Go Wildcats!!!

Not too long ago, I was coaching the Lady Wildcats of Westbury Christian School to a State Championship in Basketballin the state of Texas. Now, four years later, I am rooting on a different Wildcat team to win the State Championship of the beloved state of Alabama 4A football.

The Guntersville High School Wildcats football team will be playing for the 4A state championship tomorrow night (Thursday, Dec. 7) vs. a team from near Mobile called Thomasville.

We have several players on the team that attend church here at Guntersville Church of Christ. To those guys I wish a special good luck, and to the whole team...I Believe.

Go Wildcats!!!

Top 10 Ugliest Uniforms of all time

I read this on Fox Sports, and thought it was a great slideshow of shots of what they deemed the top 10 ugliest uniforms in professional sports. I agree with most of them, but I still think the color of the Vancouver Grizzlies/Memphis Grizzlies is the least professional. What do you guys think? Check out the slide show:

Top 10 Ugliest Professional Uniforms of all Time

Shout Hallelujah!

It was a good house, and gave us lots of memories. However, as of 2:00 p.m. today, it will serve to make memories for someone else.

We finally, after 6 months of frustration, closed on our house in Olive Branch, MS. I know many of you have been praying for us, and we truly appreciate it. God be praised in this matter. I know He helped me out. We were scared we were going to have to pay a ton in closing, but we ended paying less than half of what we were told.

God truly is great.

Goodbye house, hello less stress filled life!!!

Quick prayer request

As selfish as it may seem, I am asking you all to say a quick prayer for our house in Memphis. Word on the street is that we have a good, bonified contract on it and will be closing on it soon.

We've been plauged with this house, and are ready to get rid of it. This looks rather promising, however, and we hope it works out well.

Also, please pray for my father and mother, Joe and Elaine Widick, as they travel to Honduras on Wednesday. They'll be gone for a few days to visit with some missionaries, and attend the Baxter Graduation.

I am Thankful

So on this Thanksgiving of the year 2006, what are we all thankful for?

I am thankful for God on high, the loving Master and Creator of this universe, who continues to amaze me daily in so many ways. His blessings are greater than I could ever imagine, and even on days when it seems like nothing is going right, He always is there for me.

I am thankful for my wife Kristen, who has amazing love and patience with such a wretch like me. There are so many days when I don't understand why she loves me, and so many days when I couldn't blame her for storming out, but she never does, her love, like the Father's, is constant.

I am thankful for the Lord's church, especially here in Guntersville, Alabama. The people here are wonderful, loving, forgiving, generous, and genuine.

I am thankful for my family: My father for always listening to me and being able to offer support, my mother for being the greatest cook in the entire world, my brother, I'm thankful for him being alive this year after such a scare he gave us, and my sister for being so kind and wonderful. For their spouses, for being so great to me, loving me as part of their family. For my nieces and nephews for being so full of life with such a great outlook, and for always rushing to give me a hug when they see me.

I am thankful for my in-laws. Granted, there are times when I feel as if I just don't fit in, but they accept me anyways. I have a beautiful father-in-law and mother-in-law, who are God fearing people and would do anything for us.

I am thankful for my dog, Chloe, who offers such brightness in this world of darkness. You can't help but look at her and smile. She loves me no matter what, and is never in a bad mood.

I am thankful for my friends, dear friends in Huntsville, in Memphis, in Ashland City, and in Houston. I am thankful for my friends all over this world, from Tennessee, to Honduras, to Scotland.

I am thankful that God has blessed me with the knowledge of salvation, His love, and the ability to teach others about it. I am thankful for the written word of God, and the ability I have to read it and understand it.

I am thankful that this season, I will be able to sit down at a table full of bountiful food, enough to feed several families. I am thankful that this season I have the financial means to purchase gifts for my family and friends. I am thankful that I have a warm house, a driveable car, and clothes that even if they don't make me look thinner, fit me and keep me warm.

I am thankful for the teenagers in my youth group. There's not a one that I can't learn from daily. They have a zeal for God, and want to know Him.

I am thankful for the parents and volunteers who help with our youth group. I am thankful for the staff I work with, Lisa and Phillip and Donna.

I am thankful for James Byrd, a man who does work for us around the church building in exchange for groceries and gas money, and who always finishes what he starts, and never once complains.

