Crazy Coburn Fun

5 months! :)

2011-10-30T15:19:00.000-05:00

And again, we are late on the posting, maybe one day time will catch up with us. Here's to hoping for that! :)

Sweet Maddie girl,

Lots of fun things happened this month. You rolled from your back to belly on 09/15/2011. The minute you realized you could do that, I put you on the floor, and you wasted no time rolling all around.

You went to Bible class for the first time on 09/18/2011. You were so good and you love your teacher, Miss Kim. I think it helps that your cousins, Eli and Micah are in class with you.

You had your first cereal on 09/21/2011, organic brown rice cereal. You were not too sure of it at first, but you took to it so well. You will definitely be ready to try new things when you are 6 months.

You went to your first picnic. It was mommy's company picnic at Rio Cibolo Ranch. You made a new friend there, Molly Barnick. She took you on the swing and you seemed to really enjoy it.

You grab mommy's hair and daddy's goatee, and you hold on for dear life. You do this with just about everything you can wrap your fingers around.

You LOVE to look in the mirror. You just grin and grin, it's so cute.

When you get excited, you take your fists and bang your chest. It reminds me of George of the Jungle. :)

The thing about this month that I have enjoyed the most, though, is you will let mommy wrap her arms around you, pull you close and just love on you (without squirming too much). Those are the most special times in my day.

Dear girl, we tell you constantly how much Jesus, mommy and daddy love you. It couldn't be more true. The joy you bring us is indescribable.

All our love,

4 Months! :)

2011-09-26T12:38:00.000-05:00

Sweet Girl,

You are 4 months old now! It's hard to believe. You are changing, growing and discovering new things everyday, and that is such a joy for daddy and I to watch.

You LOVE to move your arms and legs. It's like you are on a bicycle, but your arms are peddling too!

You started rolling from your tummy to your back consistently on 08/21/2011 (Aunt Amanda's 31st birthday).

You also have started trying to put your bottle back into your mouth on your own when you take it out. I saw you do this for the first time on 09/10/2011 (Cousin Jeanne's 29th birthday).

You put yourself to sleep now. We rock you for a few minutes, or give you your last meal, and then you simply take your paci and fall asleep on your own. We still swaddle you, you love it and I truly think it is the reason you have always slept through the night. We have even made believers out of Grammie and MiMi :)

We discovered a reflex spot on your back. When we brush our fingers over your center lower back, you lift your tushie and pull in your legs a bit, it makes us laugh.

You have been congested most of this month. Not sick, you just have a runny nose. It wakes you up sometimes in the middle of the night. I think it scares you too because you can't breath well. I don't like that part, but I sure don't mind holding you close and reminding you that it's going to be okay.

The scrape on your face for your 4 month picture was from cousin Micah. She was so upset that she did it and told on herself immediately. She just wanted to try and pull you closer, I'm sure, because she is head over heels in love with you. She wants to hold you all the time and she calls you "baby." She says, "I love you baby." Very sweet!

You bring me more joy than I have ever known sweet girl, we love you!

Your 4 month appt stats:

length: 26.5" (98 percentile)
weight: 14 lbs. 11 ozs. (66 percentile)

3 months Old! :)

2011-07-29T15:18:00.001-05:00

Miss Madison,

The time is flying and I constantly wish it would SLOW down, because you just grow and change every minute it seems like.

This month:

You definitely know you have arms and legs, you squirm ALL the time. You are constantly moving all around, playing bicycle with your legs or thrashing your arms. It's a struggle to hold you still.

You don't like to be anywhere but our arms on weeknights. If we put you down, you fuss until the moment you are back in our arms. It's probably a little spoiling, but I like to think it's because you miss us so much during the day. :)

You are still sleeping through the night like a charm. Occasionally you will wake up and want to eat, but rarely.

You started doing this thing after you are done with your bottle where you will push it away and then you will try to sit up. It is too cute watching you use your ab muscles to struggle to sit up. You aren't quite there yet, but you are close. Such a strong little girl.

We are convinced you LOVE the outdoors, which makes us very happy. We spent some time by Lake Placid and you just relaxed and had the best time. We go for walks in the park and you look around at everything, so focused. You are in the best mood when you are in fresh air. Daddy is dreaming of camping and hunting trips with you sweet girl.

It's been the greatest 3 months of our lives!

2 Months Old! :)

2011-07-28T21:09:00.000-05:00

I am a little behind on her two month post, but alas, our little girl is growing like a weed....and I shouldn't put this off any longer.

This picture was taken at 2 months and one week, the day before her 2 month appointment. She is wearing a dress that Jared's mother's mother, Maw-Maw, wore. Her mother had made it for her, the dress is 75 years old.

Sweet Madison, you truly have entertained us this month:

Your Mohawk is still with us, and Aunt Michelle came up with a nickname because of it. She calls you "Sprout," we all like it and it's catching on.

At about 5 weeks you turned over from your tummy to your back, by accident, but I was still proud.

You LOVE to grow spit bubbles by your mouth, at any moment I can look over and you have formed this spit bubble concoction.

You also like to lick, peoples clothes, skin, it doesn't matter, you have found your tongue and you use it alot! You even mimic mommy and daddy sometimes when we stick out our tongues.

You talk to us all the time and it just lights up our lives. On June 21st, you recognized daddy for the first time, at least the first time that we noticed. He came home from work and you were all smiles when he started to talk to you.

You are strong. You hold your head up better than any two month old we know. You have been working on that since you were two days old.

You do alot of neat things by accident. In Alabama, mommy was holding you and as daddy approached, you reached up and pulled your pacifier out of your mouth. You are becoming more aware of everything.

You snort every now and then and it is adorable!

Mommy calls you Milk Face because no matter how very hard I try to keep your face clean, you always have dried up milk somewhere!

You cease to amaze us dear girl and we fall more in love with you daily, though we don't know how, our love for you is already so deep.

Two Month Stats:

24.25" long - 96 percentile
11 lbs. 7.5 ounces- 57 percentile

Madison Alyssa Coburn

2011-06-14T20:38:00.000-05:00

One Week Old :)

Well…Miss Madison is here! And the past five weeks has been the best roller coaster of our lives!

Let’s start at the beginning:
Our birth story: I got to 41 weeks with no contractions. My doctor was concerned about letting me get to 42 weeks because of the swelling I was experiencing and my blood pressure was inching up (still normal, but on the high side of normal). I wanted very much to have a natural birth, so he was doing the best he could to respect my wishes. He gave me until 41 and ½ weeks, and then said he thought it would be best to induce.

Jared and I went to the hospital at 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 11th. The induction began around 7:30 a.m. When Dr. Hedges broke my water, he realized that there was meconium that came with it. As a result, I was confined to the bed for constant monitoring. This was difficult because much of what I had learned on how to cope with the labor pains required me to be out of the bed. I coped in bed without medicine for 5 hours with contractions 2-3 minutes apart, before asking for an epidural. At this point I was only 3 cm dilated and 90% effaced. It wasn’t too hard asking for an epidural considering there wasn’t much I could do to manage the pain in a bed, and of course the doctors thought it might help progress things. I labored for a few more hours. Around 3:00 Dr. Hedges checked me and I was still at a 3, this concerned him, but I asked for a couple more hours. I was checked again around 5:30 before he left and I had not progressed whatsoever. Disappointing! I still asked for a little more time as I wanted desperately to have Madison as naturally as possible. Since our health was okay, he gave me more time. He introduced me to Dr. Satterfield, the on-call doctor. She was AWESOME! I felt comfortable giving it more time. Dr. Satterfield checked me again around 8:00 p.m., I still had not progressed and she said that this time she could tell my cervix was swollen and that Madison was struggling to get through. She could actually feel the shape of my cervix on Madison’s head. She advised that we needed to do a cesarean. I was very apprehensive about this, but knew at this point that it was best for our little girl…surgery it is! I truly thank God that we have the means to deliver more healthy babies these days with healthy mommas at the end of it.

Madison Alyssa Coburn was born by cesarean on May 11, 2011 at 8:52 p.m., 9 lbs. 6 oz. and 22 inches long! She was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen and Jared and I were so full of joy and Thanksgiving!

One week later…

Our scare: Madison experienced a baby period that began on the day we brought her home from the hospital, May 14th. The doctor said this was very normal, not all little girls have this, but some. It depends on the amount of estrogen that passed from the mother, through the placenta to the baby. However, hers did not go away. When we went to the pediatrician for a weight check on Maddie, it had been going on for 6 days. The doctor was concerned as it should have disappeared after 2-3 days. She asked us to see a specialist, she called the specialist who sent us straight to get an ultrasound. We spent 1.5 hours getting an ultrasound done on Maddie’s kidneys, liver and pelvic region. NOT fun! On our way home from the ultrasound about 5:30 that evening, the pediatrician calls and says that we need to go to the hospital immediately. There are no words to describe this moment. I won’t even try. She hesitated to tell me anything, but I practically demanded. She said they thought they detected a tumor near my one week old’s uterus. Again, no words…..

We checked her into the hospital that night. Prayers went up all over the nation.
Praise God her period dried up that night. Another ultrasound and catscan were done the next day and they rendered NOTHING! It was Maddie’s personal miracle and gift from God. I attribute it to nothing else but our Lord and Savior and His power of healing! No words to describe this moment either….we truly went from one extreme of emotion to another in a matter of hours.

She was sent home with a clean bill of health, no follow-ups necessary since two tests rendered nothing.

We have had some struggles with breast feeding and such, but nothing we can't handle, that’s for sure. She is a precious, sweet, happy baby….and we have never been happier!

Our first 5 weeks:

Madison,

We prayed for you and prayed over you for 9 months….and you are finally here! Every bit of God’s greatest blessing to our lives. Here are some funs things we want to remember about the last 5 weeks:

You have red hair! Everyone LOVES it, I am not sure if it will stay that way, but it’s beautiful!

You squawk. Yes, squawk. It is the cutest thing. You also raise your hands in claw-like form when you are startled. Daddy calls you his Velociraptor, because that is what the squawk and the claws remind us of. :)

Daddy also called you Houdini because you can get out of almost all of his swaddles. Mommy swaddles you now, Daddy doesn’t call you Houdini as much anymore.

Another nickname Daddy gave you, just for fun, is Maddiekins. He is head over heels for you sweet daughter. It's the most amazing thing to see the smile on his face when ya'll are spending time together.

You LOVE to have your hands by your face. We even have a picture of you with your hands by your face in the womb. Eating, sleeping, swinging, anything, your hands are by your face. You held your own bottle up at 3 weeks with those hands, just by default because they were resting by your face, but still, pretty awesome.

You have a Mohawk! A clear, cute-as-can-be mohawk. It is taking everything in me to not spike it up with some gel and take a picture :)

We love you sweet one, thanks for lighting up our lives!

-Mommy and Daddy

Madison's Nursery

2011-04-23T16:22:00.000-05:00

We certainly don't have all the room in the world, but we think it turned out nice and will be functional for what we need. About the items in the room: My step-dad, Tom, made the changing table and he is working on a small dresser for us as well. It will go against the empty wall. The quilt my college friend, Kim, made for her is above her crib, the frames are ones I painted and created, the precious three piece picture frame was given to us by a colleague, Tammy, and the plates by the window have scriptures on them. My Grandmom gave them to me when I was growing up and they are very special to me.

So, dear Maddie, mommy and daddy are ready when you are, bags are packed and we wait anxiously for your arrival :)

Showered with Love

2011-04-21T15:34:00.000-05:00

These past few weeks have been filled with beautiful showers of gifts for Madison. The first shower was March 12th, given by Central Church of Christ in Victoria. This is Jared's home church. It was so much fun and Maddie received some very special gifts. I was overwhelmed by the love, support and encouragement. (I do not have pictures from this shower just yet, but once I do, I will post them).

The next shower was April 5th, given by the ladies at my office. An all day shower! I had never heard of such a thing. It was AWESOME! They had everything decorated, brought in breakfast and lunch, and we played games throughout the day. What a special event!

And the last shower, but certainly not least, was April 9th, given by La Vernia Church of Christ, where Jared and I attend. It was such a nice event. They had my favorite punch, some really yummy cake and we played the Toilet Paper around the Belly Guessing Game. Grandmom went overboard on her guess, as you can see in the picture :) I also had two very dear friends of mine from college come, it was such a joy getting to see them and visit for a bit.

Jared and I would like to thank everyone for the love and support you have shown us not only through this exciting time, but through our life together. We are so very blessed by you!

Goodbye Sugar Bear

2011-03-16T11:35:00.000-05:00

Last weekend was pretty difficult for me emotionally. We said goodbye to our sweet dog, Sugar. Don't worry, she is still alive and well. It's just the opportunity came up for us to give her a better home and life, and we could not pass it up. We got Sugar originally a little over 3 years ago when she was still a puppy. She was a blessing to us as she has one of the biggest hearts. She is a good dog. We are renters, so Sugar was an outdoor dog, but she had a big yard, a dog house, and we brought her in on rainly and cold nights, she was loved. However, this past year I seem to have developed an allergy to her. Whenever I would pet her, my skin would break out with itchy bumps. I started only being able to spend minimal time with her. And with Jared and I being so busy, we just didn't think it was fair to her. So- when my sister-in-law and her husband bought a house this month, with an even bigger back yard, they offered to take her. Not only does she now have a bigger yard to play in, they also have a lab, so she has a friend now. They own instead of renting, so Sugar is living it up, here she is on their bed ready to sleep for the night:

Sugar, we love you dearly, and will miss you greatly, but we are glad you are happy and we will visit often :)

We know Miss Jordyn will take good care of you in the meantime......

Maternity Pictures

2011-03-16T11:27:00.000-05:00

We went to Trinity University in San Antonio and took some pictures on campus. It was fun and I am glad we were able to capture this special time in our lives. The blanket in some photos is a blanket my dear friend, Kim Hegi, quilted for us. She started the blanket when we were pregnant with Baby C., and decided to finish it even after our loss, hoping it wouldn't be long before the opportunity came again for her to give it to us. We plan to hang it in the nursery and have decorated Madison's nursery with like colors. It turned out beautifully! Thank you Kim!

A 5 K with 8 weeks to Go

2011-03-16T11:19:00.000-05:00

GVEC sponsored Jared and I in a 5 K Walk on Saturday, March 5. Some people thought I was crazy having only 8 weeks to go in my pregnancy, but I knew it would be worth it. I wouldn't have been nervous at all if it weren't for the inclines during the walk. However....we finished in just over an hour and it was a blast! There were times I was literally holding my belly up for support (should have been wearing a support band), but all-in-all it felt really great and we were glad to be a part of an event in support of cancer research. We hope to be involved with more in the future.

