Working

I do not have much to post about this week. Cliff and Debbie didn't get to come in town this weekend. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks we'll be able to get them up here to Amarillo!

I was able to get in about 6 hours of internship on Saturday. All foster/adopt families are required to take PRIDE training in the state of Texas. We have a new family interested in adopting domesically so last Sat. and this coming one they were doing their training. I was able to be a part of the training. It covers everything from the legal part of foster/adoption, grief and loss issues, working as a part of a team with the children and a host of other topics. It was really interesting and I was so thankful to get some hours in. I have hit the 100 hour mark. 400 more to go!

I have come to the realization this month that I am really really ready for 2009 to be over and done with already. Granted there are some exciting things going on: several new babies will be added to the family, my best friend's wedding, a cousin's wedding, hopefully a trip to Kenya, and graduation. Mostly though, it will be a year full of work and school. Graduation will be the grandest celebration for me in December.

I am now claiming 2010 as my year!! I am sure it will be anti-climactic which isn't all that bad. I will have the opportunity to arrange my days as I see fit and hopefully discover what God has for my new life. I really feel like 2010 will be a year of new beginnings for me. Can't wait!

Cliff has been working hard at the office and at home for school. He is very excited about all of the things coming up in the ministry. Camp, VBS, summer fun days and so much more.

Steamboat

We had a fabulous vacation in Steamboat, CO. It was very relaxing and the time spent with family was priceless.  I am so thankful we got to get to know Dakota more. She is sooooo precious.  Cliff and I skied 3 days and enjoyed hanging out the rest of the time.  We got to see "The Lighted Man" at the Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival on Saturday night.  It was this guy all lit up with Christmas lights who skied down the mountain before a big fireworks show.  Then on Sunday we got to go into town again to enjoy the Winter Carvnival parade.  They pushed a ton of snow in to the street and had all kinds of races before the parade.  One of the races was kids on skis being pulled behind horses.  These horses were flying! The kids hit a jump at the end of the road...so crazy. :)

We had snow several days of the week so we were skiing powder every day.  AWESOME!  

Now back to the real world. I think I can make it through the crazy days ahead of school, work and internship.  The week of relaxation did me good.  I'll be done with my internship sometime late summer and then home free until graduation in December.  I normally gripe that time flies too fast, but I do wish that 2009 would hurry up and be over with.  

Next weekend Cliff and Debbie are coming to visit and I can't wait for them to be here. It'll be fun to show off the house and spend a few days with them.  :)

Going on Vacation

6 more hours of work for me and then I get to be in vacation mode for a whole week. I am so thankful that I made it to Friday. What a long week! As you can tell from my last post I have struggled to be in a good mood most of the week. I've just been soooo tired!

Even though the first part of the week was tough, yesterday was an awesome day at my internship. I was able to experience and be a part of an adoption placement of a three day old baby. It was truly a special afternoon watching that young couple see their baby girl for the first time. The emotions of that moment were overwhelming...pure joy, anxiety, awe! This young couple had no idea that they were going to get the call to meet their first child yesterday morning. What a great afternoon for all involved!

Tomorrow we'll leave to head to the mountains for some fun! I'll try to post some pics along the way.

I'm tired

This week in a nut shell:

• Cliff got sick over the weekend
• Nothing got done over the weekend
• Monday-Cliff goes to work
• Monday-Jessica works then has class until 10 and comes home to an even sicker husband
• Tuesday-Cliff goes to doctor
• Jessica takes Cliff to doctor then goes to internship all day
• Jessica brings dinner home about 6:30, puts dishes in dishwasher, cleans sheets, picks up
• We're both at work again today but I'm exhausted and Cliff still isn't feeling that great

Not sure how we're going to get everything else done. We are leaving to go skiing Saturday and have family showing up Friday night. The house is still a mess and we've got to pack...but the problem is I still have to work both days. Yuck! We'll see how the rest of the week works out.

Mimi, this is for you!

I finally dragged out all of my Jadite and displayed it in my hutch! Mimi and Bipaw gave me all of these amazing dishes for our wedding. I love them!!!! I have kept them packed safely since then and finally decided that I needed to get them out and actually enjoy them. So now they are out and I have smiled every time I've passed by it this weekend. I think of you Mimi every time I see it! Can't wait to have you up to Amarillo and eat off of them. :) I used a bowl for lunch today.



Cliff is sick this weekend with the Flu. BummER! I had Friday afternoon off and we got alot done. But them Saturday he left all morning until about 1 to go watch Upward basketball games. Then came home with a fever and feeling horrible. Needless to say nothing else got done all weekend. I got some boxes unpacked, but now the house is a wreck again! Ugh! Below are the pictures lined up in the hallway needing to get put on the wall.


Here is what we got done on Friday! The office is done and looks great. I am so happy with it.

Well, I just gave Cliff his dose of Nyquil for the night and I took some myself just for good measure. Pray I don't get sick!! We are leaving to go skiing Saturday and spend a whole week with Dakota so I really really don't want to get sick. We'll see how the week goes. It's gonna be a busy one!

Girls Weekend in Bwood

Last weekend I got to go to Brownwood to meet up for our annual Herd Reunion. We were nicknamed the Herd in college at HPU because we travelled in a group wherever we went. There was always a group of friends to be found to head to any meal, class, whatever. I am so thankful for my college years. Sometimes I wish I could go back to those seemingly simple times. And then I remember how exhausted I was by the end of it and I'm thankful that I have the memories even more!

Only some of us could make the trip to Bwood so we missed some of the girls, but it was so nice to be together the ones that could come. These are the ones who got to come and where they are or are going this year.

If you look at the first picture below you can see who was there and what they were up to.

from left to right top row first.

Shannon Kelly-raising money to go live in France and be a missionary at a camp in the mountains. Shannon is such a brave and inspiring friend to me.

Meredith Summers- Meredith will graduate from Truett seminary in August. She is married to Seth. They will both be looking for ministry positions soon.

Kalie Lowrie-living in Bwood working at HPU writing media releases and working with alumni. Also traveling the world several times a year. Apt. mate senior year of college and roommate after I graduated until I married.

Sarah Swimm-Sarah is living in Fort Worth and working for the BNSF railroad. She was one of my first friends at HPU. I have many fun memories in her room where she lived with Brandi.

Kate Whitney-living in Bryan, TX working for TA&M on some agricultural training for Iraqi's. Kate lived in Jordan for about a year and still travels there some for her work.

Stephanie Sapien-Steph was my roommate sophomore year and senior year. She is married to Nick and lives in Bryan, TX where Kate lives.

April Walker-just started a job as a pediatric pharmacist for Cook Children's Hospital. She lives in Mansfield with her husband Johnny who is a minister. I went to school with April from K-12th at Kennedale then roomed with her our freshman year.

This last picture was taken Saturday night at the HPU apartments. Kalie's sister Lorin is the one on the bottom left. She lives there with Crystal and Kelsie. They came to HPU when we were Seniors and now they are Seniors graduating this May. So crazy how time flies!

I also got to see Mom and Dad that weekend. They drove up Saturday morning and we spent a few hours hanging out at the coffee shop. So nice to get to see them!