I am thankful that one day, this earth will end, and we will be able to go live with our father in Heaven, without pain and suffering, and singing praises to him for an eternity.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Stranger than Fiction

Last night my wife and I did something we haven't done in quite a while. We went on a date on a Monday night. I told her that I felt like we were in college again. It had been an unusually rough day. I didn't feel well, she had another trial filled day working with her two year olds, so I proposed a date night.

We drove to Huntsville, and went to eat at McAlister's Deli (a favorite of Kristen's), and then walked around Target for a few minutes. Then we proceeded over to the Rave Theater, and went to go see the movie "Stranger than Fictioin" starring Will Ferrell.

Let me start off by saying this is not a stereotypical Ferrell flick. He was not his usual goofy and silly self. He had a more mature demeanor, however he was still hilarious.

The movie is based upon this guy named Harold Crick, who has a very routine life and does the same thing day in and day out. He works for the IRS as an auditor. His life is all about numbers.

One day, a voice pops into his head. The voice seems to be narrating his life. As quoted from the movie, "Its telling me what i've just done and using a better vocabulary".

The voice is actually an author, who is famous for writing books about people who die. Coincidence occurs when her main character's name is Harold's name as well. Harold spends the rest of the movie trying to figure out who the voice is, and in the meantime learns how to live a real life.

I thought the movie was pretty brilliant, especially for a Will Ferrell movie. If you go in just expecting a brainless comedy which is full of potty humor, you will be sadly disappointed. If you go in expecting an intelligent comedy, you'll be pleasantly surprised!

Stranger than Fiction: I Give you 4 out of 5 stars ****, because there are some slow parts of the movie that could have been filled with a bit more humor.

Will it work out for us?

Let me start off by saying that the fall retreat we had this past weekend was great. The highlight was around 11:30 on Saturday night. It was very cold, about 30 degrees outside. Forecasters were actually calling for flurries. I was just about to start the movie "Cars" for our evening activity, when one of our great college age volunteers, Hailey Black, called me over to talk.

Come to find out, her cousin Vince wanted to be baptized. So off we went to the only place at Coker Creek Village deep enough to baptize him...the creek. We all went down to the creek, Vince and I walked into the what seemed like sub-zero temperature water, and I immersed him into the water in baptism.

Then, to top off the weekend, we came home to a great phone call. Our realor called us and mentioned that she is pretty sure we have a good offer/contract on our house. So hopefully later this week I'll be able to report some good news.

We've been holding on to this house too long, but if this offer actually comes through, it will be the best one offered to us thus far.

I'm also soliciting prayers for my wife, Kristen. She is seeking to find a better job, as she is not very happy with hers right now. Please pray that God will bless her with a more rewarding job, both with a better paycheck, but more importantly without leaving her feeling as if she is overqualified.

In reference to my 100th post

I decided I would give you guys the answer key to my quiz I put on my 100th post, since the test doesn't really do that for you.

1. My middle name?
a. Lane
b. Herschel
c. Michael
d. Derrick

ANSWER: B, Herschel

Tidbits- Lane is my first name, and Derrick is my grandfather's, my father's, my brother's, and both nephew's middle names. Michael is a friend's name.

2. What was my favorite childhood football team?
a. New York Giants
b. Denver Broncos
c. Buffalo Bills
d. Houston Oilers

ANSWER: C, Buffalo Bills

Tidbits- I liked the Buffalo Bills because when I was in second grade, we had to do a report on an African American of our choosing during Black History Month. I chose none other than O.J. Simpson, who at the time was not a fugitive. He played running back for the Buffalo Bills.

3. What superlative did I get my senior year?
a. Cutest
b. Funniest
c. Most Likely to succeed
d. Most Spirited

ANSWER: D, Most Spirited

Tidbits- Cutest went to a druggie, Funniest went to Greg Landers (whose father and sister both won funniest, and he lobbied for it because he wanted to keep it running in his family), and most likely to succeed went to a guy who eventually made a porn movie in a family park.

4. What type of dog was Molly?
a. Schnauzer
b. Pug
c. Lab
d. Mutt

ANSWER: A, Schnauzer

Tidbits- We currently own a pug, and I had a childhood lab named Tipsy (not because she was drunk, but because of a white tip on her tail). I don't think we ever owned a mutt.

5. What character did I play in the musical The Sound of Music my senior year?
a. Max
b. Rolf
c. Captain Von Trapp
d. Nazi Extra

ANSWER: C, Captain Von Trapp

Tidbits- Max was played by none other than Eric Law, Rolf was played by my good friend Jason Bybee, and the lone Nazi Extra I remember was Brad "Biscuit" Siegrest.

