"Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth." Psalm 96:1
Welcome to 2008! Can you believe that another year has passed already? A lot has changed for Adam & me this year: I started working for The DeLois Smith All Star Team; my sister Christy got married & we sold our first house to her & her husband Jason; we moved into our first custom-built home; Adam's brother Aaron & his wife Jessica moved to Manhattan; we welcomed a new music minister at Carterville Baptist Church...I could go on and on. I think the word that would sum up my 2007 is CHANGE.
I kind of hope that 2008 is a little calmer, but it seems that life moves quicker the older you get. And as of tomorrow, I will hit the big 2-9. I don't feel that old!!!! I guess that's a good thing.
Adam & I have been blessed with abundant travel opportunities, and this holiday season was no exception. Our office takes a bonus trip at the end of the year as a way to reward strong production and build team member relationships with each other. Over the years, we've been able to go to Hawaii, Paris, & London. This year, we traveled to Washington, DC and New York City. We always enjoy DC because of the rich history and learning opportunities (I think Adam has read every single word on the World War II Memorial and in the Holocaust Museum). The good thing about this visit is that we were able to take things at a slower pace and spend a few days by ourselves while the rest of the team visited Williamsburg, Virginia. Since we were in DC just a year and a half ago, we didn't face that usual "I've-got-to-see-it-all-in-three-days" frenzy. We were able to share a dinner with my old friend Joshua Rogers and his fiancee Raquel at Grillfish...which was delicious; and we discovered our new favorite restaurant, Georgia Brown's. If you ever visit, it is a wonderful respite for Southerners - they serve excellent fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Mmmmm!
We rode the train to DC and further up to New York. On the DC trek, Adam & I got a "roomette" which is just a little smaller than a full sleeper car. It was very relaxing. We had our own little cabin and could shut the door if we wanted to block out noise. We were able to stretch out & watch DVDs, and at night the seats converted into 2 little bunk beds. It wasn't the most restful night, but at least we weren't trying to sleep sitting up. Another perk is that our meals were included, so we visited the dining car and enjoyed getting to know folks while our singing waiter Michael served us meals that tasted a lot better than his simple descriptions: "The special tonight is turkey." Sounds plain, huh? No, they bring out a plate full of fabulous looking turkey & dressing, stuffing, and vegetables. We told him he needed to work on his presentation skills.
While in DC, we also got to visit Mount Vernon. That was probably our favorite activity. I gained a new perspective on George Washington and greatly admired his simple yet gorgeous estate situated with a breathtaking view of the Potomac River. No wonder he wanted to stay home when everyone else wanted him to go become President. I certainly can't blame him; if that were my home, I wouldn't want to leave either.
New York has been COLD but good. We were able to see Aaron & Jessica, and we also arranged for Adam's mom & sister to come up at the same time. So, it was a big 'ol family reunion right here in the Big Apple. Aaron & Jessica treated us all to carriage rides in Central Park & a fun dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner, where the servers sing in the midst of their normal duties because most of them are aspiring to be on Broadway someday. We took a wonderful bus tour yesterday that allowed us to see all the main sights...and that was a great idea considering it was 22 degrees outside. I'd much rather see it all from a bus than come back with frostbite!!! We went to see The Phantom of the Opera on Friday night - the music is so wonderful and the costuming & set are really elaborate. So, we have enjoyed a great week.
Tomorrow we'll head back to Hattiesburg. Back to real life. Back to the daily grind of real estate needs! I feel that 2008 will be a monumental year. My husband is serving as President of the Hattiesburg Area Association of REALTORS, so it will no doubt be a busy year. I am so proud of the man that he is and all of his achievements...and I'm able to feel joy because of my contribution to it. Here's to a blessed and prosperous new year!!!
