Where Did the Time Go?

I'm looking at my blog and just realized that I have posted nothing for almost 4 months. Not that anyone really looks or cares. But, I love being able to post pics, and I haven't done it.

Lots has happened in the past few months and it seems that time has gotten away from me. Brett's dad passed away in October, and the rest is history. We are two days from Christmas Break and I can't tell you how anxious I am to be able to relax for awhile. We are heading to Amarillo to be with Brett's family this year. I'm keeping this short today, but my goal is to do a better job posting. It is a good outlet and a great way to show off pics.. which is the original reason for the blog.

Rock On!

SO.... in light of everything that has happened with the start of school and Brett leaving to go to Amarillo I totally forgot to share how much fun I had two weeks ago at the Def Leppard/Poison/Cheap Trick concert! The QC gals came and we had a blast. The only problem was how short the visit really was. It came and went quickly! But, I had so much fun and of course it took me back to my Freshman year of high school. Def Leppard came to Manhattan and it was quite an ordeal. Bramlage Coliseum had just been built and the community was taken full advantage. Well.... maybe the youth of Manhattan were taking full advantage.

That all took place the Friday before school started. So, on Monday little man started his 1st grade year. I am excited and really do like his teacher. He gets to walk to school this year because the school he goes to is a block from the babysitter. She has twin boys the same age as Landry, but they are in 2nd grade and have become fast friends. I drop him off with Jentri and pick him up there too. It is a wonderful arrangement. And of course Landry feels like a big guy because he gets to exert some independence.

As for Jentri she is adjusting well to her new babysitter. We of course miss Lisa and the fam... but we are thrilled that she has adjusted so well. Amy loves her as much as we do and does so well with my kiddos. Ironically I had a babysitter before I had a job moving back here to Little Elm. As always we are blessed! Please keep praying for Trent... many of you know he has Alzheimer's and had a seizure a week ago. He has been placed in a home, and we just ask that you pray for the boys and Donna to find peace and comfort!

Trying....

So this is my third time to write... and though I feel compelled to write, I don't know exactly what to say! So maybe bullets would be better today.

• Jentri is sick... had to come home early, which is why I'm up late.
• Brett made it home from Amarillo... please pray for peace!
• New job... even though I've been in FISD there is still new stuff to learn... floating through!
• Landry is a 1st grader... as always nervous about how the year will go.
• No Friday Night Lights...
• Finding a "HOME" church... looking for something more...
• Trent... placed in a home... peace for the boys and Donna! Comfort for Trent!
• ..........

Sweet Family!

My parents came to visit last weekend and I wanted to post some pictures of the kids with Nana, Pop, and Uncle Jeb. Jentri is old enough now to know who people are, and it makes for so much fun. Landry is preparing to be a big 1st grader this year. I think he is a little bummed that he isn't going back to Fisher, but I just felt like it would be better for him to be at a different school than the kids he started school with, since we held him back. Here are a few new pics!

God is Faithful!

I know... I know... most of you know that. But, for some reason I feel a need to say it out loud. Most of you know that the past year has been a roller coaster ride for our family. Lots of highs and lots of lows! I have to honestly say that I never felt bad about things that happened to us, because I'm also a believer in "What goes around, comes around". Don't get me wrong, there were moments that I was frustrated and didn't understand some of the situations I was having to endure. I did a lot of "self talking" to remain positive, and for the most part I think I did. Quite honestly I hadn't really paid much attention to "EVERYTHING" that went wrong, but at the end of the year my principal sat me down and said... " I can't believe you are still smiling, you have been through the wringer." I guess so... but I never felt like I wasn't going to get through it. Needless to say we have moved back to our home in Little Elm, and as most of you know we were in the process of letting the house foreclose! It was too hard to keep two house going, and the medical bills continued to grow. We just weren't making it. When Brett decided he wanted to leave QC he looked all over, and somehow GOD led us back to our home. However, it was in foreclosure, and so I frantically began the process of trying to save it. What a process! There were moments that I was frustrated and at my wits end dealing with our mortgage company! But, God is Good! Yesterday I followed up with our mortgage company and they accepted our loan modification!!!! The poor lady on the other end of the phone didn't know what to do with me. All I could do was cry and say thank you! Of course my true praise is to Him! Even though we were in the house I was reluctant to really settle in. I didn't want to make it our home if we were going to have to leave it. Suffice to say... I have been eagerly unpacking and deciding where to hang things. Many of you prayed with us, for us and simply remember us! I thank you! We couldn't do with out our prayer warriors. I know I say this a lot... but I'm always amazed at how God shows us His faithfulness even when we aren't in a close relationship with Him. I'm a sinner and don't deserve His grace! But, man am I glad He loves me enough to shower me with it! We still have a long road ahead, but there is peace of mind!

