Christmas letter 2008

Dear Friends & Family-                                  

Well, as much as 2007 seemed to be about blessings (promotions, new jobs, our wedding, etc.) for us, it seemed as though 2008 was just about the opposite! 2008 was just as busy as 2007, but in a very different way. God was working just as powerfully, but it's taken the year to go by for us to understand that.

In May 2008, after two years of working at Georgia Tech as a Hall Director, Sena quit her job. She was tired of living on campus (9+ years!) as well as the nights, weekends, and 50+ hour work weeks. So, it was time to make a change. The plan was to start job searching full time as soon as she was done, and that if by the end of May she didn't have a new job lined up, she'd start applying for 'less preferable' jobs. Well, by the end of May, she didn't have a job. Sena then started applying at businesses in their neighborhood—Michael's, Target, Starbucks, etc. However, come the middle of July, she was still unemployed and it seemed as though she would remain so for awhile...

Then, in mid-July, Seth was informed that he would be getting laid off from his company, Kurt Salmon Associates, after 7 years with them. The poor economy hits consulting companies first usually, so it was something that we should have seen coming. Never more than then was the poor economy evident to us... Suddenly, we were both unemployed.
Then, things started to turn around. John Stein, the Dean of Students at Georgia Tech, gave Sena a call. It was quite startling! While she was sitting at home, on the couch, in her pjs, Dean Stein called to offer her a job! It turned out that the Office of Student Integrity had a position to fill, but was unable to fill it permanently because of the state's budget cuts. They had only gotten permission to fill it temporarily, and so the Interim Judicial Coordinator position was filled! Sena started at the end of July, and the job was hers to keep until May 2009.

During the two weeks that Seth was without a job, some old colleagues of his called him to offer him a temporary position. We were both suddenly employed, but we were both temporary. The job was a consulting position that would have him in Omaha, Nebraska every week, Monday-Thursday for three months. During the 3 month period, Seth continued applying for jobs all over the Atlanta area and had multiple sets of interviews, but it was something completely unexpected that finally came through. A former co-worker of Seth's had forwarded his resume to a company in Dallas, TX, and that's the job that he got.

So, it seemed, God's plan for us was becoming clear. We were moving to Texas!  Since that piece has become clear, a lot was still in God's hand for Him to make happen. We were doubtful, at first, that all the pieces would be able to come together, but He has proven himself way bigger than any of our concerns, and so on Christmas Eve, we'll be moving ourselves to the great state of TX!

Sena doesn't have a job yet, and we don't have a place to live yet, but Seth's parents have been very gracious and have agreed to let us stay there as long as we need. We'll let you know when that changes, but for now, our address will be:
4325 Newton
The Colony, TX 75056

Thank you to everyone who helped us through our last few months (actually, the last year!). We couldn't have made it without the love and assistance from all of our wonderful friends and family.

Merry Christmas!

My ATL Tribute Ride

So, in continuing to cross Atlanta things off my list, I decided to do an Atlanta tribute ride. I had it all pictured in my head... driving the I285 loop with the GA sun shining down on me while listening to mixed tapes (ok, really it was cds, but 'mixed cds' just doesn't have the same ring to it) of songs that are meaningful to me in an "Atlanta way."

So, after burning two mixed cds Saturday night (yup, after getting over my creeped-outness from the Cabbage Patch place), I had it all planned out...

I got up Sunday morning and after putting out the Open House signs, I got in the car and headed to the interstate. Our house is only a few minutes from 85, so it wasn't long until the tunes were blaring, and I was getting sentimental. AND wishing that I had worn waterproof mascara.

