Tidings of Great Joy!

Well, last month was pretty wonderful, with Lindsey's wedding, ASU Football games, and Thanksgiving! Due to a change of plans, Patrick and I celebrated Thanksgiving alone together. I'm pretty sure this was the only year that will ever happen for us. We had originally planned to be in Florida for that holiday and spend Christmas up here, but then we found out that not everyone could get together. While we were going through the throws of that planning process, Cheryl and Rick made plans to go on a vacation over Thanksgiving, thinking we wouldn't be here anyway and Jason and Edyth were going to be with her family. Patrick and I took the opportunity to spend some quality time together in Boone. We ate Thanksgiving Dinner at the Daniel Boone Inn, after an hour and a half wait! It was really worth it though! No clean up or cooking made up for the wait we decided. Once our bellies were full we went back to Jason & Edyth's to slip into a turkey coma. The house was so quiet and we could hear the wind blowing through the trees. When we woke up we found a winter wonderland outside! Snow was coming down in a big flurry! O It was wonderful! The rest of the weekend was full of shopping, napping, movies, and an ASU football game. Good times! Even though we really missed all of our family, we thoroughly enjoyed being together.



So far this month has been even more joyous! The first weekend we headed to Asheville to spend the weekend at the Cove Camp (now known as Camp Cedar Cliff). We were invited to be part of a promo video for the camp, which was so fun! Justin & Samantha Brackett (also old camp staff now married) got to hang out with us Friday and Saturday night. We went to a Switchfoot concert on Friday night. I hadn't seen those guys since my Teen Mania days - still a great show!



Saturday we woke up and headed to the Grove Park Inn an awesome hotel in Asheville. The Spa (watch the video) there is rated #4 in the country and #13 in the WORLD! Patrick (ever so blessed) WON a free Spa treatment through a contest on Twitter. He purchased one more so that we could go together - half price isn't so bad for the greatest Spa treatment I could imagine! We spent most of the day there from 8:30 a.m. and on. After my 90 minutes of heaven, I took the tour of the facilities while I waited for Patrick to be done with his massage, and as we walked out to the outdoor hot tub I saw the snow! Grove Park Inn is such a beautiful place, but under a light dusting of snow it is Magical! We napped in our robes by the fireplace, swam in the many pools, enjoyed Sauna, Hot Tub, Steam room, etc. I didn't want to leave, especially to face the very cold temperatures.

This past weekend we went to a sweet wedding in Charlotte, spent the rest of the day shopping with the Berrys, and had a chance to check out a car that Patrick found on Ebay and was interested in buying. Today, he made the agreement to purchase a newer nicer vehicle for me to drive. It's a little bittersweet since I LOVE my car. She is getting along in age though, so it is probably the wise decision. I am REALLY excited though about driving the little SUV! We decided it was only fair if we trade off weekly. Haha! It's okay with me. I love driving the Z too!

Also, last week we got the good news of Patrick receiving a well-deserved promotion and raise in January. We thank God for blessing us when so many are being challenged financially! This year has been more than we ever could have dreamed!

We CAN'T WAIT to see all of our family in Florida in a couple weeks! It's been too long and we are ready for the wonderful chaos of having everyone together again. Patrick had the fun new experience of buying Christmas presents for children this year for the first time. Haha! He got 10 new nieces and nephews all in one year! God has been so great to us and blessed us tremendously! We thank all of you too for making this such an amazing year!

A Capital Weekend

Here's a little blurb on our trip to Washington D.C. last weekend. It was such a great trip at very low cost and we feel so very fortunate and blessed for getting to experience each special moment! I could not have imagined a better tour guide than my husband, Patrick Berry (future POTUS). His perspective on the history and state of current events made it such an educational experience.

So many memories of trips there with Ma, Papa, and Summer came flooding back! I remembered wanting to give money to every homeless person. I remembered trying to keep up with Papa's fast paced walk, and seeing him enjoy the Air & Space Museum so much. Summer and I would have been content just riding the long escalators up and down on the Metro. I remembered walking through the Gallery of First Ladies and the American History Museum, and thinking to myself, "How cool would it be to be First Lady!" I remembered going to Mount Vernon and Ma's accident because she got so tickled by something Summer or I did or said (Sorry, Ma)... Good times!

