Chris' Turns 28

I threw a surprise party for Chris a week before his birthday--pretty sneaky since he wasn't expecting anything so early! Anyway, it was a field day of his very own. We set up some lanes in our back yard, grilled some burgers, and had folks sign up for the event (or events) of their choice. The options were (get ready for some memories...): the 3-legged dash, standing broad jump, water balloon toss, gunny sack race (or trash bag in this case), and the 30 yard dash. It was so much fun. Chris' friend Kyle (red shirt) was the MC and made Chris laugh all night long. We could not have pulled it off with some of our new favorite people, Martin and Kate. Martin helped lure Chris away with a plan to go fishing and Kate and I were at the house "making dinner." It was a beautiful day and so fun to be with so many of our good friends.

Happy Birthday Chris!

Derrick, Beth, and Robin.
Ellen and Josie.
Party crowd.
Bocce ball as a warm-up. From left to right: Chris, Brian, Jeremy, and Matt.
Folks from our small group and out neighbors.

His favorite--chocolate zuchinni cake! Thank you Terry!

He loves me.
I think he had a great time and he was definitely surpised.

Sew sweet!

My mom called last weekend and said that she had purchased a sewing machine for herself, my sister, and me. She said all we had to do was go to Sear's and pick it up! So promptly on Saturday night last weekend, Chris and I went to Sear's in the Asheville mall (I might have been in there 2 other times in 5 years) and got our sewing machine. I love it. Chris probably knows more about sewing than I do, so I think it was almost as exciting for him!

By Sat. night I had cut out and almost completed curtains for our full bathroom. All we have is a shade and so it's all or nothing in terms of light. By Sunday night, I had both bathrooms curtained and ready for the week! This machine was so easy to use and I felt very productive. Mission accomplished! Thank you Mother for such a great gift. We felt (and feel) so blessed!

50th Post!

Yea, I've actually written on here 50 times! Well, here's one that I hope will make you smile...you might want to turn down the volume a bit before you hit play!

Christmas in February

Well, all I can say is that it has been less than a month since I last posted...not much, but a little less than 30 days. Anyway, I wanted to post a few pictures from Christmas so that we can finally move into 2008! My parents, brother and sister, and aunt and uncle gathered in Weaverville to celebrate the holidays. Everyone trickled in the weekend before Christmas. Chris and I were trying to be on the ball and get the tree, house decorated, baking ingredients handy, etc. I thought it turned out quite well...here are some pictures....

a new tradition i hope

nap time

my first try at a real centerpiece

in between feedings, there's puzzling

John and Elizabeth from Alexandria, VA folks!

Chris kept asking "What are we going to do with all of this food and wine?"

Stollen

(a bread I sort of thought was made up until I came across a recipe for it the other day in my Better Homes and Gardens cookbook)

Thanks for coming to Christmas at our house. We loved being with you and including you in our lives and praying with you for the new year. I want to remember last Christmas for a long time.

Thanksgiving 2007

This year we had the amazing opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with our dear friends Blair and Cara Jenkins. Blair's parents live in Greensboro, NC so we headed there Thanksgiving morning. We feasted on delicious food and enjoyed being part of another family this time. (By the way, this is the way to go for those of you already planning--or not planning--for next year. All of the fun and comforts of home without the drama and expectations and cleanup. It was so relaxing and enjoyable. So remember, this year "forget" and wait until the last minute to make plans then pick your friends that have the best sounding Thanksgiving traditions and make your case! I promise they'll feel sorry for you. PS--this works way better when you don't have family living close by.) The colors were incredible. In Asheville, they had already passed their prime, but in Greensboro--wow.

One of the cutest families we know!

We had an afternoon of picture taking, football, and improv gymnastics! (We realized that Chris needs a new barber after this was taken!)

The leaves were gorgeous.

I thought my mom would appreciate this picture. This tree was bright red and glowing.

Thanks Blair and Cara! We had a wonderful time.

Superhero 5K

Jane sent me some great pictures that she took from the 5K. Some people really went all out...and well, then there is me and my sister...

The ones to beat.

In action--watch out!!

Soup-er Man.

Medley of superheros.