6. What city have I not lived in?
a. Houston, TX
b. Olive Branch, MS
c. Ashland City, TN
d. Nashville, TN

ANSWER: D, Nashville, TN

Tidbits- I lived in Houston for two years after I got out of college. I lived in Olive Branch for a year, and in Ashland City for two years. I was born in Nashville, and technically I guess lived there for the first day or two of my life.

7. Which of the following was not a job I had in high school?
a. Manager of the basketball team
b. Yearbook Photographer
c. Academic Decathlon Coach
d. President of the National Honor Society

ANSWER: A, Manager of the basketball team

Tidbits- I took pictures for the paper and the yearbook. I was elected the National Honor Society President because the class before me didn't want a woman president (I had nothing to do with that!!). Believe it or not, we had an Academic Decathlon Team that I helped coach. I never once was the manager of the basketball team.

8. I ran and lost after running for what position?
a. Student body vice-president
b. student body secretary
c. student body President
d. student body treasurer

ANSWER: C, Student Body Presidnent

Tidbits- I ran and lost to Wynne Baker. I couldn't even tell you who won the other three positions.

Hope you enjoyed those! Everyone say a prayer for us this weekend, we have our fall retreat and we're taking about 30 people up to Coker Creek Village. Our Guntersville Wildcats are in the playoffs Friday and hopefully will win!

My 100th Post

I would like to thank all of you who read my blog. I don't know who all reads, but I'm glad you do.

This is my official 100th post. To celebrate, I'm going to give you a quiz about myself that I stole from Jason Bybee's blog.

Take time to see how much you know me from reading my blog!


Create your own friendquiz here

This is the body, This is the blood

I read I Corinthians 10 and 11 and wonder often if the way I partake of the Lord's Supper is how God intended for this memorial feast to be.

Is it really possible in the 2 or 3 minutes we spend in taking the bread and juice to examine ourselves?

At our church here in Guntersville, we pick the thimble sized portion of grape juice out of the tray and pass the tray on, and put the little cup in the provided holder on the back of the pew in front of us. At least we're able to take our time to drink the juice.

But what about the churches who pass the tray and the people have to put their used cup back in the tray? Sure it saves time in clean up, but does that give you time to examine yourself?

I know that in our modern time constraints of church service, we have about an hour to cram in all the worship aspects, or people start to get upset. We'll spend 30 minutes on a sermon, and 20 minutes singing a song, but only a few short moments on this memorial feast. I don't know about you, but I spend more time than that eating a snack pack of pudding.

I suppose its all in how you approach this "feast", but let's face it, the deck is stacked against you when you confine the parameters of it in a set amount of time. When I remember something, I like to talk about it with others, but when was the last time you talked with someone during the communion time?

I don't see the Last Supper as a time when everyone buried their hands in their faces and closed their eyes in reverent memory and thought. I see them discussing the life of Jesus, possibly weeping together, or celebrating together.

Does anyone else think that there are aspects of the worship service we do that aren't exactly how God intended it?

Happy Halloween

Surprisingly, we had several trick or treaters. I don't think any of them actually said trick or treat, however.

Just wanted to share with you what our little one dressed up as. Isn't she the cutest little devil you've ever seen?

Here's a random blog

So yesterday the Titans beat the Houston Texans, barely. But, a win is a win, and it was a division win as well. So we're sitting at 1 and 1 in the division. However, we are 2 and 5 overall. If we win outright, we may have a shot at the playoffs, and I may learn to fly tomorrow.

This weekend we spent some time doing yardwork at the house. We're trying to get it set up so we can plant some flowers and bushes in the front yard. There's also hope that this week we may get a new driveway to get us off the road where we currently have to park. Every morning, there's more sap on my car, and dents from where all the acorns fall off all night long.

I ask for prayers this week as I prepare for our upcoming fall retreat. Its going to be great. The theme is All Things New, and we're using Romans 12:2 as our key verse.

Saturday night we went to celebrate 30 years of life with my good friend Jason Bybee at his surprise birthday party. It was a lot of fun, and I got to meet several of his blogging buddies that up until now i've only known through blogger.

Its going to be a good week, I just feel it.

I'm so LOST!!!

Well thanks Jason. You said, "Just watch an episode or two of the first season. I'll even lend you my Season One set so you won't have to rent them or buy them." Well, thanks man. Now I'm hooked. I guess that's how drug dealers do it. Just try it, I'll give you the first hit for free! Then, BAM, they're hooked!