Baby Nathan's Arrival

2011-03-16T11:16:00.001-05:00

My cousin, Charlie, and his wife, Julie, had a beautiful baby boy in February. His name is Nathan Zane Johanson. The middle name was given in honor of our Grandpop whose middle name is also Zane. We enjoyed getting to meet this sweet baby boy and look forward to being a part of his life.

Adios Corolla

2011-03-16T10:40:00.000-05:00

In February we sold my College Corolla Car to a Junk Yard. I wasn't sad, but it was the end of a decade with that car. I rode it literally on its' last leg. I have a picture standing beside the car just like this in 2001 on the car lot in Houston where my parents gave it to me. When Jared and I got married, their wedding gift to us was paying it off- what a blessing! So- here I am on the last day I drove the Corolla. And a Special Thanks to Jared's parents who gave us their Ford Taurus to replace our need for a bigger car with Maddie coming, once again, no car payment. We are blessed.

Another Wicked Weekend

2011-03-03T09:57:00.001-06:00

A couple of weekends ago, some of mine and Jared's college friends came down to spend a weekend with us. We had quite a house full, Sarah and John Keisling, Kim Hegi and Sarah and Dallas May all came. It was really nice to have everyone together......except Jared, he unfortunately couldn't stay because his planner double booked him for the weekend. Can I blame that on my baby brain? :)

The weekend gathering was mainly so we could spend some quality time together, but also so that we could go see Wicked, the Musical. It was my second time to see it and it did not disappoint. I love singing along to the songs, but had to restrain myself as I am sure the people sitting next to me would not have appreciated my antics.

We spent alot of time just visiting, but we also snuck a game of Life in and a stroll down the Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio. Playing the game of Life for the first time since I was a kid was amusing. It was interesting comparing it to the real way of Life these days.

On Sunday and Monday, for some, we hated to see our friends go. We continually thank God for the blessings they have been in our life and the friendship He has provided through them.

Not about Valentine's Day :)

2011-02-17T13:41:00.000-06:00

Had a terrific week last week….On Feb 12th it was a little bit of a stressful day, but I came home to a house that was freshened up by Jared and a bouquet full of yellow daisies on the kitchen counter, made my week!

On Saturday, we went and celebrated the month of February at the RODEO! That is what this month means to me…not so much about the “month of love,” and all that good stuff, it’s about roping, riding and country singing. We went with some co-worker friends to see Easton Corbin and had a blast.

On Sunday we went out to dinner with friends to The Melting Pot in celebration of Valentine’s Day. I LOVE going a day early because we did not have to wait…blissful.
And Valentines evening was a simple night at home with my husband. He bought me my favorite candy ever….Cadberry Eggs! :)

Baby update: Madison is kicking like crazy and doing well. We love talking to her and watching my belly go. We read “Wherever You Are, My Love Will Find You,” by Nancy Tillman to her any chance we get. Jared also read the book of Matthew to her. I let her listen to some baby classical music once and think I wore her out, can’t decide if she loved it or hated it so I have hesitated to do it again. We started our Bradley Classes which have been fun and very educating. DaLissa and Paul are doing them with us and that definitely has made the process easier because we can bounce ideas off one another and be there for support. I am feeling just a tiny bit overwhelmed with the list of things to do before she gets here, but I don’t let it get to me too much…..we just can’t wait until she gets here! :)

Hope everyone is doing well.

"Come Kiss Maddie"

2011-01-27T16:15:00.000-06:00

So, my niece Micah and I have this thing where I will tell her to "Come kiss Maddie," while pointing to my belly. She will instantly run over, bend down and kiss my belly. It's the sweetest thing! We joke that once Maddie is here, Micah will still point to my belly and call it Maddie or when I ask her to "Come kiss Maddie," she will go for my belly and not for her cousin! We'll see.......but for now, it is simply the cutest thing!

Another Catch-Up Post

2011-01-23T20:29:00.000-06:00

I know I have been out of touch, this time it is for a good reason, but Daddy was my number one blog reader, so this catch-up is for him :)

This fall we followed our nieces in their sports. Cailyn joined an after school volleyball team and has enjoyed learning more about the sport and being a part of a team. Jordyn was in soccer again and I was able to make it to a couple of games. My sister-in-law made us all shirts, which was really nice. I am SO proud of my three beautiful nieces. Of course, Micah is too young, but I am sure she will follow in her big sister's footsteps one day.

Our world fell apart on Dec 12, 2010 when we got a call that daddy had passed away. Although daddy struggled through many health issues, he passed away a day and half after a routine back surgery. He came through the surgery just fine and was sleeping and on pain medication for most of the weekend. On Sunday afternoon, his breathing became unsteady and after a long time of working on him, the doctors pronounced him dead. My heart hurts every day and I am really struggling with the fact that daddy won't be here to meet my sweet girl, but the Lord is good and faithful and has brought peace and strength beyond compare. I am looking forward to time because they say time brings healing...I hope so because I feel torn right now.

When we got home from Tennessee, we sought refuge with our dear friends on a weekend in Fredericksburg. It was just what the doctor ordered, a quiet weekend with great scenery and greater company. Jared and I both agree that we don't know where we would be without Paul and DaLissa's love and support.

Christmas was not the same this year, first Christmas that I had to struggle to find the joy. But there was some. On the eve of Christmas Eve, the family went to the Riverwalk and enjoyed time together. It was nice and helped occupy our minds some....refreshing.

On Christmas Eve we got together and made Christmas cookies, then we went caroling, singing our rendition of the "12 Days of Christmas." It was fun and there was alot of smiles and laughs. More laughs at us, but hey, that can be fun too :)

And we ended the year at the Alamo Bowl. Jared and I didn't stay because it was 10:00 p.m. at the half and this momma needs her sleep, but it was fun while it lasted, more because I got to chat with DaLissa. When it comes to football, if I am not watching the Aggies, I am probably not enjoying it much.

We were hoping for a better year in 2011, kind of thankful to put 2010 behind us, but we were hit with tragedy again. DaLissa lost her father to a sudden heart attack on January 11, 2011. Words cannot describe the loss. All of our hearts have been so heavy for so long....we lift our eyes to the Lord knowing His plan is greater and His glory is too.

Here's to a better rest of the year.......God Bless!!!! My biggest hope for 2011........for two healthy babies to bring joy back to our lives and into our hearts...Madison Alyssa and the dear baby DaLissa is carrying. We have so much love for you two already and there are three angels looking down on you, daddy, Mr. Flisowski, and dear Kylee. :)

Daddy

2011-01-22T11:16:00.000-06:00

As we remember you, we'll remember the road trips our family would take. And how for entertainment, you liked to make up silly songs and teach them to us. Would you believe we still know the words to a few?

As we remember you, we'll remember roping you into riding Space Mountain at Walt Disney World with us. From the beginning of the ride to the end, all you could say was, "Oh Shoot,""Oh Shoot,""Oh Shoot."

As we remember you, we'll remember our crafty ways of getting what we wanted, which inevitably meant Estelle became upset with you. Like the time, during your nap, we came to ask you if we could watch Friday the 13th, of course you said yes, because you were half asleep. And Estelle was not too happy when she got home from work.

As I remember you, I'll remember our "brilliant" idea to go see American Pie together. And how you were laughing louder, harder and longer than anyone in the theatre. My friend and I were practically hiding under our seats with humiliation by the end of it!

As we remember you, we'll remember that you knew the words to the old Whataburger jingle and proceeded to sing it to the Whataburger drive-thru personnell. You always knew how to draw an audience.

As I remember you, I'll remember the moment before you walked me down the aisle at my wedding. You grabbed a hold of my arm and said something along the lines of, "Now concentrate honey on holding ME steady." I think as I was shaking with excitement, I gave you the, "Are you crazy?" look.

As I remember you, I'll remember when I told you I was pregnant, and you responded, "Oh Shoot," because you could not believe your baby girl was going to have a baby.

As we remember you, we'll remember how you brought our family together. A choice that continues to bless us year after year.

As we remember you, we'll remember your faith, your faith in Estelle, your faith in us, and your faith in God. You wanted nothing more for us than a life spent with our Lord.

As we remember you, we'll remember your greatest gift to us, your heart, and the love that only you had the ability to show in the most incredible way.

......Like when we would be watching football on T.V. and out of nowhere you would take my hand, look at me and say, "I love you."

......Or, the way you would ring me up and comment on the latest news in La Vernia and Wilson County, most times before I would even know. Your care and love for us and what was going on in our lives and that of those around us, was absolutely amazing!

And you spread that gift out towards everyone who knew you- that gift was the greatest gift of your life and the one that will live in our lives and hearts forever.

We love you dad!

We're Pregnant :)

2010-11-08T19:57:00.000-06:00

This is how we announced the good news to our church family:

I am 15 weeks pregnant, have two pictures of our beautiful blessing and have heard the strong heartbeat. So in love......

Have a "Thriller" Kind of Weekend :)

2010-10-29T16:36:00.000-05:00

My Office put this together for our Costume Contest at work :)

Lately

2010-10-28T16:18:00.000-05:00

Howdy.....long time no write, huh? I will be trying to do MUCH better about that here in the future. It's been a difficult few months, very trying, very tearful, yet very touching. In early June we said goodbye to Baby C., my first pregnancy that ended in a miscarriage. In July, we stood beside our dear friends, Paul and DaLissa, as they laid to rest their beautiful Kylee, my friend's first pregnancy that lead to a 4 month too early birth. Kylee spent two wonderful hours with her parents before going up in Glory. She will be missed and in our hearts forever.

So, needless to say, it has been the most difficult few months we have had in a while, however, admist the heartache, we did manage to find alot of comfort and experience a few laughs.

In late June I went to Florida for a conference with work. It was exactly what the doctor ordered because yes, it was work, but I love my job and in the evenings I got to relax and let loose some, which was very nice.

We found a weekend to enjoy time with our nieces and we took advantage. Jared even let Jordyn convice him to dance with her again. He is such a fun uncle!

In late June, our friends, Paul and DaLissa, came down to celebrate their Anniversary, we went to The Magic Time Machine Restaurant and had a blast with Alice from Alice in Wonderland as our waitress. As you can see in the picture, they are Longhorn fans, it has taken some adjustment on my part, but I love them through their odd loyalties :)

In August Amanda turned 30! Girls weekend in Houston! It was so nice to just be with my sisters again, of course we included Cailyn, but she is one of us. We really enjoyed our time together and I think Amanda felt better about turning 30.

Cailyn also celebrated her 10th birthday in late August and we took her back to The Magic Time Machine. Ace Ventura was our waiter and he was hilarious. The whole family enjoyed the fun.

September and October have been more low key, we celebrated some birthdays and had some good times with family, but my energy has been wiped, so mainly, we have tried to relax some. Jared has made a few trips to the deer lease and I cannot wait until I find some time to join him. Here's to looking forward to hunting season, happy holidays and a whole lot of turkey! :)

Blessings to you all!!!

"Glory Baby"

2010-07-29T23:06:00.000-05:00

I love music. If my voice wasn't so bad and I had more time to devote to dancing, I would be a Broadway star :) My point is, I love to find music that speaks for me and dance that expresses my emotion. However, it is rare that I find a song that communicates every fiber of what I feel, think and am at a given time...but I have found one.

"Glory baby you slipped away as fast as we could say baby…baby..
You were growing, what happened dear?
You disappeared on us baby…baby..
Heaven will hold you before we do
Heaven will keep you safe until we’re home with you…
Until we’re home with you…

I'll Miss you everyday
Miss you in every way
But we know there’s a
day when we will hold you
We will hold you
You’ll kiss our tears away
When we’re home to stay
Can’t wait for the day when we will see you
We will see you
But baby let sweet Jesus hold you
‘till mom and dad can hold you…
You’ll just have heaven before we do
You’ll just have heaven before we do

Sweet little babies, it’s hard to
understand it ‘cause we’re hurting
We are hurting
But there is healing
And we know we’re stronger people through the growing
And in knowing-
That all things work together for our good
And God works His purposes just like He said He would…
Just like He said He would…

BRIDGE:
I can’t imagine heaven’s lullabies
and what they must sound like
But I will rest in knowing, heaven is your home
And it’s all you’ll ever know…all you’ll ever know…"

Lyrics by Watermark

We miss you dear ones.

A Time to Heal

2010-06-02T15:32:00.000-05:00

We did confirm yesterday that Baby C. did stop growing at about 6 weeks and 2 days. Our sweet little one is in paradise.

We are at peace, with greif, faith and hope. We trust in the Lord and are leaning on Him, knowing all things work together for the good for those that love the Lord. And He has blessed us beyond compare with hopes of salvation, the love we share and the friendship that surrounds us, for that we are eternally grateful. We would not be able to heal without the love and support that has been poured out on us.

Thank you all for that.

There are still decisions to make and a path to follow, but the Lord will light the way, we are sure of that.

Went to dinner at a Thai restaurant last night and my fortune was, "Adversity is the prosperity of the great." How fitting! And being one that does not believe in fortunes, but in the Lord and His word, I took this as a direction to scripture:

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." - James 1:2

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." - James 1:12

"After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you." - 1 Peter 5:10

May the Lord bless you all!

We are hoping, praying and trusting in our Lord

2010-05-26T14:23:00.000-05:00

Things are tough, I am not going to lie.

We have heard stories over the past few days of couples who have been in the exact same situation as us that went on to have healthy babies.

We are hopeful and praying for the Lord's will.

I am going in to another OBGYN on Tuesday for an u/s and my current OBGYN ordered more bloodwork.

Please pray with us.

I know our Lord's will is powerful and I have complete faith in His plan.

Love to you all!

We Believe Baby C. is with the Lord

2010-05-22T11:00:00.001-05:00

When I am hurting, it helps to write. We went to our 8 week prenantal appointment yesterday. The Dr. did an ultrasound and according to the measurement, the baby was only at 6 weeks and 2 days, there was also not a sign of a heartbeat. Our Dr. is 99.9% sure I have miscarried.

The hardest thing about this is that our baby is still within me. My head tells me my baby is with the Lord, but my body is still showing all normal signs of pregnancy. I have to wait, wait for it to be real physically. It is very difficult. Please pray for us.

I will go back to the Dr. in two weeks if my body does not take the natural course before then. At that point we will do another ultrasound to confirm there has not been further growth and discuss our options.

This is where we are. We are praying for physical finality, healing and our sweet Baby C. May the Lord bless Baby C. and give peace.

Love to you all!

