image via cnn.comNine years later and I still can't fight the tears while I watch the news and memorials after the attacks of 2001 that changed our country and our lives forever. I was a freshman in college in Arkansas. I am from New England and the events literally hit home for my roommate and I who frequently went to New York. That morning she had decided to skip chapel and sleep in. The president of the school got up and told us that we were releasing after a time of prayer. He said that a plane had flown into one of the twin towers in New York City. My very first thought was that it was an accident and I hoped that no one had been hurt. It took awhile for the magnitude of the events to sink in because I knew those towers and I knew that city and never in my life would I imagine anyone attacking our country. I ran back to my room, shook my roommate, who had been my best friend since we were 11, awake and turned on the tv. We watched in shock and immediately called home. My mom was nearly hysterical and kept telling me how much she wished I was home. She had already been in touch with the parents of a good friend of mine because he went to school in Brooklyn and wanted to make sure that he was ok. This day was the beginning of my world changing. The bubble that I lived in was popped and there was a great sense of innocence lost. We became a country that was grieving together, questioning together, and coming together. As difficult as those times were right after we saw a unity that we hadn't seen in a very long time. That unity has since been ripped apart as we are now a country more divided than ever and we need to get back to that. We need to remember, when we are torn apart by political differences, that we are Americans above and beyond party affiliations. I have since had two cousins, several very close friends, and my two brothers who have all joined the military to protect our great country and to prevent this from ever happening again. My baby brother is currently serving in Afghanistan and while there is a part of my that is missing until he returns I am so grateful for all those that haven't forgotten and continue to pray for and support the men and woman and all of their families that are risking and giving their lives for our freedom. We are stronger than the actions of September 11 2001
On Thursday I surprised my husband with a day of deep sea fishing for his birthday. We went out on a charter boat down to the Mexican coast. We had a lot of fun (minus the sunburn and getting sea sick) and came away with almost 15 fish betweent he two of us and his best friend. The crew fillets the fish right on the boat for you and so we have several fresh fish steaks in the freezer for our next night off. I'm looking for good grilling recipes and fish taco recipes if you have any! 
The view on the way there and back was amazing - we even saw several dolphins early on
Flock of Seagulls anyone?
This island had a light house off the edge - very Shutter Island
we had a little seal that followed us the entire way
On June 26, 2010 my sweet friend Katy married her soul mate. We've been friends since we were 7 and we have one of those friendships where we sometimes go for awhile without talking but never lose the closeness - we somehow end up talking about everythings - and share a bond that transcends distance . Our lives are very similar and it was such a wonderful wedding. Given the fact that we live on opposite sides of the country, I didn't get to meet her husband until their wedding day. After seeing the raw emotion and love (see below) on his face, I know that she's in good hands. The wedding was at the Hyatt on Goat Island in Newport Rhode and beautiful doesn't begin to describe it. Katy's photographer was the amazing Carla of 
I cannot look at this shot without choking up here myself - take good care of my girl Kyle!
Loved this cake!
The flowers were by the fabulous Gity of 
I happen to love this shot as it is the hands and feet of my oh so fashionable baby sister
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