Do you find that when you have lots of free time is when you get the least done? As of late I have had lots of days where I am not working. Most of the time I am decently productive, with my alternative certification program [to become a teacher], keeping up with the house, errands, etc. But last week Russell was gone all week at an army training, and I thought that meant I would get SO much done. HAH. I did get all my online teaching stuff done, got some new furniture, etc, but I did that in only half the time I had during the week. I also came down with a sinus infection by the end of the week, which I am still trying to get over. Unfortunately that meant I was sick on my [and Russell's] 24th birthday :( Luckily though, Russell got to come home from his training a day early, so he was home on our birthday!! We had a pretty low-key day, but it was great, cause we together all day. We had a yummy dinner with my family that night, so all in all it was good day. This week is TAKS week in the district, so that means they don't need substitutes. Which is a plus and minus. Plus, because up until today, I was still feeling under the weather, minus, because a couple of weeks of no work means less money, and less productivity. Hopefully next week I will be well, and back on a productive schedule.

Tomorrow morning Russell leaves for his once a month army drill, which stinks, but luckily I will have some friends around to keep me company. My sister Bonnie is coming over tomorrow with my 7 week old nephew Noah. I saw them briefly on Tuesday, and Noah is smiling now, I LOVE IT! He smiled at me for about a minute straight :) This will be the first time Bonnie sees my house. [Which we have owned for almost two months!] She went into bed-rest the first week week we owned it, then had the baby early, then had her in-laws in town, etc. I know the life of a new-mom is tiring and busy, so I am glad we get tomorrow all to the three of us!

As most of you have heard now, there is a reason that Russell has had so many army trainings. His unit is set to deploy this August. It could still change, though that's highly unlikely. We have been trying to just enjoy the time we have together, before he leaves, though it's hard not to be emotional. I will have the best possible situation next year, under the circumstances though. My sweet Lindsee will be living with me, as well as possible two other girls. The house will be full, and hopefully distracting. I will hopefully be teaching my own class, and am currently in the application process with the Cy-Fair School District. Also, I am so blessed to have so many friends and family close by, that will help immensely.

Well I'm off to clean and go get my license renewed!

CDL

I'm BACK!!

Well friends, SO much has happened since my mid-February post. I am now and Aunt, we have been living in our NEW house for over a month, we've seen good friends, etc. If you start at the bottom of the post and work your way up, the pictures will be in chronological order...

Here are some updates without corresponding pictures :) I am on my way to being certified to teach. I am going through a program called iteachTexas, and am enjoying the process. I have also been substituting part-time in elementary schools, and just itching to have my own class [hopefully next year!] We have been settling into our new house and it actually looks lived in! Well, the downstairs does at least....we have too many rooms upstairs with nothing in them, I guess we just need to collect some more furniture! Two of my sweet friends that have helped so much with the moving process, are Lindsee and Sarah. They spent their days off helping me move my clothes [not an easy task], cut fringe off a rug, hang pictures, brought me meals, etc. They, as well as other friends, have been such a help and joy in our lives. We were able to have our small group over to our house this past Wednesday for a home-cooked meal to try and say thanks for all they help they have given us.
Russell is still loving his job as a project coordinator at Cameron, and really being able to have a sense of accomplishment. It was such a blessing he interviewed when he did, and God made us wait for His perfect timing. Cupcake is doing well, and not living in her crate anymore! She can now be trusted to stay in the house, not in the crate, when we are gone. The only thing she likes to eat is shoes, especially boat shoes [I think she's eaten 4 pairs of Sperry's.... :(]
We are relaxing this morning after a late night from going to the Aero's game, which they unfortunately lost in over-time, but we still had fun. I am about to make Russell pancake's for breakfast, then we are heading to my parents. They heated their pool, and we are having a pool party, with everyone, including Russ's [Bonnie's hubs] parents, who are in from Florida for Easter :)


Uncle Russell holding his nephew for the first time after my dad's birthday celebration

Noah is the sweetest 2 week old I know!

Gary dancing with Holly after the senior belle's were presented. Holly looking gorgeous [in the dress I helped her pick out!] with her date Scott.

Russell and I at Holly's Symphony Belle's

[a community service organization] senior presentation.

Gary and Mary Alice came to our house on Gary's birthday, and I made a birthday meal. They were our first two dinner guests at our new house!

Me holding my 20 minute old NEPHEW!!!