Baby C. is Coming

2010-05-14T16:23:00.000-05:00

Yes, you read the title correctly :) We are pregnant! Most of you might be thinking, “It’s about time.” Jared and I, on the other hand, are thinking, it’s just the right time for us. We are as ready as we are ever going to be and super excited! Jared said he was excited too (before he was just saying he was nervous :)

I found out I was pregnant on the evening of April 22nd. That day, right smack dab during a meeting of all places, I had a feeling. I went home and took a pregnancy test and it was positive. So, of course I ran back to the store to get another one :) I also went and bought Jared a gift. It was the “New Dad” Willow Tree figurine :

Took the second test and I knew for sure. When Jared got home, I gave him his gift and his question was, “Does this mean what I think it means?” Well, of course sweetie!

Jared had this GRAND idea to wait and tell our parents on Mother’s Day. I say it like that because it was SOOOOO hard for me to wait. But we did, and we are both glad we did. Our families were thrilled. We told our moms by giving them the “Grandmother” Willow Tree Figurine:

and we wrote, “We’re pregnant!” on the bottom. They loved it.

I am 7 weeks pregnant. I feel great other than I am tired about 23 hours of any 24 hour day and I am a little sick to my stomach every now and then. Other than that, I feel wonderful and so happy to get to experience this incredible miracle. We have named our baby, Baby C, until we know the sex. :) So, here we go on one of the biggest journeys of our lives and I must say, I feel very blessed to be here on it with my very best friend.

The Coburn Weekend Adventures

2010-05-04T18:26:00.000-05:00

THE HIGHLIGHTS :

Well Howdy to those 2 or 3 people that still check this sporadic blog. Poor thing has been so neglected.

January, February, March and April has been absolutely packed with weekend trips. Looking back over the few years we have been married, I wish we would have tracked all the places we went and when, I think 2/3 of our marriage has been spent on the road! Oh well, we have definitely been blessed with health to be able to do it, good times and happiness.

Mid January we spent a weekend with some friends in Victoria just playing games, making pizza and enjoying each other’s company. Thanks to Paul and DaLissa for hosting us, we have such a great time with you!

The following weekend, my good friend from college, Sarah Schuler (now Keisling), got married to a wonderful man. We went to College Station to share in her happiness and joy. What a beautiful bride she made!!

Since we have missed College Station so much (well, I have at least :) ), we went back the next weekend and visited some friends of ours, Jason and Jenny. That was a good time too as our friends from Victoria, Paul, DaLissa, Justin and Haley, met us there and we all got to spend some more time together.

Early February, I had Jordyn come stay with us for a weekend and I got to spend the entire weekend with the three joys of my heart- my beautiful nieces. We had more fun watching Hannah, Miley, singing and dancing. Still a kid at heart. It’s real nice to see Cailyn and Jordyn play and love each other so much.

The next weekend, we finally made it to Corpus to see a good friend of mine from high school, Jenn Mann, and her family. It was nice catching up as it had been a few years since we have seen each other. Jared and her husband, Cody, connected and have since enjoyed a weekend at the lease hunting together.

March brought camping at Garner, one thing we really enjoy doing. Garner is such a pretty park. We met Jason, Jenny, Paul and DaLissa there for a weekend. It was SUPER cold and the car was more appealing than the camp site because it blocked the wind. Nevertheless, there was beautiful scenery and great company. If you haven’t had the chance to visit Garner and you love the outdoors, definitely make some time, you won’t regret it.

Easter weekend was crazy busy with a trip to Houston. Jared and I took our church kids to the LTC (Leadership Training for Christ) Conference at the George R. Brown Convention Center. There they competed in Bible Bowl and various other events that demonstrated their knowledge of the Bible, ability to work as a team and love of our Lord. They did amazing and represented the La Vernia Church of Christ and our Lord so remarkably. Jared and I were very proud of them! Since we were in Houston, we met up with a good friend of mine from high school, Kathryn, and her family for dinner. It was nice getting to spend some quality time with them. Then, we enjoyed a nice brunch with my sister and brother in law Sunday after church and back to La Vernia we went.

The second weekend in April, Jared and I headed to Oklahoma to celebrate our four year anniversary. I know what you are thinking, Oklahoma??? But, before we dated we went on a trip there with the Aggies for Christ that we both really enjoyed. So we went back to visit the area, the state park and the church with the warmest, sweetest, friendliest people you have ever known, Hartshorne Church of Christ. It was a great trip and I can’t wait to go back and visit again.

The following weekend, Jenn Mann and her son Christopher came for a visit while Jared and Cody went hunting. It was also my Grandmom’s 80th birthday weekend, so we celebrated and enjoyed the weekend just relaxing and watching old dance videos (we were on the dance team together in high school). Good Times.

And just this past weekend we went to Port Aransas with the Coburn Family to spend time altogether and relax. It was a beautiful weekend on the beach.

Well, that about wraps up the highlights of our weekend adventures. God Bless you all!

A Blur through the Holidays

2010-01-11T20:47:00.000-06:00

My blog is definitely turning into more of a quarterly report of what is happening in good ‘ole La Vernia with the Coburns. I sigh every time I realize how long it’s been, but alas, life is just a blur to us at times, and I have come to have acceptance with that truth.

We spent much of October and November getting to know our precious new niece. She is absolutely a wonder! My favorite thing to do is have her in my lap while I “talk to her.” We just go on and on for the longest time “talking” and giggling at each other. She is such a happy baby girl.

In between time with her, I went to two of Amanda’s wedding showers and hosted a baby shower in honor of Micah and my new 2nd cousin, Riley. That was fun. Amanda and I did the Hungry Caterpillar Book theme. Do you notice Micah wailing in the picture? :) They dressed the girls alike and it was the sweetest thing! We bought scrapbooks for the girls and did scrapbook pages as a group. It was just for the women of our family and we all really enjoyed each other. Jordyn came down that weekend and I got a few shots of all my nieces together. I love how much Cailyn and Jordyn love one another. Cailyn is such a good big sister to Micah and surrogate sister to Jordyn. You should have seen them, Cailyn wanted to take care of Jordyn and help her with everything she did. They had such a long day that Saturday, they literally wore themselves out (picture of them sprawled across the air mattress).

November also brought the exciting news that my cousin Bethany is pregnant. They will have a boy in May. We are all anticipating his arrival. They live here in La Vernia just down the road. It is really nice to have all this family so close, especially when there are so many babies around! I tell ya, who needs their own when you can get a fix whenever you need? I say that, and the ache is still there at times. :)

Somehow I found time to go hunting amidst the Fall Baby/Wedding extravaganza. And……. I shot my first buck! It was so awesome, I can’t even describe it. I had the buck fever and almost didn’t think I could do it. But I made the shot and he dropped. It was a 9 point buck. We were all pretty excited, to say the least.

And then Christmas quickly approached bringing office festivities and family gatherings galore. GVEC had a party the first weekend of December, then Jared’s office had one on the third weekend, Christmas with the Johansons the weekend before Christmas, with my family the Tuesday before Christmas, with the Gossetts Christmas Eve, with the Coburns Christmas Morning, and Christmas with my dad and step-mom the Tuesday after Christmas. Boy are my kids gonna score one day with all these Christmases! :) And somehow through all this holiday madness, we got everything lined out for Amanda and Daniel’s wedding on January 1st.

The wedding was absolutely beautiful! The honeymooners are now in absolute bliss in Saint Lucia in the Carribbean. Yeah, I am jealous too!!! :) I wish I had pictures of the bride and groom to share, but I didn’t get them still long enough to take any with my own camera, so I will have to wait for the photographer’s (cousin Julie’s) pics. :)

Hope everyone has had some happy holidays and a very HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope to concentrate on becoming more like 1 Corinthians 13:4 this year. It is pretty humbling when you replace your name with the word “love.” I have a lot to work on :) God Bless you all in year 2010!

The Monsters, The Rugrats and dear sweet, Micah Mary

2009-11-18T20:57:00.000-06:00

October was a whirlwind and November is shaping up just the same. In the beginning of October, I took a trip to Dallas to spend a weekend with 3 very dear friends of mine from college, Sarah Schuler, Sarah May and Kim Hegi. It was a relaxing weekend filled with fun and very much needed fellowship. As the years pass, we all grow and change in different ways, but no matter what happens in our lives, I love that we still make a point to come together, catch up and share together. It is so refreshing and nice.

The latter part of October was spent preparing for the rise of the La Vernia Monsters :) We have a big costume contest at work and our branch gathered in the wee hours of October 30th and put together the attached video. We didn't win, but we got alot of response on how great the video was and how much everyone enjoyed it.

The second weekend in November, I went to see Jordyn play soccer. Her team, The Rugrats, were undefeated and she was the CUTEST thing out there running around. Her mom said for many of the games, she would sit out for parts because she would just get too "dizzy," to play. Reality-she didn't want to run around in the sun, she likes the shade better :) She is pictured with a boy name Gavin. She told me "He's my boyfriend and we have kissed." I told her that boys have cooties and that is why we should not kiss them, she said, "okay." I am going to go on that and believe she is not kissing any more :) Man, I love kids!

And Micah does not fail to get cuter every day. Cailyn sure is enjoying being a big sister and we have all enjoyed having a baby around. My cousin's baby is due in May, so that will make 3, and who knows, maybe after that, Jared and I will think about kids.......maybe. :)

Here's to an even busier next two months, hunting this weekend, Thanksgiving next, Employee Christmas Party after that, then a choice between Amanda's 3rd wedding shower or hunting, then the Johanson Christmas, and Christmas with the Gossetts, and lastly, Amanda's wedding January 1st. :) I think there is one or two weekends in January where we have nothing going on, won't that be exciting! BUT- I will not rest long because there are some babies I am aching and will be aching at that time to meet.......Brooklyn (Mindi's baby who was just born), Christopher (Jenn's baby who is finally back in Corpus) and soon, Bladen (Erin's baby who is due to enter this world any day now) will be here! Yay!

New Niece

2009-09-25T14:37:00.000-05:00

I know it has been awhile, but really, until now, there has not been too much to report. Aside from work, Jared and I have just been running around like crazy getting ready for hunting season, my new niece to be born, Amanda's wedding, and about a million other little things :)

BUT- now, my new niece is here! Yay! Micah Mary Taylor was born at 1:10 p.m. on September 24, 2009; 7 lbs. 13 oz. and 19.25 inches of beauty! I took today off to spend with her at the hospital. And let me tell you, this has been a special day. That is the one thing about C-Sections, you get to plan and take vacation. I so wish I had that advantage when Cailyn and Jordyn were born.

AND- we recently learned my cousin Bethany is pregnant. They also live here in La Vernia. It is times like this that I am very thankful we chose to stay in this area a little longer. Who knows, maybe for good. Especially if Jared and I never have children, there is no way I am going to leave direct access to so many :) And now...I know what you are thinking :) No, we have not decided not to have children, we just haven't started to try and we keep pushing it back. So, you never know what the Lord has in store.

Other than that, not too much is happening. the next few months should be a fun whirl wind of hunting, reunions, visiting friends, camping, wedding showers, baby celebrations, thanksgivings and Christmases. Hope everyone is doing well, God Bless!!!

The Spaeth, Carroll, Coburn Carnival Conquest Cruise

2009-08-17T20:01:00.001-05:00

Well, we are on our second week back from crusin'. It was an absolute blast! We were on the Carnival Conquest and stopped at Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. I think cruising is something we will be doing a little more often.

Now, to work, planning Amanda's wedding and preparing for my new niece to enter this world...

Hope everyone is doing well!!!!

Bon Voyage

2009-08-01T07:21:00.001-05:00

Well, you can tell how busy we have become again. I do hate that the blog suffers, but I am still a believer that until I have children this blog won't be that interesting anyway....it could be a couple of years. :) And so I stop in every now and then to give an update on our crazy busy little life in La Vernia, Texas.

The reasons we have been so busy....July consisted of fourth of July fun at my in-laws, a garage sale the next weekend to make some extra cash for the cruise, a Johanson family reunion in Fredericksburg and a weekend of spending some of that garage sale money on clothes for the cruise with my good friend DaLissa.

And now......we cruise. It's 7:26 a.m. on Saturday morning and I can't sleep. I haven't ever said that before!!! When I am about to go on a trip, sometimes the anticipation gets the best of me. Our ship embarks on Sunday at 4 and we sail for a week. A much needed vacation that we are taking with some good friends from Victoria and a couple of friends from Aggieland as well. Super excited to begin the week! (Jared just woke up and joined me....guess he is excited too! :)

When I return, I begin a new position at GVEC. I am going back to La Vernia to manage the office there. I am excited about this new direction, however, it is bittersweet because I will miss the Marketing World that I have come to love.

Other than that, we are still trucking with the same 'ole stuff. Michelle is moving along very nicely and will have my new niece on September 25th. Amanda has suffered a bit because I am not planning my part of her wedding until after the cruise. One more week sister, and I am all yours!

I have several friends that are pregnant right now and my heart is just overjoyed seeing the Lord work in their lives and their families. To all of you, I miss you dearly and continually think and pray for you even though we talk seldom.

Have a great week....and I promise I will return and tell you about the trip. :)

A Wicked June

2009-06-18T18:51:00.000-05:00

Two very exciting things happened this month thus far, Michelle and I got to go and see the play Wicked and So You Think You Can Dance has begun! I know, I know, such an exciting life we lead :)

Wicked is something to discuss. If you have not seen this Broadway Production and you are into musicals, this is a must see. The music is amazing, good comedy and the acting was wonderful. I am still singing the songs :)

And my excitement for So You Think You Can Dance stems from my love of dance. This show is just so much fun to watch. I usually find myself up and dancing at some point :)

Have a dancing, singing summer!

Babies :)

2009-05-30T20:42:00.000-05:00

Baby Riley

Future Brother-In-Law

Well, not for me...yet :)

But I have been spending some time around some of the most beautiful babies!

A few weeks ago, I went to Canton with a couple of dear friends from college, Mindi and Erin, and their sweet baby girls. It was such a fun weekend. Those two girls are such good, patient babies. They made me laugh and of course, get the baby itch :)

On my way home, I stopped in San Antonio to say Hi to my new second cousin, baby Riley. My cousin, Jeanne, and her husband, Brian, adopted the most precious little girl. I feel in love the moment I held her. She is the most beautiful addition to our family.

Little girls seem to surround me, I have decided if I have a boy, I will not know what in the world to do.

In the middle of May, we went to Houston to celebrate the graduation and birthday of my future brother-in-law. It was a pretty big weekend and we are so glad we got to be a part of it. I could not have hand picked a better half for my sister. We are so happy to welcome Daniel into the family.

Hope everyone is doing well!

The Twilight Era

2009-04-27T19:07:00.000-05:00

Okay- in my defense, I was really going to make a point to keep up with the blog and then BAM, Twilight became priority. But-hey, I did manage to do a few other things during my "Twlight Era." So this is what has been going on in our lives...............