Zoom Zoom

Uncle Garrett sent Landry his birthday gift this past week. I had chatted with Memaw who had informed me that it was on it's way and that we might be quite suprised. And to say the very least we were. He got Landry an electric scooter. It almost killed Landry to wait the full 24 hours it would take for the scooter to charge. So, the next night we took him over to the parking lot of LE's high school and let him learn how to use it. After a few near falls, because Landry thought he needed to kick his foot to make it go just like he did on his other scooters, he picked it up and was off! We all enjoyed playing on the scooter... even Brett, though his ride was short :).

We are SLOWLY working on getting the house in order. I hate unpacking as much as I hate packing. When we moved out to Atlanta we put alot of stuff out in the barn because we simply didn't have the room in the house. So, I have been finding things I forgot about, and finding things I wish could have remained forgotten! We even brought back some good ole' East Texas mouse droppings. .. YUCK! I guess that might have been a good thing. The mice had ruined some things that were Landry's from his babyhood! And really they weren't anything sentimental, and probably needed to be passed on. Unfortunately they were passed on to the trash. Oh Well! Sometimes we need that extra incentive to make a decision!

In the unpacking, I finally started to work on Jentri's room and as I unpack some of her stuff there were toys that we had put back because she has been too little to really enjoy and appreciate them. Well Nana and Pop gave her a Cabbage Patch doll for Christmas and we hadn't pulled it out of the box. Needless to say once she discovered the box and what was in it, I couldn't open it quick enough to satisfy her desire to play with it. The doll is really almost as big as she is as you can see. But, she was adament about rocking her baby. Then she would get tired of trying to hold her and would eventually throw the doll on the floor. It kept her entertained for some time. Picking up baby, rocking baby, throwing baby.

Kids are funny people. I love to hear Jentri and Landry interact. He absolutely believes that he is in charge and Jentri lets him know differently!

FEBRUARY?

Has it really been since February that I have made a post! Of course... I haven't had access to my blog, and since I can't post it made it hard to update. But, I'm back in action and planning to make posts more regularly so people can see the kiddos and I can keep people up to date on our goings on...

First... We have moved back to Little Elm into our old house. We moved a year to East Texas and now we are back. We made some wonderful friends, but it is good to be home. Jentri was born and back in this house before she was a year old. We left two week after she was born, and we were back before her first birthday. I'm not sure what she thinks. Landry is excited to be back though he misses his friends Spence, Jake, Aiden, and Cameron.

Brett will be a boys cordinator for one of the middle schools back in Frisco and I was fortunate to land a counseling job at one of the middle schools. We seemed to wiggle ourselves back into the life of Frisco. Pray for Brett's year... We are excited about new adventures!

Jentri was able to have two birthdays... One in Atlanta and one here. The one in Atlanta was more of a party... we just celebrated with family here. I'll post some pics. Landry ended the year playing baseball and actually enjoying. It was a rough ride there for a while. He wasn't hitting the ball and it was so discouraging to him. But, by the end of the season he was connecting and hit well. It made the whole season worth it.

Pray for the Phipps' family. Lots is going on, and we are aclimating to a new life again. Finding old nitches and new adventures. The best part of our move is old friends and closer to our families. Look for more updates!

Week Away!

Well I find myself in Austin Texas for the TCEA conference for technology!  I'm so excited that I get to come and enjoy the opportunity to engage in so much technology!  Four of us from Atlanta were permitted to come spend the week learning and eating... of course.  However, that also leaves Brett for the next 4 nights on his own.  Now, any other week would be fine.  Brett is a FABULOUS dad and the kids adore him. But, he has taken on the responsibility of head baseball coach in Queen City.  And.... this week is the first week of practice, so as you can see a lot landed in one week.

Isn't that usually the case.  If something is going to happen it happens all at once or not at all.  We are blessed to have some wonderful people help us out.  Landry will go to practice with dad.  He loves going an hanging out with dad and the boys.  I'm not sure how that all goes... I'm sure Landry gets into some trouble but I'm never informed of it.  I do know that the Warren boys go hang out with him, which helps keep Landry occupied and entertained.  

We just need to pray that Brett and the kids make it through to Friday with all the activities that they have going on!