Where's Home Again?

JD and I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with both of our families - it was the first time we'd been home or seen our families since August! It was a surreal moment when I saw my parents looking for me in the crowd at the airport; it felt like I'd been gone both for years and only for a day. Most of the week was spent relaxing: reading, chatting, eating, sleeping.

I did get to visit my two bridesmaids, Ashley and Michele. Ashley's baby (okay, she's already 1 1/2!) Maddie is way too adorable!

JD drove in Tuesday night, and the Thanksgiving meals commenced. After a delicious turkey dinner with, as JD argues, the best home-made apple pie ever at my mom's house, we enjoyed steak and ham with the Ponds on Friday. I got to reconnect with my sister-in-laws and even to see one of our favorite couples, Steve and Laurie, as they spotted us playing aerobe and pulled over to say hi! What a great suprise.

Saturday saw a mean whirly ball match between the Pond family, my dad, and Michael. Some players left the field with whirly ball wounds! We drove the 10 hours home today only to find that our town was buried under 3 inches of snow! I almost didn't recognize it! It is supposed to keep snowing tonight and tomorrow, so stay tuned for some pictures of our first snowfall.

Home for the Holidays

It's kinda strange to blog when most of our readers are here in Atlanta! But I wanted to stay up on my pictures, so here are some of the kitties and the family reunion between me and the family. Now, we're just waiting for JD to show up!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JD!!!

JD turned 28 today! We had a really fun weekend celebrating his birthday a couple of times. Friday, we had our new small group over for a pot luck dinner and board games. It was interesting playing games that asked players to drink water from a bowl like a cat, hold a spoon in your mouth for fifteen minutes, and smell a number of disgusting smells chosen by the other players with people you've met once before. We certainly know each other better now.

Saturday, JD's pilot friend Brian called to let us know that he'd flown into Peoria, a town 40 miles away, for the night. We drove over to see him, and the three of us had a delicious birthday dinner in celebration of JD. It was great to see an old friend, and I got to explore a new town.

Sunday, JD and I cooked a tasty brunch with his favorite, french toast! For dinner, I made another favorite, spaghetti and meatballs with a wedge salad. With a birthday dessert and some presents, the evening was perfect.

Yesterday, Brian mentioned that I'd be celebrating a lot more of JD's birthdays with him, and I got excited! I can't wait to do this for the rest of my life.

Making Friends

JD and I are so excited because we might actually have a small group now! When we attended Connections at Eastview Christian Church a few weeks ago, we met a great couple, Justin and Ashley, who we've had dinner with since. The four of us decided to start our own small group, so Justin and Ashley contacted a couple they'd just met at church a few weeks prior, Steve and Emily. Emily is applying to ISU's Master's program in English next fall! We could be working together soon. Then the church e-mailed us the names of a fourth couple who was looking for a small group, Frank and Laurie. We all met up this morning at church and attended the service together; afterwards, we went out for breakfast and got to know each other better. We have plans to see everyone again next weekend to talk specifics for our new group. It feels so good to meet some Christians our ages finally that we can form friendships with as a couple. Please keep our fledgling group in your prayers as we get to know each other.

Three more weeks of school until final exams!!!

Niagra Falls Trip

Last Wednesday, JD and I packed up and headed to Niagra Falls, Canada so that I could present at the... ready?... Mid-Atlantic Popular and American Culture Association Annual Conference (the customs officials made me say that several times - like they thought I'd actually make that up!). We stopped on the trip there and back at Kim and Andrew's in Michigan; from there, it was only another 7 hours. Strangely enough, I got an e-mail right before we left from a fellow PhD student at ISU who was already there! She had seen my name in the conference program, but neither of us had realized that the other was presenting. JD and I met up with her, Ericka, on Thursday night. Friday at 11:30, I presented a super-condensced version of my thesis on fate and free will in the Harry Potter series. The rest of Friday, JD and I walked around town, enjoying the falls (amazing!!) and spending way too much money. It was so nice to get away; it's been since Labor Day that we've had a break. Oh, don't worry about Gizmo! Emily came by and checked on her, complaining that after she had fed Gizmo, the kitty wanted nothing to do with her! What a snob (Gizmo, not Emily!)! Now we've begun the 3-week countdown until Thanksgiving. I can't wait to visit everyone in Atlanta!!!!!!! Check out our brief Falls video:
A quick fall update: When we got home, fall seemed like it had progressed by leaps and bounds! Here are some pictures of our street: