i am a little embarrassed

i started feeling really guilty reading about everyone else's life and never updating about our world.

we had a once in a lifetime opportunity on tuesday, october 6th. we were about 20 feet from bono's face in atlanta, watching u2. i was seriously moved. i left 100x more of a u2 fan than when i arrived. there were many magical moments, but one in particular that i can't stop reliving. they were singing "i still haven't found what i'm looking for", which happens to be my favorite u2 song. bono put the mic down by his side and 70,000 people in a sold out georgia dome where singing the same song in unison. i just couldn't stop thinking about the kingdom...cold chills.

scroll to 32 minutes in to hear the song...

for the past 2 months derek and i have been on a planning committee for a golf tournament. but not just any golf tournament, one in memory of my sweet mom. my dad wanted to do something positive with his time and grief and decided in august that he wanted to have a golf tournament to raise money for cancer research. i assumed he was thinking the spring, but no, he was thinking october. oh right dad, october 2010? um no. so, we jumped on board, and i'm so glad we did!

we had almost 70 golfers and raised almost $12,000 that will benefit relay for life/american cancer society. it was really special day that combined all of my mom's closest friends and family celebrating and honoring her. she was a loved woman.

here are some pictures that derek took of the event. it will probably become an annual event, SO if you're a golfer... you should definitely play next year!

here is my mom's family and closest friends. her sister wanted us to wear "fight like a girl" shirts because that is how she lived. it was a special day.

Weak Sauce Bloggers

Geez we're bad at blogging.

3 months. Where do you even start? How 'bout... "Christmas was good..." or "Happy New Year!" or something cute about Cupid and the love of your life...

Even St. Paddy's has passed us by. Oh well. 

Hey that's my excuse–too many holidays to blog–and between buying presents, making resolutions, going on dates, and drinking Irish beer, I've just been way too busy.

Sure. Thats believeable.

Errr.... So here's what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna skip all that stuff. No recap, no 3 months worth of stories, wish you were here's, you missed this's, or anything. Just a here and now.

Summer and I are super-pumped about spring. Our first flowers bloomed in our planter in the front of our new house. They were daffodils (I think) and looked awesome. I'm sure if I have anything to do with it, all our plants will be dead by May.

Saturdays are quite a transition when Spring arrives. Spending winters on the slopes teaching snowboard lessons, I can now sleep in, drink coffee, and unfortunately, mow grass. The weekly (or bi-monthly perhaps) grass mowing is most definitely a new chore for yours truly, being that I haven't mowed for... well... about 3 years. But mowing I can do–used to mow golf courses back in the day–so I'm sure I won't kill the grass.

I know finances are tight for most all of us these days, and traveling is one of those "first thing

 to go" type deals, but with Spring arriving, I'm wanting to hit up a sweet camping trip. You folks who are interested need to shoot us a message and we can get said sweet trip together "with all our faves" as Sum would say. Camping is cheap, and so is gas these days, so no excuses. Work it out.

And as we pass from Winter to Spring I'd like to leave you with this lovely parting shot...

we're back

lately i just keep thinking about how terrible we are at blogging, but then i remember how crazy our lives are and that blogging just doesn't fit in right now.  so, sorry if you are daily disappointed.

friday we closed on our house and it snowed.  derek says it always snows on important days in our lives (remember april 7th, 24 degrees and snow?).  it was surprisingly easy to buy a house, for real.  we just continually feel humbled that we got this precious place.  the people we bought the house from prayed for us in the lawyers office and gave us a card with money in it.  i mean, hello, we just bought a house from you and you are giving us money?  they are fabulous and jesus is taking care of us.

so saturday morning i wake up at 5:50 am because i am so freakin' excited and start loading things into my car in the dark while it is 18 degrees outside.  i'm weird.  

derek keeps saying "your family rolls deep".  by that he means, we had 6 trucks and a trailer at our house at 8 am and were moved into our new place by 11.  it really does pay to have a big family:).

derek and i are obsessed with the house.  we actually don't ever want to leave it.  here are few pictures of the house in progress of decorating.  oh, and you know i already have some christmas decorations up:).

living room

our fabulous thrift store chair, 12.50

so everyone please come visit us.  we have room for 7 guests to sleep comfortably!

happy thanksgiving everyone.

Around Ohio in 80 days.. or 2...

We're bad at blogging. There I said it. I see friends on facebook that write like 6 a day (I don't READ them, just know that they do), and then we write 6 per year. I guess somewhere in between is the happy median. Oh well...

The last few weeks have been interesting, providing for me a little trip into a previous life...

