Make your house fair

I have been meaning to get this post up since I finished decorating, but oh well. Mom had really wanted to see my decorations, so I thought I'd share them with all of you while I'm sharing them with her. It's been cold enough here to enjoy fires the last few weeks - so cozy!

 {went a little crazy @ Polka Dots - but I had a Groupon and Christmas stuff was already on sale}

 {some of my Sarah's Garden - the rest is on display on my shelves in the dining room}

 {my Christmas Magnolia Lane}

{the stocking on the right was one that my grandmother needlepointed for me} 

{I love the Williams-Sonoma Christmas soaps and lotions - makes me want to wash my hands all the time!}

People, look east - the time is near
of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able;
trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the guest, is on the way.

Perspective

Well, Urban's gone. This time {I think} for good. Lots of mixed emotion swept across the Gator Nation yesterday afternoon as news leaked out. I'll admit, my first reaction was shock - and a bit of fright. After all, when you are as emotionally invested in Florida Football as some of us {perhaps to our detriment} are, the thought of picturing someone else ruling over the sideline can be a bit upsetting. We felt that way after Steve left. And we'll feel that way come April when a new head coach makes his major debut in the Swamp.

Sentiments varied from the rather harsh - those who thought Urban just couldn't get the job done anymore - to bittersweet and nostalgic. I'd like to think that I fall into the latter category. Steve left after my freshman year {which, had it not been for Darnell Docket/Earnest Graham, would've landed us in the Rose Bowl}, and I begrudgingly suffered through 3 seasons of Ron Zook. I most certainly appreciate that Florida Football has seen darker days than 2002-2004, but for someone who came of age as a Gator during the heydays of the 1990s, I was a bit spoiled.

Urban arrived in Gainesville as the cold, calculating, Bulldog, Seminole and Volunteer-blood thirsty coach we had been waiting for. And he took us on quite a ride. 16 combined victories over our top 3 rivals. Two SEC Championships and two BCS National Championships. Oh, and he successfully recruited Florida's third Heisman Trophy winner, who is arguably the most beloved Gator of all time.

In the end, Urban's leaving is a testament to one of the most endearing qualities those larger-than-life figures don't always exhibit. He's human. He had a health scare last year. He reigned in the intensity a bit this year - and clearly didn't get the results that he wanted. He's a winner. Undoubtedly the criticism of one of the most demanding fan bases in the country grated on him a bit. So, he finally decided that spending time with Shelley, Nicki, Gigi and Nate was not worth the sacrifice. For those of us who struggle on occasion with work/life balance, you can't fault him one bit.

He's built upon the great foundation of Florida Football. Finding a successor won't be too difficult, and all we can do is bid him a fond farewell. The number of Gators cheering for South Carolina last week is testament to the fact that once you become a part of the Gator family, we're not going to let you go. Thank you, Urban, for helping remind us that it's always great to be a Florida Gator!

Dancing in the Minefields

Mom commended this to my watching after Father Rob showed it during their Sunday School hour yesterday. It is a wonderful message for married couples, and a great word of hope for the single among us that one day, we will find someone to dance with us in the minefields.

A heartfelt thanks...

...to the men and women of our armed forces for the sacrifices they make everyday. I have several dear friends who are both retired military and currently serving. For their service, whether at home or abroad, I am truly grateful.

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be.

Since we last met...

...the Gators have proceeded to lose two games back to back to the SEC West (after finally looking like the offense might be on the verge of clicking against Kentucky). Oh well - it's a rebuilding year, right?

I've been on the road - quite literally - for work the past two weeks. It was cool to be 'on assignment', but I'm looking forward to getting back into the swing of things at the office. I did get to see a lot of my Florida family on this trip, so I'm grateful for that. Still, I couldn't wait to get home yesterday. I've unpacked, done laundry, and put up fall decorations. I had put my fall berry wreath on my front door before I left, just so I'd feel a little fall when I got home. My fall decor isn't too extensive, but I thought I'd show you a few pics, because I've enjoyed seeing some that you all have posted.

Here's my dining room table...

I had found the place mats and napkins last fall, but Mom found the plates and mugs for me at Marshalls. I love the sunflowers because they work well with fall colors and remind me of Italy.

...and my mantle

That vase is the best multi-purpose decorative tool! I just switch out what's in it by season. For summer, I keep calla lilies in it and I found some great Smith & Hawken berry stems at Target last year after Christmas that will go in it come December.

I've also switched the slipcovers on my ottoman and chair. I got a brown leather chair at Ikea when I moved to Savannah, but I put a white slipcover on it for spring/summer - just helps to lighten things up. Hope y'all have had a good couple of weeks. Back to cheering on the Braves in their effort to stave off Bobby's retirement...

Fall into fun...

Doesn't he just look so happy? Issac Babcock, from the Winter Park/Maitland Observer, snapped this shot of Rex at Fleet Peeples Labor Day weekend. Mom has worked so hard to keep Fleet Peeples dog friendly, and our little family celebrity (along with his big brother) certainly appreciates her efforts!

Labor Day weekend, technically speaking, puts an end to summer. Whites and seersucker have been put away, and slowly but surely, fall is starting to roll in. While it's still pretty warm in the afternoons here in Savannah, it's noticeably cooler in the morning and just downright pleasant in the evening. SEC football is in full swing, and pumpkin spice lattes are back at your local Starbucks. Soon, it'll be time for me to head to Sam's and stock up on pumpkin bread mix for the fall season and holidays. 

There's a lot to look forward too. Football season always means a chance to see friends and family more frequently than I get to see them the rest of the year. Sugarland is coming in concert to Savannah in October, which I am super excited about. And in a week, I get to head down to the Sunshine State for two weeks for work, which is a sudden, unexpected surprise. I've been feeling particularly stressed out about things at the office, and I think being able to get away for a bit and do something a little different will be a most welcome change of pace.

Wherever you are and whatever you're up to, I hope you will relish these last several weeks of longer days and warm weather. Have a happy, happy fall!

Love the time

I was first introduced to David Bailey in July of 2000. After applying and being denied admission to Emory's youth theological study programs, we weren't quite sure what I would do with my summer. Well, with God's grace, Mom & Dad stumbled upon the Summer Youth Institute at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. I went, as I recall, quite reluctantly. What was in store for me during the two weeks I spent in the 'burgh still blows me away to this day. I formed incredibly strong, wonderful friendships with my fellow SYIers, interns and staff.

