twentyeleven

There are so many moments of 2011 that were glimpses of eternity.  The kind of moments where the world seems to go a little slower and you have the chance to soak in every detail.  Like I said on Monday, it was a really good, really hard year. 

MY FAVORITE EXPERIENCES OF 2011

My boys’ first time in an airplane.

Uncle Reno took my boys flying in an airplane.  They wore headsets and touched every button on the plane.  I listened as he explained flying with the wonder only a 4-year-old could understand.  And, thousands of feet in the air, it felt like time stood still.  There were 6 of us in a tiny airplane tasting what I only know to be called grace.  I remember this conversation later: “What was that feeling in my belly, mom?” “Well,” I said, “I think it is called adventure”. Campbell replied, “Yeah, it felt like adventure. I think God made adventure because he loves us.”  I think he did.

The Boxer Rebellion at the Bowery Ballroom

It was surreal. And incredible. Daniel and I, some of our dear friends, and a couple hundred people we didn’t know watched what is and might always be the best concert I’ve ever seen.  From start to finish, it was magical.  Before it started, we heard an acoustic practice session in the booth next to us from the opening band,  Zach Williams and Bellow opened.  They were too good.  Crazy good.  Then came We Are Augustines, who I explained a few days ago absolutely stole my heart.  Then The Boxer Rebellion.  And they were pure magic.  If you look close enough, you can see Eddie Rogert and his giant beard and homemade headband in the corner.  We got to watch him be the master of the instruments…it was such an incredible thing to see.

New York City

We went to my favorite city for our 5th wedding anniversary.  We stayed with Megan and Claire.  We went to a concert (see above) at the Bowery with Megan and Claire and Caroline. We walked until our feet hurt and we ate cupcakes while we rested. We learned the subway.  We drank beer at the South Street Seaport with Claire and gin in the Village with old friends and new friends.  We drew progressions of Rob’s beard with Adam.  We celebrated 30th birthdays in Little Italy over housemade pasta and Prosecco.  We went to the Met and I showed Daniel the exact spot where I want to die (on the benches near Renoir and Matisse and Degas).  We got lost in Central Park in the rain.  Claire and I spent an afternoon Brooklyn walking, talking and going to thrift stores. We shared pizza ith Rob and Claire at the first pizza place in Brooklyn.  We went to another concert.  Daniel and I spent the most wonderful morning in the Village together with ham biscuits and cheese straws.  We ordered-in Chinese food with Claire and Megan that was nasty and wonderful at the same time.  We walked Washington Heights in the morning to bring coffee to Claire. We had the time of our lives.

Holden Beach, North Carolina

We spent a week with some of our closest friends in the quiet town called Holden Beach.  It was reading in hammocks and on porch swings.  It was tiny giggles echoing off the waves every morning and afternoon.  It was sunset walks every night.  It was laughter that probably woke the neighbors.  It was a giant sand castle that ended up being worth the work.  It was a lot of mishaps to our car and a lot of mercy on our bank account.  It was radio conversations to fill the long hours on the road. It was cooking dinner at night and oatmeal in the morning.  It was trips to town and days never getting in a car.  In short, it was the most fun rest I had all year.

Watching my little brother give his first talk on stage at Windy Gap.

On our way home from the beach with our friends we stopped at Windy Gap because Drew and Molly were there for the weekend.  Megs, EJ and Sullivan met us and we had so much fun being a family—eating dinner and playing and oh so much laughing.  Then, sometime around midnight, I saw my little brother give his first young life talk on stage at Windy Gap.  It was amazing.  I wish I had words to describe it.  I closed my eyes at one point and I could see us as little kids rolling down the steps in the County Seat.  When I opened them, there he was.  My little brother, the man.  Telling hundreds of High School kids about a God who loves them just as they are, not as they should be.  A God who is as compassionate as he is powerful.  It is my favorite memory I have ever made at Windy Gap.