2 weeks ago, Decyfer Down, friends that we used to tour with called. They were in a bind and needed a lead singer to do a show in Ohio. I'll admit that I was instantly excited, and considered how fun it would be to front a band again, especially a hard-rock band like Decyfer Down. They also needed a bassist for the show and called upon my brother. Thing is, they called on Sunday, and the show was on Wednesday. Monday night I am emailed a setlist and have to learn 9-10 songs before we leave on Tuesday after work. Yikes.

I'll have to be honest, the initial excitement wore off and I was wondering if I could still even DO it. Plus, I had to spend Tuesday & Wednesday nights away from Summer which didn't at all sound appealing to me. But Kev and I crammed songs, left together on Tuesday afternoon for the little trip.

Over the next 36 hours, I realized all the things I didn't miss about the music industry. First off, after a 2 hour trip to Statesville, we drove 6+ hours and stopped at a cheap hotel. Deja vu. The smell of a cheap hotel at 3:00 am is a very distinct smell. They all must clean (or not clean) with the same stuff. Only thing missing here was Kent staying up late watchin' TV while Kev and I fell asleep.

Up in the morning at the earliest of musician hours, 10:00 am. Back on the road. For 3 more hours. At this point I'm asking myself how I ever endured the trips to South Dakota and Minnesota in the past. We arrive where we're playing around lunch.

And lunch? You guessed it, sandwich trays. In our 6 years of touring previously, this is THE staple for lunch for a band. Cheap, bland, and easy to carry. And Cheap. After eating as much as I could until my taste buds said bleh, we load in and set up, which is another thing I don't remember liking and for good reason. I will say, after load in and load out, I see how I stayed skinny back then.

Sound companies. We used to carry our own, but lugging that crap around gets tiresome. Decyfer Down had their own, but sold it off... So we had the great pleasure of using a production company. Only thing is, I'm not sure THEY knew how to use their equipment (This was also par for the course). After 2 useless hours where we had HOPED to practice the songs I'd NEVER sang before in my life, they finally got everything working and we were cleared to soundcheck. 1 run through of the setlist, and it was time to eat dinner.

The guy puttin' on the show was taking us out to dinner with some kids who wanted to meet us. That's all well and good, but they weren't really dying to talk to us, and after the guys choice of Applebees, I wasn't really dying to eat. They must freeze all the stuff in the same freezer, because it all tastes alike. Bleh.

Upon return, it was nearing time to play, and I had my cheat sheets hidden underneath the monitor so I wouldn't forget the words... and then 45 minutes flew by. We played a set, the kids loved it. I made it through, and sweat off like 15 pounds. It was fun. Not the greatest thing ever, but fun. And good.

We hung out afterwards, and the DD guys had us sign stuff with them, even though on their posters we're OBVIOUSLY not in the band. But it was good to talk to people, love on 'em, encourage them, and even get rid of 60 Monday Morning CDs at $0.50 a pop. At least that bought me beef jerky on the 10 hour drive back to my car. 

We drove through the night, and I went straight to work as we rolled into Hendersonville... and over the next few days decided this:

I have been bitter. I have been mad at God, and he has been working on my heart for a year and a half almost now (on this issue anyway). I was angry for our music careers being cut short, and being cheated by multiple people, lied to by others. I wanted my dream back. --- but while gone, and when I got home I realized I love my life. Even when its hard. I love Summer, I missed her. I love the mountains, my career, my church, my friends. I love Asheville, mountain biking, snowboarding... cookouts at our house, tobacco, beer, and board games on Beka and John's porch. I am blessed. Even without my "so called" dream.

I also found what I loved ON the trip, AWAY from all the things I love. I love music and performing, but I don't have to drive around and see the entire country like I did before. I can do it at home. Not for a living, but to LIVE.

So as Summer and I look around Hendersonville for a house, or have to work late, go in early, or get to meet at Papas & Beer for lunch, I am thankful. A "regular life" is actually quite extraordinary.

in other news...

so as everyone knows from the previous blog and/or facebook pics i got a tattoo yesterday.  its actually shocking when i look at my wrist and think that it is there for forever.  good thing it is beautiful.  thanks to derek.

it means a lot to me.  i chose a tree because i love nature and beauty, and trees represent that part of me.  also, a tree represents so much life and growth.  its such a reminder of god's faithfulness. within the leaves are the words "it is well."  em and i actually stole this from a girl on her summer project, but it took on such meaning to me recently.  this has always been my favorite hymn, but after derek sang this song at my mom's funeral it has become an anthem of hope for me.  the song sings faith for me when i can't believe.  the words surrounded by so much life is a testament to the faith god is growing in me.  i love when i look at my wrist now all i think about is my mom and jesus. 

in other news...