Mid March brought the wedding of my sweet friend, Kristin. She was an amazingly beautiful bride and it was a nice ceremony. It was also fun getting to catch up with some friends from college. Eventually we are not going to have weddings to bring us together, that kind of makes me sad. The way life goes in different directions is a 50/50 thing for me. 50 percent wonderful because you build new relationships and experience new things, but then there is the other side of not having the ones that have so richly blessed your life around as much. However, it does make me appreciate weekends like this a million times more. Jared and I stayed with Erin and Gregg for the weekend. We got to catch up, play games, spend time with sweet Elizabeth and just enjoy some good laughs. That Sunday morning was Liz's first day at Sunday school. I just had to include the picture above because if you notice, Gregg is holding Liz, but then her friend (the baby seated at the table) just has the CUTEST welcoming smile as she looks up at Liz. (click on the picture to enlarge and really see that baby's smile :) I just thought it was the sweetest thing!

And this weekend is what began the era of Twilight. Now, I had heard alot about these books. But like with Harry Potter, I just assume stay away from the hype, and so I did. Until people I know and trust began recommending the books. Then, you tend to want to take the extra step. And I did.....right in I fell. With my work load and other responsibilities, it took me about 3-4 weeks to complete the series. And now, I am just devasted that there is nothing left to read. I wish I had taken longer to read them. I know what you are thinking, but really, they are just that good. :)

So, I am sure you have guessed that it was Erin that got me hooked on Twlight. So much so that when Jared and I were planning what to do for our three year anniversary, I twisted his arm in to taking me back to Houston so we could have a midnight party with Erin and Gregg. Hey-most people might be ashamed to admit this, but sorry boys, I am telling it for you :) Erin and I waited at the house while our sweet husbands stood in line at Walmart at midnight, might I add, with a ton of teenage girls and their fathers to buy the movie Twilight. And, surprisingly enough, we were all pretty wide awake as we watched the movie. Good times! :) Jared and I spent the rest of the weekend just lazing around in a nice hotel down in the Galleria area of Houston. The roses pictured above was one of his anniversary gifts to me along with a Trophy Hunter hat, bumper sticker and coffee mug. He remembered I was eyeing them at the store :)

The last weekend in March, J and I went camping at Garner State Park with some friends of ours from Victoria. It was a super nice weekend of fellowship, hiking, lazing around, and reading (yes, Jared, DaLissa and I were all engrossed in the series). There truly is nothing like being in the outdoors.

Easter weekend brought about LTC. Jared and I teamed up with my cousin, Jinine, and a friend from church, Derick, to take some of the youth to the Leadership Training For Christ Convention. If you are curious as to what it is, you can look it up at http://www.ctltc.net/. The kids demonstrated their knowledge of the Book of John and all came back with either a silver or bronze medal. We couldn't be more proud of them and we all are very excited about what the program will bring to our congregation in the years to come.

A week and a half ago, Jared's sister and brother-in-law came down and we all went to see Nickleback in concert. I was less then excited. I was the only one who didn't really know their music well and just thought it was going to be pretty boring altogether. I was basically taking one for Jared :) BUT-BOY was I wrong. That concert was amazing! Not only did I know more songs than I thought, it was just an overall GREAT time of loud, fun music, singing, and just having a good time. I am SO glad I ended up going. Thanks Jenny.....and Tom for having a birthday that gave Jenny the idea for us all to go to see them in concert :)

And this past weekend, back to Houston (for like the fourth time in a one and a half month span). Amanda tried on wedding dresses! CRAZY!!! The last of us girls to get married and as I sit here and think about it, it's bitter sweet. On the one hand I am THRILLED that she is so happy and excited and there is so much wedding fun to look forward to over the next several months. And on the other hand, I am again reminded of how we will all be married, with our own lives, lives that could potentially take us to very seperate places. Leave it to me to get back on that roll :)

Well, that is the "Twilight Era." And now I commit to keeping this blog up! :) Love you all and I hope you are doing well.

Finally...........A New Post!!!

2009-03-13T00:09:00.000-05:00

Howdy! I feel the need to re-introduce myself considering my abscence. If anyone still checks this blog....I'm back!!!!!

As you might have guessed, my new position with GVEC has kept me occupied. It has been loads of fun so far. I feel as though I have already learned a wealth of things about the Marketing World, but I know there is still so much out there. Busy at it is, I am thankful to be in a position I love. Jared and I have been really blessed. Just today I got to interview the sweetest man and hear about his life story, there is almost nothing I enjoy more.

So now that you know why this post is so delayed, let's play catch up........life lately through a very small key hole..................

That goofey little picture of my adorable husband is a result of our Employee Appreciation night. I was pretty excited about taking home that cactus, and Jared was too, or maybe he was just mocking me :)

We took a quick trip to Houston over Valentine's day. Amanda and I went and spent half a day at the spa, a nice little gift to ourselves. Then we met up with our cousins, John and Holly, for dinner. On the way home, J and I went and met sweet little Liz, our friend's new baby girl. Doesn't she have the sweetest smile? We are actually headed there tomorrow to spend the weekend with them. I love weekends spending quality time and enjoying the company of good friends. Much to look forward to!

Jenny came down with Jordyn a few weeks ago and we took Cailyn and Jordyn to the rodeo grounds. They seemed to have fun riding the few rides they weren't too scared to go on :)

And then last Sunday is where my BIG news comes in. Jared successfully convinced me we should take a day trip to Victoria to visit his parents and grandparents as our schedule is full for the next several weekends. How strange is that! :) Anyway, I agreed to go, even though I was pretty exhausted looking ahead at the next busy week and the time change. Well, the trip was more than worth it. Not only did we get to visit with the family, but his Paw-Paw had a pretty big surprise in store for me, the last picture shown.....a Remington Model 700 .270 Winchester, complete with a Leupold scope. WOW! You can bet that I am still trying to figure out a proper Thank You! Totally unexpected! I told Jared it is time to go to the shooting range!!! :)

Well, there you have it friends. I miss you all and promise to try and update more frequently. J and I agree that we aren't so young anymore...10:00 p.m. has become "past bedtime."

Good night!!!

GVEC Surprise Going Away Party

2009-01-16T09:27:00.000-06:00

And boy, was I surprised! I look back now, and the clues were all there, but I sure wasn't catching on! :)

My boss set our Office Meeting for Monday. Nothing unusual, just a regular monthly meeting, right??? I went over to the Schertz office that morning to train another CSR. On my way back, my boss was surprised I had trained her so quickly and asked if I would go pick up the La Vernia mail in the Seguin Office. Of couse, it didn't seem too unusual. Upon returning to La Vernia, the whole mood was different, eyes were avoiding mine, not too much interaction. I went straight to my boss asking, "Was it a busy morning, is everything okay?" She said things have been crazy, which is understandable, that always affects the mood of the office. The meeting was still on, and my new manager was even going to be there to introduce the new rebate program. You know me, I was just thinking, "Alright, this is going to be a really informational meeting."

And then the meeting was here, we are all sitting there and Paula, my current manager, calls me and one of my co-workers, Liz, and says that we are going to do a little activity based on some questions she had us answer before the meeting. Still, this is not out of the ordinary too much, Paula is always coming up with creative ways for us to learn more about eachother and to become closer as a team. So here, I thought we were both being blindfolded and dressed up in silly clothes to do a little team building activity, no big deal. And then they walk me back into the conference room, remove my blindfold, and Surprise!!!!! Jared and Cailyn had come (they were hiding in the bathroom), another office manager was also there, and it was my Going Away from La Vernia Party. That picture of me by the doors was my expression, I broke down and there were tears all over the place! They roasted me about my year here with them, had decorated a board full of pictures over the past year, and had a very delicious cake to top off the evening.

I am truly going to miss seeing those women every day and being a part of their daily lives. I warned them, though, I'll be visting every chance I get! :) I start Monday with the Marketing Department. So, here's to new experiences!

Why I call this Blog "Crazy Coburn Fun" :)

2009-01-09T10:46:00.000-06:00

Should I go dark :)

(He, He) Yes, I forced him :)

Things have been going going. However, we all know that is how I like things, so I will catch you up :)

Christmas:

We had our office Christmas Party, which is always fun in La Vernia. We did a secret Santa, and for the most part, things did stay secret :)

On Christmas Eve, we went to Jared's Maw-Maw and Paw-Paw's house. They have a Christmas Party every year on Christmas Eve. It was nice having the whole family together and just being able to enjoy eachother. And we were able to get a pretty good picture of our two youngest, cousin Andrew and our niece Jordy. SO sweet!

Then there was Christmas morning at my parents house. The highlights are pictured. Poor Laptop (Grandmom and Grandpop's dog), didn't much like his reindeer ears and cape. He wore the cape a little, but tossed those ears off automatically. This is where they were in the middle of the tossing, over his eyes. The second highlight was Cailyn's smile after she got her Nintendo DS. She has been playing it non-stop since.

Also pictured is our 2008 ornament. We have been picking out a special ornament for every year we have been married that marks a significant event that happened that year. This year, we chose the ornament his Maw-Maw and Paw-Paw gave us because it looked just like our new dog, Sugar. She is probably one of the most memorable things that happened to us in 2008, we love our girl.

Our Christmas gift to eachother this year was a weekend at a Bed and Breakfast in Fredericksburg, TX. It was the cutest little made over barn, decked out in German decor. The breakfast served was especially yummy, it is called affenbrot and is much like monkey bread. Delicious! We had fun shopping around, watching movies, reading, relaxing, you know, being Lazy! :) Saturday night 4-5 deer came right up to our front yard and were grazing. It was such a peaceful environment. And, really, that was suppose to be our only Christmas gift to eachother, but as always, Jared did a bit more. :) He bought me a beautiful necklace and earring set, red heart shaped with diamonds. And as if that wasn't enough, we both decided it was time to by a Wii. And boy, we were right, so much fun!!!!!

Then on Tuesday, I had a half day at work, so I got to meet one of my dear friends and her little girl for lunch in San Marcos. Aubrey was all smiles and so sweet. Everyone in the restaurant/store, could not take their eyes off that sweet baby. And can you blame them!??!

Now J and I are looking forward with great anticipation to the year 2009. We plan to make it a happy and healthy year, full of much joy and excitement. To kick things off, Jared has begun a new job. He is now a manager with Riverstone Management Company and enjoying the new property. This transfer has turned out to be such a blessing to him and our family. I got a promotion as well. I will now be the assistant to the Marketing Communications manager. I am really pumped about this opportunity because it will give me a chance to do some writing and experience more in public relations, all right up my alley. I begin on January 20th.

So Happy New Year to you all, hope it is a GREAT one! :)

Becknell Wedding Weekend

2008-12-23T15:17:00.000-06:00

Bethany is married! She is my cousin and past college roomie. She and Wes got married just before sunset at a beautiful Restaurant that caters to weddings on Lake Travis. It was so quaint and sweet.

Jared and I decided to make the most of the weekend, and we spent the night in Austin. On Sunday we met up with Amanda a Daniel for some last minute Christmas shopping and just to hang out in the city. I like afternoons like this, just bumming around, no plans and yet, you get stuff done! :)

Saturday, before the wedding, J and I got to go and visit our friend from college, Kim Hegi. She works at the coolest bake shop. It was fun shopping around with all the different fun things used to make creative pieces. Even Jared got into it. And yes, we will be making a "Hunting" themed cake at some point in the near future. It was so nice to visit with Kim as well. We love you girl and we are SO HAPPY that you are living your dream! (She is in culinary school)

And on Sunday, after we hung out with Amanda and Daniel, J and I went over and visited dear friends of ours, Jeff and Mindi Tipps, and their sweet baby girl, Aubrey. It was real nice to visit with them and see that precious girl smile and laugh. There is a video of her laugh. (Sorry I am not sure how to turn the video around, still learning about the video thing :)

Continuation of the Christmas Season

2008-12-18T15:02:00.000-06:00

We hosted Santa at GVEC. GVEC is so special, Santa makes an appearance with us twice a year :) It was alot of fun. We had donuts, hot chocolate, christmas cookies, and fun goodie bags for the kids. We say, for the kids, but what we really mean is for us too! :)

And then, you have already seen it, Jared got his Axis buck last weekend. It was SO exciting! I think I have to learn to hold my tongue in the stand because I get so excited that I start saying

"Wow, honey, he is so big," or "He is definitely a shooter." And Jared said it was making him nervous :) Ooops! But, I am just so glad that this is now a hobby of ours, because I really enjoyed watching him after he made the shot. He was so excited, he was shaking. Too cute! I know when I get my first buck, I will be worse. :)

He is debating as to if he will get it mounted or not. He said he didn't know if he wanted to spend that much again already to mount this one (we mounted his white-tail buck last year). I told him, "Honey, when I get my first buck, we are mounting it, so why not?" He still laughs about what a 180 I have done when it comes to the hobby of hunting :)

The Beginning of the Christmas Season

2008-12-11T10:36:00.000-06:00

Well, this Christmas came at me fast, and I am sure glad. You all know by now, I LOVE this time of year more than any other. Every day seems to be a GREAT day, every song seems to make me want to sing along or dance (as if it doesn't anyway), and every smile seems that much more special and important. Yes, I am big 'ole slice of cheese, and I am okay with that :)

This is our tree and the ornament we chose for our third Christmas as a married couple. She is holding the year 2008. Also, if you notice, we have added a very important thing to our christmas decor, Sugar's stocking. And everything is already bought to fill that thing. I just love that girl! We have been sneaking her in on nights where it is very cold because I just hate the thought of her out there with her bones going ice cold. Shhhhhh, don't tell the landlord :)

The other pictures were taken at my company Christmas Party. They threw a great party for us and we had alot of fun. Since Michelle works at GVEC now, her family got to go too and Cailyn and I participated in one of the games together. We had to try and wrap that box wearing the safety gloves our linemen wear when they are out working on hot electric lines. Not easy!!!! Cailyn just about gave up on me and I couldn't blame her at all. Though, she was still not happy that we didn't win the grand prize of a fifty dollar bill per person. Though, the participation prize was not bad either, so she forgave me when they handed her that :)

Christmas is off to a fun start! :)

Love to you all and enjoy this holiday season!

An Eventful Thanksgiving

2008-12-01T10:58:00.000-06:00

A week and a half before Thanksgiving I got a call that my eldest sister, Michelle, was in the hospital with severe pain. Her family was in Bishop at the time for her husband's family reunion, so she was at the hospital in Kingsville. It was her gall bladder and she did also have pancriatitus (if that is how you spell it :) But, she was out and home with us by the following weekend (had her gall bladder removed), or so we thought...My mom, Michelle, Kevin and I were all at mom's house taking care of Michelle last Saturday when her pains got so severe, the doctor in Kingsville said to head to the nearest hospital. To San Antonio we went. Michelle's pancreas had become inflammed and was very swollen. They took her off of solids and liquids, all she could do was chew gum until the Wednesday before Thanskgiving. Although she spent her birthday in the hospital, they released her on Thanksgiving day and she was able to have a little turkey and stuffing. She is now doing well and hopes to be back at work next week.

