Reunions

 September 2011' - Georgia
The month of September was spent reuniting with friends and family all over the state of Georgia. First and foremost, sweet little Scottie Boo. My sweet pup. The picture of Scottie Boo above just warms my heart and cracks a smile on my face each time I see it. I'm the person who grabs there phone, runs through iphoto to find a picture of my dog when others show off their kids. The sweet guy remembers me and has adopted Derek as his papa.  Good times were had with sweet Scottie, like taking him to an arts-n-crafts festival where he was doted on and petted by every child and woman!

Sweet, sleeping boo

Saturday - Atlanta 
 We ventured out to North Atlanta to start a whirl-wind weekend visiting friends. Unfortunately, I didn't take a lot of pictures at the beginning, so Adam and Brooks Witter are absent from this as are Derek's friends from college, BUT, the amazing dessert we had is pictured above. Don't you love it when your friends live 5 minutes from a Kroger so you can feast on all the ice cream selections! And, don't you love it when you are so jet-lagged that you wake up every morning at 4...so you creep downstairs in your friends house and go through their DVDs. Anyway, we had lunch with Derek's friend and wife from college in downtown Atlanta then moseyed our way up to the Mall of Georgia for some retail therapy and a hang-out session with our newlywed friends, The Witters.

 Sunday - 
We left The Witter's bright and early and drove the nostalgic 316 route from Atlanta to Athens to visit my university town and the lovely newlyweds, The Dashers. Our plan was to go to Athens Church, my church home in college, but we made a detour to the Cracker Barrel for an early morning breakfast before church. My church has changed a lot. I have to say I was visually overloaded and not as spiritually stimulated, but it's still an amazing church that is pouring into the Athens community. Andy Stanely didn't preach as I was hoping.  After, we began our Athens food tour of showing Derek the amazing food I've been talking about for two years. First up, Five Star Day. Um, yum! 

Five Star Day - Picnic Chicken Salad

Five Star Day - Mac-n-cheese

Five Star Day - Derek's meatloaf

The Dashers! (Sorry Pickle)

The Historic Georgia Theatre after being rebuilt following a major fire my last year in Athens.

My HUSBAND, the Dashers and THE ARCH!

 This needs some explaining. The ARCH is the symbol of the University of Georgia. The ARCH reminds us of what we are working towards, for and all the greats that have traveled before us. YOU DO NOT WALK THROUGH THE ARCH until you have graduated (if you are like me), but tradition states FRESHMEN are NOT ALLOWED to walk through the ARCH and must walk around. If you are a guest, feel free to walk under the hallowed gateway to the beautiful North Campus.

Ringing the Victory Bell

 If UGA wins a game, you can hear the bell ringing for the next 24 hours as people line up to ring the sacred bell signaling Victory once again!

Behind these cuties is my school, SPIA. (School of Public and International Affairs)

North Campus Fountain. I have danced in this fountain many a time!

Prom photo in front of the fountain and plus a few pounds!

View from the 7th floor of the Library. You can see our Stadium dead center

 So funny story, not everyone knows about this beautiful view. Most of us try to avoid the Library at all costs. I made it until my senior year, (last week) before I walked in the doors. Lindsey and Anson had never been up to see the view, either. But, it is amazing, hidden behind the history of music books.

Goooooooooooooo Dawgs, sic em' woof woof woof woof! Standing on the bridge that overlooks the field.

 September 9-13, 11' - Midland
Soooo, Derek and I had prayed for a church job leading worship starting around March of this year. We asked the Lord for favor in finding a job and to provide a job BEFORE we left Korea. With 55 job applications in, 0 interviews and 5 days left in Korea, Derek applied to Our Saviors Lutheran in Midland, Texas. Hours later, the pastor emailed Derek asking if they could talk. Derek called over skype. Spoke with the pastor, really connected theologically and was offered an interview the following morning. We prayed. He interviewed. They chose Derek to pursue. We were flown out to Midland to meet the church and have the church get to know us. Derek led worship on Sunday morning. We spent time with the elders of the church and their wives and we fell in LOVE! We were blown away by the Holy Spirit's presence in the church body, the mighty prayer of the people and the generous love they rained over us. 

The church

We also fell for the local grocery story, H.E.B., and the selection of cheeses and samples!

 Back to Georgia for a Newlywed Couples Weekend
The Witters, The Dashers and The Fekkes' spent the weekend up at the Witters mountain lake house cabin catching up and EATING! North Georgia is an interesting place, for sure. Here is an interesting mercantile story known as "Goats on the Roof." Look closely and you will spot one.

Brooks smelling a "fart" candle. You can see how she feels about it.

Adam demonstrating how they capture the smell.

Never leave home without it!

a goat on the Roof!

The rest of our time in Georgia was spent packing - everyday - my stuff. Thank God I married a professional packer. Derek moved furniture as a part time summer job in college, so I made piles and he packed. We also enjoyed many delicious dinners with the family. Dad made us steak, crab and shrimp for dinner one night helping us add 5 of the 10 lbs we were working on. Mom made us Thanksgiving dinner (as requested). It was sooooooooo good! My first year in Korea mom shipped boxed Thanksgiving dinner to me...this was way better because it had her personal touch. We spent time with my grandparents, great-grandfather and went to a Georgia Tech game. Good times! Next up, our east-coast-to-west-coast road-trip!