My handsome husband. This photo could go down in history

The Hill had a lot going on with the whole Health Care Reform Bill thing. For the past 10 years they have been building the new visitor's center at the Capital, and it is in one word, AMAZING! It's 2/3 of the size of the Capital itself and was built three stories down into the ground on the back side (very much like the Louvre Museum in Paris). (Click here to learn more) Tours start there, and you watch a short movie on the history of the building. No longer can tourist just walk up the steps of the Capital (it's heavily guarded). Instead you enter from a completely different angle. It's a pretty well-oiled machine!

It was pretty chilly, but not unbearable on Friday - our first trip to The Mall. On Sunday we went again and it was absolutely perfect weather. The leaves were turning and the sky was the bluest of blues.

One very cool thing that happened was that while we were in the Capital we were able to meet up with Allison Beach (now Halataei), who works nearby. That was pretty great, and we have Facebook to thank!

I'm pretty sure we have a picture in this very spot of me and Summer when we were 12

While we were there Patrick had a very important meeting that he was actually supposed to lead at ASU that weekend. Since he couldn't be there in person to present from stage, they Skyped him in and put him on the big screen. Notice the Washington Monument from our hotel room window. We had 180 degree views in the Executive Suite (thanks, Dad, for your Platinum status)! Free Breakfast Buffet, amazing views, excellent customer service - the High life!

Lindsey and Patrick's wedding was spectacular! She was a beautiful bride! What a perfect location too, with fun nights in Georgetown and pretty much every guest in the same hotel where the reception was held. The wedding ceremony was in a beautiful old church with high wooden ceilings and velvet covered pews. Everyone had such a great time, and the food was so good!

You may have heard about my dress drama. I ordered it rush from a shop near town three months ago. When I called 3 weeks before the wedding to find out when I could come pick it up, I eventually discovered that the shop did not order the dress. They "couldn't help me", so I found a lady in Boone who was going to do her very best to get me that dress. She worked with the Manufacturer to have it rush made in China and shipped here in time for the wedding. Well, when it did arrive it was a size 14, not a 4! So, they sent me three other emerald greed dresses in a size 4 and I just figured out a way to make it work. The one pictured above was actually a halter top with a straight skirt. Martha, a friend of the family came to my rescue and "altered" the dress with safety pins and a little bit of thread. We tucked in the straps and I almost managed to blend in with the other girls. Lindsey was such a good sport and few people even noticed. Needless to say, the dress(es) was free.

It's such a blessing the way that God has continued to weave together this friendship that I have with Lindsey! I am constantly amazed at what an incredible woman she is, not only in her career, but mostly in her spiritual walk. God has shown his favor on this marriage in so many ways and made Patrick into exactly the man she desired and needed. It's also really fun to have to distinguish our husbands by calling them, "your Patrick" and "my Patrick"...

After it all, we were ready to get home - yes, Hickory is finally starting to feel like home. It's difficult to describe the transition, but I think it has something to do with Autumn. The changing of the leaves is so comforting and beautiful. It transforms Hickory into this quinticential all-American town. It makes you feel like you should go to a football game and drink hot apple cider. Granted, I am still missing all of my family - Ma & Papa, Mom & Dad, brothers and sisters and all of my amazing nieces and nephews. But HOME is where Patrick is now. Well, home is also where our BED is! Haha! Our bed is phenomenal, if beds can be classified as such. Marriot is a close second though.