Daddy holding his grandson, while my mom makes sure he doesn't drop him :)

The happy Moncrief family, just 30 minutes after Noah's birth!

Bonnie about a month previous at a shower, looking all sweet with her pregnant self.

Mom, Sarah, Adriana, Bonnie, me, and Mary and Bonnie's shower.

The sisters' at Bonnie's shower.

The Przybyszewski's!

On our Valentine's double date in San Antonio with the Roberts'.

Our cute hubby's

waiting to be seated for drinks and yummy desserts. Our husbands, while Courtney and I went to go see Confessions of a Shopaholic, had made us a candle-light dinner. We ate just the four of us at Courtney and Josh's house, so it was more intimate, and we wouldn't have to fight the crowds.

Earlier that day at the San Antonio live stock show.

unhappy Russell cow.

Courtney and I LOVE cows, they are so cute! We wished we had known someone at the livestock show so we could have petted their animal. As it was, we got as close as we could to all the cute animals :) Russell and I loved getting to visit the Roberts. It had been almost a year since we'd been to their house, and it is just looking great. Court has done such a great job painting and decorating, it is making me itch to paint our house...though first we need to decide on colors!

18th anniversary!

Well maybe not 18 years, but 18 months! Today on the 18th we have been married for 18 months. So that almost makes it like a golden month-a-versary or something too ;) The picture that is my profile picture for this blog was taken a year ago, on our half-a-versary. We went out to one of our favorite restaurants [TX Roadhouse..yum yum!] and then just spent the evening together. It was hilarious cause when we asked the waitress to take our picture, and we told her the occasion was our half-a-versary, she was so confused. We forgot that most people don't know what that phrase [that we made up] means :) This year, there will be no celebratory dinner, cause we have bible study. We are beginning a study on couples in the bible this week. We, as couples, will take turns researching and then teaching about the couple that we have. This week is Gail and Jose's turn, with Adam and Eve.

This past weekend was a fun one, spent in San Antonio, and an update will come soon complete with pictures!

Next weekend I [and Russell] will be leaders on a High School Retreat called Dive. I will be with the girls that I lead bible study for, and am so excited to be with them for a whole weekend. Russell will be with 11Th grade guys that he doesn't know, pray that they will like him :) Also, pray we will be able to connect with them and that God will use us this weekend in these high schoolers lives.

Cupcake chronicles part 2

Well Cupcake strikes again. Cupcake is overall a very well behaved puppy, but occasionally she sees something that she wants that she shouldn't have, and takes it, and eats it. earlier this week Russell left his newest pair of topsiders [sperry's] out, and Cupcake and/or Lucy had made both of them their afternoon snack. Today I went to the gym and left my sunglasses [gorgeous Vera Bradley sunglasses black on the front and a pink pattern on the inside] on the bench by the door cause it wasn't sunny. I came home and the sunglasses were missing. I found them chewed to bits on the floor. Let's just say I got the maddest I have ever gotten at Cupcake at that instant [she had a piece of plastic hanging from her mouth further stating her guilt]. As I was frustrated with her, she came and laid her head in my lap to get back in my good graces. I still love her, and always will, so I couldn't stay mad long. This reminded me of God's great love for us. We mess up constantly [way more than Cuppie] and He still loves us. And not only does He still love us, but it's unconditional- nothing we can do can change or take away God's love for us. This is something that is hard to grasp sometimes when we feel like we are unlovable for whatever reason [things we have done or failed to do] . We are children of a BIG and Loving God.

On another note, I have started subbing this week. It has been fun getting back into the classroom and interacting with kids. I have subbed all week at a school that is one of the closest elementary schools to our new house, so that is nice.

Also, this weekend we are GOING TO SAN ANTONIO!!! We are sooo excited to get to go see the Roberts. We are even bringing the Cupcakester so she gets to meet her Aunt Court, Uncle Josh, and cousin Sage :) This will be a fun weekend to get away, have a Valentine's double date, and catch up with good friends. I hope all of you have wonderful weekends!!

Love,
C

Our house!

