Happy Old Year

The last day of 2010 and we're sitting on the Kerala backwaters. Tonight we have
dinner reservations for the nicest hotel in town – on the beach where there will also be a
festival and fireworks as the night progresses. It's pretty amazing.

For us, 2010 has been a monumental year.

Just 365 days ago, Emily was just beginning to teach online, we were still discussing
the idea of travel and I was trying to make a job I hated work. We also registered
at Crate & Barrel on exactly this day because people were asking for our registry
information. I recall being highly focused on bakeware and appliances.

Since then, we received that bakeware, had the most fantastic wedding, enjoyed
numerous events leading up to the wedding, turned our travel talk into reality, packed
up our apartment, put away our dogs, said tearful goodbyes to the people we love, and
visited six countries. Our life pre and post July 13th (our flight to Turkey) has been an
amazing adventure.

Looking back, aside from the wedding which was the singular best moment of my life,
it's difficult to say what has been best. Making bold decisions together, enjoying our
friends and family, hearing some of the truly powerful and overwhelming things people
said to us before and during the wedding, getting on a plane to an adventure into the
unknown, trying new things, eating new things, talking to people at home, running after
buses, seeing friends abroad, all the sunsets, writing this blog everyday or waking up to
Emily every morning.

In life, we remember moments. Sometimes there's a lot of in-between separated by
moments. In my life – at least in 2010 – there have been a lot of moments separated
by a little in-between. I have a lot of pictures and a lot of writing to help me remember
those moments should I ever forget or lose sight of them.

One can't really ask for more.

When I think about a new year, I want more of the same. More great moments unfolding
before me, more beauty, more love, more that I can write about in the same way next
year.

We wish the same for you.

We already have a few joys we're expecting in 2011. We know of at least one wedding
and two births among our friends. We'll be coming home and seeing everyone again.
We have a few friends to see along our travels before then too.

You may read this and think "How perfect for them." Of course we have our trials
and tribulations too. We have stresses, fears, fights, freak-outs, disappointments
and moments where we miss people. It's just that in the sum balance, the good and
our blessings so far outweigh the bad that it would be incredibly short-sighted and

ungrateful to complain.

We lead a life as wonderful and rich as I could hope for.

Thank you 2010 for all you have given, brought and shown us. We hope 2011 will be as
kind to us and to everyone we know and love.

To our friends and family, thank you for loving and supporting us this past year, as
always.

To Everyone, Happy New Year!