting game that Laura's parents introduced to us). The weekend started with a steak dinner at the Lahti's and ended with Lunch in Chapel Hill, for which Will (Laura's brother) joined us. As always, we really enjoyed our time with Laura's family in Raleigh!

Christmas & New Years

Wow, it is hard to believe that 2008 has arrived. The '07/'08 New Years was an unusual one for me because never have there been consecutive years in my life with such independent significance. 2007= wedding, 2008= law school graduation.

Laura and I spent Christmas with my family in MS (Thanksgiving was spent with her family, a schedule that we hope to reverse next year).
The trip started with a three night stay in Holly Springs. My sister (Tiffany) and brother-in-law (Webb) have just moved to Holly Springs, MS (literally, our first night in their house was also their first night in their house). We really enjoyed our time with them, it was the first opportunity we have had to spend time together as couples. We spent one day in Memphis; a walk down Beale Street, drinks and appetizers at Hard Rock and a movie at the Peabody. On Sunday we were able to attended the church at which they are each currently employed (youth minister and children's ministry coordinator) and we really enjoyed our time with them in Holly Springs.

We left their place on Christmas Eve and drove 4.5 hours south to my parents house in Laurel, MS. We spent Christmas Eve with my parents, eating dinner and looking at Christmas lights. Our first Christmas day together was a great one. It was probably the most relaxed Christmas I have ever experienced. Laura and I exchanged gifts that morning, but we did not have the big family event until that night. The day itself was filled with running, frisbee and football throwing and relaxing. Tiffany and Webb made it to Laurel around 6:30pm and my Grandparents and Uncle Luke came over around the same time for a Christmas dinner and gift exchange.

During the rest of our stay in Laurel we were able to spend some more time with my parents, grandparents, and Tiffany and Webb. On Thursday, Mom & Dad, Tiffany & Webb and Laura & I made a trip to New Orleans, which included a stop in Poplarville, MS, to see some of my family on my mom's side. The trip to NOLA was short and sweet, but it did provide us with a memorable lunch at Cafe' Maspero. The place has great food, great prices, and a great location in the French Quarters. But the service is absolutely horrendous! We sat at our table for so long before even being greeted by a server that Laura went up to the host to check and make sure that a server was assigned to our table. Then once we finally got around to ordering....it was at least 45 minutes before our food arrived, and we are talking about sandwiches and fries. The individuals working at this place were unique individuals...to say the least. I would still recommend Cafe' Maspero, just make sure that you have plenty of time! After lunch we walked around the French Quarters and stopped in to enjoy some coffee and beignets at Cafe Du Monde. A day in NOLA is always a great time!

The rest of our time in Laurel was a little more low key but we really enjoyed getting to spend time with my family. Saturday was filled with football and games. On Sunday we went to church with my parents and then went to my grandparents house for a great steak lunch before leaving town. It was a very memorable first Christmas!

Our next stop was Birmingham, Alabama, for the wedding of David Buys and Katie Crawford. We had a great time at the wedding. David was the last of our group of four suite mates from undergrad to get married. I really enjoyed getting to hang out with my close friends from college and Laura had a great time with their wives. The Picture is of the four suite meets and their wives (Matt & Lindsey Stevens, Katie & David Buys, Nicole & Ben Kilman and Laura & I). We do not get to see them very often so it is always a huge blessing when we are able to spend time together. Our stay in B'ham culminated with the New Years Eve wedding...and it was a blast!

Laura and I hit the road the next morning (New Years Day) for the seven hour drive back up to North Carolina. Our 11 night tour of MS & AL was over and we were excited about coming home to Winston Salem! Laura started teaching again on the 3rd and my last semester starts on the 7th. Now we are looking forward to visiting her family on the weekend of the 12th, and welcoming Laura's friend from Germany to our place on the 13th! More to follow on both of these events...