Sisters and Chawcapaws

No, it's not an indian tribe. It's just a pet name we came up with for each other. Luci is the bawg chawcapaw and I'm the leetle cheekipoo, or something along those lines. I remember where we were in our old yard on Ave. C when we came up with this and how we couldn't stop laughing, but that's about it. It's evolved over the years, just like us though. My sister came down from Baltimore at the beginning of Nov. to see us. She stayed for a long weekend and spoiled us like always. She paid for many a good meal and made sure that we were doing okay--like the big sister she is!

We had the opportunity to take part in a local 5K. It had a superhero theme. Unfortunately, there is no picture of us in our sweet costumes, but basically we looked a little something like the Hamburglar with black masks on our face. Anyway, it was pretty entertaining to see everyone in their costumes, even though it was freezing. I really do need to post a picture of Jane in her wonder woman outfit (stay tuned).

We made it! So glad for this sister.

Going Home

This happened back in the middle of Oct., but I went home to Austin for a few days to see my folks. At the time, my mother wasn't feeling so well, so I hoped to spend some time taking care of her. As soon as I got my ticket though, she started feeling better and we ended up having a good ol' time. Here are some pictures from my time in Austin and Temple.

So, my mom became this incredible artist at the ripe age of 50, right around the same time she discovered that she has chronic lymphatic leukemia. I definitely think there was a correlation between the two things. I think that her artwork has allowed her to express some of the feelings and tangible evidences that have allowed her to deal with the prospect and reality of death as well as the value and preciousness of life. We have several of her pictures hanging in our house. They are a reminder of the beauty that this world has to offer, but also the hope, wonder, and expectancy of heaven. As gorgeous as things on earth can be, they will pass away and be replaced with a beauty, the beauty that never fades and cannot help but awe the beholder. Thank you Mother for showing us that there is more, and that this is not the end for those who trust in a mighty Savior.

We went to see my brother's new home in Temple, TX (about an hour north of Austin). He just got his first "real job" at Scott and White Hosipital in their pediatric oncology division. In some ways, it's like he just graduated from college. Woo hoo--10 years later! In other ways, he's this big scientific nerd that makes big decisions about life and death and does reserach that the average person needs a medical dictionary to understand (and even then....). Either way, he's smart and I'm glad he's doing what he is doing. He has an amazing moral sense about him that not many people have these days. He has a deep understanding of not only what is right and what must be done about a situation, but also a compassion and sensitivity for children and families dealing with such tradgedy. Ladies, this man is a keeper.

The Lunsford/McGlade Family Visit

In an effort to continue catching you up on our life this fall, Chris' family visited us the first week of October (everyone except April and Pete and Grandma Bonnie). This was the second time I've met Crystal, the first being our wedding. We were so excited that they all made the decision to come out for Crystal's birthday weekend!

First up was the Biltmore Estate. Chris and I were working, but they found their way around the place without our help. Jay brought us back some wine from the winery. And I think Crystal scored a shirt for her birthday!

The classic Biltmore garden shot...already framed.Another great shot of the area. What a cute couple! (They're called the Smokies for a reason. It looks like they are on fire quite often.)


I'm not exactly sure where this is other than off the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's no fourteener either--just a few feet shy! I think this was on the way to Cherokee.

Apple-picking turned pumpkin-picking this year. You should have seen the effort we gave it though! I'm pretty sure we found every last apple remaining on the trees here. After I fell off Chris' shoulder trying to get an apple, I think we gave in and bought the rest to fill our peck.


The fresh apple cider slushies at this place are incredible!

Asheville's finest new BBQ establishment, the Fiddlin' Pig (or Piddlin' Fig). We went here to celebrate Crystal's birthday, hush puppies, fried pickles, and the local phenomenon of clogging for all ages.

We had a great time with you all. Please come back soon...although hopefully we'll be out your direction before another 2 years passes us by! Thanks again for making the effort to travel all that way, take time off work, save the money, and spend the time with us that we've been missing.

We love you!

Caroline and Louise

I want to introduce you to Caroline (on right) and Louise (on left) and Caroline Louise (center). These precious girls are kin to my friend Jane. Caroline is her niece and Louise is a cousin. This picture was taken at the annual Coon Dog Day Festival in Saluda this last summer. It was a lot of fun with some street dancing, lake swimming, and good eating. (This is about as patriotic as I get.)