Jared and I went to his parents house for Thanksgiving. It was real nice to see everyone and spend some time there. Jared and I did get up with his family at 3:30 a.m. on Black Friday to get some great prices on Christmas gifts. It was early, real early, but worth it. The picture above of Jared and Jordy is at IHOP after the shopping. I had went home to watch Jordy after 4 a.m. Kohls and she woke up just in time for us to meet the family for breakfast. So that is "Bedhead" Jordy :)

We came home Saturday and I went straight over to Bethany's Shower. My cousin is getting married in 3 weeks and we got a small group together to celebrate. It was a blast! We met around 2:00 and did Mary Kay facials, then we got dressed real nice and went to a nice restaurant in San Antonio. After that it was back home for a taped interview with her fiance, gifts, and girl talk. It was so much fun and it was especially nice seeing Kasey again. It has been years since I have seen her (she was my roomie in College).

Another Hunter in the Family?

2008-11-20T13:12:00.000-06:00

Okay, for my friends that think hunting is cruel, brace yourself, and maybe even decide not to read this e-mail. :)

I grew up with a hunter. My step-dad was pretty much gone every weekend my mom would let him when hunting season rolled around every year. He wanted us to go with him, but we were always so busy with school things, it just never worked out. I also didn't have much of a desire because I was never going to shoot an animal. I grew out of the "cruelty" stage, because, seriously? Vegetarians are the only people that have a right to that argument. And also to believe that it is cruel to shoot animals for food, can also mean a lack of belief in God's Purposes. He created animals as a means of providing food for us, just as he created smaller animals as a means to provide food for larger ones, at least the carnivores :)

Anyway, off my soap box......

I went hunting, and as Jared puts it "Finally." I wasn't expecting much, I mainly was just excited to get away for a weekend and enjoy the Great Outdoors. In fact, our whole discussion on our trip to Junction was about cutting the hunting fund and the reality of when we start having babies, how we may not be able to afford to pay for a spot on the lease, if one were to come up.

Then the weekend begun. I sat in the blind on Saturday morning and it was beautiful. The air was crisp, my face mask was on and I had a great view of the wildlife through binoculars. It was a nice, relaxing morning. Then a couple of the guys suggested that I learn to shoot a gun. So, Jared and Randy (one of the guys on the lease) taught me how to shoot. Randy said I should take my first deer. I got permission and we went on the evening hunt.

I had some perfect shots at about 3 different deer, and was so nervous, I didn't take them. Then I just decided now or never and I took a shot. Jared said the doe acted as though she was hit but he wasn't for sure, so he took a shot at the same doe. We couldn't see her anymore. So, the excitment grew at the wonder of if we would find her. 20 minutes later we went to track her, and sure enough, she had not gone far. She was just behind some rock directly behind the feeder. Jared's shot had hit the deer in the behind and mine had hit the deer for the kill, just a slight off behind the shoulder.

Wow, I cannot even describe the thrill of it all. Pretty exciting stuff. However, for those that can't understand why that might be, it really is hard to put it into words. There is just so much pride in being able to have a part in literally bringing meat to the table. To know, that no matter how bad the economy can get, we are equipped to take care of ourselves and our family with the resources the Lord has and will continue to provide.

So, the discussion on the way home was slightly different. All me: "Honey, we need to start saving, I will need camo, a gun at some point, and if a spot comes open on the lease, we have to take it." The weekend was very unexpected, but so wonderful. Jared and I now have one more thing in common. And let me just say, you would think Christmas has already come and gone for the excitement he shows :)

October in a Nutshell

2008-11-13T17:17:00.000-06:00

I really have been bad about the blogging. I will try and get better at keeping this updated. But, seriously, now that my friend's have such beautiful babies to blog about, mine seems a bit boring, even to me :) I am so busy keeping caught up with other's blogs that I neglect this one :)

Jordyn came for another visit in late October. My church was hosting a Fall Festival and I wanted her to come and have some fun with us. Cailyn and Jordy spend the night with Jared and I, and we just had a blast together. We set up a mattress right in front of the T.V. so we could lay and watch Hannah Montana. Then on Saturday morning, J and I took the girls for breakfast at Shipleys before Jared and Jordyn went to Bass Pro Shops while Cailyn and I went and saw High School Musical 3. We met up later and all went to help the girls build Hannah Montana bears at Build-A-Bear. Yup, my husband is a trooper. The kids were wiped by the time the carnival began, but we all still had such a great time! :)

We have a costume contest at work every year, and yes, we used the same idea, except Michelle and I used the idea. She was the hunter and I was the dear. We got 2nd place, not too shabby. I love days like that at work.

Then there is the scary picture. Jared and I both participated in the Haunted House at the Fall Festival this year. I would crawl on the floor after the people as they were trying to flee. It was awesome! I think people were surprised of how scary I can be :) No funny comments on that one! :)

The last picture is at the Alamo. Amanda brought her boyfriend in for "Meet the Family." And for us, that is no oridinary thing. Because "Meet the Family" in La Vernia not only means the parents and siblings, it also means the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. He took it well and even agreed to be in the family picture for christmas cards. Needless to say, I believe he might be the one. I can say that because neither Amanda nor he read this blog, and it is written all over their faces :) We are so excited for them and look forward to what may come.

I will do my best to keep up with the updates, and stay tuned because the next blog will be the most exciting yet. And it is not because I am announcing a pregnancy. Don't look for that blog until at least another year unless the Lord has a different plan for us :)

Hope you are all doing well!

A September to Remember

2008-10-13T11:15:00.000-05:00

Sepetember was a BUSY month on the weekends. Which, if you know me, is exactly how I like it. As already posted, the first weekend we went to see Uncle Carl, Aunt Amber and the cousins over Labor Day weekend.

The following weekend, IKE was on it's way. When it looked like it would be a direct hit near Port La Vaca, we had some friends (Paul and DaLissa) decide to flee to good 'ole La Vernia, TX. Which was a blessing for us, because we had great company all weekend. And IKE ended up turning, so their place was untouched, another blessing. We had a lot of fun just hanging out, playing games, and relaxing for the weekend.

The following weekend, I went to Houston. IKE had hit hard, but I had a few places to be that were just too important to forfeit. That Saturday night I met up with a group of friends from high school and middle school. It was alot of fun. I haven't seen them in 6-8 years! CRAZY! The evening was such a blessing of catching up and sharing in eachother's lives. The next afternoon, I went to the baby shower of Mrs. Erin Johnson, one of my dearest friends from College. I can't believe her sweet little Liz is almost here!!! She was glowing, as I expected, but it still brings me to tears when I see some of my closest friends preganant or holding their children. I can't explain it, I feel so blessed to get to watch them live their lives and see how God works in them and through them. His work is truly incredible to watch and experience.

And the last weekend in September, Jared went hunting while I had my niece, Jordyn come stay with me for the weekend. It was a fun filled girls weekend. Basically we stayed over at my sister, Michelle's house with her daughter, my other niece, Cailyn. Those two played ALL weekend and had just a blast with one another. Of course I got some great photo ops of the two sweetest little girls I know!! (Yes, I am bias as bias can be!!! :) I can't wait to have a weekend like that again.

So there is September in a nutshell...and it looks as though October might bring alot more interesting news. We will have to just see. (And, no, before you ask, I am not pregnant still!) :) I'll keep you posted :)

La Vernia Bears (21-6)

2008-09-27T08:54:00.000-05:00

Well, it is small town football time, and it is in the La Vernia air. My co-worker's son is a senior on the football team. He bought us all t-shirts with his name and number on them, which was too sweet. So, of course we all wear them every game day! :) Last night, La Vernia played Cuero High. Now, this is the same family rivalry that we have with UT and A&M, because my family lives in La Vernia and supports their football team, of course. But Jared's family are Cuero Gobbler supporters. Jared graduated from Cuero and played on their highly known 3-A football team. Cuero has loyal team supporters who follow their team anywhere and have good reason, they tend to be really good generally every year. Jared's father also works for Cuero ISD, which means mom and dad are at most games. So, Cailyn and I are in our La Vernia Bear blue, and we join mom and dad Coburn and Jordy on the Cuero side to watch the game. Oh, yeah, there were comments made from the Cuero fans, but all in good fun, of course. I had to take the kiddos home at the half because they were tired, and La Vernia was leading 7-0. I got a call later that La Vernia took the win 21-6, GO BEARS! (sorry, mom and dad :)

These pics are us office ladies sportin' our blue. Oh, yes, and that is me, pretending I am 16 and as flexible as ever. As you can see, not so much. But, in my defense, it was the first time I have ever tried a spilt in jeans! :)

Sugar Pie

2008-09-19T09:34:00.000-05:00

Things have just been going non-stop, but the Labor Free Weekend post was suppose to be followed with this post alot sooner than now :)

Aunt Amber and Uncle Carl had a yellow lab (a year and a half old). She is an outdoor dog and because they do not have a fence, she was on a 20 foot rope. They have been looking into building a fence so that she can run free, but it looks like we showed up in the nic of time :) Jared and I have always wanted a yellow lab. However, we are in a rental that does not allow pets inside, so we were going to wait until we were home owners to even think about getting pets. And then Sugar was offered to us.........and the rest is history. We brought her home and she loves running around the yard (we have a significantly big fenced in back yard), and laying out on the porch in the shade. She is the SWEETEST puppy and so much fun to play with. She is a drooler, but I don't mind that so much. Funny, when you love someone, their bodily fluids don't gross you out as much :)

Her name is sugar, and thus, she is my Sugar Pie....or Sugar Bear (depending on what comes out of my mouth when I see her :)

Funny new dog owner quirks (I have never had a dog for a pet, so I am CLUELESS):

"Honey, I think the leash is tugging too much because it is choking her!!!" (because I heard one strange noise)

Tried to take her to the park without Jared, yup, she pretty much walked me!!!!

I am sure more are to come............

Labor Free Weekend in Dallas

2008-09-08T15:38:00.000-05:00

For Labor Day, Jared and I took the four and a half hour drive up to Dallas, Texas. Actually, up a little farther to Royce City. Jared's Uncle Carl, Aunt Amber and three cousins live there. We love going to visit, and this time was no exception. I told Jared it is the most fun I have had in one weekend in a long time. It was literally non-stop action. But had it's perfect balance of relaxation.

We arrived about 11:30 on Friday evening to a little boy who was "waiting up for us," as you can see in the picture above (bless his heart), and stayed up talking until about 2:00. Saturday, J and I slept in a little and we all went to our cousin, Carson's, football game. They played well and it was fun to watch. Afterwards, we went home to cool down and freshen up and then headed out to the Harbor (which is like a mini-Riverwalk). It was a really nice evening. We ate at Ruby Tuesdays and walked along the pier that had a little light house at the end. The weather was great! Then we went home and ended the evening watching movies. After an Amazing church worship service Sunday morning, we went to cheer the guys on at Paintball (they were celebrating Carson's birthday). We left them to their paintball wars after about 45 minutes, then Amber, Andrew and I went swimming at Amber's aunt's house. It was very relaxing. That evening, we met the guys at home and watched a comedy followed by a horror flick. So horrific that yup, I could barely get to sleep. Has anyone seen "The Hills Have Eyes?" Oh dear, it is scary! But I LOVE scary movies. Then on Monday, before we left, we took their four wheelers out. Now, I have been on a four wheeler before, but I have never been FOUR WHEELING, if you know what I mean. On trails, up and down, racing, mud flying, almost tipping over, four wheeling. It was awesome!!!

We can't wait to go visit again! :)

Relaxation in Rockport

2008-08-19T19:16:00.000-05:00

Okay, we finally went on a much needed "mini" vacation. We won't get a "non-mini" vacation until next year, so we will just take what we can get when we get it. Jared loves to fish, so we went fishing. Well, let me re-phrase, Jared and his buddies went fishing, and I cast a few or so :) I like fishing because you do it outdoors, but I am just as good sitting outside rocking in my rocking chair or enjoying a cool breeze. So that is mostly what DaLissa and I did while the rest were fishing. Jared and I went to Victoria last Thursday evening where he preceded to go and pick up Jason, one of our friends that joined us for the weekend, and head to Rockport (joining Paul, one of Jared's buddies from high school, who was already there) for an all-nighter of fishing. No thank you! Jenny (Jason's wife), DaLissa (Paul's wife), and I happily went down together on Friday, when our room was available. The boys were exhausted, but they had caught a few. Koby, another one of Jared's buddies from high school, joined us on Saturday. Pretty much our weekend consisted of fishing, playing games, and eating. No plans, no appointments, no stress, just great fun! Jared and I both left wishing the trip had lasted longer and hoping we could do something like that again soon.

On Thursday night, before Jared left for Rockport, he dropped me off at his parents and our niece Jordyn was there. My in-laws are getting their floors done and the furniture was moved out of the dining area. Well, Jordyn's favorite thing to do is dance around in there to the tune of "The Best of Both Worlds" by Hannah Montana. So, of course she demanded this of her Uncle JJ. And, I kid you not, there he went singing that one line over and over (because of course he did not know the lyrics) and dancing with her. The first picture is the proof. That little girl has my husband wrapped around her sweet little finger.

Hello......My name is Cheese

2008-07-31T14:42:00.000-05:00

And I have NEVER tried to deny that! So here we go again........

My husband is incredible! I fell in love with him for all the little, amazingly romantic things he did for me before we were even dating. God was working on my heart and I didn't even know it. And I love him even more today in part, because he continues those little things daily. In saying that, let me tell you about Tuesday. He cooked dinner for me, which was delicious, of course. He cooked venison hamburgers with baked beans and mac 'n' cheese. For those that know Jared, Mac 'n' Cheese are a staple at our home. :) Well, since we were having burgers he asked if I would like him to pick up some buns, so sweet, I asked if he likes wheat buns (we usually buy white) and he said "not really." So, I said that is okay and to just pick up the white buns, I wouldn't eat but one wheat, not worth it. So you have probably guessed, he came home with wheat and no white. Then, later that evening we settled in to watch a movie, his choice. He looked over all our movies, and asked me to close my eyes. That sweet man slipped The Lion King into the DVD player! True love I tell ya!