Here's a little sample of the songs that played and the things I started thinking about and missing. Already.
-When You Say Nothing At All (Ronan Keating): my old apartment at Tech. specifically the living room where Seth proposed (during that song)
-Cupid Shuffle (Cupid): again, the living room in my old apartment where I practiced it over and over again while prepping for the wedding. More so, though, I was thinking about our wedding and how the dance floor was PACKED during that song.
-Mr. Brightside (Symp Vibes, but not with Scott Johnson as lead. boo.): our wedding, them singing (WITH Scott as lead!), and all of the concerts Seth and I have gone to over the years--including this last one where I got a shout-out!
-Shattered (OAR): Anne Marie. BFF.
-Wide Open Spaces (Dixie Chicks): It's my theme song. It's been my theme song. I played it when moving from Kzoo down here, and apparently need to still have it readily available cuz I'm moving again.
-Whatever You Like (Paper Trail): The election YouTube video from some school here in A-Town.
-Another Day Another Dollar (Tennessee Mountain Boys): Seth and I's honeymoon in the Smokey Mountains. Who knew this yankee girl could love me some bluegrass?
-So What/ U and Ur Hand (Pink): good songs to be listening to while driving the Buford connector curve at high speeds
-Georgia on my Mind (Ray Charles): obvious reasons, and the fact that it was played at our wedding
-Labels Or Love (Fergie): the fact that I got to see (and now own) one of the best movies of all time while living in one of the best cities of all time! A girl can never have enough SATC.
-Sweetest Mystery (Eddie Kirkland): Buckhead Church. All that I have to be thankful for. I'm more blessed than I can fathom.
-Bubbly (Colbie Cailat): it was Seth's ring on my phone for most of my time in ATL (but now it's 'strum' on the iPhone)
-The Longest Time (Billy Joel): the song that was blaring out of our car speakers when we got in the car after our wedding reception
-Great is Your Love (Breakaway Ministries): is a great worship song that Seth and I often sang on our way to church together
and finally...
-Oh, Atlanta (Alison Krauss): the lyrics are that she'll be coming back to Atlanta someday because she hears it calling to her. *sigh*

...

75 miles later and a ton of tears later, I feel better somehow. Relieved somehow. And yet, still extremely sad.

The Cabbage Patch Kids

So, since we know that we're for sure moving, I've created an "Atlanta to do list." And I've already started crossing things off the list! This past Saturday was a day alone to myself to get done the things that nobody would want to help me with (including Seth). I decided a long time ago that at some point, I would go up to the Cabbage Patch Factory place in Cleveland, GA to check it out. Well, as it turns out, Saturday was my time to do that.

After going to our final Blueprints study (where I mostly just collected information and tried not to smack the annoying guy next to me or fall off my chair--which is a whole other note), I headed to north Georgia.

It was a great drive as it was sunny and semi-warm outside. I had good cds with me, and really enjoyed the drive. I picked an interesting weekend to go up there because it was some sort of winter festival on their grounds, so one could buy boiled peanuts or homemade purses. I breezed through all of those stands as I was on a mission. I was going to see the birthplace of the Cabbage Patch dolls (CPDs for short). I didn't realize it would be literal.

They literally have a 'live' Cabbage Patch birth. Out of a Mother Cabbage. Under a Magic Tree. (The Magic Tree has 'crystals' on it that light up when Mother Cabbage is about to give birth.) Where Beebunnies sprinkle either blue or pink fairy dust to determine the doll's sex. And there's a Cabbage Patch Doctor there to help Mother Cabbage with delivery who makes some dumb comment about not cutting the cord well because it has an 'outie' belly button. "But then, it seems like all our kids have outies..." ha ha. And when I tell you I was creeped out, I'm under-estimating it.

I was half-expecting creepiness, but also half-expecting to learn more about how the guy came up with the doll idea, etc. But no. You walk in and see an old picture of him holding some of the originals (which look quite different than what we all picture when we think of CPDs). Then there are some preemies in real (though not plugged in) NICU incubator thingies, and then the next room is full of newborns in cribs, and then there's the worst room of all... the kids.

There's a school bus full of kids hanging out the windows, a classroom with a human, adult-sized doll sitting at a desk (she's the teacher, get it?), and there are kids sitting at lunch tables eating food. I'm telling you, I was in awe of how weirded out I was. The next room is where the Magic Tree is, and there are just all sorts of 'kids' for sale. BUT, there's a sign stating price tags make the kids nervous, so you have to ask one of the staff (all of whom are dressed like nurses or doctors) about adoption fees.

I took several pictures of the different kids, trying to capture 1. the creepy factor and 2. what I would look like if I were a CBD. Unfortunately, the camera battery died before I could capture the 'live' birth, so for all of you wishing you could see that for yourself, you'll have to go there to see it.

Seth and I always buy tree ornaments or magnets at places we travel to, so I bought the least creepy ornament I could find and then left as quickly as my feet would carry me. And then it was off back to Atlanta to continue checking things off my list...