Here's a picture of the front of the house! More to come when they are more than just empty boring rooms :)

the Mustang game

Today as I was driving out to Champions for an interview, I started to play the Mustang game with myself. If you are wondering what this game is, let me refresh you of a game you probably played as a kid in some form or fashion. As you drive you look for [in the version I recently played] mustangs, VW bugs, and Japanese box cars [Scions]. You want to be the first in the car to see it and call it out by color and style. If you are wondering why I decided to play this game, well it just felt like I should be, cause I kept seeing so many of the cars in those styles. Last week I had the privilege of babysitting for the Blom's for a few days while they were at MD Anderson where Trey was having surgery. The Blom's have 4 kids ages 5-almost 12. They are home schooled, but the older two belong to a co-op where they attend classes till about noon 4 days a week. The last time I did this [baby-sit for 4 kids for several days] it was rather intense and downright scary. The baby for one, could crawl out of her crib, which the mom forgot to tell me, so while napping she climbed out, and pulled her dresser on top of her, which blocked the door, she's screaming bloody murder, etc...PS this was hour 3 of day one. Well fast forward to a couple of weeks ago. Julie asks if I can watch her kiddos for a few days so they can go with the Stephens to Md Anderson for Trey's surgery. And guys, I know the Blom kids, I've watched them before. They have manners, know the meaning of the words NO, etc. So I agreed, though I had a nightmare the night before driving to College Station involving kids and fallen down dressers. I thoroughly enjoyed the few days I spent with the Blom's, though was totally wiped out when I drove back to Houston. This now ties back to the Mustang game, which we played any time we were all in the car. At first Josh and Sam [the older two] were owning the rest of us, but once I got the hang of it, we [me Kaitlyn and Zach] gave them a run for their money.

An update on the house, I took lots of pictures...But I misplaced my camera cord, so I can't upload the pictures to my computer :( We close at the end of the month, possibly sooner. All the financial paperwork is done, the inspection is done, and now we are just getting jazzed about moving in! SO, if you don't live in Houston, but you love us and we love you...you should plan on being a house guest soon!!

BIG NEWS!!!

After over a week since Russell and I put in our original offer, we just now [4:45 on Tuesday afternoon] got word from our realtor that our offer was accepted. WE HAVE A CONTRACT ON A HOUSE!!!! As long as everything stays on schedule we will close on the house on February 27th, just 4.5 weeks from now. We are THRILLED!!! This house is everything and more we would've wanted for our first house. I'll post pictures and more details later.

Thanks for all your prayers!!

love
C

The Cupcake Chronicles

Cupcake, as I am sure I have mentioned, is very addicted to food. She thinks she needs to be eating if she's not sleeping or playing. She is our seven-month-old [as of tomorrow] Labradoodle, who is somewhere in between 50-55 pounds. She is by no means overweight because she LOVES to play with Lucy and her Daddy [Russell]. Yesterday we bought large bags of food at Petco for Lucy and Cupcake. As in 40 pound bags, heaven in a bag if you asked Cupcake. We left one of the bags in the kitchen near the pantry, but unfortunately not in it. The opening we had cut was taped over, and eventually the food will be transferred into a food container. This morning I was walking to the kitchen to get breakfast and I heard LOUD crunching. I thought it was odd since all of the dogs had all already eaten. I came in an Cuppie had knocked the bag over, chewed a hole, food was strewn on the floor, and she had her nose buried in the bag. It was a hilarious sight, but one that deemed a spank and reprimand necessary. Life is never dull with three giant dogs having the run of the house :)

I just realized I have not written an update since I went to the girls night out. It was WONDERFUL!!! Lysa Terkeurst and Renee Swoopes [the hosts of P31] are just amazing Godly women/wives/mothers, as well as is Kate Gosslin. I loved hearing the different experiences God has brought the women through. Where Lysa learned what it means and looks like to have absolute obedience to God, or Renee who shared what it looks like to wait on God's perfect timing, and how we find our worth [in God, not men/relationships], and Kate who through her infertility was taught to give all things over to God and His perfect will and timing. I had such a fun time hearing these women speak, as well as hearing the beautiful voice of Ayiesha Woods sing. She has a great voice and desire to use it for God's glory. It was fun to bond with Lindsee and I am so grateful to my sweet husband who Got these tickets as a surprise Christmas present for me!

I wish I could give ya'll an update on our house contract, but I have nada. We have heard nothing since we made our 'highest and best' offer. We are praying we will hear soon, and I'll keep ya'll posted!

My sweet hubs has finished his first week of work at Cameron, as a project coordinator [a company and position he has hoped to work for/in since he graduate college], and we are just in awe of the Lord's perfect timing. How He was having us wait on a job/situation that was the best for our family. We are so thankful for all the prayers and encouragement we have gotten from all of ya'll!

Love,
C

Gainfully employed and all that!

