We celebrated Thanksgiving simply, in a tiny, pinewood cabin. Sarah made food, because she is awesome. We were surrounded by what makes us happy. Things like: mountains, trees, warm fires, books, our crazy pup, and each other.

It was the perfect backdrop for gratitude.  Simplicity distilled our thanks.

Away from the conveniences of the city. Away from flickering screens and battery powered devices that chirp, buzz, blink, and click. Away from all those things, my mind was refreshed with the insight that I wasn’t really thankful for blessings. I am thankful because of blessings.

Remove all that makes my life easy, fun, and productive and I still have just as much cause for gratitude. Why?  Because I experience just as much grace from the One who gives.

Plus, Sarah and Lewis got in lots of nature walks.

Click the pic for  an interactive panorama of the cabin:

And here are some photos….

It started out as, “Sarah takes Lewis to the lake.” But at 90 lbs., Lewis, as usual, did most of the taking. [photos on the flip side]

They ran in the mountains, splashed in a creek, ate crunchy leaves, and gnawed sticks.

It was a good time.

There’s just one problem with blogs. They’re famously difficult to wrap.Dozens of Sarah’s friends and family pitched in to help create a special blog for Sarah’s birthday. Each person described “why I love Sarah” then posted their response here.

I wish everyone who contributed could have seen Sarah’s reaction as she read each message during dinner at her favorite restaurant from an iPad. She was surprised and encouraged. And that’s about all you can hope for.

High fives all around!

So, here’s how to wrap a blog, in pictures.

Three years ago yesterday, I tricked Sarah into thinking I was marriage material. Thirty-six months later, I still have her hoodwinked We celebrated this happy deception with gifts of leather…and by teaching Sarah how to swing a golf club.

Happy anniversary, love! May the years we’re together be higher than our score at Top Golf!

It’s amazing to us how Lewis knows no fear at the water’s edge. It’s like he was born to leap from the shore to retrieve stuff. Imagine that.

Watching this little pup attack the water, I know there must be a lesson for me to learn about risk. About launching out from the safety of the shore. About trust.

Somewhere.

Show me the show! It’s day 4 of IcePocalypse 2011, and we haven’t left our apartment in 87 hours. While most people are suffering from cabin fever, here are 10 reasons why we’re keeping it cool under this Texas-sided blanket of ice.

1. Four days of Sarah’s undivided attention.
2. Two words: JUDGE JUDY.
3. Acting super excited when revolutionary new beauty products come on.
4. Talking Sarah into calling for the risk-free trial.
5. Home made cookies.
6. Being caught up on homework for the first time since 2004.
7. Watching live helicopter footage of Texans in sports cars navigate frozen overpasses.
8. Skipping rocks on the frozen parking lot (Sorry about all the dings in your cars, neighbors. It’s really tough to aim those rocks.)
9. Time to think about the future.
10. JUDGE JUDY.
11. BONUS: When rolling blackouts knock out work’s email servers. We humans are so bad at resting.

It started with a cup of java from Sarah’s new coffee maker, served with a husband-crafted breakfast.

Then, we both took a time out from work to meet for lunch. She had a salad with fig dressing. Yup. Sarah knows how to live on the wild side.

After work, things got serious at the Sarah Bday Memorial Bowling Bash. Team “SOS” donned the lucky hoodie in order to better their chances, but “Team G Money and the S’s” won the high-stakes event when their combined score was the first to include both digits in Sarah’s age. First prize? A bag of Skittles. Taste that rainbow, baby!

Sarah and I have a strange and wonderful relationship – I’m strange and she’s wonderful. But, somehow, she’s still smiling. In a world were so many couples struggle, what Sarah and I share is a cause for thankfulness, gratitude, pride and humility. And it’s a reason to celebrate.

So we did.

We staged a little “staycation” this weekend in our hometown, stayed at a fun place called NYLO, and lounged by the pool. It’s amazing how a short, simple getaway can be so fun when your best friend tags along!

She knew it must be Owen when: Using his laptop and assorted cables and connectors from his location bag, he rigged the hotel TV to stream netflix movies.

He knew it must be Sarah when: She requested cocoanut shrimp from Outback. They’re her favorite.

They knew they were lucky to have each other when: They were both happy to slip on 3D glasses and watch Toy Story 3. 

Strange and wonderful, indeed. Happy anniversary, babe!

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