Seth's 30th Birthday weekend

Rob, Seth, and Brian

So, if you know Seth, chances are pretty high that you've heard of The Muckrackers. The Muckrackers is a group out of Louisville, KY that Seth has been a HUGE fan of since he lived there years ago. (They are a local Louisville group that he's heard perform several dozen times, and Seth tells pretty much everyone about them.)

Ok, so, given that Seth is such a big fan of them, I decided to try to give him a surprise for his 30th birthday this summer. I coordinated with the group to get them to do a living room concert for us and some friends. I had been planning and coordinating for months, and it finally took place the weekend of July 4th, 2008.

I had originally tried to get them to come down to Atlanta, but then one of the guys was in a boating accident, and Seth and I were in a wedding in mid July, so it turned out that they couldn't come that weekend. We decided to go up to Louisville instead, to see our friends up there, and then they could come to that friend's living room instead of our living room.

It was great. Everyone knew what was going on except Seth.

One day while were were there, we were all just taking it easy around the house and all of us had made ourselves 'busy' so when the knock on the door came, it kinda made sense that Seth was answering it. Even though it was at someone else's house.

You should have seen his reaction when he opened the door and there's Rob (holding his guitar!)!

The guys then proceeded to do a little VH1 behind the scenes/pop up video/concert in Kevin and Kristin's living room! It was AMAZING! And, I think, the best gift I could have ever given him for his 30th birthday. (Well, in addition to the scrapbook. :-)

A huge thanks to Rob and Brian and the rest of the group!!!!

Christmas letter 2007

Friends and Family- 
                                                                  
It's almost an understatement to say that the past few years have been a busy for us. There was Seth's promotion, Sena's graduation, a move across the country, a new job, buying a house, and not least of all, we got married! Yup, we've definitely been busy, but it's been a blast and we're so happy that our friends and family have been able to be a part of it along the way.

July 2006 was a month of upward and outward. After being with Kurt Salmon Associates for 5 years, Seth was promoted to Manager (it's actually his second promotion!) which means that he's doing less of the day-to-day work on projects, but more of the managing the people who do. He also became 'settled' which means no more moving around every few months! That same month, Sena finished graduate school. After 3 years (and 64 credits), Sena graduated with a Master's degree in counseling from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI.

Immediately upon graduation, Sena moved down to Atlanta, GA to accept a position with Georgia Tech as a Hall Director. Never having been a fan of snow and cold, she put her three years of experience at Western as an Assistant Hall Director to good use in order to bring her south and closer to Seth. The move from Michigan to Georgia (an all-day drive) was quite the  trip with us in Sena's jam-packed Focus and her parents pulling a U-Haul with their truck. Midway, they stopped in Louisville, KY at one of Seth's old favorite sandwich shops and Sena's mom liked the fresh-squeezed lemonade so much she won't stop talking about it. ;-)

The first few months of Sena living in Atlanta was quite an adjustment (in a good way) for us.  And six months later, on December 12th of 2006, Seth asked Sena to marry him. It's a perfect story. For a girl who doesn't like surprises, this was the best she could have ever imagined—roses, tea lights, music, not to mention that Seth had cleaned her apartment for her!

The next nine months flew by in a whir of planning, but on September 29th, 2007, the 'he' and 'she' became a 'we.' The weekend surrounding the wedding was full of fun events so that those who were able to travel to Atlanta could make the most of their trip. We planned a pizza and games night, separate bachelor/ette events, an appreciation party, the wedding and celebration reception, as well as a brunch and gift opening the next day. After all was said and done, we truly believe the weekend was perfect. Sure things went wrong—sashes left in WI which required overnight shipping, slide shows that didn't happen because we forgot to tell anyone our computer's password, but the weather was perfect and it was so amazing to have our closest friends and family around us. After everyone left on Sunday, we packed up the car and drove into the Smoky Mountains for a wonderful week of some much-needed time away to relax—just the two of us.

In addition to all of the above, we managed to buy a house this past summer as well! Something that people usually ask is why, given that we have a free apartment on Georgia Tech's campus, would we buy a house? Well, we're not quite sure, but we'd been casually looking for a year and fell so much in love with this house that we couldn't talk ourselves out of it!  And now we are enjoying the chance to slowly turn it into a home.  If you ever want to visit us or Atlanta, you'll always have a place to stay—just let us know you are coming!

With all our love,