Ol' MS

We all took a trip to good ol' MS about a week ago. We ended up staying with the Gardners 2 nights! It was wonderful to spend some time with them...notice the "some" we were SO busy it was borderline ridiculous. We toured State's campus...wow has that place changed! Mrs. Becky took us through the honors dorm and her new office. It was beautiful! Those students are living in style. One morning we had breakfast with the Overstreets. It did our hearts so well to see them and talk for a while. Camp is as cute in person as his pictures...so well-behaved. And that Paxton, he's adorable! I saw my friend Shannon at her new school and hung out for a bit. Then we had lunch with Butch and went back to his house to talk while Henry took a nap. I went back over to Shannon's to see her sweet girls, while Jared went to study for a bit. That night we had dinner with our old church group...the Chapel. These people are amazing! They are just like family to us! The Chessers, the "Scrappy-Pappy" Thompsons, the Daniel Thompsons, and the Gardners were all in attendance. Holly and Daniel's boys are so sweet and well-mannered. I hadn't seen Aaron since we was little bitty and had never met Josh!!! (Camp was little bitty when we moved, too, I might add, and we hadn't met Paxton either.) On Saturday morning, we met up with my mom and sister to tour the campus. Henry was TERRIBLE! He decided he didn't want to sleep well Friday night and just couldn't handle it. Aunt Wendi and Nana rarely see him, and he had to be a toot! What's even worse...I didn't take a single picture while we were there! I had full intentions to take some on Saturday, and the battery was out!!!! Ugh!!! I was so frustrated...I tried to make it Jared's fault. It was nobody's fault; we just didn't think about it being dead. It was good to take a visit, but I must say, it's good to be home!

Who Dat?!

I'm getting settled into my new job, and I really think I'm going to like it! Funny story, though. I left my previous company because I REALLY like my new manager. On my first day, he tells me he's been promoted. SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?!?!?!? We discussed the issue at lunch, and I feel confident he's going to replace his position with someone similar to his managing style...so that's good!

We've been praying for some time now that the Lord would show us whether Jared should resign from his full-time job and just concentrate on school OR continue plugging along with both. Without boring you with details, it was an extremely difficult decision to make. (Okay, a hint: Losing an income + losing tuition reimbursement...ugh!) God is faithful, and we feel called that Jared should concentrate on his studies in order to graduate next May...yes, I said it, NEXT MAY!!!! It has been a long and bumpy road, and we're beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I know, I know...only to go into another tunnel in Ph D land. Nevertheless, we are coming out of one tunnel, and I will be thankful! We are encouraged to take this leap of faith and learn how our God will stretch us/mold us into the servants He has planned for our lives. Henry and I are proud of you, Da; You can do it!

Henry is growing more and more each day. We are so in love with his personality. We all watched the Superbowl game with some friends, namely YaYa and Justy. We were trying to teach him to say, "Who Dat!", but it didn't go over well. He would just yell, "DAAAAA" and look at Jared. Way to Go, Saints! Henry's "talking" so much more...we're really in for it ;) I'll try to post pics/videos soon. It may be while though...and it may be overwhelming!!!

I guess that's it for now. Although, I do ask you to continue to pray for our friends Lauren and Justin (Yaya and Justy), as they are still dealing with the previous mentioned emergency situation.

Need your Prayers

Please be praying for our dear friends Lauren and Justin, as well as his whole family. They went to Jackson, MS late last night in order to be with Justin's family for an emergency situation.

new job...again!

I'm starting over, again, with a new job. I've been recruited since early November to work for an LTAC, or Long Term Acute Care facility. It's a type of hospital. They finally wooed me long enough, so I'm excited/anxious to start my journey with them. It was quite a long process and everything that could go wrong in an interview process did. I'm pretty apprehensive about it, and my new territory will put us back in North Dallas. I'm going to see how things go with the job before we decide if we're going to move again or not. It's not that I didn't like my current job. I enjoy the work and the relationships that I've created. Let's just say that I'm going to prefer my new manager's leadership style and understanding of life/family/work balance. This week is my last week with my current job. I'll start my new one on Monday. I'll keep you updated.
I have to write about this story about my bug; I'd like it recorded so we don't forget. Ashley Norwood was in town at the beginning of Dec. We LOVED having her visit with us!!! We (Ashley, Henry, and I) were sitting at the table having lunch one day. Henry was finished, so he began taking his bowl and putting it on his head/face. Annoyed with his behavior, I took the bowl and said something to this effect, "No, Henry, this is not a good choice. The only way you can have this back is if you say 'bowl'." Then I took the bowl and set it on the table in front of him. Ashley and I were talking about something, so we continued our conversation. I, honestly didn't think anything about it because Henry wasn't saying much those days. Henry, meanwhile, was staring at the bowl and shouted, "BOWL!" I looked at Ashley and said, "Did that just happen?" She said, "Yes, it sure did." Needless to say, Henry got the bowl and continued to put it on his head, face, or where ever. I've adjusted my discipline appropriately ;) I love that little boy so much!

New Year's Resolution

Every year Jared and I create New Year's Resolutions, or measurable/attainable goals. Some are very attainable, some moderate, and some are dreams we are working on to attain at a much later date but chip away at. All of that to say, I've been lacking with my blogging and posting of pics. I've set a goal to blog at least once a week. I may need some accountability here! Even if I don't have pics or anything particular interesting going on, I'm going to post. Henry's learning so much and changing, and I'd like to have that documented.
Speaking of my doodle bug...he's almost 16 mos. He'll turn 16 months on our dear friends, Justin and Lauren's anniversary! We've all passed around the stomach flu this week. He was so pitiful! He's saying more things these days. His vocabulary includes: Da (or Dada), mama, dog, woof-woof, book, car, Ray-ray, Jesus, this (He must have picked that up from Jared and me saying, "Do you want this? Use your words". So he does, "This?"), and foofbish (toothbrush...still working on that one). He can roar like a lion, woof-woof like a dog, and make monkey noises! And he does this and he does that...how obnoxious is this post getting! Sorry! His personality is coming out more each day. He is such a joy in our home!

Christmas 2009

We went to Wisconsin for Christmas this year. It was a white Christmas; although, had we stayed in Dallas, we would've enjoyed one there too! I was praying we'd get snowed in and have to stay there for a few days longer, but it didn't turn out that way. Good thing because Jared started class the following Monday. Jared and I gave each other a nice camera for Christmas. We got some great shots, but I don't know how to download the pics yet. I hope to take a class this semester in photography, so that I can learn how to use our camera optimally. I'll download pics as soon as I can.

Thanksgiving 2009

I know I'm a tad late, but I'd rather have it documented than not at all...

We went to Birmingham for Thanksgiving this year. We had a good time. Henry was so sick with an upper respiratory infection and bronchitis the day we left! What was supposed to be a relaxing morning before the flight (with just me and Henry, as Jared was at a conference) turned into a hectic morning. I had to rush him to the pediatrician, get some meds, and get to the airport in time. If it weren't for my good friend Daron we wouldn't have gotten all of our stuff there...THANKS DARON!!! Henry did really well on the flight. The plane started backing out, and he fell asleep. Yep, slept the whole flight. We had a relaxing week and ate some great food! Here are some pics...