I started out watching season 1 very unsure if I was going to like it. I mean, the first 3 or 4 episodes were rather confusing, with all the characterization going on, learning who everyone was, and scared they were going to do life long flashbacks on all 40 or so of the surviving plane crashees.

But frustration quickly developed into determination to see what the strange sound was in the jungle, why there were polar bears on the island, and what the heck a strange hatch door was doing in the middle of the jungle.

The thing I like most about the show is that just when you think you have something figured out, the writers change it up. Just like in 24, they are not afraid to kill anyone, and I think for a good show you have to be willing to give up lead characters (knowing that in Lost, they're likely to show up again somewhere down the road, even if they're dead).

My favorite characters include Hugo for his undying optimism and goodness, Charlie for his quirkiness, and Sawyer, for playing the always evil and sarcastic nemesis to everyone. I know Jack is the "hero", and his character is great, but I get frustrated with him so often.

I can't stand Michael, and I'm glad (SPOILER COMING UP) that he is now off the show (but I'm sure he and Walt will be back). I also did not like the Anna Lucia character.

The best written characters by far are Locke and the Korean couple Jin and Sun. Their back stories are intriguing. I still want to know how John ended up in a wheel chair. I also want to know how Jin will act once a child comes along.

Lost is a tremendous show. It is now MUST WATCH television for me. Thank goodness for DVR service to record our shows faithfully for us. I would now rank Lost in my top 5 current faves, along with 24, The Office, Survivor, and the Amazing Race.

Can't wait till next Wednesday night!!

I am definitely unique

Thanks to my friend Jonathan McKnight for posting this on his blog.

No one else in the United States has my name. See how many people share your name! Just click on the link below.

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 0 people with my name in the U.S.A. how/'>http://howmanyofme.com">How many have your name

Bama vs. Vols

This weekend is my favorite weekend of college football. Even though I'm a huge Alabama fan, I don't care nearly as much about the Auburn rivalry as I do about the UT/Bama rivalry. Its always been a great game, and I can't wait.

We'll be getting together with some friends here in town to watch the game, eat a lot of snacks, and cheer our boys on to victory.

The Vols had the week off last week, so they'll be more rested. The Tide won a close game against a terrible Ole Miss team, and I think they'll be playing at the top of their game this week.

However, I do think that my boys will lose, in a close game, 21-18 Vols.

As much as I love the Cardinals, I think they'll lose the series 4 games to 2.

The Titans won last week, and have a bye this weekend. Let's rest up boys.

Watch out! The fat man's coming!!

Hey everyone. I just wanted to give a plug for a new page I'm working on. I've started another blog, entitled "Fat Man". I just started it on Sunday night, but it has a purpose larger than life (no pun intended).

Every day that I live a life like I am right now, I creep closer to an early death. I've blogged about this before, and it did me little good. I guess my problem is that I have had very little motivation to lose weight. I've always made the excuses, but no longer will I do that.

I've got my wife on board to help me work through this. Its hard to lose weight, its hard to change your lifestyle, but with God's help I can get it done.

So drop on by the FAT MAN blog, and leave some encouragement, sarcastic remarks, or anything else you'd like. There's a link to it on this page, so check it out every Monday for my official weigh in day. I'm starting at 265, and I want to be at 185. Eighty pounds to lose.

A good weekend at home

This past weekend, I was able to go home and spend some time with my family in Lebanon, TN. It was great.

My parents started a tradition a few years ago, where they took a hay ride around the middle of October. The thing is, my parents don't have a tractor, or a trailer. All they have is a red Chevy S10, so me, Kristen, my brother, his wife, my sister, and all 5 of my nieces and nephews climbed in the back of the S10, and drove around Mann Road, and Maple Hill Road, and finally through the new subdivision near my folk's home. It was bitter cold outside as well. However, it was loads of fun.

The best thing I think was that I was able to be at home for church this morning. I haven't worshipped with my family since I got married. It was really great to be able to do that.

We left our dog at Kristen's parents home. I think she drove them crazy.

THINGS OF INTEREST:

--I switched to the new beta version of blogger. Its pretty good. Its got a simple interface and is rather user friendly. All you need is a google account.

--Thanks to Jason, he's gotten me hooked on LOST. Thanks a lot man. Now i'm hooked on another show.

