Pictures from the Weekend

FPD came in second place in the state soccer championship this weekend.

David played great, and we enjoyed being all together

(minus Mom, who was greatly missed)!

Here are some pictures from the weekend...The Fam before kickoff (is it called a kickoff in soccer???)

The four of us (Caroline was outraged that somehow she has become the shortest)

I love this picture of me and Dave

Group shot (Dad, C-line, Dave, Suz, Willie D, SpringDawg)

We are faking a candle blowout for the picture... can you tell?

In front are Dave and his girlfriend Jenny. I just noticed Will's funny face in this one... ha!

What a day!

Happy Birthday, Mom and Will!

This is actually an old picture from our rehearsal dinner (David, right, has changed the most!), but I wanted to include Will (left, who seems a little camera shy when I look through the pictures on my computer) and Mom (middle, in Japan through the end of the week).

They share a birthday, and we wish them both a very happy birthday!

You are loved!

The rivalry never dies...

I hate Stratford... probably more today than ever. I will stop typing now, as I might say something I later regret.

Darnell Pride

I wanted to give a shout-out today to my brother David (far right). He scored the winning penalty kick last night to put FPD in the state championship game on Saturday. Go David! Go Vikings! We'll see you on Saturday!


Here's an article about the game from The Macon Telegraph this morning...

Friday, Oct. 24, 2008

Vikings edge Cavaliers in penalty kick thriller
By John Kosater - sports@macon.com

FPD sophomore goalkeeper Bryant Allen had seen it before.
Last week, his team was in the same situation, battling to a tie with Westminster after regulation and two overtimes, and the game was decided on penalty kicks. Although the Vikings won the game, Allen had not stopped a shot.
Against Mount de Sales on Thursday night, Allen fared much better, blocking two crucial shots to key the Vikings to a 7-6 thrilling penalty kick win over the Cavaliers following a scoreless draw in regulation to advance to the GISA Class AAA championship game.
Allen's first block on a Matthew Miller shot came when all the Cavaliers (14-3-2) needed was a goal to end the game. His second came four shots later, this time stopping a Paolo Cavaliere shot. Teammate David Darnell ended the match, beating Mount de Sales goalkeeper John Kot to the right corner to avenge two previous losses to the Cavaliers this year.
"They are the ones who battled the whole game and kept us in it," Allen said of his teammates. "We had given up four goals both times we played them, and to shut them out is a credit to our whole team. I just guessed right on two penalty kicks. My team gave me all the motivation I needed."
FPD head coach Joshua Trieste thought his team's defensive performance, led by Brandon Smith, Drew Owens, Jared Williams, Mark Scott and of course Allen, was the difference in the game.
"We changed a few things a few games ago and got a bit more defensive minded," Trieste said. "We were giving up three and four goals when we lost, and I thought we needed to focus a little more in not giving up so many goals.
"So far it has worked out well. I told our team at the beginning of the year we had a lot of things we could accomplish this year, and we have reached one of our goals. I just don't want this game to be the pinnacle of our season."
Mount de Sales head coach Iain Jones credited the defense of FPD (20-3).
"The defensive change bothered us a little, but I still think we had our chances to score," Jones said. "We had our opportunities. It just wasn't our night. "

Merry Christmas!

I downloaded the new Shane and Shane CD tonight.

We usually don't listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving,

but this year we are making an exception!

"O Come Let Us Adore Him" is a personal favorite...

the song played as I came down the aisle!

Thanks, Shane's, for including a beautiful rendition!

Seriously? Could he be any cuter?

We have spent the past 2/3 weekends in Athens, cheering on our Bulldogs. Luckily we were more successful this past Saturday. We are 3/3 on weekends with the Slaten's (insert Mandy's wedding between the two Game Day weekends), and that has blessed by heart immensely! L (above) learned to say my name this weekend. Whoa... that was awesome. He has been saying "Springer" for a couple of months, but now he can say "Ar Usan". I love it... I love this kid... I love the Slaten family.
I met Camille the summer before my freshman year in high school. I wish I had a picture I could post, but then again NO I DO NOT. I likely would be wearing something ridiculous in any picture from that era. Anyway, we became good friends that summer and have continued our friendship through many seasons of life. Then along came Aaron, and later Springer! The advice and counsel of this family became so important for us and for our marriage. And now, L is here! And we have a blast watching this little ball of energy! He makes us laugh!

I am so grateful for this family and for their love and guidance in my life.

Talented Friends

Almost 10 years ago a special friend walked into my life and into the Griffin's living room for summer Bible study. Laura Rogers (now Kirkland) came to Martha Bowman UMC to be one of our youth directors, the summer before my senior year. Even in that short time we were together in Macon, we became good friends, and I have many fun memories of painting, dancing, laughing with Laura.

Laura has more talent and creativity in her pinky finger than most folks do in their whole bodies! If you don't believe me (and even if you do), check our her new business Glory Haus. You can now buy her artwork online! I am really excited about this... and am praying for God's rich blessings for Glory Haus and that many lives would be touched by God's beauty so evident in Laura's art!