I GOT A JOB TODAY!  as most of you know, i have been searching all summer for another job.  in june i told my school i wasn't coming back.  it was a hard decision because i loved working at atkinson, but it was time to move on and use my degree and find some more challenges and something that offered more advancement opportunities.  i have never really been a "career-minded person", but my goal in searching for jobs was to do something that i felt like mattered and work for a place that i could use my gifts.  i was getting frustrated after working so hard and not getting any return.  i was just trying to believe that god had the perfect job picked out for me.

after applying for over 15 jobs and not having a single interview, i finally was offered an interview at the children and family resource center in my town.  the job title is adolescent parenting program coordinator.  the description jumped out at me at once and i told derek, 'i think this job is for me!'  anyways, after 2 interviews and another session today, they offered me the job.  it is actually a slightly different job than what i applied for.  i will be the lead coordinator for the adolescent parenting program (app).  

i will have a caseload of 14-20 girls that i will look after to achieve the 2 main goals of the program:  graduating form high school and preventing a second pregnancy.  also, i will be doing promotion and recruiting for the program.  i will also be in charge of dreaming up new ideas to grow the program.  the program is designed for low income girls, most of which have little to no family support.

i feel so blessed to have this opportunity.  i can't believe i am going to get paid to love on these girls.   i am super excited and thankful.

Festivals Inc.

Well... the summer is winding down to its end. As you all lament on your inability to wear white for many months, hopefully a blog is just what you need to cheer you up. I know thats what I need. Ha.

So we have a few fun stories from the summer. (since the last blog anyways, the costa rican traffic cop, etc...) Too bad I probably can't remember many. :)

This summer has been a busy one, but the last month we've kinda relaxed a bit and enjoyed some time for ourselves. Our only road trips all came in one week, where we took 3 trips to Charlotte in 5 days...

#1. Stone Temple Pilots - When I was a kid, my first CD was Pearl Jam Ten, which probably changed my life... but i'm almost sure my second CD was STP Core, and that was big time. Loved it, and loved the band, and wanted to BE Scott Weiland (minus the reliance upon heroin to function :) ) So my buddy Justin hooked me up with a ticket and we got to be right up front for a show I thought I'd never see. They did break up 3 times or something, which is almost as much as Summer and I, but like us are back together for a reunion show. (well WE'RE not doing a show... but you get the point) It was amazing. Here's a pic of that night, some of you will enjoy, excluding Jared Clark, who told me "the 90's called, it wants its music back." :)

#2. Emily's birthday in Charlotte. Fun time at Nolan's Kitchen, followed by a John Mayer concert. Same place as STP, but about a 1/4 mile farther away. :) He's a great guitarist, but he took his shirt off and Summer thought that was hot. End of fun night for me. :) jk. Dude can play, even if he did seem a bit "under the influence."

#3. Summer's trip to move her little brother into college.... Lot of miles for 1 week.

------

This past weekend was our lovely hometown festival "The Apple Festival" where I think about a bajillion people come to a little piece of downtown to watch cloggers, parades with pickup trucks, and other assorted country-fied good times. But everyone's favorite, yours and mine, is festival food. I'm talking about the big fat lamb gyro, or the hot dog with hand cut french fries, or bbq. Makes me hungry thinking about it. You know you want some. We did, and we chowed down Saturday, chasing it with an apple slush, and a turtle caramel apple, which is probably the most amazing thing i've eaten in decades. (and they're available year round!) Then we climed up on top of my friends family store and watch people on the street from the rooftops. It was quite fun!

The whole weekend the plan was for Summer and Emily to buy each other a lovely birthday present. I designed their request, and on Labor Day we printed them at OfficeMax and headed off to get their TATTOOS.

Which was hilarious. My wife was adorable, and I think she probably made an impression on the tattoo shop guys. :) She nearly fainted at one point in the middle, and cracked them up the whole time, never failing to have something funny to say. Be sure and check her facebook for a picture album to go with the story. I'm sure Emily will have some pics up as well.

Summer will be writing about her experience soon. Stay tuned. :)

-Derek

From Atlantic to Pacific, Gee the Traffic Cops are Terrific.

Catchup time. Been a while, blog readers... sorry... (Long Blog Alert)

Lemme just jump right in here. Sum and I had a blast in Costa Rica. For those of you who haven't heard the stories, here goes...