--You'll notice a new link on my page here in a day or so. I've decided to blog about my new diet and exercise routine. I know, not very exciting, but its mainly for me to be able to keep up with my progress, and for people to drop some encouraging notes.

--The Titans won a game. Bama barely beat Ole miss, and how on earth is Auburn ranked FOURTH in the first BCS poll? Could Detroit really win a World Series?

The Yankees should trade Derek Jeter

Now that I have your attention, read this article:

Yankees should trade Jeter

Any comments? I think its the biggest bunch of bologna anyone could ever write. That would be like getting of Babe Ruth.

Working on my heart

I have to admit, I'm not always ready for worship. Are you?

I think we learn from John 4, when Jesus is talking to the Samaritan woman how important our heart is in the whole matter of worship.

We don’t suddenly delight in God when the service begins no matter what the song might be leading us to say. Our hearts are the worship center and we bring our worship with us. Each of us worships in the quiet of our hearts all week. Then we all pile in here together to feed off the corporate energy of worship. What this should produce in our church is a great bonfire of worship. As each of us brings our kindling to add to the fire, the more of us there are together, the larger the fire should be. Corporate worship is the gathering together of hearts delighting in God. When that happens, there is a special dynamic that takes place.

Another way to look at it is this. I’m an Alabama fan. I’ve always been an Alabama fan. Everyone who is an Alabama fan has a reason for being one. People don’t go to Alabama games to become an Alabama fan. People don’t go into Bryant Denny stadium and become an Alabama fan. They go to games and share in the passion with all the other Alabama fans. We look forward to going and supporting our favorite teams. We build it up, dress up in their gear, paint our faces, etc. Then we go. We let our enthusiasm go for the team while there, and we celebrate with others.

Worship should be like that. We are putting on our Christian gear everyday, when we go out we celebrate with other Christians. When we come to church, that is our time to Celebrate our Christianity with everyone else. We don’t cheer for other people, we praise our God.

Ready for the weekend

Hey all. Boy am I ever ready for the weekend. We don't have much going on, so I may get to sleep in tomorrow morning.

Tonight, the number 7 Guntersville Wildcats take on the number 3 team from Alexandria. Its also homecoming. Should be an interesting night.

On Sunday, the Titans play Indianapolis. If we're getting crushed by average opponents, what will happen to us when we play an offensive juggernaut like the Colts? Saving grace, the Colts have a pretty bad defense. Maybe we'll score some points.

Next week is fall break around here for our kids. Lots of people will be going on vacations.

Everyone needs to go see the movie "Facing the Giants". We went and watched it last weekend with the group from church, and it was a great movie. It was a bit cheesy for the first 10 minutes or so, but it started to get a lot better, and at the end you didn't realize you weren't watching a major motion picture.

Roll Tide, go Yankees, and please Titans, score some points and win!

French (Freedom) Fries

Several months ago, I posted on here that I was ready to lose weight. Well, here I am, not much lighter, and not much more disciplined.

That is until the past week and a half. I've decided, through the help of a friend, Kyle Hooper, that you have to set some smaller goals.

I also have to stop thinking about the fact that I used to be skinnier. I'll get there again one day, but it won't be tomorrow. Just because I was there does not mean I deserve it tomorrow.

Which brings me to french fries and also candy bars. Being a youth minister, its hard to have a diet that doesn't consist of french fries and candy bars. Its so easy to run and pick up some fast food for lunch, or for dinner, at any given time. Granted, the burgers and sandwiches at most of these joints are bad for you, but the french fries are terrible.

I'm not saying i'm going to cut them out completely, but I have noticed my stomach has been feeling better since I stopped eating them. I'm making more conscious efforts to be healthier now. Its about time.

Having said that, i suggest everyone check out the NBC show "The Biggest Loser". It comes on Wednesday, so set your DVR to record since you'll all be at church, right?

For the last 11 days, I have not eaten a french fry. That, is a HUGE deal for me. I love french fries, even though they have zero nutritional value.

Alabama/Arkansas

Well, its about that time to make our end of the week predictions. I really don't know how some teams will fare this weekend, but here goes some guesses:

I predict Alabama over Arkansas. The score -- 27-14

Auburn will not fare well against Buffalo. They will only win by about 14.

Tennessee will handle Marshall easily. The score will be 45-14.

Georgia will destroy Colorado.

My upsets:

Michigan State beats Notre Dame 21-18

Kentucky Beats Florida 31-30

Penn State beats Ohio State in Overtime by a field goal.

