Winter Has Begun

a fork in the road

Can I Call It Home Yet?

We've "come home" to Grand Haven for the first time, back from our visit to California.

There's something dreamlike about visiting what used to be your home. It's like when you take an unfamiliar winding road and come upon the backside of a familiar building. "This leads to here?"

I'm not used to flying into San Diego with fresh suitcases. I am surprised by which friends stick around and make a plan to see me while I'm there. I'm not ready for such long goodbyes from my

Celebrating the Year

We ran out into the cold, hugged our parents, siblings and best friends, and jumped into our freshly and colorfully decorated get-away car, making sure Rachel's wedding dress was tucked in before shutting the door. As we began driving across the icy pavement, our friends ran alongside the car cheering. In all of the excitement, one groomsman (I won't mention his name*) slipped in front of the headlights, tearing a hole in the rental tux and barely evading an accident! We waved goodbye and we were on our way to downtown Grand Rapids for the night. In the low light of the dashboard we looked at each other, smiling and laughing. What a beautiful day, what a beautiful time in our story. 

Today Rachel and I are in downtown Grand Rapids once again, not only to celebrate 2013, but to