After some breakfast Chic-Fil-A, and a short drive to the Charlotte Airport, we were airborne and on our way. A few hours later we were gazing out the window at volcanoes, and eventually the pacific coastline. We landed in Liberia, and I'll admit I found the open-air airport surprising. Just a big metal building, 2 walls, open on each end, with huge fans overhead. I guess when its 88 degrees all year, why waste energy on heating and cooling?

Quick drive to our rental car joint, and off we were in our Daihatsu Bego. We followed our directions, and everything was easy up to the part where they said "turn downhill down the dirt road, through several small villages." Thats where it got fun. A VERY bumpy hour later, and we enter Playa Guiones, our destination for the first part of the trip. We arrived at sunset and it was incredible...

A quick walk, and we went back to the Harmony Hotel, which was also incredible. You should go, doesn't matter who "you" are. Excellent food, beautiful setting, and the best mojito the world has ever known.

Our days here consisted of surfing, which was awesome. At low tide, Casey and I learned to surf, got up our first try, and rode waves for an hour. Incredible. Try #2 at high tide was not near as successful, which yielded me two big bruises on each arm and a bloody nose (not sure what from...)

Summer loved (well, everyone did) the horseback riding on the beach and through the rainforest. We saw a lot of the area, and got to gallop for the first time ever. ouch. Here's us on the beach, getting sore in certain areas.

Playa Guiones was a special place, and the Harmony Hotel was special too. I want to go back, and take everyone I know. That kinda special.

Tuesday was travel day... drive across the country to La Fortuna, at the base of the Arenal Volcano. Should be uneventful, nothing to report. Its just a drive.

As many of you know, I (Derek) have never gotten a speeding ticket. And apparently today was no exception. After a super confusing conversation, where our language barrier fell just enough for me to understand that either I drive 3 hours outta my way and pay a hundred dollar ticket (plus 40$ for sum taking a PICTURE of it) or i can pay this lovely civil servant 40 bucks and the ticket magically disappears. Even in Spanish, I understood what was going on here. :)

La Fortuna was incredible, but not quite the "special" place that was the Harmony. This was more of a place for adventure and fun. And boy was it ever. 

We rafted down a class 3-4 river, the rio toro. It was great, especially when i looked back and saw summer's face, screaming, surrounded by whitewater... but somehow managing to stay in the boat. :)

We went to a couple butterfly conservatories, which Norman wanted to see, and none of us objected. It was pretty cool to see so many flying around us. And on us.

The River, The Butterflies, the amazing hot springs that we spent our last night in; They all made for quite a vacation. But in my opinion the coolest thing had to be the zip lines near the volcano. We rode a tram up a mountain to an incredible view of Lake Arenal, and the Volcano. It honestly looked like a scene from Jurassic Park or something. And the best part was, we got to enjoy the view at 40mph suspended on a steel cable 600 feet above the treetops, screaming like a little boys and girls.

I really suggest you save your money, and go do this. Hell, i'd even contribute, just so we could talk about it afterwards. It was just about as close to flying as I imagine anything could be. Wow.

So that was Costa Rica, in a nutshell. Be sure to ask us more questions, as there's plenty more thats fun to tell.

and... 2 weeks later....

Sum and I are at the Atlantic Ocean. Quick weekend trip with Emily, and we had a great time. Got a lot of sun, relaxed, checked out a little karaoke, and even sang a little myself. Summer and Emily made me. 

I sang some Bon Jovi, and this really awesome 300lb man tapped me on the shoulder after I sang. I turned around and this rather imposing fella asked me, "Whattreya drinkin?" I answered, "Bud Light." (it was on special for 1.50, gimme a break). The big guy raised a pitcher and said with the world's largest intoxicated smile, "Lemme fill'er up for ya. You just keep singing. You're the man." At this I grinned, accepted his offer, then laughed as he walked back to the end of the bar, yellin' at his friends, "Thats my MAN... he's got TWO." (Later I realized he was talking about two women. Ha. I was sitting between Sum and Emily.

A few fist pumps, comments, and the big guy fighting to light our cigarettes.. ("Nah man I GOT THIS... You're the MAN, and I'M lighting your cigarettes!") and it was time to go. I gave the guy a handshake and a pat on the back, and Sum gave our new friend a hug. Hilarious memory.

So thats about it. I really promise to do shorter blogs from here on out. Sorry people. At least I included pics so it reads like a children's book. Even Mackie can read this one.

I'll leave you with a pic of Summer at Myrtle Beach that I took... with her new addition to her nose, which I'm quite fond of. Enjoy.