The Passion of Friendship

Love Inspires.

"What we do out of love, we do because we want to do it. Love is, indeed, one kind of desire; but it is a kind that takes us out of ourselves and carries us beyond ourselves." ~ Arnold Toynbee

Our engagement story is coming soon...
But in the meantime, please view the wonderful snapshots taken by our dear friends at K.P. Photography.

Matt & Faith
2006

It finally happened.

I said yes. 'Nuf said.


Party in Virginia. Be there. March 10, 2007.

The link of the week...

Just do it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xEzGIuY7kw

Was I dreaming?

This past weekend was so wonderful. Mike and Heidi's wedding was absolutely beautiful, but the rehersal dinner cruise up the Potomac was a dream. Dave & Jen Shaw joined Matt and I and we had a wonderful evening. The boat had a classical piano player, a dance floor, and an upper deck perfect for sitting and watching D.C. pass by in the moonlight.

The bride and groom were quite taken with one another (big surprise there, or not!) and their wedding was beautiful... and quite filled with romantic moments. The ceremony itself lasted well over an hour. I was certainly glad I was sitting down and not standing like Dave and Matt were.

Saturday night the Buckeyes took home a brilliant win over Texas!!! Following the reception Matt, Dave, Jen and I crashed in Alexandria and caught the 3rd and 4th quarters. It was a perfect ending to a perfect day! I've included a few photos below.

My brother (a.k.a. Gabe) was in town for the wedding and it was great to spend time catching up with him over a cup of coffee on Sunday. The biggest surprise was finding he had no hair. It reminded me of that interesting Stacey/Bonicelli picture from Hotel California inaugural year. Hmmm.

Maybe it has been long enough... :-)

Wow, I guess it has been awhile since my last post. I never would have dreamed I'd be so busy... but I guess I need to make time for some things. Here are some quick updates:

- I only received a portion of the scholarship I had prayed for law school. If any of you were wondering, I decided not to matriculate - a decision I don't necessarily regret.

- I recently moved to a new (and improved ) townhouse. If you need my new address be sure to email me for it and I'll send it your way. I absolutely love my new place and my commute would make any working woman/man jealous. God certainly was kind in His provision. I think what excited me most was that my car now has a garage!

- Yes, the rumors you may have heard are true. The Schwartz and I are courting. Big surprise? Maybe not to some of you. Lol. It certainly came as a surprise to me, but I'm always the last to know. For all I knew we had been sworn enemies since at least three years ago - as evidenced by this "horrible" but accurate picture from Matt and Katie's wedding:



Lol. Not a good picture of either one of us. I'm glad things have changed... at least I hope we've become more photogenic since then. But on a serious note we are amazed at how God has brought this together. We've both had our share of past ups and downs, but how kind of God to grant such grace and blessings to us. I could have never imagined a more loving and thoughtful friend. Wow.

Other than that... I think that's all of my most recent news. Hope everyone is doing well!

I hope to see many of you at Mike and Heidi's wedding. If not, drop me a line and say "hi".

~F

Every anchorman/woman's worst nightmere...

http://tinyurl.com/hyxtn

First comes the laughter... then comes the words: "You're fired."

Barbie: Coming to a Metro Area near you...

Capitol Hill Barbie:

She's a Barbie girl in a world of legislative language and partisan rancor. But, none of that means much to our little Barbie. She is too busy running from reception to reception for free food and booze because on her staff assistant salary she can't afford groceries after buying a $400 pair of shoes this month. Her dream date would be Tucker
Carlson or any member of the Kennedy clan (or any frat boy who's last name is Kennedy). She is often heard before she is seen with her giggly gaggle of fellow Barbie-esque staff assistants who flirt shamelessly with Capitol Hill Ken and his posse of uncool dudes who think they are hot stuff because they just got promoted from mail opener to mail answerer.



Reston Barbie:

This princess Barbie is sold only at The Reston Town Center. She comes with an assortment of Coach Handbags, a Lexus SUV, a longhaired foreign dog named Honey, and a "cookie cutter" $2,000, 000.00 house. Available with or without tummy tuck and face lift. Workaholic Ken sold only in conjunction with "augmented" version.

Springfield Barbie:

This modern day homemaker Barbie is available with Ford Windstar Minivan and matching gym outfit. She gets lost easily and has no full time occupation or secondary education. Traffic jamming cell phone sold separately.