But, one of the greatest gifts from that summer was David Bailey and his music. You can read David's bio here. I certainly can't do justice to it. What you will find is that it is an incredible testament of faith, hope and love. David was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in July of 1996 and given six months. That six months turned into 14 years. On September 3rd, David was moved into hospice care, and I hope that you will please keep David and his family in your prayers. And remember, that regardless of what happens in this transitory life, "we'll live forever in this home that we call love."

Way beyond the now into the not yet,

it’s easier to wonder than it is to forget.

Hope knows no boundaries and faith no borderline,

so we can only learn to love the time.

Love the time it takes to watch the sunrise.

Love the time the thunder splits the air.

Love the time the snow covers the rooftops.

Love the time we have to share.

Way beyond the not yet into the never been,

there’s a silent song that waits for us to sing.

It’s message is a miracle and it’s melody sublime.

We gotta learn to love the time

Love the time the chance unfolds before you.

Love the time it takes to find the truth.

Love the time you’re dancing with the mysteries.

Love the wisdom of the old and the vision of the youth.

Way beyond the never been into the here we are.

The hour glass is turned again like a distant shooting star.

If we ignore the moments we commit the greatest crime.

We gotta learn to love the time.

- David M. Bailey

'Neath the Orange & Blue victorious!

Gator football kicks off on Saturday at noon. SEC football officially kicks off Thursday night with one great Gator leading his Gamecocks against Southern Miss. There's a lot of anticipation in the college football sphere this week as summer unofficially comes to an end, and our great fall pastime gets underway. Some say there's a lot of uncertainty surrounding this year's Florida team. New quarterback. New defensive coordinator. But for all the 'new', there's a lot of 'old'. Same old tunnel. Same old sideline. Same old 90,000+ crazy orange-and-blue clad fans. As the anticipation builds this week about what the upcoming season may hold, I've been reminiscing a bit about my Gator football past.

My brother took me to my first Florida game while he was in law school. It was was an early '90s homecoming game against Southern Miss. I vaguely remember sitting high up in the east stands in the freezing cold and rain. I have a slight memory of watching Danny Wuerffel, Ike Hilliard and Reidel Anthony pick apart the Kentucky defense. I remember screaming bloody murder against Peyton Manning in his final Florida-Tennessee game in 1997. 

Perhaps one of my most telling memories came a few short weeks into my freshman fall. Our country was still reeling from the horrible attacks of September 11th. There was a debate around campus of whether or not to cancel that Saturday's game against Tennessee. Should it be cancelled out of respect, or would that be letting them win for disrupting our normal behaviors. Back then, if you weren't a student season ticket holder, you had to camp out in line for tickets Thursday night for any available leftovers. While they decided to cancel the game, ticket camp out went on as planned. I remember getting back to my dorm room the next morning to an instant message on my computer from a high school classmate. He was in school at American and informed me that, while I was camping out for football tickets, he had to evacuate in the middle of the night due to a bomb threat. Talk about something that can really be a perspective-altering occurrence. 

Since my freshman year in 2001, I've followed this football team from Miami to Phoenix. I've sung 'We Are The Boys' in Knoxville, Columbia, Auburn, and Tallahassee. I've watched us roll over for the Tide. I've suffered through (and survived) Ron Zook. I've been a part of record-setting crowds at the Swamp, and known the peaceful stillness that comes from climbing up to the top of the Sunshine Seats on a crystal clear night. 

I recognize that to some, this may seem slightly obsessive - lending so much attention and credence to a football team. But that football team has provided a wonderful platform for some pretty awesome young men and role models. It's also, arguably, the most public representation of a wonderful university of which I'm proud to be a graduate. Turlington, Bryan, and Anderson Halls are filled with intelligent professors educating the next generation of teachers, lawyers, and CEOs. Doctors at Shands are healing the sick and discovering new cures. In a time of continued budget cuts and a lagging economy, excess revenue generated by the Athletic Department has provided the rest of the university with a bit of a financial-stabilizing cushion. 


So whether we go 9-4 or undefeated this season, I look forward to whatever it brings. It's one of my favorite times of year. And every Saturday, we'll be reminded that 'in all kinds of weather, we'll all stick together' - rain or shine, win or lose. Happy Football Season! Go Gators!

It's the FIRST amendment for a reason...

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

Well, I'm glad we cleared that up. If you've been half paying attention the last few weeks, you would think that the greatest threat to our country is at 45 Park Place, the proposed Islamic community center near Ground Zero, and not salmonella-tainted eggs, a growing national debt, deplorable public education system, or stretched-way-too-thin national defense. The fact that this is even a subject worthy of discourse is embarrassing. I refuse to call it 'civil discourse' because it's been anything but. 

Newt Gingrich is drawing comparisons to the Holocaust. Sarah Palin is so sickened by it words don't even exist in the English language to express her disgust. Funny how, when sizing up potential SCOTUS nominees, they feel the need to call out anyone who's not a strict constructionist. But when it comes to actually honoring the letter and intent of the First Amendment, they want to apply it only to those who actually share their same religious beliefs. 

Right-wingers would argue that we shouldn't allow a mosque to be built since churches can't be built in Saudi Arabia. I kind of dig our republic (or at least the republic our founding fathers envisioned), and I'm not in any hurry to live in a theocracy. What was it that Jesus said about blessing those who persecute you? You can't hold up the Statue of Liberty, with the inscription "give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free", as a symbol of freedom and then tell someone you won't respect their right to protection under the First Amendment. As Keith Olbermann so eloquently pointed out , one pretense under which we went to war in Iraq was to liberate the Iraqi people - Muslims - the very religious denomination some are protesting against.

You can question the judgement of whether Ground Zero is an appropriate venue for the community center. But what you can't question is the right that exists to build it there. It's also wrong to cast all Islamic people as terrorists. Would I want someone to cast me in the same light as a member of the KKK simply because both parties claim to be Christian. Yes, Christians were killed on September 11th. But, so were Jews, Buddhists, atheists, and even Muslims. So, instead of waging a fierce battle over something that should be a complete non-issue, shouldn't we be celebrating the fact that we live in a country that values different cultural, racial, and religious heritages - or at least I thought we did.

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Just another manic Monday...

I keep thinking 'wow, I haven't posted anything in a while' and 'I really need to sit down and write my pilgrimage wrap up'. Unfortunately, I feel like I really haven't had a whole lot of true down time since we got back (even though it was about a month ago!) So here's a brief recap of what's been going on in the life of SKJ recently...