Well friends, I have been missing a little longer than I planned from blog world, but we have been REALLY busy. The last two weeks since Russell got his job offer were spent getting him work clothes, getting things in order, and best of all, LOOKING AT HOUSES!!! We as of Monday have made an offer on a house that is everything we could want. Unfortunately [maybe] we found out another offer was made before we were in contract. We have both been told to bring our best offers by 5 pm tonight. We are just praying for God's will, be it that we get this house, or we keep looking.

On the job front for me, I have gone to substitute training and am getting my Alternative Certification to teach. It takes a few weeks to get into the Cy-Fair school system to sub, so hopefully I will beginning working in early February. I am also now the 9Th grade girls co-bible study leader along with Staja. We have met twice since the beginning of the year and I just love Staja and the girls. I am also excited that since they are freshmen, I will get to go along their entire high school journey with them! :)

In other news, Cupcake has FINALLY learned to shake hands. She is almost 7 months old, but stubborn as the dickens and just refused to shake. She would look anywhere but at you when you asked her to do it, she would just zone out. But as of Tuesday she began shaking hands in earnest, therefore she is now getting lots of treats because we are such proud parents :)

Tonight Lindsee and I are going to a Proverbs 31 ministry Girls Night Out. The guest we are extremely thrilled about hearing speak is KATE GOSSLIN from Jon and Kate plus 8.

love you sweet friends!

God is good!!!

We appreciate all of your prayers concerning our job[less] situation. I felt that ya'll should know that our prayers have been answered!!! RUSSELL HAS A JOB!!!!

He went in for an interview on this past Monday around 2. He got a really good feeling from the interviewer. Two hours later he had recieved an official offer in an e-mail, he faxed it in, and starts work on Monday January 19th. Once he has actually started working I will mention more details.

This is probably jumpping the gun, but we are going to go look at houses with a realtor today....you' ve gotta dream right ;)

it's been a long time coming

Hello sweet friends...I am FINALLY updating after a month an a half of a stagnating blog. My life has been busy, but really not busy enough to warrant no blog posts. I will sum up what has been going on in the last month and a half or so. Russell and I have still been looking for work...it has been almost 3 months of living in Houston [at my parents...more on that later] without an income. This has definitely been something that has grown Russell and I closer and increased our faith. With the economy, the changes that will be soon occurring in our government, and Russell possibly deploying next summer, we have been pushed to grow and rely on the Lord. I can tell you I never thought I would live at home again, especially since graduating, getting married, and living on our own for a little over a year. We love my parents, but we would love them even more if we didn't live with them ;) JK!! Really we want to live pretty close [we have found a house and are waiting for a job or two with which to pay for it with!] and see them often, just not every day. Currently I am getting ready to begin substitute teacher training here in the Cy Fair School District. If no jobs in the mktg/business world open up in the next few weeks, then I will begin an alternative certification program in order to be able to teach elementary school starting next fall. We have really been praying about this, and feel this is where the Lord wants me working. Russell has had lots of interviews, but between the recession, election, and holidays, he has been put on hold and told they will let him no soon [as in yay or nay on hiring him] He is also currently at a job interview as I type this. I am praying hard for my sweet husband that he will have a job in the next couple of weeks. I know, especially as a man/husband Russell is really feeling the pressure to provide, etc.
In other news, we have been busy with the holidays in general, spending time with my family, and Russell's family, Russell was in one of his best buddy's wedding a couple of weeks ago [Jonathan and Kerri] will be in another this weekend for Stephen and Michelle, we are looking forward to being an Aunt and Uncle this spring, I got to see my sweet Joebellina and Blairebear when Jo made a trip down to Houston last month, we saw snowflakes in Houston, caught up with some friends, etc.

This past week though, we were saddened because Russell's sweet Poppa [his mom's dad] went home to be with the Lord. He was 77 years old, a sweet man who welcomed me in from the first time we met [when I had only been dating Russell for a few months]. He loved music, playing the harmonica, piano, and guitar, he loved to dance, hunt, go to coffee with his friends almost every morning. He had 4 daughters Mary Alice [my mother-in-law], Sylvia, Belinda, and Lisa. The wake/Rosary/mass of Resurrection/burial were all very sad but good. He had so many friends and relatives that attended and said many good sweet things in his memory. He is now in heaven with his wife Chella. The whirlwind time we spent down in Harlingen [in the valley] was bittersweet, but still was good family time.

I promise my updates will be more frequent and some picture hilights from the last month or so will be coming soon. I love and have missed you all!