Anniversary Date

What's that? You still haven't heard about our anniversary date? Maybe that 'cause you don't follow pattysue...

Seriously...I'll fill you in later on the details...in the meantime, here are a few pics I took with my cell phone...didn't need to take my real camera...still don't know why? :)





Nate

The Gift Of A Future

I would be lying if I told you that, even on our wedding day, I was not cautiously optimistic that Tricia and I would be celebrating five years of marriage...certainly there were more than a few times when it seemed an impossibility. CF has certainly done it's best to take my wife away from us.

I truly believe that, without the grace of God and the work of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the generosity of those who have given to fund their research, Tricia would not be alive today. Although CF is no longer our greatest concern, we still live and cope daily with the effects this disease has had and continues to have in our lives. And, we will always desire to remain an encouragement to other families who are also living with CF.

Even if it's just a buck or two, if you'd like to help make my anniversary the best ever, please consider donating to My Great Strides Fund and help make my family's future a little brighter today! Every penny goes directly to the CFF and their goal of making CF a thing of the past for thousands of people!



Thanks!

Nate

Happy Anniversary, Tricia!

5 years ago, we took the big jump, and I don't think we've hit solid ground yet...what an adventure these five years have been. I have no doubt we've experienced more in five years than many couples experience in a lifetime, and I wouldn't trade a single minute.

Whether at home, with friends and family, or by your hospital bed, I've been able to spend more time with you than most husbands get to spend with their wives in 50 years...every moment has been incredibly special in it's own unique way because of you.

Despite the rough ride, your beauty, grace and joy for life has only only increased. You are an amazing woman who loves God and people unconditionally. You have given hope and laughter to so many, but nobody has been blessed to know you more than I.

I'm praying today that God gives us many more years of great adventures together!

PS. I Love You!

("This Is Home" by Switchfoot)

Nate

Our Wedding

5 years ago, tomorrow...I thought I'd repost these videos today...look for a new video tomorrow morning!

("Yellow" by Coldplay)


("Breathe In Breathe Out" by Mat Kerney)

BTW, if you were there that day, celebrating with us, I'd love for you to leave a comment and share with us your memories of our wedding.

Nate

Thanks, again, to Mary Basnight for the incredible photographic memories of that day!

MIA

I may be MIA the next few days...I'm busy wrapping up some things in preparation for our wedding anniversary celebration on Saturday. Can you guess what I have planned? Yes, dinner at some nice place is probably in the works, but not even Tricia can figure out the surprise stuff, so good luck!

Look for a sappy sentimental post on Saturday morning, and another post later this weekend with all of the details and some pics.

Nate

PS. 44 points to anyone who recognized that was the first time I've crossed out a word like I just did on my blog.

The Shore - Cape May

I only took a few hundred pics this past week while on my mini-vacation, so I figured it would be best to split this up into a few posts...


We decided to take the scenic (long) route on the way home and drive down the Jersey/Delaware/Maryland coast line. I was especially looking forward to stopping in Cape May, NJ for a few hours, because I've heard nothing but great things about it. We spent a few hours there, walking the beaches and neighborhoods, checking out the shops in downtown and grabbing some lunch...

This is the beach in front of the really old, huge houses you'll see below...I'm guessing these are private lockers for the homeowners in this neighborhood...

Some very huge, very old homes (I think these two have been turned into bed and breakfast places)...

From Cape May we took the ferry to DE...this is the only pic I managed...the wind was blowing hard and the boat was rocking, and my stomach was not enjoying it...

Although it was short, we had a great time, especially with our family. I'm still detoxing from all of the awesome (unhealthy) food we ate. BTW, we also saw the movie UP while we were there...we both really loved it, and Tricia cried at least a few times...

Nate

New Pics

If you haven't seen them yet, be sure to check out my photography blog for some great new pics of the three of us in our father's day Sunday best on my Photo Blog.

Nate

New Look

Tell me what you think of the new blog header and slight changes in the color scheme.


In comparison, here are the past two blog headers I've used...


Nate

The Shore - Wonderland

I only took a few hundred pics this past week while on my mini-vacation, so I figured it would be best to split this up into a few posts...

Anything you see in "quotations" is a Yankee/Jersey word/phrase that this southern boy normally wouldn't use.

Gillian's Wonderland Pier is one of Tricia's favorite places on the boardwalk...it's the very first thing on the north end, near our beach house. It reminded me of the old Dowdy's Amusement Park that used to be here on the OBX. Lot's of old-school amusement games and rides...we went once with Gwyneth during the day...

I promise she's having fun...

And once at night by ourselves...

I don't ride these types of rides...Tricia's in there somewhere...

There she is...

Nate

Happy Father's Day

Happy day to all of the fathers out there! I'm having a great day so far...nothing beats a day of worshipping God with a bunch of friends, eating lunch with a bunch of family, and taking a nap with the two prettiest ladies in the world.

My father shared the following piece of the Bible in church this morning, and I thought I'd pass it along to you as an encouragement to all of the dads out there.

My children, listen to me.
Listen to your father's instruction.
Pay attention and grow wise,
for I am giving you good guidance.
Don't turn away from my teaching.
For I too was once my father's son,
tenderly loved by my mother...
My father told me,
"Take my words to heart.
Follow my instructions and you will live."
(Proverbs 4:1-4)

I'm thankful for my father, who gave me both good instruction and a good model. I pray I am already doing the same for Gwyneth.

And, as I did last year, I'm posting a video of the experience that made me really feel like a father for the first time...

Nate

The Shore - The Boardwalk

I only took a few hundred pics this past week while on my mini-vacation, so I figured it would be best to split this up into a few posts...

Anything you see in "quotations" is a Yankee/Jersey word/phrase that this southern boy normally wouldn't use.

Having been to Wildwood, NJ a few years ago, I did not have high expectations for the Ocean City Boardwalk... But, the fact that OC is a "dry" city (no alcohol is sold in the city limits), and the fact that the city actually seems to care about keeping itself family friendly, it was much cleaner and less chaotic than I expected. If you've never been to a "boardwalk" before, I'll show you a pic or two of it in my next post...every boardwalk I've been to is different, but I liked this one the best. It's not something that I'd want to vacation to all the time, but I can see why Tricia has such fond memories from her childhood...it's basically like going to a big state fair on the beach...lot's of food, lots of arcades and amusement rides, lots of people.

Some world-camous Kohr Custard, with "jimmies" (sprinkles)...

With our family...

Hermit crabs...we've got them on the OBX as well, but the colors make for a great pic...

Neither one of us loves arcades, but we decided to blow 5$ anyway...

By far, the tallest funnel cake I've ever seen...Tricia likes "extra sugar", and she did give me a bite or two before she finished it up.

Nate