• The last weekend of July was Camp Alpha Nu, our annual alumnae weekend at 1152 E. Panhellenic helping get the Phi Mu Gators ready for fall recruitment. It was great to be back at the house and see all the wonderful renovations that have been done, and more importantly, see some of my sisters I don't get to see very often. Recruitment starts this week, so, good luck girls!
• Last week was our annual family week at Kanuga. I know I just spent a week and a half in Italy a month ago, but there's something about a truly relaxing vacation. Quality time with the ones I love most, waking up to the bugle for breakfast every morning, reading a book I've been wanting to read for months, temps about 10 degrees cooler than the Coastal Empire, and napping through afternoon thunder showers. Now that's a vacation!
• And last, but certainly not least, this past weekend I had the incredible honor of becoming Lila Elise's godmother! When I pledged Phi Mu, I knew I would make friends for life, but as I sat there watching our Round 3 video, it was hard to look far into the future to see what your sisters will mean to you down the road. Fast forward nine years, I was a bridesmaid in Kate's wedding, we've shared lots of laughs and tears along the way, and now I'm her daughter's godmother. I can't wait to see what a lovely young woman Lila will grow up to be, and I am so thankful for such a wonderful big sister (and big brother-in-law)!

Other than that, I want to pull my hair out on an almost daily basis at the office. I have to go to W-S next week, and while I'm not looking forward to sitting in a meeting all day, I will get to see some friends from the LDP. Oh, and just in case you're counting down, only 18 days 'til kickoff...

Italy July 2010

Still working on my blog post about the trip - I hope it will be well worth the read! - but until then, enjoy some of the pictures from our wonderful trip.

Firenze, il mio amore

Tony Bennett might have left his heart in San Francisco, but I left mine in Florence - for the 4th time. I've considered several cities home at various points in my life: Tallahassee, Orlando, Gainesville, and most recently, Savannah. But, if home is where the heart is, I think it's safe to say Florence is home too. My love is partially inherited. My dad and brother both spent time studying abroad in Florence - only 30 years apart. When I graduated from high school, a lot of friends went on the class trip to Cancun. Mom and Dad took me to Italy instead.

We visited Milan, Venice, Rome, Pisa and several small towns in between. Milan one of the fashion meccas of the world, Venice, a charming and romantic city, and Rome, a city laden with iconic landmarks, are all wonderful places in their own right. But none could quite hold a candle to Florence. Perhaps I felt that after my first trip because I thought that's how I was supposed to feel. Or better yet, perhaps the city is so wonderful you just can't help but be completely enthralled by it.

My love affair grew more intense two years later when I followed in Dad & James' footsteps and studied abroad in the summer of 2003. I had seen some of the highlights on that first trip, but six weeks allows you to really bond with a city - learn its twists and turns, discover new restaurants, and most importantly, walk around with ease acting like you've lived there your whole life.

When I took my post-grad school trip in 2008, a two and a half week jaunt concentrated in Portugal, Spain and France, I couldn't help but fly to Florence for a few days just to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything. Sure as the world, my favorite lunch spot, internet cafe, gelateria, and the store I swore I would buy my wedding dress at were all right where I'd left them.

My most recent trip, a day excursion on our pilgrimage, afforded me the opportunity of seeing one of our pilgrim's reaction to seeing David for the first time. What an awesome privilege to witness awe and amazement like that! With every journey back, you discover things have changed - as they always do. My bridal dress shop has closed; there's now a Ben & Jerry's across from the Duomo. But, the city I fell in love with, at its core, is still there. To those who say you can't go home again, I say "I'll always have Florence."

We are pilgrims on a journey...

It's hard to believe departure day is finally here! We're off to Italy (Assisi, Florence and Rome to be exact) for our pilgrimage. I will definitely have much more to post when we get back, but until then, please keep us all in your prayers for safe travels. If you feel called to pray for us by name, here's who all is going:

Lucas, Michael, Bailee,

Jamie, Phillip, Billy,

Jimmy, Dannen, Dolan,

Will, Amy, Kim,

Matt, Sarah and Mollie

I am confident that we will all find this trip to be a blessing, and I hope all of the kids are able to reflect on all the hard work they've put into making this happen and enjoy each and every minute of it. Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend reflecting on how blessed we are to live in such a wonderful country. See y'all on the 15th!

Happy 4th!

"I thank God for my life

for the stars and stripes,

may freedom forever fly, let it ring!"

Wishing all of you a Happy Independence Day! Hope you have a long weekend full of friends, family, and celebrating how blessed we are to live in this constantly-being-perfected Union. 

Totally random Tuesday...

(I took this picture of the pier @ Tybee when the Anderson girls came to visit back in the spring)

As you can tell, I've changed the blog format a bit. I've been thinking quite a bit recently about what it's like living on the coast. Perhaps it was spending a warm and slightly breezy day at the beach on Saturday staring out into the Atlantic - pondering the vastness of the ocean, but quite content with the simple feeling of sand between my toes. More than likely, however, it's the tragedy in the Gulf that breaks my heart a little more every time it's on the news. Being born in the Panhandle and growing up in Central Florida, I've spent my fair share along the Gulf Coast, and it breaks my heart to think about what damage has been done - and worse yet, what damage we've yet to discover.

While I've never really lived very far from the beach, it's an entirely different experience to live this close. If I've had a bad day, I don't have to think twice about going out to take a walk on the beach to decompress. A while back, a friend was soliciting advice on how to leave work at the office and not carry that burden home every night. I fail greatly most of the time when it comes to that, but I also try to make a conscious effort to breathe deeply when I cross the Intracoastal every night on my way home and let go and say to myself 'it will all be there in the morning.' And, unless I absolutely have to, I really don't like to cross back over it on the weekends (church is a different story - it's on another island, so, unless I take a boat, I don't really have a choice).

I know I'm not likely to stay in Savannah forever, but, I have learned in the 18 months I've been here that it will be really hard for me to move inland. Sure, it makes hurricane season a little more nerve-wracking, but that's completely out of my control. All I can do is enjoy what I've got while I've got it - that feeling of cool sand under your feet, seeing dolphins in the river while you're eating on the dock at AJ's, cool breezes even on balmy summer nights, and perhaps the most therapeutic of all, standing on the water's edge realizing that we're all just little fish in a great big pond.

I beg to differ...

In this Thursday's Wall Street Journal, Allan Barra wrote a piece on "What 'To Kill a Mockingbird' Isn't". The essay caught my attention because, TKAM is, without a doubt, one of the books I loved reading the most in school. It helped that, when we read it in 8th grade, Mrs. Parker read it aloud to us in her thick Southern accent and made the story come alive. Harper Lee's only published novel brought to light so many social issues in a segregated South that some recognized but few were willing to talk about. TKAM  teaches us about racism, hatred and injustice. But it also teaches us a great deal about forgiveness, compassion and grace.

