Long time no blog...

Well, I finally have a little bit of free time (which I usually have most nights, I just don't spend it blogging) and I wanted to contribute to 'our' blog and update those of you that read it on what's going on in our world from my perspective or point of view as I tell the students in Guidance class.  Speaking of, school is going really well this year.  I am full-time in one school and I think I can actually say I love it.  Maybe not everyday, but today I do.  I still have trouble getting up and actually wanting to go to work every day, but once I'm there, I usually enjoy what I do and I am really excited about that.  Today was a pretty normal day, but tonight we had Open House.  I can't remember the last time I'd been to an open house, but it was really fun to watch how excited the kids were to show off all of their school stuff to their parents.  I was of course waiting in the Guidance classroom for them to come by and surprisingly, LOTS of them came by.  I certainly didn't have time to plan lessons like I thought I would.  But, it was really neat to see the kids and their parents.  I actually enjoy getting to know the parents and it is fun to see why the kids are the way they are :)  The main thing I'm really enjoying about my job is that being in one place all the time is really letting me be able to do my job and be effective.  I think the students and myself missed out on a lot of opportunities to build relationships last year because I was in two places.  Hopefully this year, I'll be able to see some of the benefits of what I am there to help the students with.

Justin's job:  He loves it!  I am really excited for him (he is too, just not as vocal about it as I am) and this opportunity.  He finally has a place that he enjoys going to each day and likes what he is doing.  He is working for a top-notch guy who genuinely cares about Justin AND me and I am just so thankful that Justin has him as a boss and mentor.  We are really looking foward to what the future holds at State Farm.  And, if any of you need any kind of insurance and live in the state of TN, Justin is your guy!

At home, things are moving along as usual.  Maybel keeps us somewhat occupied, but really is an easy going girl and doesn't require much effort which is nice.  We of course are still crazy about her and she probably gets annoyed with us always wanting to love on her while she just wants to sleep.  Oh well, she better get used to it.  She is still spending most of her days over at the Farmers' yard with her boyfriend Maverick.  In case we haven't given them recognition on the blog, we are SO greatful and blessed to have such good friends like the Farmers and for them letting us use their back yard as  doggy daycare for Maybel.  We love you guys!

Car update: Well, we still don't have a newer car...I'm not sure what our plans are, but I sure hope it happens soon.  I am glad that we are not rushing into anything and trying to be smart about it since it is our first time to buy a car for the both of us, but it's getting to be a little annoying, for me anyway.  I'm just ready to get it over with and I'd like to have a car with nice heating by the time the mornings start getting cool.  As always, we'll keep you posted...

Church:  Our church involvement has just grown quite a bit in the last couple of weeks, but we are both really excited about what we'll be doing this year.  We are working with Club 56 (activities with the 5th and 6th graders) again this year.  We did it last year with the Farmers and really enjoyed it.  This year, two other married couples are doing it with us and we are looking forward to getting to know them better while working with the kids too.  We are also helping teach the 6th graders on Sunday mornings.  No, we are not qualified to teach and that is why we are just there to help facilitate.  But, it is a really cool curriculum that helps prepare these crazy pre-teens for the journey they are about to embark on (spiritual and pubescent, yikes!)  I'm actually looking foward to it for the experience it will give me as a counselor and for both of us as parents, hopefully someday.  Our lifegroup is still great as well.  We are so thankful for this group and definitely wouldn't have been able to get as plugged into Otter Creek if we hadn't had it.

I think that pretty much sums it up, sorry I don't have any pictures, I am trying to get better at taking pictures of things we do, but I just haven't uploaded them.  I guess I need to get over the idea in my head that a good blog post has to have pics.  Oh, one more thing, when I'm not blogging, I'm usually taking my free time to read, the Twilight series to be exact.  Any fellow Edward and Bella fans out there?  I'm on to the third book, Eclipse, and I'm loving it.  It's taking me a while b/c I usually fall asleep by the time I can read, but it's so good.  Just wanted to share, if you haven't heard of it and want a good read, I highly recommend it.