It's been so long since our last post, we can't even remember when it was. Let's start with what's happened recently. Jon and Becca came and stayed with us for the last two nights. That was awesome. We got some good hang-out time, but Lori and i were still working during the day. Why can't we all just live next door to each other, and have the same days off? Or better yet, we all just don't have to work. Yeah, that would be nice. For those of you that don't know, Jon is a really talented photographer. He took some good pictures while he was here, which leads me to my next update.
Last Monday we got a dog. She is a beautiful little mutt who we call Deen, in honor of Paula Deen. She's supposed to be a Boxer and Australian Cattle-dog mix, but we got her from a pet store, and you never know how much they actually know about their background. She is pretty, though.



We also traded in the ol' Mazda 6 for a '99 Chevy Tahoe (4x4!). It is also beautiful!
Lori is driving it, and she looks GOOD!
Spring Break was two weeks ago for Lori, so we took a trip to Georgia to visit the Greers. Man, that was a blast! We got to hang out, rest, and make an appearance on the Nancy Grace Show... you know... no biggie. It really was a lot of fun. Every time we go to North GA i have to remind myself that we're not moving there. Also Beautiful!
Lori is excited about there only being ten weeks of school left... that thought makes me want to wet myself because it means that camp is upon us. Yikes! Welcome to the busy season. So what do we do?... we get a dog... what was i thinking? It is fun, though. She's learning quick, and sleeping pretty well, lately. Speaking of sleep... we'll probably get to that pretty soon here. That's enough for now. Hopefully we will get back to writing a little sooner this time. Ya'll have a good day.

Last Year at This Time...

Hi friends! It's been about a million years since we've updates this thing, and lots has happened.
First of all, at this time last year John and I were dancing and taking pictures (definitely not eating) at our reception at the Bluffs. Today is the big day - our one year anniversary! It has been a fun weekend of remembering what last year looked like at this time and looking back over the high points of the year. This year has been full of change - marriage, new jobs, a house...and we are thankful for it all. It is nice to feel as though we are entering a season (however brief it may be) of rest.
I mentioned new jobs; I am winding down my first semester as a high school teacher. What an experience this has been! I teach science at a public school here in Tyler. I have one AP class; the rest are a remedial science for students who need to pass the TAKS. It has come with many challenges, but as I face the end of the semester I am excited to see that I am actually having more good days than bad, and that on most days I really enjoy what I do. I am starting to get better at managing my time, which means less bringing work home with me, which is great for both of us.

(I'd like to pause from this update and let everyone know that John keeps interrupting my typing by messing up the cursor from his iPhone. He has a new app that acts as a remote/mouse. I'm about to wash his phone like I did the last one...)

We also recently moved out of our apartment (no more squeeky ceilings!) into our first home! We are loving it. We are pretty much settled, and it finally feels like our place. We have one bedroom left to paint (my Christmas break project) and some trim in the living room to do as well (although the white primer is growing on us...), but other than that we are enjoying life there. Check out pictures on my Facebook.

That's what's happening in life for us right now. We'll try to be better about keeping you updated (I know you all so look forward to it :)), which will be easier now that we have internet at our house. We love you and wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Life

Hi friends! It's been a LONG time since our last update, and a lot has happened since then. Or at least it feels that way.
John is still at the church and Pine Cove, which keeps him busy. We did move him into a new office at the church which suits him way better than his old one. It feels more homey (and has LOTS more natural light, which I always prefer)and has plenty of workspace, fun pictures, and instruments to make it fun and functional. I am sure that is exactly how John would describe it...:)
I've started teaching and am still alive! I really do enjoy my job most of the time. There have been a couple of trying days, but I enjoy the teaching for the most part. I have some really good kids and am praying for the ones that prove more difficult. The Lord is faithful and is teaching me more and more about how to let Him love through me, which is harder than you might think. Please pray with me on how to love and encourage and guide these students who don't even realize that they need any of those things.
John and I are still on the house hunt. We have taken to sleeping in the guest room of our apartment on account of our noisy upstairs neighbors. It is a great temporary solution, but it is getting a little old. One of these days we won't have to share a ceiling/floor with anyone - it will be glorious! In the meantime, we are still searching and praying and trying to wait patiently.
I guess that about sums up where we are right now. We love you and are thankful for your friendship in our lives. Come visit us when you get the chance!

Busy busy busy...

Hi friends! It has been a loooong time since we last updated you on our lives (I know, I know...you have been eagerly anticipating this moment, I'm sure). This summer has kept us busy and on our toes, as usual. Rather than boring you with the details of every activity I have composed a list of the highlights. Here it goes:

1. We took a trip to St. Francisville, Louisiana, for our friends' wedding. John played and sang - it was beautiful!
2. A childhood friend of mine (this is Lori) got married in K-town, so we used the excuse to head home, where John and Dad managed to squeeze in a game of golf while Emily, Mom, and I shopped to get me some classroom-appropriate clothes for the fall (apparently schools frown on teachers wearing shorts, keens, and camp t-shirts to work. Go figure).
3. A group of Baby Ruths graduated the program as new ones entered.
4. Jacey came to visit us on the 4th of July. We ate good food, shot fireworks, and did a little shopping on the side.
5. We have been enjoying our small group at our new church. We are watching the Truth Project together, which has been fun and challenging.
6. John is continuing to lead worship at Calvary. He is doing a fabulous job!
7. I have finished all of my classwork leading up to taking the PPR for my teacher certification. I take the test on August 5th. Yay!
8. I will be heading to San Antonio in a week for a week-long conference on teaching AP Environmental Science. I am excited about the opportunity, but not looking forward to a week away from my husband.
9. We have started the process of looking for a house when our contract is up on our apartment in September. We are excited (and a little nervous, too) about the potential of finding our first house!
10. We visited our family in Decatur to celebrate John's parents' birthdays. It was a quick but fun trip. The boys got to watch a Rangers game while the ladies enjoyed a super-girly movie, pizza, and cookie dough. Awesome.