Mr. Barra argues that because 'we know exactly what we knew at the beginning: that Atticus Finch is a good man, that Tom Robinson was an innocent victim of racism, and that lynching is bad', TKAM can't possibly stack up to the 'moral ambiguity' that remains at the end of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn or The Great Gatsby. As a result, in Mr. Barra's mind, there's no way that TKAM can possibly be a 'timeless classic that ranks with the great works of American literature.'

I don't think Mr. Barra could be more wrong. While TKAM may be quite simple in its delivery and allow the reader to grasp sound conclusions at the end, it tells the story of a very sad chapter in the history of the South - and it's a lesson we can never forget. So, if you're looking for something to read on a lazy, hazy summer day, dust off that old copy on your bookshelf, and remind yourself that 'you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.'

Prayer Requests

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." - Roger Caras

Just a few prayer requests on this Monday. Dana said goodbye to her dear Pugsy this afternoon. She rescued him while he was living in Austin and moved with her to Orlando several years ago. Pug had been sick for quite some time, but was such a sweet dog and so full of love. Some of my favorite Pug memories were nights she'd bring him over to our house for dinner and he would try to hide under the coffee table from Trooper (our 85+ pound Golden). Trooper is such a love sponge in his own right and we knew he just wanted to play - it was just the cutest thing! I know that saying goodbye to Pug was one of the hardest decisions Dana's ever had to make, but I pray she finds comfort in knowing that she was the most loving mom to him and he's at peace now.

2nd prayer request - Mary is officially overseas. You can follow her journey over @ Bloom Where We Are Planted. Right now, Mary's planted in Iraq, and I have no doubt that she will undoubtedly bloom there and bless those she's deployed with. While she's gone, please keep her in your prayers for safe journeys while she's deployed and for a safe journey home (hopefully by Christmas!) Below is the prayer for those serving in the Armed Forces from the Book of Common Prayer. I'd encourage you all to add it to your daily prayer time for Mary & all those serving our country at home and abroad.

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils that beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Wednesday Whimsey

If you live anywhere in the SE, you're painfully aware that the dog days of summer are upon us (even though summer technically doesn't start till next Monday!) Not too much going on around here, but since there's so much sad news out there right now, I thought it might be fun to just share a few things that are making me happy this week:

• Top Chef, D.C. premiere tonight - Joe & Mika are guest judging this season, so it should be good. 
• Summertime music - I love, love, LOVE the new Train CD Save me, San Francisco. I'm sure you've heard 'Hey, Soul Sister' on the radio, but the rest of the album is equally fun - a few great slower tunes, but I really love the turn-the-radio-up-sing-out-loud fun songs!
• Only 80 days till Gator football. This is been a most unusually interesting offseason, but nothing can beat that first game in the Swamp.

And, probably what I'm most excited about...only 18 days till we leave on our pilgrimage to Italy. It is such an awesome privilege to help chaperone this trip, and I will post more about it before we leave, but I'd just ask you to lift up the 12 kiddos and 3 chaperones over the next few weeks as we get ready to leave.

Happy Hump Day - hope you're having a great week!

Show Us Your Life - China Patterns

This week's "Show Us Your Life" over @ Kelly's Korner was about china patterns - and after reading posts from a few sorority sisters, I decided to jump on the bandwagon. As a single girl, I haven't had a chance (yet!) to register for fine china (but I have picked out my pattern - the ultimate classic...what else would you expect from me?) and everyday ware, but I do LOVE dishes. I'm convinced that it's completely hereditary. My friend, Dana, and I often joke that my mother has enough dishes to entertain a small army, and no one would have to eat on paper plates.

Here in Savannah, my 'everyday' dishes are Pottery Barn knockoffs my mom found at Old Time Pottery. They're nothing fancy, but definitely serve their purpose, and since they were a bargain, if something happens to them while I'm moving around, life will go on. My dad's sisters did give me my Christmas dishes for my birthday several years ago. It's Wedgewood's 'Sarah's Garden' Christmas pattern. I don't have a complete set in terms of serving dishes, but do have 8 dinner and salad plates and 8 mugs. I think it's a lovely Christmas pattern, not too fancy, and is a great start to my dish collection.

I'm a believer that every Southern woman should have her everyday dishes and fine china, but I also love the idea of having fun dishes just because. Besides helping create wonderful tablescapes, I think certain dishes are great reminders of family and wonderful memories. One of my grandmother's cousins gave my mom her Louisville Stoneware Bachelor Button dishes. My mom even designed the dish rack on the built-in sideboard in her kitchen so they could be on display 24/7. Every time I see Fiesta ware, the first person I think of is my grandmother. She had this wonderful collection of yellow and turquoise Fiesta - and while those colors may not be the most practical, they were her absolute favorite, so I can't help but love them.

I do love dishes, and I love having a set table. But I think it's important to not get too caught up in what the table looks like, but remember who gathers around it and what happens at the table. 'Peace Meals' - the Junior League of Houston's cookbook - has a wonderful forward which includes the following quote:

"Because daily life is where Life happens. And inside the patchwork of countless ordinary moments are moments of singular extraordinary beauty, luminous instants of connection that, when we experience them, revive and restore our souls. Moments like these can happen anywhere at any time, but it is not surprising that peace so often steals over us when we are gathered together around a table breaking bread."

Breaking bread with each other is incredibly sacramental. So, the next time you sit down to eat, be it by yourself or with your family, let peace steal over you and give thanks. 

O Beautiful for Heroes Proved

Memorial Day is an especially tender day for my family. My grandfather, Second Lieutenant Irving Wesley Hunt, was killed in North Africa fighting in World War II about two months before my mother was born. I think one of the reasons I love this picture is that it shows my grandparents frozen in time with what seems like a lifetime ahead of them. They weren't afforded the luxury of that lifetime together, but I know that my grandfather died doing far nobler of a thing than most of us could ever dare to accomplish. He sacrified his life, not only in the defense of his country, but fighting a far greater battle against hatred, evil, and horrible discrimation. My grandmother never remarried, did a wonderful job raising my mom as a single parent, and got to see all four of her grandchildren grow up. I can only imagine what it would've been like had she been able to share it with him, but I do know that it must have been some reunion when she got to heaven 65 years later.