And now that we are on the subject, The Lion King. My favorite Disney movie by far. And yes, I was the CHEESE in high school too with Lion King bed sheets, stuffed animals, globes, ceramics, etc. etc. It is the story that gets me, what it means to have fun, to contain courage, to love, to protect, to guide, to be a good friend, to believe in something more, to enjoy life, to care, the list goes on. With song lyrics "It's the leap of faith, it's the band of hope, until we find our place in the path unwinding," " Some of us fall by the wayside, and some of us soar to the stars, and some of us sail through our troubles, and some have to live with the scars," and who can forget..."Hakuna Mata!" It all gets me EVERY time! :)

Yes that is right, I am CHEESE, nice to meet you!

VBS

2008-07-25T10:28:00.000-05:00

We did the "Lost at sea, stranded on an Island" idea, so it was a Hawaiian type theme. The idea was that young people can do big things for God. Jared and I taught along with a couple others about King Josiah and the discovering of part of Deuteronomy. I just love sharing these stories with children and watch as those little light bulbs go off and the excitment they get when they realize how Josiah became king at 8 years old and discovered the exerpt when he was just 18. Children are truly amazing! We had so much fun working with them all day.

Birthday Bashing

2008-07-16T11:12:00.000-05:00

My Birthday was on July 7th and I kid you not, the festivities have just now ended. :) I always tell Jared, "Now honey, this is 'Ashley's Birthday week of Fun!'" What that means to me, is no calorie limit, and a VERY compliant husband with the desire for back rubs, ice cream, etc. etc. Who am I kidding, right??? To Jared, it means a slight roll of the eye and still, though, he is really sweet and compliant, what a trooper! It is more of a little joke now for us, because I really have gotten to the stage that a birthday is just a birthday. But no matter how much I feel that, I have such a loving family and friends that make it not "just a birthday" for me, and for that, I say thank you, I feel really special and so loved.

The celebration began July 5th at my parents house, I was a able to choose the menu. All my favorites, fried venison, mac 'n' cheese (for Jared), mashed potatoes, peas, sweet bread, fruit pizza and a mint chocolate chip ice cream cake from Baskin' Robbins. A-Mazing!!!! My cousin Shan had just gotten in from his last tour in Iraq, and was able to be at the party. We feel so comforted to know he will be in the states for the rest of his time serving our Country.

On Monday, my birthday, Jared took me to a nice dinner at the Cheesecake factory where they gave me a birthday three milk cheescake, yummmmmm! AND, he took me somewhere I have always wanted to go, yup, thats right, we went to Build A Bear. I know what you are thinking, I have got to be the cheesiest, most childish 26 year old, but, hey, I am comfortable with that. Because I love my new bear, his name is Wall-E. :) Late that evening we went to Michelle's house because my dad was in town from Tennesse. I can't even remember the last birthday I was able to see my dad on, so it was nice to lay in his arms and spend some time with him on that day.

On Thursday, my office threw me a party. They decorated my work space, made me a jewlery set that is absolutly beautiful, cooked chalupas, and my boss even sang to me! I really appreciated it.

And last, but not least, of course, this past Sunday we were in Victoria and my Coburn parents threw me and our Aunt Ginger a birthday party. Cupcakes were the specialty, my favorite, and most the entire family was able to come. I have to insert that while we were all getting ready for the party, we weren't exactly paying real close attention to my sneaky niece Jordyn. So when Grandpa found her digging into each cupcake/brownie one at a time taking the reeses peanut butter cups out and eating them, we were not too surprised! :) She was on her fourth when he caught her. Too cute, and VERY messy! We enjoy spending time in Victoria and getting to see our family and friends there. Sometimes we wish we were even closer, but feel very blessed to only have an hour and a half drive down.

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone that sent cards, called, showered me with gifts, etc.etc. You sure know how to make me feel special and every card, call and gift is very much appreciated!!!! God Bless!!!!

Cousin Autumn's Wedding and a Cookout

2008-07-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

My cousin, Autumn Bluhm, got married on June 28th. It was a beautiful wedding, and the bride, of course was no exception. My dad and step-mom came in from Tennessee, and quite a bit of my family was able to be at the wedding, so it was a small Bluhm reunion. There have been many new additions to the family here lately, so it was nice to see everyone. Now I go to ALOT of weddings, but I must say this wedding included one interesting first and one REALLY unique and fun first. The interesting one is the preacher actually used the words "Quiver and Ravish" in his speech. WHAT??? There were two overall reactions, laughing and shock :) Too funny! And the unique, fun first was the send off. Autumn was a cheerleader in High School and Britt was a football player. So for the send off, a friend had made a huge, HUGE banner all decorated with their names on it for them to walk through and we were all holding cow bells and pom poms. Too cute! I thought it was really unique and creative. We are excited to welcome Britt to the family.

After the wedding, we went back to Amanda's and had a cook-out with some much needed relaxation and swimming. I forget how much fun swimming and grilling can be. I wish we could do it more often. It was a very nice evening just spending time together and enjoying being out doors.

Babies, Babies, and More Babies!

2008-07-02T12:54:00.000-05:00

But not ours :) Okay, so...... I love children. Those of you who know me, know that much about me, at least. I have spent the past month visting with the babies that I love dearly and one mother-to-be.

The first picture is of me with Aubrey Tipps. My dear friend from college had Aubrey in March and she is just too sweet for words. They live in Austin, so I took a day trip up there to see my friend and hold her beautiful baby. My favorite part of the visit was watching Aubrey stare up at her mother. There really is no connection than that of a mother and child. Aubrey just adores Mindi and you can really see that in her eyes and smile. I really enjoyed watching the two of them together.

The second picture if of me with mother-to-be friend from college, Erin. She is due this fall and they just found out they are having a girl! BUT- we did not know that when we bought these outfits. Jared and I went to Houston to spend a weekend with Erin and her husband, Gregg. We walked into Carter's and absolutly could not resist. Knowing the gender didn't make a difference, so this is what we found, very cute and very gender neutral. Both outfits will look great on Elizabeth Marin!

The third picture is me with our adorable little niece, Jordyn. She came to spend the weekend with us and we had the best time together. Jared and I took her to the zoo and to Gattitown. I had to work that Saturday morning, so Jared had her for about four hours, and he sure did the uncle thing. She wanted a hamburger for breakfast, so she got a hamburger for breakfast. She wanted chocolate milk and she wanted it right then. So he gave her chocolate milk with a straw (he did not have a sippy cup on hand) in the car and told her to be careful. Yup, thats right, ALL over her when they got home. Oh well, that IS what being an uncle is all about :)

The next picture is just a cute little picture of Jared and Jordyn, so I thought I would add it. He just looked at her and crossed his arms, and she followed suite, and held it long enough for me to snap the picture.

And the final pic is of me with baby Lucas. He is the son of some friends of ours at church. His parents are deticated to Camp Bandina and are actually spending the week up there serving the Lord. My sister is taking care of this sweet little one in the meantime. He is just such a good baby and cute as a button!

Babies are the most precious gifts from God and although I can not wait for that kind of blessing in my life, actually, I can, because I get to enjoy time with these little ones.

A Wedding, and then we went Camping.....

2008-05-20T13:30:00.000-05:00

A good friend from college got married last Saturday, Aaron Fritz. Unfortunatley, I didn't get a good picture of the bride and groom, but they are a beautiful couple. And the bride got to wear her mother's wedding dress, which I thought was so sweet. I just love tradition, antiques, anything older and re-used, sentimental, you know me :) We did get to see many good friends from college, and it is always nice to catch up. Aaron was really excited everyone was able to come, and I have never seen him so happy. After the wedding, a few of us took off to McKinney Falls State Park and spent a little extra time together. We got to camp out for the evening and do some hiking. I haven't been hiking in so long, I had forgotten how much I missed it. I just wish we could have stayed longer and hiked more. It was a nice, refreshing weekend. Wish we could slow down a bit and do more of that. We'll have to work on it. Life is too short to not do more of the things you love.

Taylor/Alvarez Wedding........

2008-04-30T11:25:00.000-05:00

The Groom

was just amazing! It was an 8:30 candlelit ceremony with Charlie (my cousin) as the minister. He did a wonderful job and Michelle made the most beautiful bride, as you can see. The wedding went smoothly and she said their honeymoon was great. I bet! :) Ha, ha! I just can't believe I have a new brother-in-law. It will take some getting used to, but he has been the biggest blessing to our family. As you can see, Amanda, Cailyn, Ken (step-brother), Jared and I all went to unwind at the local Go-Kart place. Yes, this is Kenny passing me. But don't you worry, I held my own against the others!

Jared Got Manager :)

2008-04-09T14:00:00.000-05:00

About a week ago, Jared's former boss, Melissa, called and told Jared there is a Manager position open with their company and she would like to submit his resume for the position. Well, of course he said okay, and now, the rest is history. Melissa called yesterday, and they want him to start in two weeks. This is HUGE for his career, we have never know anyone in this business to move up so fast. I am just so proud of him, of course I had to brag on him!!!! The Lord continually bleses our family so much more beyond anything we could have imagined or even asked for.

and the Other............Part II

2008-03-25T21:30:00.000-05:00

Then......it was Easter Sunday. And this year, poor, dear, sweet, Jared got roped into being the bunny! His mother-in-law volunteered him :) So there is Jared in his "bunny suit" :) He was really great with the children. You know, he should have been careful, because he was so great, they will probably want him to do it from now on.

After our Easter church luncheon, Jared and I got in the car and headed for Austin. My dear friend from College, Mindi Tipps, had a baby girl and we were more than anxious to meet her. She is perfect, such a beautiful baby girl! I can't believe I made it 10 days after her birth without seeing her. I was planning to go up the day she was born, but I was on-call at work and couldn't leave the area. Such is life with responsibilities. I just look forward to spending more time with precious Aubrey Ann in the future. That is one thing I told Mindi, sure, I would love to have a baby of my own, however, I am really enjoying the time I get to spend focusing on my two niece's and now, having the freedom to come and spend time with her and her new baby. With a family of my own right now, I wouldn't be able to do that, so I am going to cherish every moment.

This, That.........................Part I

2008-03-25T21:06:00.000-05:00

Ok, so one thing that I forgot to mention in the last blog was that I got sick at my cousin's wedding. No bueno. The reason I am mentioning this is because it was TOO funny how my sweet dad tried to help his sick daughter. After the reception, I had little to nothing on my stomach, you can put two and two together as to why, so I don't have to say it :) So- my dad was suppose to go into the gas station to get me some OJ to get something on my stomach. Yup, that is right friends, he came out with that AWFUL stuff that is pictured above. Bless his heart, he was trying so hard :)

Back to catching you all up!!!! So much has happened since the last post, that I decided to break this up into two parts......

We have officially been married for two years!!!!!! We celebrated by going to Gruene, TX. It is a small town near New Braunfels. We shopped around for antiques and crafts, then we ate at the Gristmill (famous restaurant in the area). It was really nice. Gruene Hall, pictured above, is where they shot the bar scene in the movie "Michael" starring John Travolta. It was a nice day, I just love a day without schedules and places to be. Total relaxation! Then Jared sent me a dozen beautiful gerber daisies on our anniversary! My favorite :)

Amanda came down to spend a few days of her spring break with us. It was a pretty packed few days too. On Thursday, the family decided to go out to eat dinner in the city together. BUT-first, we went to Rooms To Go to help my parents pick out new living room furniture. It had to pass all of our tests :) Who knows what they would have tried to buy if we had not been there!!!! The picture above is of the couch we all approved of, more for comfort than looks, but nice either way.

Then, on Saturday, it was High School Musical on Ice time!!! Michelle, Amanda and I took Cailyn to see the show. And yes, if you were sitting next to us you would have seen a 25 year old and a 27 year old singing every word and dancing in their seats while a little 7 year old was looking up at them embarrassed! OK, so it wasn't our shining "cool" moment, but it was a blast! Cailyn loosened up a bit toward to end. Kids!!!

A little bit of this, and a little bit of that...............

2008-03-13T17:07:00.000-05:00

Our View :)

See the wall :) Autumn, Theresa, and Adam
Family!
Jordy!

I thought it was about time for another update :)

In February I surprised Jared with tickets to a Spurs game. Granted, we were the second row from the top, but hey, it was still an NBA game!!!! That we won, no doubt :) Anyway, neither of us had ever gone to one, so it was a fun experience. Did find out, though, I don't think it is very thrilling unless it is a really close game. We shut them out at like 20 points ahead, I got pretty bored. Oh well!

A couple of weekends ago, Amanda, Cailyn and I hopped in her Jeep Liberty and headed for Tyler, TX (say that with a country accent, more fun :). My cousin, Adam got married to an amazingly beautiful woman! Now generally I look only at inner beauty when I praise someone, but since it was just the second time I got to meet her, I don't know her that well. She must be wonderful, though, because her best friend is Adam's sister, my cousin, Autumn. We had alot of fun visting with family and getting to meet Theresa. God Bless you both in your new marriage!

On Tuesday I had a day off. So, of course, I went to spend some time with my little angel of a niece, Jordyn, who still calls me JJ. I am getting use to it, though :) JJ was one of Jared's nick names growing up, we thought it would be easier for Jordyn to say. Well, I guess it is, because now, we are both JJ. However, if I ask her to say the word Ashley, she says it just fine! :) Kids :) They are going to do what they are going to do, no matter what!

As for my other angel niece, Cailyn, please pray for her. That little sweetheart has gone and gotten mono for the second time! And you don't have to be kissing people to get it, in case you are wondering :) Her fever is so high and she is pretty sick. Bless her heart, she has been more sick in her 7 years than I have in my 25!

Also, if you will, pray for my Grandpop. All I can muster up to write is that he is having some tests done and might be going through some rough patches here soon.

As for Jared and I....we are coming up on out 2 year anniversary and couldn't be doing any better. The Lord continually blesses us more than beyond what we deserve, and we truly stand it wonder. These past 2 years have been the best and craziest years of our lives, and we look forward to even better and even crazier years to come!

We love you and and hope your lives are full of joy and doing well!

Sweet Memories :)

2008-02-18T22:50:00.000-06:00

The figurine he gave me.
The beautiful roses.

On the greens.
Oh-so missing: but, seriously did not realize what I captured on film-too funny!
The winning score card :)

Jared's reaction when I asked him if we could go play putt-putt on Valentine's day was......"You would really want to do that on Valentine's Day?" My answer, "Why, you wouldn't?" I am all about being unconventional on this day. Besides, we had WAY more fun than fighting the crowd at our favorite restaurant- Chilis. Well....hmmmm....I say that, but then again......I did whip him at the game, so maybe he didn't have as much fun as I did :)

He gave me a Willow Tree figurine (I collect them) the morning of, and ordered a dozen gerber daisies (my favorite) to be delivered to me at work. Sadly, they never came :( Florist had a mix up. She more than made up for it when she sent me the most beautiful complimentary red roses the next day. Here was my thought process....It was Jared's thought that count, and we saved money! Yes- I am a tight wod :) I had a wonderful evening creaming him at a game of Putt-Putt. However, I will admit, he got me at Air Hockey. Good Times.

