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 6th 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 1st birthday is already coming up on June 1st. 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 31st. 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.
We’re so glad to have you in
our lives, praying along side of us as we look forward to what God has in store
for year 7!
Blessings,
Rob & Drea
Love 146 Benefit Concert hosted by our good friend, Becky Mason.
B&D in NYC
THE DRAFT!
Lake Champion, Retreat
1st Rooftop BBQ in May! (Happy Birthday, Brett)
Beans & Killer Bunnies! Flo strikes again.
80's night (Happy Birthday, Kel)
Kelly's rooftop
Retro trains
PEGGY!
Peggy, Janna, Aaron & Drea
Essentially Ellington
There's always money in the Banana Stand
Cuzzie visit!
Celebrating our Anniversary. We coined the term: Niagarayugaversary (Niagara Falls + Cayuga Wine Trail + Anniversary)
Niagara on the Lake at Sunset
Niagara Falls at Sunrise
Cayuga Wine Trail, Finger Lakes, NY
Watkins Glen Gorge Trail
Stonecat Cafe Jazz Brunch