My mom has a sideboard in our house decorated with this picture, among others, the American flag that was presented to my grandmother, and his Purple Heart. Above it hangs the certificate that accompanied his Purple Heart and a tribute letter from President Roosevelt. It would serve us all well to remember the text of the letter, and give thanks each and every day for everyone who 'more than self their country loved and mercy more than life.'

He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live, and grow, and increase its blessings. Freedom lives and through it, he lives - in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.

Lefty's Right

Well, wasn't this how it was supposed to end? Tiger came to Augusta hoping to take back the throne as the rightful king of the PGA Tour. But wouldn't you know, it was a lovable Lefty who slipped on the green jacket Sunday evening. Note to Merriam-Webster: the definition of poetic justice going forward should read "2010 Masters."

It should come as no surprise that Tiger chose the Masters for his 'return-to-golf'' tournament. I use return loosely because, as Tiger said in his post-final round interview, he's isn't sure when we'll see him tee off again. For years, the hallowed grounds at golf's cathedral have been a safety net for Tiger. We've grown accustomed to seeing him deftly navigate Amen Corner. Four of Tiger's 14 Major championships have been celebrated at Butler Cabin. Since the other majors rotate venues every year, that's a pretty significant relationship with any one course. He owns the record for largest margin of victory at the Masters. He was the first African-American to win at at Augusta National. Tiger clearly wanted things to turn out differently this week. Luckily for the rest of us, they didn't.

While Tiger was busy doing things he shouldn't have been doing, Phil Mickelson was quietly taking time off from to focus on his family. When his wife, Amy, was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, there was no doubt what Phil's top priority was. For a lot of fans, Phil holds a special place in our hearts. He was unquestionably one of the top golfer's in the world for the better part of the last decade, but struggled to get the giant monkey for professionals - winning the first Major- off his back. In the end, it made him a fan favorite. We'd get our hopes up and then have our hearts broken right along with him.

Phil missed the British Open last summer and had a lackluster performance at the PGA Championship before his hiatus to tend to Amy and their kids. While he's played in a handful of tournaments since then, this was the first big one. Amy missed the first three rounds, but was able to watch from the gallery on Sunday. Bobby Jones, Augusta's co-designer, famously said that golf is primarily played on the five-and-a-half inch course between your ears. For Phil, Sunday's round was played on the course of his heart. While Tom Rinaldi and the rest of the media have been on Tiger's trail this week, Phil quietly set about winning one for his biggest fan.

Too often we lose perspective when it comes to sports - we make it into something more important than it ever should be. But we can't forget that, sometimes, we need sports to provide distraction. For golfers, tee boxes, fairways, and greens are where they feel most at home. I'm sure Tiger hoped - even if it was futile - that, if only for this week, he could come to Augusta and run away from his problems. Amy's health is Phil's problem, and that embrace at 18 told you everything you needed to know about how Lefty plays the game between his ears and in his heart.

Take me out to the ball game

"You know what we get to do today, Brooks? We get to play baseball!" Is there any ritual that symbolizes the ushering in of spring in American culture more so than baseball? If there is one, I haven't figured it out yet. Opening Day is our annual reminder that hope springs eternal. Whether your team failed to make the playoffs or your clean-up hitter struck out with the tying run on third in the bottom of the ninth to lose the seventh game of the World Series, you get to do it all over again every April.

Many people will argue, and I'd be hard pressed to disagree, that other sports have taken over as our 'national pastime'. Certainly in the South, college football is the national pastime, religion, and everything in between. But it's hard to deny that baseball still captures our hearts and imaginations in ways few other sports can. Some of the most popular sports-themed movies are about baseball. How many times have you used the phrase 'if you build it, they will come'? Without baseball as a backdrop, there's no telling where Kevin Costner's career would be today.

For a lot of people, the love of the game is something inherited from someone dear to us. I'm no different. My dad loves baseball - specifically his St. Louis Cardinals. He took me to college baseball games when I was little, taught me how to keep score, and while a lot of families spent their spring breaks at the beach, you could find us at spring training games. He took me to my first MLB game at Fenway Park, and I'm so grateful that we got to see the Cardinals play at the old Busch Stadium together. Maybe one day we'll get to see UF and FSU play in Omaha.

Baseball's public image has suffered a lot in recent years. The strike and PEDs, among other things, have done their fair share to sully the sport's reputation. But the true fans continue to stick with their teams. Baseball allegiances run deep - heaven forbid you tell a BoSox fan that curses don't exist. Allegiance is a word that's taken lightly in today's professional sports environment. But it does exist. I watched Chipper grow up as a Brave, and I admire his commitment to retire as a Brave.

So today, savor the freshly cut grass, the freshly chalked baselines, and that sweet crack of a line drive to right-center. Get excited about the new rookies who just made the cut for the 25-man roster. Enjoy the ups and downs of this roller coaster relationship. Admit that the springtime honeymoon will give way to the dog days of summer when you'll want to give up. After all, any true love will push you to the limits. Let yourself get swept up in the strategy and statistics of the game. And finally, think about how more perfect our Union would be if we could finally ratify a constitutional amendment to ban the designated hitter.

Welcome, happy morning!

"Now let the heavens be joyful! Let earth her song begin! 

The round world keep high triumph and all that is therein. 

Let all things seen and unseen their notes together blend. 

For Christ the Lord hath risen; our joy it hath no end!"

Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen, indeed! Alleluia! For Episcopalians, this is the familiar call-and-response for the Easter season and it was so sweet to hear it ring out in church this morning. I hope that you and your families had blessed Easter Sundays celebrating the Resurrection. It was a gorgeous day in the Coastal Empire - our colder-than-usual and dreary, rainy winter has been redeemed and transformed into a bright, sunny and warm spring. Proof that redemption abounds not only in our hearts, but in every aspect of our lives. Today is only the beginning of the Great Fifty Days of Easter, and I pray that you will find your hearts and minds redeemed, renewed, and refreshed as you celebrate the ultimate triumph and grace of God's love for us. Happy Easter!

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Redemption

"My song is love unknown, my Savior's love to me

love to the loveless shown that they might lovely be;

o who am I, that for my sake, my Lord should take frail flesh and die?"

The following prayer is not the Good Friday collect, but rather the closing prayer of the Good Friday liturgy. Today's liturgy is the administration of the reserved Sacrament from Thursday night, and today, more than any other day when the Eucharist is celebrated, we come close to understanding the exact definition of sacraments. Sacraments are outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual graces. Good Friday is the commemoration of the ultimate act of grace and mercy. There's a Newsboys song with the line 'when we don't get what we deserve, it's a real good thing; when we get what we don't deserve, it's a real good thing.' On Good Friday, we're reminded that, through faith, we get what we have no hope of deserving and are spared what we so clearly deserve. 

