A Christmas Story

So, i know that i am almost a full month behind schedule, but the unruly task of sharing and putting the post that i thought my winter travels deserved has taken me a while to draw the energy to do so.

So, as i sit in my favorite coffee house in Fort Collins, i shall try to share the madness that ensued on my visit to Michigan, and attempt to do the same for the Albuquerque visit that ensued shortly afterwards.

There's always something great about going home, something akin to putting on your favorite worn-in pair of jeans or listening to the first album you ever bought that you still love, but to a much stronger degree. I've also discovered that if you only go home every six months, and then only plan about three full days to be home on said visit, that life can get hectic.

But it does make you feel popular.

I flew into the Indianapolis airport very late on the night of the 23rd, and was picked up by miss liz and we headed over to Richwood, Ohio (where the clock strikes 'hospitality') for the beginings of Christmas festivities. Grandma J is the absolute best for (over)feeding and before leaving for michigan the afternoon of the 24th i was rewarded for my intentions to marry liz with presents.

This is, as all should know, the best way to encourage me: chocolate and books.

I tore my way northward from the land of the buckeyes to the wolverine state. (which, btw, is the bane of every spartan's existence - to have to acknowledge that their homestate's nickname is the same as their hated rival) I spent three days at home, seeing friends, family, opening more presents, eating more food than any person could ever digest in three days time and frowning at the eternal greyness that is upon western michigan this time of year.

Christmas at home with the immediate family (and the ritualistic christmas morning tree shot) was nice as always, and i'm not just saying that because i got a new thatch doormat to bring home with me on the plane.

Matt even took his gift from dad in the form of a newly inked tattoo, which itself took the form of my tattoo. Can you guess which is me? (the slight discoloration on my back is from another gift that matt gave me, years ago when i was 4 or 5, when he knocked an entire pot of coffee on me from the kitchen counter. Thanks Matt!)

Christmas at home faded into Christmas with the entirety of the Joyce cousins at at the Welz's house (plug: Go buy a soccer lamp, i owe as much for the part time work uncle herb always gave me between jobs when home making his bubble concoctions)and i also got more things, namely in the form of an REI gift certificate from Jen & Ken, (another plug - Liz and i are registered there for July, go and spend ridiculous amounts of money on us)

The entire roster of Joyce cousins - Please note Jon's wonderful smiling face. They grow up so fast, eh?

But, after a few days of family, food and friends (notedly: Dwight Wades cooking and corn casserole, if you want his address to go and beg him for it, simply ask) i screamed back to Ohio, where liz and i did some more wedding planning,

and then reported promptly to the airport on wednesday night only to volunteer our seats to some other lucky couple on their way to Denver. Then, once fully rested on a comped hotel room and dinner the night before, we volunteered our seats (again) for the sake of an hour and a half delay and finally got to Denver on Thursday, sometime around noon.

For those keeping score, that equals 4 (FOUR) free roundtrip plane tickets, and a first class ride to Denver that day. This is an amazing answer to prayer as to how we were going to afford our cross-country romance, as we now have airfare that covers us well into april. God is good, and United Airlines is run by monkeys.

Once back in the west, i worked a few days the following week, spent New years in the Denver area with the Bishops, Janie and Tiff:

and climbed around Golden on new years eve:

All in all, it was quite the two weeks or so, and i ultimately enjoyed spending time with people i live far too far away from, and specifically my elizabeth. And i know that anyone that has made it thus far is probably completely satiated with pictures of myself and my betrothed, i shall only make you digest one more.

Hopefully i will get some of the pictures from the following weekend's adventure down to New Mexico to see Brian and Amy Bishop (and their ridiculously large house) up soon, but that may take as much if not more internet engergy than i can generate for the time being. Cheers all ~

Also, here are some more pics of the trip and older ones, as well.