We really do have ALOT of Catching up..........

2008-02-07T20:37:00.000-06:00

The Bonfire Memorial
One pillar for every one that lost their lives that night.
The Birthday Boys :)
The baby's name "Baby Tipps," at least, until she is born.
Erin, Mindi, and I

Here is another whirlwind blog because things just keep getting crazy and I can't get on to post :)

Jared and I took off on a weekend getaway over the Martin Luther King weekend. We both had a three day weekend and thought we would make the most of it. I pushed a little and convinced him to take me back to Aggieland. Longhorn or not, Jared met me there, so I hope it is a special place for him :) However, he is right about one thing....On our way home he said "Okay, next time we pick somewhere to go get away to, we have to go somewhere where you do not know anyone if we want to spend any time together .":) Bless his heart, we did spend quite a bit of time catching up with good friends and visiting with people. He enjoyed that part, but it really didn't make for a "romantic weekend getaway."

Let me just say...I love AGGIELAND. I don't care who out there thinks Aggies are "cult like," and a little weird at times with our yells and comraderie, there is no place like it on earth! And I can honestly say, it truly feels like home when I am back there. One thing we got to go do is visit the Bonfire Memorial. To me, the Memorial symbolizes much more than remembrance of those that lost their lives that night. It symbolizes the Aggie traditions of love, respect, community, support, and honor. I love Aggieland!

The following weekend, we went to Houston to see my sister, attend the wedding of a dear friend of ours, Darryl Parsons, and see some special Aggie friends, Gregg and Erin Johnson. Unfortunatly, I forgot my camera, so I couldn't get any good memories captured. However, we left there knowing we needed to go back more often. And in saying that, I have to say this one cheesy thing, mostly because I am me, and you know I am a cheese ball, but partly because it's on my heart and I need to say it.......Life is TOO short! Do not allow yourself to lose touch with those dearest to your heart. Life is BUSY, boy do I know that, but take the time, travel, go see people when you can. I strongly believe this life is about the Lord, love and FELLOWSHIP. Do as much of it as you possibly can. (This is said more for me than anyone.)

When we came home that Sunday, we were informed that we needed to be at Sammy and Laptop's birthday party Monday evening. And yes, Sammy and Laptop are dogs. So my whole family gathers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins (coming from the city too), and we watch them open their piles of presents. Could we get more ridiculous? It was really cute, though, and fun to have an excuse to get together, as if this family needed one! :)

And last, but not at all the least, last Sunday I got to go to a baby shower of one of my oldest and dearest friends, Mindi Tipps. And I don't say oldest as in age, just one of my dearest girlfriends that I have known the longest. And let me tell you, this woman is one of the most beautiful pregnant women I have ever seen! It is really special to see a friend right before she becomes a mother, and I can hardly wait for the day I get to see that angel in her arms. And there is nothing like showers bringing people together. I got to see Erin again and her sister Dana, and Julie (my cousin's wife) was there as well. Like I said, special times :)

As for you, whoever reads this anymore :) .......... We love you and hope that you are well and having a great year thus far!

Christmas after Christmas After Christmas :)

2008-01-05T10:16:00.000-06:00

Cousins playing the silly game :)
Christmas Tree near the Riverwalk
Our beautiful niece!
The Children with Grandma

Christmas way wonderful :) It brought families together for us 5 different times. And to me, that is the Biggest joy of the holiday season. The Saturday before Christmas, the Johansons got together. It was really nice because everyone was able to make it except cousin Shan, and that is only because he is over seas right now serving in the military. He should be home on leave later this month. We did our usual over-eating, gift game, and then the cousins sat down and played a new board game. I can't even remember the name of it, but it was a pretty funny game to play. Good Times. That evening, mom, Tom, Jared, Amanda and I decided to go and enjoy the Riverwalk decorated in Christmas lights. It was a very nice and VERY cold evening. Christmas Eve, we were with the Gossetts (Jared's mom's side of the family). And when the Gossetts get together, you never know what to expect :) However, I can say, this gathering was a lot more tamed this year than last year's Christmas gathering :) And I am too embarrased to tell you why. However, we did have a little mishap with a knife, but the wound was treated, and stitches weren't necessary, so it as a pretty happy evening together. Christmas morning we opened presents with Jared's family. Jordyn was so cute as she had a facial reaction to each present she received. Children make Christmas, they really do! Later that day we went and opened presents with me family. Which was nice, but I do wish we could have spent more time together, but bed came early because 4 o'clock the next morning came early. That is when Jared, me, Cailyn, Amanda, Michelle, and her fiance, Kevin all piled in a suburban and headed for Knoxville, TN. We spent the rest of the holidays with my dad, step-mom, and step-brother. We also got to go visit my step-grandmother. It has been years since we have seen eachother. We all had a nice little vacation which included a Christmas dinner, shopping trip to Pigeon Forge, lunch at the Dixie Stampede (owned by Dolly Parton), and the watching of the second National Treasure movie. Which is really good, by the way.

I told ya, we had a busy holiday season :)

Now it is back and home for the New Year, which is already bringing many new and exciting changes. No, not a baby, yet :) So Jared and I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year!

A Joy To The World!

2007-12-21T12:25:00.000-06:00

What Child is this, who, laid to rest,

On Mary's lap is sleeping?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,

While shepards watch are keeping?

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,

Come, peasant, king, to own Him;

The King of kings salvation brings,

Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

This, this is Christ the King,

Whom shepards guard and angels sing;

Haste, haste to bring Him laud,

The Babe, the Son of Mary.

This has to be one of my favorite songs. Every time I hear it I think of what it might have been like to be there that night, in that stable. And I think of what that night began for us. His plan.

I am one of those people that keeps the nativity scene out year round. The birth of Jesus is something I always want to mindful of. However, I join with all Christians in wonder and awe of His birth, His life, and His sacrifice, and what that means for us today.

Love and blessings to you all!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2007-12-18T17:34:00.000-06:00

Christmas Tree 2007
It has been nice having real trees for Christmas.

Jared and I have started a tradition
of picking out a new ornament together
every year. The ornament is suppose to
signify something that happened during that year.
This is ornament "2007" It is a little house, and above
the wreath is says, "New Home." It signifies yet another move
that we made this year, but hopefully, a move that
is a little more permanent.
We had carolers (the youth from our church)
on Friday night!
On the San Antonio Riverwalk

It truly is! I'm not saying Christmas is my favorite holiday because I sure enjoy Thanksgiving just as much. However, I have to admit, there is nothing like the feel of cold air while you sip a peppermint white chocolate mocha, along a river trail that is decorated in Christmas lights. I just love this season and what it brings (especially my mom's hot apple cider :). This week will be busy as we get ready for the holidays.

Jared and I plan to spend part of Christmas day with his family and mine. Then on the day after Christmas, Amanda, Michelle, her fiance, Kevin, Cailyn, Jared and I will all pile in a suburban and head to Knoxville, Tennessee . We are going to spend some time with my dad, step-mom, and step-brother. I can't tell you how excited I am about this trip. Growing up, I would spend about a month in Tennessee visiting during the summer. The place holds alot of dear memories in my heart, and the chance to share some of that with Jared is going to be really nice. The best part though, is that we are all going to be together as a family for the first time in years, it will be special.

Happy Holidays friends and family, may yours be safe and full of joy!

My Sister is Engaged!

2007-12-07T15:49:00.000-06:00

The Ring!
Michelle, Kevin, and me
Showing Cailyn
Sharing a moment
The Future Family!

Michelle is engaged!!!!!! Kevin proposed to her on Saturday, December 1. That will be EASY to remember! :) I am so very happy for her. Kevin is such a good man and he loves God, which is what I have always wanted for Michelle and Cailyn to find. Cailyn has slowly fallen in love with Kevin too and happily gave her consent to the union :) She said that she will be in the wedding only if Amanda and I are in it too, such a cutie! We are very excited as they begin to make plans to get married May 3rd.

An Unexpected New Direction

2007-11-19T22:24:00.000-06:00

Well, it has certainly been a few months. I honestly wonder if anyone will start checking this blog again. I guess, we'll see.

These past few months have been the most trying of my life. I am now in a place I would have never thought I would be. And I am going down a road I can't even see. However, having faith and trust in God has never felt more real, and for that, I am thankful.

I got really sick in the beginning of October. I couldn't even tell you what was wrong. It was a multitude of things. After about two weeks of being in and out of school and many talks with my principal, Jared and I decided it was best that I resign as a teacher for this year. I am now a month and a half from that decision, and I am still trying to make sense of it all.

I see a specialist for what I am going through physically in two weeks (long waiting list!) and I look forward to balancing my health out and moving forward down that road I am on, blindly.

Jared has been the BIGGEST strength for me and I have meditated often on the vow we made to eachother, "And be encouraging when you are discouraged." I think he has owned up to that vow a thousand fold than he should have to in this marriage. The Lord sure knew what He was doing.

Anyways, this journey brings me back to this blog and gives me a new focus. However, I am changing the subtitle. I think what we have been through has graduated us out of being Newly Weds. Yes, this is no longer a "Newly Wed Journey", it is "Our Journey".

We love you all! (Be Back Soon)

The Last BLAST :)

2007-08-13T12:54:00.000-05:00

For those of you that did not know, I worked with a Blasting Company, ORICA, before I decided to quit and enter the teaching profession. August 1st was my last day with ORICA. So, as a going away present, my boss decided to take me out on the Quarry and let me push the button that would blast the rock for that day. Of course, just as I pushed the button to set off the explosion, my boss turned around quickly and said, "Oh NO, don't do it yet." And then BOOM! Needless to say, his little joke sent my heart into my throat :) I am going to miss those guys, they were good to me. And now I am here, two weeks away from starting the next chapter in my life, teaching.

The Quarry

Blondie and Me (my manager's dog)

A couple of the guys making sure everything was ready

The Trigger/Blaster

The Rock Crusher on the Quarry

A Blog for the Books - July :)

2007-07-27T15:50:00.000-05:00

Okay, so it has been awhile :) Jared and I have been packing like crazy. I am not sure that I posted the fact that we are moving, again! Jared and I found a cozy little place in La Vernia to settle for what we hope is at least a couple of years. So, now that the packing is over (we move tomorrow), I thought I would catch you up on the month of July before my next absence while the unpacking is going on :)

Yup that is my poor little ole car, whom we hope keeps moving us around for a few more years. A young man, new to the city, decided, to look up at a sign to be sure he was headed in the right direction, only to plow into a Toyota Camry who then plowed into me. Yikes! I was pretty sore the next day. I just spent 2 1/2 weeks going to the Chiropractor daily. Things seem fine now and I have stopped treatment. I just had whip lash and tension mainly. My car was declared totaled. But Jared and I decided we were going to fix it anyway. We don't have any car payments on it currently and we have been enjoying that. So it is under repair at the moment.

My sisters :) They bring so much joy to my life. I know that is cheesy, but it is true. We took these snapshots when we went to vist them at Camp Bandina. They were both counslers there this year. Jared and I hope we can join them next year at camp.

Some of my girls friends from College came to visit for a weekend. These girls are so awesome and it is always a joy to be with them. I also was babysitting my niece for the weekend, so it was a pretty packed couple of days. Laura and Mindi both have birthdays this month along with me, so Kristin had bought a cake in Houston and brought it up to celebrate with us. So sweet! We missed our friend Erin who was on an adventure with her mom and sister, and our other friend, Jarra, arrived later, so she isn't in the pictures. It was a special time of catching up and sweet memories.
So, this is my new 4th grade classroom. I got a sneak peak earlier this week. But due to construction, we don't get in again until August 15th! Yes, yes, I am very nervous about having time to get it ready, but I have alot of sweet servants already volunteering time. This year will bring so many amazing new adventures to my life. And when I say so many, I mean 40 kids! :)
This is Thomas, my beta fish. And if you know me well, you know that even this is really hard for me to write. I know he is just a fish, and I may seem silly, but it is how I love, and I loved him more than most might love their fish. Thomas is a beta that I have had for more than 2 1/2 years now. I first got him at a wedding celebration for my friend Eric and Natalie Albright. Natalie's maiden name was Thomas :) He was a table decoration, and we had stayed through clean up time when they started offering for others to take home the fish. I just decided I would be one of those people. So he has been with me through so many changes, 7 different moves, my senoir years :) of College, a marriage, a career. Thomas seemed a real part of my family. As weird as that might sound, if you are reading this, you should know me well enough to understand. Thomas passed away two nights ago. He died of old age. He had gotten a little pale in his face, and he kept attempting to swim, but just couldn't get to the top anymore. Anyway, I just guess I wanted to share him with you for whatever reason :)

So that is July in a nutshell :) I love you all and I hope you are doing well!

Dallas

2007-07-02T17:15:00.000-05:00

A week ago Sunday Jared and I were driving home from Dallas. I spent a weekend with Sarah Schuler, Sarah May and her husband, Dallas May, and Kim Hegi. The girls are friends from College and of course, I got to know Dallas through Sarah :) Jared went on and spent some time with his Uncle Carl (who lives a little north of Dallas). It was a really quick trip, but SO NICE to spend time together. I wish that making such good friends in College didn't mean one day having to spread across the great state of Texas and even some in other parts of the U.S.. I wish I could see my friends from College Station more often. But, I guess I take what I can get and make the best of it. I think what I appreciated the most is getting to worship with them on Sunday morning. My years in College Station were the years I grew most spiritually. These girls were among those that helped to encourage me and pray for me in my walk with the Lord. It was special to hear their voices as we sang praises to Him together again. God is so good! I love you girls!

Tagged! :)

2007-06-29T15:19:00.000-05:00

I got tagged by Erin to answer these questions. Erin, I must say that I don't usually answer these fun little questionaires unless someone catches me at a really bored moment in my life......so now, I must thank you! :)

First memory - Getting in trouble in first grade because I liked to talk to everyone during class instead of doing my work. My teacher put my desk in the front of the room right up next to the chalk board. Boo. It was in 1st grade. I really hope I don't do anything like that to my kids :)

First real kiss - Jay Porter, at my friend's house right after he kissed her. How ridiculous is that?

First love - Now this one is interesting because I had alot of "First I think I am in Loves." I guess I would have to say Jason Knox, but I never really knew love until Jared, and I truly mean that.

First thing you think in the morning - Just a little bit longer.........