In NFL scores, the Titans will lose, no matter who they play, by 50. Actually, its the battle of the 0 and 2's, and the Titans will play Vince Young from the 2nd quarter on after Kerry Collins throws 1 complete pass out of 16 attempts.

Go team!

Homosexuality and Christianity

I was talking with someone the other day about a situation involving homosexuality. I won't name any names. I started to realize other than the fact that homosexuality is basically condemned in the New Testament, I know very little about it.

I really need some good books to read about counseling those with homosexual tendencies, family members who have turned to homosexuality, friends who are homosexuals, etc. It is a very real issue, and I need to learn how to deal with it. Unfortunately, I was failed in that regard at my alma mater, but I don't know that any of the schools nowadays are really teaching one how to teach about it.

Anyone who can steer me towards some good books, a good video series, etc., I would really appreciate it.

Thanks to Jason for helping me plug this question.

Reggie Bush, a cheat?

The Reggie Bush era.

Everyone says he'll be the salvation of the Saints. Let's face it, its still the Saints. If Mike Ditka couldn't help them, do you really think Reggie Bush can?

I ran across a very interesting article on a REGGIE BUSH INVESTIGATION taking place. Its a long article, but rather interesting.

My big questions are as follows:

1. So what if he did take money? He worked really hard at what he did. Doesn't he deserve it?
2. Should a school be punished for the stupidity of one of their athletes?
3. If I'm in college, and I go for an interview with someone before I graduate, I don't get in trouble for that. What's the difference between that and what Reggie Bush did? If I got flown somewhere to experience a weekend by a corporation that wants to hire me before I'm done with college, that's okay!

I'm not saying I agree with what may have happened, and i'm not saying USC shouldn't be punished. But to take away a Heisman? Talking to the NFL people or working with an agent didn't help him achieve that status. In fact, it probably hurt him with all the distractions going on.

Anyone care to chime in?

1095 Days/ 26280 Hours/ 1576800 Minutes

3 years ago today. 3 years ago today I stood on a church stage in front of many witnesses, and confessed my love and devotion to Kristen Joy Sims. It was one of the most emotional days of my life.

That day was a whirlwind. I woke up, in house that all the groomsmen were staying in, and we went to Cracker Barrell for breakfast. I had Steak and Biscuits. We sat there for about 2 hours, talking, laughing, chatting, and stuffing our faces. Then, we went home, and began to get dressed.

The day continued as we went for the dreaded pictures. I'll never understand why you have to get ready so early for pictures, but we did anyway.

Kristen and I did not want to see each other before the ceremony. We wanted to pictures after, but we realized that puts everyone at such an inconvenience, making them wait for food and wait to greet us. So what we did was we had a rehearsal run before hand. We got only the family and the bridesmaids and the groomsmen, and kicked everyone else (like the decorator, etc) out. We then had what I considered to be the best moment of my life.

The groomsmen and I marched down the aisle as well as the bridesmaids. The groomsmen walked down to bagpipe music. It was a reference to our many trips to Scotland together. The bridesmaids walked down to When You Say Nothing at All by Allison Krauss. Then, to a song called Only Hope, the love of my life appeared in the doorway, and walked down the aisle with her father.

I'm not usually all that emotional, but I had a pipe burst or something, because I could not stop the tears from flowing. I realized how lucky I was, and how God works in our lives to put the absolute perfect person in our lives. There is no one else I could ever imagine spending my life with.

We've lived in 5 different houses, 4 different cities, worked with 3 different churches, and I believe now we have finally found a place to settle down, start a family, and place some roots. Our first home was a trailer by the Cumberland River in Ashland City, TN. We then moved in Ashland City to a different house that was literally in the middle of nowhere. It was 1/2 mile off the road. Kristen hated that house, but I loved it. From there we moved to an apartment in Memphis, and then to our first home (which we still haven't sold...sigh) in Olive Branch, MS.

Now we begin our third year of marriage in Guntersville, AL and hope to spend many more here. In fact, at this point, I'd be happy if we spent every anniversary here together. There's not a prettier place around.

I love my wife with all my heart. Happy 3 years. Here's to 300 more!

(By the way, the picture with the snowman was the first day that Kristen and I spent any real time together. It was a snowy day at Freed Hardeman, when everyone skipped class and went to play in the snow. The others in the picture are my old roommate Kevin Westmoreland and Kristen's old roommate Amy Champion. I'm the one in the ski mask.)