Hickson Huddle: Happy Niagarayugaversary! And then some.

We have a quirky tradition, instead of sending out Christmas Cards in December, we send out a card in May around the time of our anniversary. It never ceases to amaze us about how quickly the time goes by. We wanted to share the letter that we send out with you and also a bunch of pictures from the past two months. We'd love to hear from you too, how are things? How can we pray for you?

May 2013 ~Our 6^th year!~

Hello Family and Friends!

As you know, we have our (now, long standing) tradition of sending out these letters every May because in our first year of marriage we didn’t get a Christmas card out in time. It is amazing to see how God has blessed us and grown us together, and to see how each year has had its own share of celebrations and challenges. Having the opportunity to jot a few of them down in the form of a letter to be shared with you has provided a way for us to tell the story that God is so purposefully working out in our lives.

At the end of our last letter we shared our prayer requests with you about Robby’s job and about finding a new apartment. Shortly after that letter went out, Robby got a call from the head coach at Monroe College in New Rochelle, NY asking him if he’d be interested in interviewing for a four month coaching job. As you know, Robby got the job, and we moved up to New Rochelle. The coaching staff was incredible and supportive, and the hours were so much more manageable than what we had grown used to. It was the school’s inaugural football season. So, although they didn’t have a winning season, it was still a lot of fun.

Just before that contract started we had the opportunity to celebrate our 5 year anniversary in Rincon, PR thanks to Tio Gerald & Titi Michi! We had such a great time and talked about it so much to our families, that we will be going there again, all together this June! We flew from PR to Orlando and went to Disney World with our family. After that, we drove down from Orlando to Miami and got to meet our sweet niece, Addison Grace and instantly fell in love. Her 1^st birthday is already coming up on June 1^st. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ADDI!

Over Labor Day weekend we got to celebrate our friends, Brett and Erin, getting married in the gorgeous Hudson River Valley. Their wedding was so memorable; they had delicious food, fun dancing (flash mob style) and incredible views. It was so wonderful to share that special day with them. The rest of fall was filled with a few game nights, some sewing projects on my part, football games and apple picking (Finally got to check that off the NY bucket list. Apple cider donuts rock!). We also went through some tough moments during that time too. At the end of October, NY was slammed by Super Storm Sandy and although our area suffered very minimal damage, Brooklyn, Staten Island and New Jersey got hit hard and there are communities that are STILL in recovery. The second week of November, my Godfather passed away. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to fly down to Miami to be with family during that time, to say goodbye and to celebrate his full, happy life.

As the end of the coaching contract neared for Robby, he continued to pursue an opportunity with the NFL, through relationships he built over the summer thanks to our friend, Jonathan. A seasonal position opened up and there was only a one week period between the end of his coaching job at Monroe and the start of his position with the NFL. Praise God! It goes without saying that the job at the NFL has been a dream come true for Robby!

Just before heading down to Florida for Christmas, we had the fun privilege of getting to capture our friends, Vanessa and Brandon, becoming engaged. I was the lookout; Robby and Carlos were the cameramen. We called it, Operation: Let it Snow. Brandon proposed to Vane in Bryant Park on a chilly December evening with the Empire State Building behind them and a huge festive Christmas Tree lit up in front of them. The plan went off without a hitch, and tons of photos were taken to capture the moment.

We have been trying to do a much better job of keeping up with our blog, so you should check it out! We have lots of posts with updates and pictures to chronicle what we have been up to. Here’s a preview of some of the goodies that you can read more about from the last few months…

We enjoyed the Miami Winter Wonderland with our families and friends for the holidays, we hosted a super bowl party, and ice skated in Central Park (another item off the bucket list). We hosted our very own Cookie Night (inspired by the best cookie baker in the world, Donna!) and went on an EPIC, spontaneous trip to Virginia (thanks Peggy, Mark, Crystal and Natalie for inviting us!). Robby went on the Men’s Retreat at Lake Champion in Upstate NY (even though he was sick for most of it, he was glad to go). He worked the New York/New Jersey NFL Regional Combine and also worked the NFL Draft. Didn’t I say it was a dream come true? The NFL Draft is one of Robby’s favorite football events, he even has a song about it set to the tune of It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, if you haven’t heard it, you are missing out! He was even on TV a few times during the event; we also got to stay in the Marquis Hotel in Times Square for a night since he had pretty crazy hours that week. Bob and Donna (B&D) came to visit NYC and enjoyed the spring ambiance. We got to explore a lot of places with them in the City that we hadn’t even been to yet, like the NYC Public Library, The Meatball Shop and The Highline (an above ground railroad track that has been converted into a park). Then I went on the Women’s Retreat, also at Lake Champion; I never feel the “need” to get away from the City but it was so refreshing to go and have nothing else to do for a short period of time except to enjoy nature and meet with the Lord. Being outdoors is something we definitely took for granted when we lived in South Florida, so when spring and summer arrive, we, along with all the other New Yorkers, really enjoy being outside. The sidewalks become lined with tables from restaurants for outdoor seating, and friends host rooftop parties, in fact we have already had the privilege of going to two in the last two weeks! Most recently we also celebrated our anniversary by going to see Niagara Falls followed by a quick tour of the Cayuga Wine Trail in Finger Lakes, NY (more items from the bucket list). What a year! We are so thankful for these awesome memories. Like I said, check out the blog, we have lots of pictures posted.

This year we have really come full circle and are praying once again that God will provide a full-time job for Robby as the seasonal position with the NFL ends May 31^st. We are also praying to find a new apartment because we would like to live closer to our church community. As we pray, God continues to sustain us and His Word is such a source of peace when things get stressful. We wanted to share some verses that have been very comforting throughout the past year. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. Exodus 14:14; Hear my prayer… In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness. Psalm 143:1; And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? Luke 11:9-12; Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12.