The Herndon Herald: April 2011

A mini-vacation to the Outer Banks

This past week was my spring break, so we made plans with Nima and Emma to take a couple days and head down to the Outer Banks for a mini-vaction...and a BIG MOMENT!

This is the beach house we rented for the two days...

I had actually stayed there once before for a women's ministry retreat because one of church's deacons owns it. It is a GREAT house and we thoroughly enjoyed relaxing at such a lovely spot beside the beach.

Day 1: We wondered around Corolla, strolled down along the beach, grilled kabobs and chilled in the hot tub.

Emma found this shell...

little did she know that this was only the beginning of a storybook weekend.

Day 2: We packed a picnic lunch and headed to the Hatteras Lighthouse.

Along the way...we drove through Rodanthe...

here's the house from the movie Nights in Rodanthe, pretty cool.

We saw kits being flown at Kitty Hawk and people kiteboarding.

It was the perfect day to fly a kite and just beautiful out!

Finally, we made it to the Hatteras Lighthouse.

Emma and I had never been to a real lighthouse.

It was beautiful so I grabbed my camera and took LOTS of pictures before we started our climb to the top.

Then we started the climb to the top,

little did Emma know what was in store upon arrival at the top!

THE BIG MOMENT!

SURPRISE...A PROPOSAL...and SHE SAID YES!

After much celebration, we began the climb down taking engagement pictures along the way.

(Engagement post to follow on the photography blog.)

Adam giving Nima the thumbs up on a job well done!

Adam and I grabbed a shot together.

After many pictures at the site of the proposal, we jumped back in the car and headed back towards the beach house. On our way back, we made a pitstop at the Bodie Island Lighthouse for a few more pictures.

That night everyone got all gussied up for a celebratory dinner out at a fabulous seafood restaurant.

It was a fun-filled and relaxing weekend and we are so excited for Nima and Emma's future together. Congrats guys!

Photo Alert

New Portraits on the photography blog...check out Levi's Easter and 1st Birthday portraits!

theherndonportfolio.blogspot.com

My latest project

I've started a new blog with the help of my students...it's still a work in progress, but in the next month or so it will debut the writings of many of my students as they share about their experiences as English Language Learners and what it was like for them to move to a new country where they had to acclimate themselves to a new culture where they'd also have to learn a new language.

Feel free to check out my new project... http://kaleidoscopeofculture.wordpress.com/ Right now it's just an introduction, but in the coming weeks it will begin to come together and will hopefully be helpful in encouraging future English Language Learners.