No Charlie Brown Tree fo' THIS Family!!!

Mr. Gruden here ... so my family has always had amazing artificial Christmas trees. There is something comforting in knowing that your little tree is resting nearby (in the basement) to resurrect another year to share Christmas memories.

Personally, I've enjoyed having the same faux tree year after year. Mrs. Gruden on the other hand has always had real trees, so in attempt to bless my wife and "branch out" if you will (lame joke I know, but it's still funny to me) we decided to get a live Christmas tree this year.

Our dear neighbors/landlords/close friends, the Sylvesters recommended that we go to a Christmas tree farm a couple miles up from our home. I think they forgot to mention that the Christmas tree man was on medication ... thanks for the memories Sylvester fam!!
Here are some pics with us picking our first Christmas tree and patronizing our "special" salesman!

Feliz Navidad! More Christmas tree pictures to come...

My love has a birthday

My love recently had a birthday! I'm not sure why, but I know that since we've been married I've been intensely impressed how every moment with Michael are rare gifts that I want to cherish.

This past birthday as Michael and I shared a surprise Birthday getaway to Virginia's hunt country it was no different in one sense of being yet another enchanted memory with my incredible husband and yet it was so different because it was a chance to honor and express how much I daily grow in my respect for my husband whose thirst and desire to be more Christ-like betrays his young age. Of course, his magnetic charm and smooth moves don't hurt him any :-).

When I think of my love and how he swept into my world, at times with the surprising force of a hurricane and at times with the patience of a zephyr; I am still amazed at the precious moments God has gifted me to be by your side. Happy Birthday darling Michael!

Pictures: top, our first night at this wonderful Inn in the Virginia Hunt Country and bottom, Michael enjoying this amazing four course birthday breakfast prepared by this super five-star chef!

Grace...C'est Si Bon

I've been remiss in updating this blog, but what can I say....





Grace interrupted my life. Grace, as I've come to understand it these past five years since becoming a Christian is Christ's unmerited favor and forgiveness of my sins despite my rebellion and rejection of God's commands. Now, as a Michael's wife, each day I'm seized anew with not just how sinful and selfish I can be BUT God's love through Michael's love and gracious care of me.

I read this quote recently by Bono, the U2 front man recently and I thought how interesting that he captured how God interrupts and reminds me of love that I know I do not deserve. Soli Deo Gloria.

"Bono: You see, at the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics—in physical laws—every action is met by an equal or an opposite one. It's clear to me that Karma is at the very heart of the universe. I'm absolutely sure of it. And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that "as you reap, so you will sow" stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I've done a lot of stupid stuff.mercy and kindness to me through the graces "