This weekend our only plan is to not have a plan. We do need to blow off the leaves at the duplex, and we're going to visit Gateway Baptist Church. But our #1 goal is to rest and relax, and maybe start some Christmas shopping. :)

My Initiation to Become a North Carolinian

In an effort to embrace my new home state and impress my husband and his crazy brother, I agreed to camp out in the sub 30 degree, windy Boone weather. Ok ok, camping was my idea, but that was before I knew there was snow in the forecast! The decision was made and there was no turning back. With my new cold weather head gear and fierce determination, I set out to prove my stuff. Once the fire was going and the promise of a very high tech sleeping bag was only a few steps away, I was content in my foreign surroundings. We stood around the fire and told stories and Jason shared some of his experiences from when he through-hiked the Appalachian Trail. SO MUCH FUN!

About 10:30 the snow was coming down in a flurry, but we couldn't really see if it was sticking...

Jason has some mad skills with night time camping photo taking!

Love these two pictures!

In the morning we awoke to a magical winter wonderland! That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but it was beautiful to me. I unzipped our wonderful Mountain Hardware tent (Thank you Ma, Papa, Mom, and Dad!) to discover a little dusting of snow around the perimeter. Jason quickly handed me a snowball and started taking pictures. Patrick was not so eager to wake up and unwrap himself from his cozy sleeping bag.

So, I survived! It's official - I am a North Carolinian (since my NC driver's license clearly was not sufficient)! Next up - hiking to the top of Table Rock and camping up there... Apparently that takes the cake when it comes to snow camping around here.

p.s. I can't wait for everyone to come up here for Christmas, New Year's, and Judah's birthday!!!! We've ordered SNOW, so unless it turns out like my bridesmaid dress for Lindsey's wedding, we should be Golden!

Four Months

Today marks the four month mark since our wedding. This morning before I was even out of bed Patrick had driven to the gas station to fill up my tank before he headed out to work. Those little guestures of love and care make me thank God for him. He is the champion of my heart!Even with all the business of the weekends and trips here and there, we still are able to stop and take time to appreciate and serve one another. I am beginning to realize that every decision I make now can either make me closer to him or pull me away from him. The benefit of making the correct decision is priceless. Marriage is such a great earthly example of how our relationship with God works.

We have been riding bikes more often with the beautiful weather, and football season means Appalachian State games. Upcoming we have a trip to Raleigh to see U2 in concert with Jason and Edyth, Patrick's 10 year high school reunion, ASU homecoming, and Lindsey's wedding in D.C. Funny how I thought things would slow down after the summer ended - not the case. But was are happy and looking forward to the possibilities ahead. I have started volunteering with the Hickory Museum of Art (an impressive institution for a town the size of Hickory) which I really hope will plug me in a little more to the community here.

We are still hoping to find a church where we can serve and worship, but since we are very rarely home on the weekends the quest has been slow-going. Stay tuned...

August Adventures

August has been a busy but fun month. Saturday night we went out for a nice dinner to celebrate 3 months of being married. We found this great new little place downtown called "Josh's". It's awesome! Best creme brule I've had in a long time! We reflected on the summer and all of the discoveries, surprises, changes, and adjustments. Yes- We are still loving married life!

A few weeks ago we joined the Lieths for a little adventure in Lake Lure, which - for those of you who have seen the movie - is where "Dirty Dancing" was filmed. We were so disappointed to find that the old resort burned down and new stuff has been built in its place. But it was still fun to see the beach and the golf course. That happens to be a favorite movie of all the Lieth ladies, so it was a fun little touristy thing to do. Chimney Rock was right there on the way so we spent the rest of the rainy afternoon shopping around and seeing the sights.

FYI: It costs $14 per person to go up to Chimney Rock now! We passed on the expense and just observed from a distance. We were glad about our decision when a huge lightning storm started lighting up the sky.

Morgan, Samantha, and Beckie

Big Smiles

Hickory, NC, has a baseball team called the Crawdads. For fun we joined Jackson and Jen to go see a game the other night. Once again weather was a bit of a downer. I swear that I felt hail on the run back to the car before the 2nd inning was even over. As you can see, this was no quick summer shower...

Yesterday we celebrated Silas' first Price Park picnic, a Berry family tradition on summer Sundays. He was all set to wander around, check out the creek, and eat whatever anyone would feed him - the kid has a large appetite! He's so much fun and I am proud to have another nefew. Patrick has decided that he want to be called Uncle POTUS, so we tried to teach Silas. His response was to blow his lips making that Phbltt! sound. It was so funny!