Prince George's County Barbie:

This recently paroled Barbie comes with a 9mm handgun, a Ray Lewis knife, a Pontiac with dark tinted windows and a crack pipe. This model is only available after dark and must be paid for in cash (preferably small, untraceable bills). Unless you are a cop, then we don't know what you are talking about.



Great Falls Barbie:

This yuppie Barbie comes with your choice of BMW convertible or Hummer H2. Included are her own Starbucks cup, credit card and Scioto Country Club membership. Also available for this set are Shallow Ken and Private School Skipper. You won't be able to afford any of them.



Fredericksburg Barbie:

This pale model comes dressed in her own Wrangler jeans two sizes too small, a NASCAR shirt and tweety bird tattoo on her shoulder. She has a six-pack of Bud light and a Hank Williams, Jr. CD set. She can spit over 5 feet and kick mullet-haired Ken's butt when she is drunk. Purchase her pickup truck separately and get a Confederate flag bumper
sticker absolutely free.



Herndon Barbie:

This collagen injected, rhinoplastic Barbie wears a leopard print outfit and drinks cosmopolitans while entertaining friends. Percocet prescription available.



West Virginia Barbie:

This tobacco-chewing, brassy-haired Barbie has a pair of her own high-heeled sandals with one broken heel from the time she chased beer-gutted Ken out of another Barbie's house. Her ensemble includes low-rise acid washed jeans, fake fingernails and a see through halter-top. Also available with a mobile home.



Falls Church Barbie:

This doll is made of actual tofu. She has long straight brown hair, archless feet, hairy armpits, no makeup and Birkenstocks with white socks. She prefers that you call her "Willow." She does not want or need a Ken doll, but if you purchase two Clintonville Barbies and the optional Subaru wagon, you get a rainbow flag bumper sticker for free.



Southeast D.C. Barbie:

This Barbie now comes with a stroller and infant doll. Optional accessories include a GED and bus pass. Gangster Ken and his '79 Caddy were available, but are now very difficult to find since the addition of the infant.



Dupont Circle Barbie/Ken:

This versatile doll can be easily converted from Barbie to Ken by simply adding or subtracting the multiple "snap-on" parts.

Arlington Barbie:

This doll comes equipped with happy hour schedule and north face fleece. Her seemingly Republican day outfit turns into a tight pair of seven jeans and a sluttly top in the evening (but the pearl earrings stay in of course). She comes with an overpriced condo and flashy car that she never drives since the metro is a block away. Graduated Frat
Boy Ken is sold separately but comes with a pair of new balance shoes, a hat from the college he graduated from, and a polo shirt with a collar you can flip up or down.

In Memory of Jack

In memory of Jack Saunders: 1948-2006



This picture was taken in 2000 at Park City, UT during one of our many trips together. Jack was sitting in a bobsled at the site of the 2002 Olympics and was having a grand time.

Jack, we all miss you terribly.

Three Dead, Including Two Children, near Swanton

http://www.nbc24.com/Global/story.asp?S=4899866
http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=4899750
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=local&id=4168971

This has been a terrible blow to myself and my family. Jack and Patti Saunders were good friends of my family and I have many memories with them and the kids. We have even spent the night at their home and traveled together. Please pray for my family and the Saunders family as we attempt to sort through this devistating and confusing news... and for Patti, as she has lost all that was dear to her. We have no answers as of yet and so many questions.

Rain, rain, rain...

I had the brilliant idea to work from home today. Bad idea. The rain is making me so sleepy it's not even funny. Oh well.

So I was in our monthly editorial meeting at work a couple of weeks ago and the most alarming thing happened. As I sat chewing on the end of my pencil, Chuck (Colson) was debating with one of our authors about the state of affairs in the church community. I gasped in surprise as I heard Chuck exclaim: "I just don't know what we're going to do with those Southern Baptist Bastards!" I blinked, and looked quickly at my co-worker. The look on her face told me she had heard it too. As our mouths gaped open Chuck took one look at me and barked: "What in the world is wrong with you?"
"Would you mind running that by me again?
"What?"
"About the Southern Baptists."
In his thick Massachusetts accent he repied, "I don't know what to do with the bastards."
Frowning I looked at my co-worker, who was now chuckling quietly. "The Pastors. He doesn't know what to do about the Pastors."

Duh, Faith. Thankfully Chuck thought the mishap was hilarious... once I explained. :-)

A must see...

Alright, this is absolutely awesome!!! Have fun...

http://wuzzadem.typepad.com/wuz/2006/03/church_sign_sma.html

And for some personal fun: http://www.churchsigngenerator.com/

http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=flitgurl