Family Photo, originally uploaded by Jason Archer.

This thanksgiving was a bit of a departure for us. Rather than hang with the Durochers, we wound up traveling to Ohio and Pennsylvania to enjoy time with our families.

We stopped on Wednesday night to visit my dad and Phyllis and then traveled Thursday to PA to spend the day with my mom, sister, and their families. It was cramped but fun. We enjoyed swapping stories, catching up, watching old home movies, and playing Apples to Apples. Saturday we gathered at Duros with Brants and Dumonts for some thankful time before we headed back to work and school. All in all it was a great time with family and friends.  |  Flickr Photoset

Mecca, originally uploaded by Jason Archer.

This fall I was in Seattle for meetings for work. While I was there, I was able to receive a day of mentoring by someone I trust deeply who flew up from California to invest in me. I also was able to spend a little window of time at the first Starbucks on Pike’s Street by the Pike’s Place Market. The Clover machine makes the absolutely most perfect cup of coffee.  I met a homeless man there named “6′7″.  I wrote about my experience with him on my personal/professional blog.  It was a great few days to connect with some of the sharpest leaders in the denomination as well as gain some valuable networking and mentoring with some incredible people. |  Flickr Photoset

Marquee, originally uploaded by Jason Archer.

Late in August was an event a few years in the making: My Dad’s wedding. They decided to live my dream: An Elvis Vegas wedding. Dad and Phyllis were married in an Elvis chapel. We took a few extra days to spend with them as well as discover Las Vegas. We took a tour of the city, saw some amazing hotels, got some great time chilling at the pool, and finished the week off with a big-time treat: The Beatles Love.

It was awesome to share time together in Vegas. I’m not sure I’d ever go back there, but was grateful to be there to celebrate as well as make some great memories with my family.  |  Flickr Photoset

The House, originally uploaded by Jason Archer.

This summer I worked in Rochester, NY, my hometown. I hadn’t been back to “the old neighborhood” in more than a decade. Maybe two. One afternoon I was able to get away and take a walk through the old hood to the home of my childhood.

The neighborhood and street seemed much smaller as an adult. I wrote more about this on my personal/professional blog. It was a cool time to look back and remember what a great place and time to grow up.  |  Flickr Photoset

Arch-tastic, originally uploaded by Jason Archer.

This July 4th weekend we spent with great friends on the West coast of Michigan. We connected with Durochers at a fair, participated in the show, and united with Brants and Webers for a fantastic day. Sam got us free ride passes and we took advantage.

We rode some fun rides together, ate some fun food, and then the fun began. Todd had mentioned he brought a turkey to cook on the campfire. He got the turkey setup with potatoes and carrots, wrapped the whole thing in tinfoil and put it on a tripod above the fire to get cooking.

After hours of waiting and cooking, the turkey was still not ready. Kids were melting down. All the wood was burned. We were headed into the forest to get extra wood to keep the fire going and bird cooking. At one point, the tripod broke, dropping the turkey into the fire. Instinctively, I grabbed the whole thing out of the fire to save it. We wound up leaving at 11pm with no turkey after cooking for four hours. The camping crew wound up cutting up the turkey and cooking it up in the campers.

All in all it was a fantastic time to be together and a perfect day.  |  Flickr Photoset