Hiking on the AT

Chris and I went for a hike awhile back and it was a gorgeous fall day. We hiked up to an old fire tower near Hot Springs. Here are some pictures from it...

There were tons of wildflowers and the sky was so blue.

A good hiker.

Asleep in the car on the way home, tuckered out from all the hiking. Homer and I ran down the trail together.

Paula's Birthday

Paula Pound had a birthday a few days later. We decided to check out a new place, the Fiddlin' Pig. It's mantra is "Bluegrass and Barbeque". We found both to be delish! Paula got a sweet grill for her birthday.

Complete with lollipop.

The Girls.

The girl in all of us.

Long Time No Post

Here is an attempt to check you up on the life and times of the McGlades during the months of Sept. and Oct. So, in chronological order, things that I've wanted to post about include:

my birthday, Paula's birthday, hiking, Chris' family visit, my trip to Austin, and Halloween. Without further ado...

If you are reading this, you probably know that I turned 30 not too long ago. Not quite as exciting as I'd always hoped (but maybe it's just yet to be seen). For at least a decade now, I've thought and said out loud that I believed turning 30 would (magically) allow one the freedom to really be themselves and worry less about what other think of them. I think of this is true, at least I've tried to let it be true. Here are some pictures of a wonderful night out that my friends Sarah and Jane coordinated. Indian food and dueling piano bars--the perfect combination! Mary Stuart, Jane, & Sarah

The other side of the table: Chris, me, and Robin on point

Pianos--duking it out!

One of my favorite people, Jane Bohannon Carter, ladies and gentlemen.

Busyness

Hi friendly readers. Sorry that I'm way behind. Sometime there is so much to say and not enough time to form the post as is the case with me these days. There has been a lot going on in my heart and in my head but not nearly enough time or energy to put in down in type...BUT seeing as it's 1:45 in the morning and I'm still awake, I figure if not now, when?

Tonight I went to see Kelly Willis at the Grey Eagle with friends Rita (longtime friend from Texas) and Sarah (fast friend as of a year). Kelly Willis is ingrained in my high school years like band practice and curly bangs. It was a lot of fun and very nostalgic for me in a lot of ways. I might as well face it, I'm a sentimental sucker. I love to reminisce and talk about the ways things were (all of 20 years ago! I'm not super sentimental about the first 10 years of my life). Anyway, I've been thinking about Austin lately, maybe because I'm going there in Oct., maybe because Chrissy is there this weekend, maybe because I loved living there after college, maybe because I'm missing the familiarity of a place to call home (the kind of place where you know the best places to eat, you know short cuts through a neighborhood to get around a traffic jam, you know the best place to run in town, the best views, the best hikes, you know the lingo, the news anchors, etc.). There is a history there and I guess the common denominator is the know-factor. I'm going on year 5 of life in Western North Carolina and still waiting for know-factor consistency. Every once and awhile I feel sentimental about this place (and I'm sure the grass would be so green if we ever move) like when we come back from a vacation or trip or when I'm able to give someone directions or when I'm at a restaurant and I think about how many times I've eaten there with different people. But all in all, it doesn't totally feel like home. Not yet. Should it? Will it? Give it time? I feel frustrated with myself sometimes about even feeling this way. Truth is, God has given us more than we could ever ask for or imagine in a short period of time with a cherry on top. Do you ever feel this way?

I'm getting a Mountain Xpress (local paper) and actually reading it this weekend.

Here's one thing I love about life here--the seasons! And it's almost time for apple-picking!!

Pinnacle Point

Chris and I went camping last weekend. We didn't want to risk going to a campground where we had a ton of neighbors and lots of noise, so we opted for a night at a "new" Young Life camp about 1 1/2 hours away. It's a camp that was given to YL several years ago. Unfortunately, YL camping hit a slump along with the rest of the economy a few years ago and building was halted until there was funding. Now the word on the street is that construction will start up again and supposedly Pinnacle Point will open summer of 2009. There is certainly a lot to be done! We camped at their Pond Shelter. There is a nearby trout pond with a 2-story shelter, fireplace, and a perfect place to camp. Here are some pictures...

Homer's Home

So, this is how our dog is often found in the morning--still alseep! Does Homer need a bigger crate? Some people say they enjoy the cozy feeling of their own cave, but it sure looks like he is trying stretch out, huh? Either way, he looks real cute!