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, we pray you to set your passion, cross, and death between your judgment and our souls, now and in the hour of our death. Give mercy and grace to the living; pardon and rest to the dead; to your holy Church peace and concord; and to us sinners everlasting life and glory; for with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect Catchup

I've missed the past few days due to spontaneous company (yay!) and awful allergies (boo), but here are Tuesday-Thursday

Thursday: O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


Wednesday: Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


Thursday: Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Peace Like a River

"My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought; 

my sin, not in part but the whole

is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more.

Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my soul."

Peace. In today's world it seems like a foreign concept. Nations are at war with each other. Political parties are engaged in ideological battles. Brothers and sisters, parents and children, husbands and wives find conflict in the midst of their daily lives. And we often find ourselves struggling within our own minds and hearts. It's quite easy to get caught up in all of the strife, when what we really need to focus on is peace - for ourselves and for each other. Take a minute and breathe - be still and let it be well with your soul.

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

All Glory Laud and Honor

"Sometimes they strew His way, and His sweet praises sing;

Resounding all the day hosannas to their King;

Then 'Crucify' is all their breath, and for His death they thirst and cry."

I hope you got to celebrate Palm Sunday at church this morning. Today marks the beginning of the most important week in the Church calendar. We go from processing into church singing 'All Glory Laud and Honor' to the celebration of the first Eucharist to the crucifixion. Today, most people get caught up in bunnies and Easter eggs, but the real symbolic animal we should be reflecting on this week is the Lamb. Yes, Easter Sunday is the most important day of the Church year. But it's impossible to understand the full joy of it without observing the critical elements of Holy Week. This week, I plan to post the collects for the individual days of Holy Week, and invite you to a blessed and reflective close to the Lenten season.

Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Leprechauns, birthdays & health care...oh my!

"Dreams, or at least the dreams worth dreaming, are always daring. History, or at least the history worth making, is always demanding. So let us dare to seize history and to shape it, that those who come after us will find that we met the demands of our  time with courage, with grace, and with love." - Jon Meacham

Well, St. Patrick's Day has come and gone (except for the decorations at my house - they'll come down and Easter decs will go up this weekend), and about the only thing I can say is that I survived. As you probably know, St. Pat's is THE holiday in Savannah. Businesses downtown shut down, schools close, and people start tailgating at 6 am in the middle of the week. Last year was my first St. Pat's here and it is truly something you have to experience to appreciate. Forget green beer; we've got green grits. The newspaper on St. Patrick's Day is dyed green. Cute boys wander around in shamrock-embroidered pants and bagpipers randomly walk into bars playing "Oh Danny Boy". The party lasts much longer than one day, but for that one day, this town is the place to be. And once it's over, you can always wander past the window on Liberty Street and see the clock already counting down to next year.

This weekend I headed home for Dad's birthday. Saturday was a beautiful day, and Mom and I had a great time wandering around the Winter Park Art Festival. Always one of my favorite weekends of the year - especially when there's good weather! Sunday we weren't quite so lucky. We headed out to Disney for the Braves/Cardinals spring training game, but the game was called after an inning and a half due to deluge. Despite a rained out ball game, it was a great weekend to be home. Happy Birthday Dad!

Finally, a few thoughts on the history that was made Sunday night by the 111th Congress. I know that most of you out there in the blogosphere don't agree with the legislation. But I must say, I feel immeasurable joy. I truly believe that you look at the healthcare debate differently if you are personally impacted by it. I have family members that are some of the hardest workers I know, but work for small businesses that can't afford to provide subsidized coverage. There are members of my family that, prior to the passage of this legislation, would have been excluded from coverage due to pre-existing conditions. What this bill means to me is that, if heaven forbid, any of my friends' children were to be diagnosed with a disease, they could not be denied coverage. What it means to me is that if I, or any friend of mine, wants to switch jobs, we can do so without the fear of not being able to get coverage in the future.  What it means to me is that, for once, our country is living up to the better angels of our nature. Is it perfect legislation? No. Does it solve all of our problems? No. But it's a start.

Mr. & Mrs. Bell

I've been meaning to post this for the past few weeks, but haven't really had time to sit down and do it. A few weeks ago, I was honored to be in Bryan & Mary's wedding. I've known both of them for years, and while I think we often become friends with the significant others of those whose weddings we've been in, it's a rare treat to count both the bride and groom among your dear friends. Their wedding celebration was a wonderful testimony to trusting in God's timing and plan for our lives. It was a great weekend and some new friendships were formed. The wedding party also had a great time continuing the celebration at Swamp after the reception!

Bryan & Mary - I love you both and wish you a blessed lifetime of love and happiness!

"Love will protect; love always hopes; love still believes when you don't...

love is the river that flows through; love never fails you." - Brandon Heath

In sickness & in health

In the midst of everything going on in the politosphere, healthcare reform has been been at the forefront. I've been hesitant to wade into the waters of the debate, but there's absolutely no reason why we can't have a civil discussion about the topic. President Obama, Secretary Sebelius, and members of Congress attempted to do that last week at Blair House, but I'm not sure much good came of it. So, for argument's sake, can we check the death panels at the door?

Achieving serious health care reform is very important to me - but I have yet to come up with a solution of my own. The thing, though, is that it's not necessarily my job to come up with a solution. It's not yours either. This is why we have presidents, cabinets, and legislators. They have policy wonks and economists at their disposal to come up with real solutions. Unfortunately, they seem more intent on winning reelection than enacting serious reform.

The current system is broken. Saying that every American has access to adequate health care simply because they can walk into an ER is a dangerous statement. If we rely on that as 'universal' coverage, those of us with insurance bear the brunt of increased costs because those who utilize the ER as their primary care provider can't pay. When costs go up, employers are forced to subsidize a greater percentage of premiums or pass it on to their employees. For many businesses, that subsidy is just too much of a burden and coverage gets dropped altogether.

Democrats seem to be in bed with the insurance lobby and are incredibly hesitant to push for real tort reform. Republicans prefer to spew talking points made up of their version of the truth. Sarah Palin will tell you that it's socialism at work. John Boehner will tell you that reform will dilute the quality of care. Do we have the best technology and trained medical professionals in this country? Yes. But what good does it do you if you don't have access to those resources? We all know that Derek Shepherds and John Carters don't work in every ER across the US.