I think that's about it! I realize that the list was more detailed than I actually meant for it to be, but it sure is hard to consolidate a busy summer into a few lines! We hope that your summer is treating you well and we look forward to hearing about what is going on in your lives. We love you!

A Day Off!

Today is Saturday, and it is my first day off (this is Lori speaking) in 20 days. Woo-hoo! So far we've slept in, eaten Chick-fil-A for lunch, and painted my toenails (again, this is Lori speaking, so no worries) while watching episodes of How I Met Your Mother. It's been great so far, and the day is still young!
Here are a few things that have been happening in our lives lately:
1. Summer camp has started. It has been really fun interspersed with come craziness. But we're excited about another summer at Pine Cove. I am directing the Baby Ruth program again, which I love.
2. We took my car in for its 100,000 mile tune-up. Lots of money later we will have a practically new car (right?...). Here's hoping to eek a couple more years out of the ol' Malibu.
3. John made some popcorn in our Stir Crazy the other night. We discovered what happens when you don't get the popcorn kernel ratio exactly right...as the top rose off of the Stir Crazy and fluffy popcorn started to fill our kitchen. It was awesome.
4. I had a flat tire the other day. John had to come rescue me at our apartment. 20 minutes later my tire was like new. My hero!
5. I accepted a new job starting this fall. I will be teaching science at Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler. I am excited about it, but also nervous and sad to leave Pine Cove. I would love your prayers as we enter into a new season this fall.
I think that's about it for now. Any last thoughts, John?

This one time ... yeah, i got nothin.

Except... The day, i came home to fix Lori's flat, we went into the apartment to get my computer, and found out that our guest bathroom had flooded. We threw down some towels and started trying to sop it up, and Lori went to tell the people in the office that we had a maintenance issue. (That's right... we live in an apartment, and now I get to be the one filling out work orders! What's up?!... or at least that's what i thought) So anyway, when we got home from work, there was a note on the counter of our guest bathroom, saying that the had come and ... couldn't find anything wrong ... Don't get me wrong ... i know they work hard ... i've responded to work orders, and couldn't get the issue to repeat itself ... but later that night, i spent a good thirty minutes actually fixing the toilet. Yeah. (overflow tube was too high)

That's it. Lori?...

I think that just about sums up our life since our last post. We love you guys! Talk to you later.

Lori and John

The Whirlwind!

Hi friends! I realized tonight as I was waiting for John to get home from playing the drums at a worship event that it's been a long time since we updated this thing. And a lot has gone on! One could even call these past few weeks a whirlwind of activities (John:"Is this a good activity?" in his Brian Regan voice...) and goings on. So here we go.

Big news number 1:
John has a new job! Or I should say an additional job. He recently accepted ("We! We recently accepted!" is what he is telling me as he reads over my shoulder.) a position as a worship pastor at a church here in Tyler. We are really excited about this opportunity. The church community has been very welcoming and encouraging, and we are looking forward to opportunities to get to know the people and get plugged in. (John:"why do people always say plugged in? We're not toasters!")

Big news number 2:
We are not pregnant. I just feel like I should say that because I got this sinking feeling as I was typing that maybe this is what people were going to start thinking with the "Big news" thing. And clearly I found that explaining that was easier than pressing the delete button. Don't ask me how my mind works... (John:"Well, you see, there are all these little sparks firing all over your brain, and they're making connections with other parts of your brain...")

Large Bulletin number 3 (is that better?): (John:"that was my idea")
I recently passed a couple of science certification exams. I am enrolled in an alternative certification program to pursue teaching at some point in life. We are not necessarily job hunting for me, but I'm excited to eventually have my teaching certificate. It's kinda fun working towards a goal after a long time in one place. My brain is being stretched, that's for sure! (John:"There it goes; sparking again.")

Giant Announcement number 4: (John:"also my idea")
We are the proud owners of a Wii! Thank you Uncle Sam and your tax refunds! We are ready to party hard with anyone who thinks they can school us on the Figure Skating portion of the Wii Deca Sports. Geez it's hard... (John:"i will neither confirm nor deny my participation in said portion of the Deca Sports. i will, however, set forth another challenge on the snowboarding portion... seeing as how beating my wife has become too monotonous... OWWW! ... i got hit ...")
And of course we purchased the Wii Fit (it just seemed right). Right now my Wii Fit age is 41. My sister's is 35. (John:"Get it... it's ironic 'cause they're twins...")If that isn't motivation to get on that little balance board and mimic a computer-generated personal trainer doing lunges I don't know what is.

Well, that might be it for now. I'm posting a new picture that we took at the Rangers game we went to with Pine Cove earlier in the week. (John:"Lori is becoming quite the Baseball fan, now that she knows what's going on. i'm so lucky.") We love you and hope you have a great week!

How Sweet It Is...

John and I just got back to the apartment from a trip to the mall. Bootsie sent us a little money for Easter (thanks, Bootsie!), so we went to take advantage of the sale at Old Navy. We found ourselves in The Gap (aka The Land of Many Temptations) and as I was trying on clothes from the sale rack a dress flew over the top of the door. And about 2 minutes after that miraculous event I found my eyes welling up as my sweet husband unveiled his secret plan for our trip. He had a little extra money and wanted to treat me to a new outfit. What a simple but oh, so sweet (and fun) blessing.
As the lady at Old Navy said (yes, we did make it down to Old Navy), "You've got a good one!" I happen to agree.
Thank you, God, for this blessing of my husband.