Anniversary No. 3!

Yesterday Joy and I celebrated two things:

1) The end of my first semester in my program here at Miami;
2) Our third anniversary.

To be honest, I started the day not sure which one I was more excited about. It turned out that Joy had the day off of school due to weather, so we were able to sleep in and then go out for breakfast. Yummy. Then I had to go to the psychology building to take my statistics final (I nailed the ANOVA!) before we had an afternoon of shopping. We met up with some friends to celebrate the end of the semester before heading home to get dressed up and make dinner. And what a dinner we made. Here was what was on the menu: steamed green beans, roasted rosemary Yukon gold potatoes, and pink peppercorn rack of lamb. That's right, rack of lamb. We had never made lamb before, but figured we'd try something new, and it was fantastic. After dinner, we watched part of our wedding video and ate Joy's molten spiced chocolate cabernet cakes. Amazing.








Happy Anniversary, Joy!

A Christmas Party & Joy's Graduation

Well, I have officially had my last class of the Fall 2008 semester. I'm focusing on the fact that I've completed one and trying to avoid thinking of just how many are still left. To celebrate Christmas and the end of our first semester, we first year clinical psychology students had our First Annual Christmas Extravaganza last night. And what an extravaganza it was, to be sure. Joy made some amazing cookies, we all shared highs and lows of the semester, Christmas pajamas were encouraged, Secret Santa was pure madness and glee, and at midnight we all surrounded the piano for the singing of some Christmas carols, which I'm sure our neighbors below just loved.

Although she completed her Master's a few months ago, Joy's graduation ceremony in Indiana is today, which she decided not to attend. So, last night at the Christmas Extravaganza, we decided to have a make-shift graduation ceremony of our own...










And yes, there's a video of the ceremony for your enjoyment!!!

Mayfly Designs

Looking for some custom handmade jewelry? Mayfly Designs is the place to go, and I think it just might be the stocking stuffer of 2008.

Joy and I have known Holly for years, and we've known that she's had a dream of having her own jewelry line. For Holly, creating unique and one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry is a passion, and making this passion a business has been a dream. And now that dream is a reality.

I love Holly, and I love her jewelry. I think what I love some much about the combo of the two is that Holly knew what her dream was and chased after it. How many of us have dreams that we simply let fall like sand through our fingers? We come up with all sorts of excuses: we're too busy, it's too impractical, it will never work.

I encourage you to do two things today:

1) Check out Holly's jewelry. Each piece is hand-made by Holly herself and she uses crystals, pearls, and semi-precious gems to create many of the pieces. (Don't forget to find the "Joy" necklace and ear-rings, named after my lovely wife!)

2) Check out your own dreams. What are they? Or, if it's been a while, what were they? What's a new dream you have? I hope you'll think it over and contemplate just how you might be able to see that dream come to fruition.

Thanksgiving 2008

It's the most wonderful time of the year. Between Thanksgiving and New Year's, does it really get any better? Joy and I spent Thanksgiving this year with my parents, sister Jess, and brother-in-law Tim in north-central Ohio. AND...yes AND...we met our new nephew, Caleb Andrew!!! Now, people usually go on and on about how cute and funny and unique and...yawn...newborns are, but there can't be much better in life than being an uncle, and yes, this baby really is cute, funny, and unique. My brother, Nate, and his wife, Jessica, who live in the Philippines, had little Elijah this summer, and now there's two nephews! (And, indeed, there shall be four come spring when Joy's brother's wife has twins...).

Our Thanksgiving was the usual mix of sleeping and feedings, so the newborn fit right in with our family traditions already. And between the baby's feedings and my own, I think we got along quite well. Here are some pictures of our weekend for you to enjoy...