September is looking pretty busy with a trip to TN for Labor Day, where we will hang out with Jake, Amber, and Emma. Then we have a bunch of stuff at AppState, and Judah and Kim's wedding... Can't wait to see everyone!

Saying Goodbye to a Dear Friend - Bev

This morning Patrick learned that his dear friend Beverly passed away after a long valiant battle against Cancer. She was a very special lady with a zeal for life that few ever find. We called her Patrick's "BMW Girlfriend" since it was their mutual love for the car that brought their paths together. She brought laughter into every conversation and made each moment of her life count. Below is the email Patrick wrote to a few after he found out. Please pray for the family and for Patrick. She will be Greatly missed by all who had the privilage of knowing her.

Sad Morning to you all, I just received this email concerning my close friend Bev. She has passed away and her services are to be held next week. I sit here, just waking up and not being able to see through my tears. Bev was a woman that defined reality, lived life, and brought peace to all of those around her. It sounds cheesy, but we met because of a car. She overcame her first stint with her cancer and got herself a reward, a beautiful red BMW z3. She has now lost her fight, but has won the war! I know she was a believer and now IS a witness to the mighty hand of God! Oh, how I envy her being able to sit beside her Father and praise him. You may remember Bev from your meeting her at the Asheville celebration for Chesed and I. She sat in the rockers and reveled in the bluegrass music.

I met Bev at BMW Homecoming in 2006 on Labor Day weekend. It is now 3 years later and it is amazing the loss I feel. She was a great lady. I find it one of my life's greatest blessings for her to have met my wife, Chesed Berry, during her last public outing before she went into assisted care. Many of you hear me discuss greatness, leadership, and changing the world. I find my inspiration in God and people like Bev Bruce. She rocked the world out. As this life was trying to put her down, she brought life into others. There is no greater joy than to have finished well. Bev finished WELL! Please pray for her family, her friends, and if you feel so inclined to attend a portion of the celebration, please let me know.

Finally, there are so many times like this in life where we can ask "why?" and God calls us to celebrate and change lives. I ask you to find a person, people, group, or something; and serve them, love them, and hold them. Do this weekly! God does it daily! I love each of you very dearly and thank you for your influence in my life and the future life with my wife!

-Patrick

So Berry Happy!

I've been working on printing off some photos from our wedding for the guests at our Asheville reception. Even now, 4 1/2 weeks later, I get tears in my eyes. Everyone told me it would be like a dream and go by so quickly -they were right! It's amazing to see pictures from the day I dreamed of all my life. It really happened and it really was perfect. I want to thank each and every one of you for all the help to make it happen.

The honeymoon was equally as great. Thank God the air conditioner was working again in our Henderson Inn room :)! When we arrived after the reception, it took us some time to unwind, eat, and cool off. We stood out on the balcony for a bit and talked through our thoughts and feelings about the day. We didn't want to miss a thing or rush through the evening after the hectic - but really fun - reception. Amelia Island was amazing, and I recommend that everyone take a vacation there. Our time in Charleston was packed with moments that we will remember forever.

Can I tell you how amazing my husband is and how much I LOVE being married to him?! Seriously, no one told me how great it would be! Not only are we still soaking up the fact that we get to see one another on a regular basis (no more long-distance! Yea!), we learn more about eachother every day. I've never been so happy and content in my whole life. Yes, I miss family and friends, but at this unique time in our relationship, I am focusing on learning to love Patrick and becoming a family with him. I am a little more emotional than usual lately, crying at the thought of how blessed I feel. God has given me this gift, this amazing man who loves me back, and I am so grateful! He is everything I desired and more than I expected. I've realized that as a single person I really had no concept of what it's like to belong to someone and know that someone belongs to me. I had no way of knowing what it really meant to "be one" with another human being. It's comforting, safe, exciting, and adventurous.

We are looking forward to Deep Creek and are sad that not everyone will make it. Boo!