The truth is, I can deal with the arguments of Michael Steele and Mitch McConnell. I wholeheartedly disagree with them, but accept that they just have a fundamentally different view of what our government should be doing. What really irks me, though, is that all of these people claim to be pro life. I have no intention of pulling a Stupak and turning this into an abortion debate. But last time I checked, life doesn't end at birth. If you are fundamentally opposed to giving a woman the option to terminate a pregnancy under any circumstance, how can you not support fundamental reform that would help save lives? Common sense tells us that if more people, including children, have access to affordable health care, illnesses are diagnosed earlier. Life-threatening diseases can be treated more aggressively and success rates of treatment are much higher. Don't even get me started on the states that allow insurers to treat domestic violence as a pre-existing condition.

Creating a public option doesn't take away your access to privatized health insurance. I may not always be happy with it, but I do find some satisfaction in my own health insurance (namely, that I have it!) It's not the government trying to control your life. As an aside, I guess people who believe this is a legitimate argument are opposed to public schools, parks, interstate highways, and tax-payer funded public defense. It's not some progressive attempt to turn our healthcare system into that of a third-world country. It's about holding the truth that all men are created equal self-evident. If you're unemployed or suffer from a pre-existing condition, that doesn't make you less of an American than me. So why shouldn't you have the right to affordable health care?

For all the Saints

Well, the day football fans have been dreading since August is here. Football season officially ended last night, and I don't think it could've ended on a better note! I will admit that from 1994-1997 Peyton Manning was definitely not my favorite CFB player. Despite that he's still a Volunteer through and through, I think he's a great player and good role model. With that said, I was definitely pulling for the Saints. No city needed that win more than the city of New Orleans.

There is no way that one Super Bowl win could heal the damage done by Katrina - to suggest otherwise is unthinkable. One win can't erase the images of people stranded on roof tops begging for help. It can't erase the feeling of utter despair that permeated the Superdome as Crescent City residents waited desperately for the flood waters to recede. But at the same time, it's so hard to forget the hopefulness of that first game for the Saints back home the next year and how that team took the city on its back and helped begin the process of renewal.

New Orleans has always had a special relationship with its quarterbacks. Despite presiding over one of the worst eras in NFL history, Archie Manning is beloved all over town. Danny Wuerffel was far from a star QB, but through Desire Street Ministries continues to be involved and invested in New Orleans. And now Drew Brees has helped bring incredible joy to his adopted hometown. Drew's story has been told over and over the past week, including signing as a free agent to taking a "wrong" turn his first time in town to how much he and his family have invested in their new city.

At the end of the game, this was a story we all needed to watch unfold. Sure there are cities that are synonymous with their respective teams, but never has a city needed a team like this so much, and some might doubt this team would've made it this far without the frenzied support of the Who Dat nation. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, this group of Saints felt just a little closer to heaven.

On to the party menu - I was really excited to have some friends over for my first entertaining opportunity in my "new" place. Standard football fare was served including bourbon meatballs (courtesy of Southern Living), hot spinach dip with Rotel, wings, and a great recipe for Smokey Cowboy Caviar thanks to The Starter Wife (Sarah Sprague) over at blackandgoldtchotckes.com Good food, good friends, and a good time was had by all.

Have a great week y'all!

"Love really is all around."

This past Sunday the epistle lesson was 1 Corinthians 13, and Father Sam preached a wonderful sermon! If you can spare 20 minutes, I highly recommend listening to it.

I just thought it was particularly fitting right now. Two weekends ago, two dear friends celebrated their first anniversary, and in two weeks two other dear friends are joining their lives together.

The title of this post is from Hugh Grant's opening monologue in "Love Actually", one of my favorite Christmas movies. Valentine's Day is just around the corner, so whether you're single or in a relationship, celebrate and give thanks for all the ways love is all around in your life!

Family Weekend!

This past weekend Mom & Dad came to visit and we had a great time! Mom, Trooper & Rex got here Friday night and then I had to promptly get up at the crack of dawn Saturday morning to work at the AJLI Winter Leadership conference. It was an early morning, but so cool to see the president-elect and president-elect-elects from Junior Leagues all over the country, and some from Canada, Mexico, and the UK too! Mom asked if I ever had second thoughts about joining the League and it was an easy "no". I am so grateful to the League for things I've learned and for all the dear friends I've made because of the League. And I am so proud to be a part of an organization that is committed to "building better communities."

One of my favorite things about visitors is the chance to enjoy the wonderful cuisine Savannah has to offer. Saturday for lunch, Mom and I went to Soho South which is this delightful retro art store/cafe. It has an incredibly eclectic feel and is a great place for a yummy brunch. Saturday night, after picking Dad up from the airport, we went to Sundae Cafe at Tybee for dinner. You would never think that it's a really nice restaurant from the outside (it's in between a minute mart and a liquor store), but it is sooo delicious! The fried green tomato with grits and hollandaise appetizer is so scrumptious! Sunday after church we went to Breakfast Club for brunch. The best part of eating at BC is sitting at the counter - it's great entertainment while you eat! And it's great food, too - the owners helped cater JFK, Jr.'s wedding @ Cumberland Island.

Hope y'all had a good weekend and I hope you'll come visit soon!

The dream shall never die...

We're now roughly one week removed from the special election for Senator Kennedy's replacement in Massachusetts. Flared tempers have settled a bit, and we now have the chance to put it all in a bit of perspective. First things first - it's hardly the end of the world if you're a Democrat and it's hardly the indication of the second coming if you're a Republican. Am I disappointed? Yes. Can I give up hope? No. I absolutely refuse to give up hope. At the DNC in the summer of 2004, a young Senate hopeful from Illinois told us that "out of this long political darkness a brighter day will come." There have been days in the past year when that bright day has been dim, but, much to the chagrin of many, the light has yet to be extinguished. "The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dream shall never die."

What is so disheartening to me is the vast number of people who believe that politics is absolutely black and white. The current political discussion is devoid of rational thought and civil discourse. The Glenn Becks and Keith Olbermanns tend to bring out the worst in us. For the record, I used to love watching Countdown. I'm hoping that Keith will settle down a bit after Jon Stewart called him out this week.

If patience is a virtue, it's clear that DC has a lot to work on. Bush 43 was given eight years to get us where we are today. I think it's only fair we give our current president more than 12 months. He inherited a financial crisis brought on by turning a budget surplus into a record deficit and years of deregulation of the financial services industry. Was he too ambitious to tackle health care reform in the midst of it? Perhaps. But when unemployment is soaring and credit is tightening, tackling the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in the country isn't such a bad idea if you actually think about it. He's tried to manage TARP - a baby of a Republican administration - as effectively as possible. The so-called capitalists believe we should just let the banks fail. But seriously, think about what would happen to our economy of BofA failed.

The lesson for all of us is that we can't continue to live in a vacuum. We are all inextricably linked as one people. And the lack of civility that prevails today only hinders our future success. Should everyone think the same? Absolutely not. Government of the people, by the people and for the people depends on different viewpoints, but it also depends on recognizing our common humanity. In his commencement address at Notre Dame this year, the President said "when we open our hearts and our minds to those who may not think like we do or believe what we do, that's when we discover at least the possibility of common ground." I hope you can find some common ground in your life.

Goodbye Kiffin

My feelings about Lane Kiffin jilting Tennessee for Southern Cal (yes, I am an SEC girl and USC is South Carolina to me) can best be summed up by saying "Lane, we hate to see you go, but love to watch you leave." About a year ago, Tennessee hired Lane Kiffin to help resurrect a football program that had been floundering in mediocrity for several years. Volunteer fans were desperate to believe in their team again. I know because I've been there. Steve Spurrier left after my freshman year at UF. After three years under Ron Zook, Urban Meyer was exactly what we needed. What Urban has done in his 5 years as the Bull Gator takes nothing away from the Old Ball Coach's legacy, in my opinion at least. Steve brought us 4 straight SEC titles and our first national championship. Does Urban's resume speak a little louder with two national titles? Sure. But Steve was UF's first Heisman winner. Steve is a Gator through and through - present mascot choice not withstanding.

What Urban gets and what, I'm afraid, Lane will never get is that without the foundation laid by Ray Graves and Steve Spurrier, and yes, even Ron Zook, he would never have achieved the success he has enjoyed at Florida. Nick Saban, a ruthless football coach and fierce competitor, has bounced around more times than a Pogo stick in the past 10 years. But Nick understands the Bear's legacy. He didn't take the job at Alabama to drastically change it; he took it to build on it. Mark Richt is perhaps too tenderhearted to be a coach in the SEC. But he accepted the job at Georgia with the intent of reclaiming the program's glory under Vince Dooley.

Tennessee has great football traditions in its own right. Neyland Stadium at its best is one of the best CFB venues in the country. The Volunteer Navy remains one of the great tailgating traditions in the SEC. And just two more words: Peyton Manning. I love that Peyton never beat the Gators, but he was a wonderful representative for UT when he was a student-athlete and he has created a lasting legacy in the NFL.

But either Lane never appreciated any of that or just thought that his way was better. Either way, Lane Kiffin and Tennessee was never a match that meshed very well. There are numerous reasons why Volunteer fans support Tennessee, and for the faithful, Lane Kiffin just wasn't a good enough reason.

Hopefully Tennessee will hire a coach who can appreciate the history and build on the future. It would be nice to restore the UF/Tennessee rivalry of the mid-90s and early-00s. With that Lane, this Gator fan bids you adieu.

"God in man made manifest"

Happy Epiphany - it's officially permissible to take down Christmas decorations! I kid, but only somewhat. Blessedly, my parents raised me in the Episcopal Church, and I've been a stickler for liturgy for as long as I can remember. January 6th, the feast of the Epiphany, is when we celebrate the visitation of the magi to the newborn King, as well as the manifestation and baptism of Christ. It also represents the end of the liturgical season of Christmas - the origin of The Twelve Days of Christmas comes from the 12 days between December 25th and January 6th. I absolutely love Christmas decorations, and am perfectly happy to have a reason to celebrate well into the new year.

Several years ago, a priest at our church was preaching one Sunday after Christmas and told the story of how the Mary in the Christmas pageant that year exited stage left without the baby Jesus. David M. Bailey, a wonderful singer/songwriter, wrote a song for his Christmas album with the following chorus: "Don't leave the baby in the manger; it's only the first scene of the play; grow with Him to the empty tomb; the Prince of Peace lives today." The crux of the message of both that sermon and song is to not only remember that Christmas isn't Christmas without the incarnation, but that the mystery of the incarnation doesn't end the day after Christmas. Epiphany is a wonderful reason to remember and give thanks for all of the ways God manifests himself in our daily lives. God makes himself known to us in moments where we know we need Him, but also in times where we least expect it. It is my prayer for each of you that your year will be filled with numerous manifestations and epiphanies and you will give thanks and be blessed by them!

A Collect for Epiphany from the Book of Common Prayer: O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face. Amen.

New Year - New Blog!

Well, technically the blog isn't all that new. I actually came up with the name and format back in the early fall, but life - namely college football and a super busy time at work - got in the way. I figured that the new year was a great time to actually kick it off and try to be fairly regular in my posting. I hope that the blog can provide an update of what's going on in my life, but I'm also hoping to use it as a way to maintain and hone my writing skills. Aside from traveling, cooking, the Florida Gators, and pretty much anything covered in Southern or Coastal Living, I'm incredibly interested in politics and current events and I do plan to occasionally address those topics in this space - to not address them at all, I feel, would be a disservice to what defines an important part of my personality. It is my hope, however, that this can be a safe place to exchange opinions and do it in a respectful manner (so please don't let it stop you from reading!)

I hope you'll visit often and I hope you have a peaceful and blessed 2010!

Thank you!

To Tim Tebow and the Florida Gator Senior Class:

Thank you. Two simple words. Two simple words that cannot come close to expressing the gratitude felt by the Gator Nation; gratitude for the wild ride you've taken us on the past four years, gratitude for accomplishing more than we ever expected. You committed to play for the University of Florida during the first year of a young, unproven coach's tenure in the toughest conference in the nation. But you believed. You believed the coach who told you that you could be a part of something special. You believed the coach who told you he was going to turn the University of Florida into the envy of the college football universe.

Four years later, you leave as the winningest class in SEC history. You not only leave with tangible symbols of two conference championships and two national titles, but also with the love of a fan base that will continue to support you in the NFL or whatever path you choose to pursue. You might leave the University of Florida, but the University of Florida will never leave you.

You might have seen the most recent ad campaign from the university asking "when did you become a Gator?" Five or ten years from now, freshman at UF will answer that it was one night in the desert or that cool January night in Miami. Perhaps it was when a quarterback made a promise to a nation or when he decided that playing one more year in The Swamp meant more than draft status.

As a team, you have dealt with unimaginable expectations placed upon you by not only the media, but by your own fans. And you performed with grit and determination. For the past four years, you've taken an incredible journey and you've welcomed us along for the ride. Thank you, seniors, for showing the rest of the country what we've known all along: it's great to be a Florida Gator!