First pet - That I remember, Boots and Baby. They were cats and a little fiesty. But I have been told they hated me because I would pull them around the house by their tails. Ooooops!

First question you'll ask in heaven - Probably, "What are your thoughts about the Bible/Scriptures and how it was brought together?" I am currently reading "The Case for Christ" and this is intriguing to me.

First thing you think of when you hear the word vacation - Let's go!

First best friend - Hmmmmm, I am pretty sure that would be Nikki Dichlich from Kindergarten.

Last time you dressed up - For church on Sunday

Last thing you ate - A turkey dog with a slice of cheese and applesauce (on the side, not on top :)

Last CD you bought - the soundtrack to "Music and Lyrics" Yes, I am that kind of dork who likes to jam to random funny songs and dance her heart out.

Last time you cried - Ohhh man, here it goes. At a T.V. show when a woman saw her husband for the first time since she thought he died in a plane wreck, but he didn't remember her. Yes, still that dork :)

Last time you told someone you loved them - About 1 hour ago when Jared called me on his lunch break.

Last really funny thing you did - Ya know, I hardly ever remember . I know I get laughed at alot, but it is usually because I did something embarrasing, and those moments don't always stick with you (because you don't want to remember :)

Last thing you watched on TV - So You Think You Can Dance

Well I hope you enjoyed this funny little post. I tag Niki and Sarah. Sarah, blog, blog about anything, it has been since October! :)

Becoming a Teacher........

2007-06-21T08:59:00.000-05:00

I just realized I have yet to share some pretty exciting news. I got a job! Yay! La Vernia ISD hired me to teach 4th grade. Jared and I are really excited about this opportunity. I believe that the La Vernia School District is the best place to start out as a teacher because there are so many great teachers and mentors to learn from, and the small town feel will be a nice experience. So, we do hope to move there this summer....we just have to find a place that will rent to us. The market right now is to buy, not many people out there just want to rent out. Jared and I are not ready to take on a house note just yet. So we are on the look out.

Jared's job has gotten alot better since April. His new manager gave him a promotion and he is thriving in the new things he has learned and has really been enjoying this opportunity. He will probably keep his job for a little while until maybe a transfer can move him a little closer to La Vernia.

Please keep us in your prayers and let us know if we can be praying for you with something particular.

Love to you all!

Puppies........

2007-06-19T14:20:00.000-05:00

Well, my friend Erin has begun to get the itch for a house. I, ironically enough, have the itch to get a puppy. I say ironically because I grew up with cats. I loved kittens and cats growing up and I stayed FAR away from any dogs. I had a little bit of a traumatic experience with a dog when I was little, and I decided I would never like them. However, little Chloe changed my perspective. Chloe was Jarra's (my roomate in college) puppy. Since I lived with her, I naturally began to love her. It was a rough start at first, very rough. I didn't want anything to do with her kind of rough. But, slowly, she made her way into my affections. And since then, my friends have been getting dogs, my grandparents have gotten a dog, and I now really want a puppy for my own. And for Jared too :) Not just any puppy, I want a pure bred yellow lab. So now, I have to convince my husband that that is exactly what he wants to get me for our 2 year anniversary next year :) My friend Kim knows a couple that will be breeding their labs, and the puppies will be ready to sell next March. perfect! :)

With the Coburns in California

2007-06-14T13:25:00.000-05:00

Last week we went on vacation to Pismo Beach,CA! Something we all (the Coburn family) have been looking forward to for a long time. I hadn't seen anyone since Jared and I got married, so it was really refreshing to spend some real time playing games, hanging out, sharing meals, and just spending genuine time in eachother's company. God's plans for family are some of the most remarkable to me. Hope you are all doing well and enjoying the summer so far.

Last Weekend....

2007-05-31T10:05:00.000-05:00

was great! We went to Victoria to visit with Jared's family and celebrate cousin Ben's High School graduation. Carl, Amber and the boys were down, so it was nice having the whole family together. We also got to spend time with friends that we don't get to see much, and that time with them was a blessing. Of course, some crazy stuff had to happen, I mean Carl was around and all, so we all knew it was coming. And sure enough Uncle Carl put on a diaper (his son's, that is). Same 'ole Crazy Gossett Family Fun :)

Oh, and apparently, I am allergic to non-allergetic haired dogs! Where is the irony?!? I have never been allergic to anything until my Grandparents got a puppy. My cousin said the puppy is suppose to have the hair that does not stimulate allergies. Well, whoever came up with that idea needs to know it is false, because I cannot touch him without coughing, sneezing, and itching the rest of the night. And this past weekend I was around two puppies that were also suppose to have the same kind of hair, and sure enough, I had to leave because it was getting so bad. I guess I officially have to start buying allergy medicine :) Do Lab's have that kind of hair? Well, I really don't care because one day I am getting a yellow lab whether I am allergic or not! :)

In Each Moment

2007-05-09T12:35:00.000-05:00

I hope, I hope for so much more beyond this world. However, I know that the Lord blesses us tremendously while we are here, in our friendships, family, experiences, and with our significant others. The Lord calls us to live unselfish lives. To live our lives for Him. He does not guarantee anything, or for any moment to last. He gives us each day as a possibility. I plan to stop taking for granted and start taking advantage of each moment, each opportunity that I am blessed with.

Playing Catch Up

2007-05-01T14:46:00.000-05:00

Hey Friends and Family, it has been awhile since the last post. Things are finally back under control here at work, and I have time to take breaks and post again every now and then :) Under control means everything is in working condition (a storm had blown out alot of our electric devices), and I am all caught up on the work that began to pile up due to no copy machine, no fax, no internet, etc., etc. It has been a rough few weeks!

Also, I have been planning lessons like crazy to put into my portfolio. I am half way there! My first job fair is on Saturday, so that should be interesting.

Jared is doing pretty well. His job gets him down from time to time, but he is active in seeking another position, and looks forward to the day when he is no longer working at the San Miguel. It is kind of a long story, but the short of it is that we both feel like we are being tugged to La Vernia. Almost like the Lord is providing reasons for us to move closer. The biggest is the church there and the draw that we feel to remain members and be even more involved than we already are. So, I guess, we really need prayers. Alot pends on where I get a teaching job (if it's in the Lord's will that I do). But, we hope to make a move towards La Vernia this summer.

We hope you are all well!

The View

2007-04-11T12:39:00.000-05:00

I work on a Quarry. But not in the hustle and bustle part of the Quarry, more like the down a little road, surrounded be a forrest part of the Quarry. Most the time I feel too isolated. I hardly ever see people during the day. And if you know me, you know that my personality is one that is very social and people oriented. So many times, I feel constrained. However, on days like this, I can't help but feel blessed. I enjoy the silence, the birds chirping, and often find myself just staring out the window, waiting for a deer to pass by. It is such a blessing to enjoy nature, and one, I am determined, to stop taking for granted. Peaceful, that is what it is, I work in a peaceful environment, and that is such a blessing.

Princess Wishes

2007-04-10T09:17:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday we took my niece, Cailyn, to Disney on Ice: Princess Wishes. I have never seen a little girl more excited! Seriously. She was so excited that before we went in, she turned to me and said she was nervous! Nervous! SO cute :) She had never been to a big show and she was absolutely beside herself about the entire experience. So of course she got the program, the toy, the cute little binoculars, the cotton candy, the popcorn, the snow cone, etc., etc.. And her mom sent her to spend the night with Uncle JJ and Aunt Ashley, of course :) Really though, I think Michelle and I had as much fun as she did. I don't care how old you get, you never stop having fun singing to "Part of Your World," "You Ain't Never Had a Friend Like Me," and "Under the Sea." It was neat to watch those characters come alive and watch Cailyn watching them. It was a really great evening! Then Cailyn came home and we watched "Fantastic Four." And on Friday we had what we called "Cailyn and Ashley's Day of Relaxation." .....and playing games, and dancing around, and watching cartoons and movies :) Now it's "High School Musical, the Ice Tour!"

To That Land Where Living Water Flows

2007-04-05T14:48:00.000-05:00

Jordyn!
C.J. and Traci Wilson
Uncle Byars

Last weekend started off really nice with my boss giving me half the day off unexpectedly. I work with a blasting company, so on the days where we have zero shots, we are slow. We were slow, so he said to just take the day off. This could not have been more perfect because my in-laws, including my sister in-law and my niece were coming to town to go shopping. I got to meet them for lunch and see my niece WALKING! Kids are so adorable when they begin to walk, or should I say, waddle. And Jordyn was no exception. Such a cutie!!! Soon she will be talking up a storm. I left around 3 on Friday to head down to College Station. Friends, Family, there is no feeling like a drive through College Station and the Texas A&M University campus. It feels like going home, and I enjoyed the weekend so much. One of the main reasons for going there was to attend a wedding. Two dear friends got married to eachother on Saturday, C.J. and now Traci Wilson. It was a beautiful wedding and such a great time of fellowship. I saw faces I haven't seen in 3-4 years! I love little reunions like that. I also got to spend time with two special friends of mine, Sarah and Kim, and I treasured the opportunity. Saturday evening and Sunday were a little rough. My Uncle Byars, who I have mentioned in a previous blog, with a brain tumor, was continually declining in health altogether. It was his time. I left College Station Saturday night to go be with him some on Sunday and say my good-byes. His spirit went home yesturday afternoon. He is at peace now, and I know we can all agree, in a better place. The thing I am most greatful for is that the Lord allowed Uncle Byars to be close to us (the Johansons) so that we could love him and support him during his last few months. I am thankful the Lord gave us all that time with him.

"Some glad day my sould will fly, way up high, in the sky, far above this land of grief and woes. To that land I'll fly away, on that day, happy day, to the land where living water flows. Tis a lovely land, wonderland, where the angels sing, round the throne, mighty throne, praising heaven's king. And some glad day, I know I'll go to that land where living waters flow!"

Classes Completed, check, Tests Passed, check, Hired?

2007-03-27T15:48:00.000-05:00

Well, now comes the most scary part, will I get an interview? Please pray with me as I send out applications and resumes that someone will see something unique and want me :) For me, this process in no bueno because it feels like you have to try and put your heart onto a piece of paper. It's practically impossible!

Laptop

2007-03-23T14:12:00.000-05:00

Grandmom and Grandpop got a puppy. Too cute! And so tiny :) His name is Laptop, though I am not sure exactly why. I know it's because my Grandpop was mixing up the name of his breed or something and saying he was half poodle and half laptop. So, it has stuck, and we all have a new addition to the family. And trust me, he will be treated just like all the other cousins :)

A Celebration in Canton

2007-03-06T09:12:00.000-06:00

Us, out by some of the rows of antiques

The cool Bowls we found
Back to the good 'ole days, for us, that is :)

Jared and I, along with his parents, went to Canton, TX this past weekend. Canton is known to be the largest antique market in TX. There are 5 sections of land that are there for vendors to come and sell anything that they have, old and new. Many vendors come with crafts and little cutsie things like purses made out of capri sun packages. And many vendors come with antiques. Jared likes to antique, but collects dishes mainly. Fire King is the brand of most of the dishes we collect. Pretty much, they are the dishes our grandparents and their parents used. So when deciding where to go to celebrate our 1st year together, we knew Canton would be perfect. And yes, my in-laws came with us on our anniversary trip :) We really had more fun together. We found great deals on all kinds of neat things. The atmosphere is like a carnival, except instead of rides, you have shops. Jared and I decided that we could each pick out something for our anniversary gifts. He found these really hard to come by bowls, that are worth alot at one of the indoor antique malls. They were priced reasonable, but still high because of their worth. With the help of his parents, we were able to purchase the bowls. It's his anniversary gift from me and some birthday from his parents :) They were a great find. And for me, well, on the last day we were there, we were walking through a tent, and there was a man playing the original Super Mario Brothers! Yep, thats right, we bought a gaming system that plays all the oldies, but goodies. 75 games including Duck Hunt, Mario Brothers, Contra, Donkey Kong, Tetris, Pac-Man, etc, etc. I was so excited!!!!!!! And that was our little celebration for the amazing year the Lord has blessed us with as one. Thank you to all our friends and family who support and love us!

Gatti Town

2007-02-27T09:45:00.000-06:00

One of Jared's favorite places to eat is Gatti Town. He likes the pizza :) I actually really enjoy it too, because not only does it have pizza, it has salad, baked potatoes, and pasta as well. The variety allows us to both enjoy an evening there. And how could I not mention the game room. LOVE the game room! To us, it is ten times better then Chuckie Cheeses. Okay, okay, I know how we sound. But skee ball, and shooting hoops, well, it could be romantic :) Last Saturday night Amanda, Jared, and I took Cailyn to, like her uncle, her favorite place. The gameroom also has bumber cars and a plane ride, so she enjoys it better than Chuckies. We had a blast together. We all wanted to get as many tickets for Cailyn as we could, and I guess you can say we were pretty successful. It turned out that we all got addicted to this one game, even Cailyn. What it is, is you have to get these rubber balls to go into these slots, each slot having a different color. If you send two in the same slot, you lose, and get only a few tickets. If you can manage to get the ball to go into all the slots without repeating a slot, then you hit the jack pot, which can be anywhere between 50-75 tickets. Amanda hit it first, then Cailyn!, then Jared, and Amanda again. Needless to say, I was bummed I never got it, especially since my 6 year old niece did. Oh well! It made her night, with tickets totaling 751. It's fun being an aunt :)

WE PASSED!

2007-02-26T11:48:00.001-06:00

Yeah! :)

"We"

2007-02-23T15:27:00.000-06:00

It's nice to come home from not doing as great as you hoped on an exam, to hearing your husband say, "Well, We will wait until the scores come back, and if We want to do better, then We will retake the exam." I am a "we." :)

Grandmom

2007-02-21T11:24:00.000-06:00

We have spent the last two days at the hospital. Grandmom Jo had a minor heart attack early Sunday morning. I praise God for that! If it were not for the minor heart attack that alarmed her enough to go to the Emergency room, she might have dealt with the pain, and very likely have had a major heart attack at some point this week. Our Great Physician made sure that did not happen. She had 3 blockages. One artery was 100% blocked, one 90% blocked, and one 40%. Her triple By-pass surgery was very successful and she is recovering in ICU. I know the Lord still has some GREAT use for her and my grandpop, for it is He that healed her. God Is Good.

I'm going for it :)

2007-02-07T13:21:00.000-06:00

So, I have decided to begin to believe in myself again. I know, a little odd, why did I lose faith in myself to begin with? Well, that question can be answered in about a 10 page essay. Needless to say I will not be posting a 10 page essay :) However, I have decided to pursue my desires, and jump through those inevitable hurdles. Let's just hope I don't trip, right? Okay, there I go being negative again. Anyway, the long and short of it all is that I want to become a teacher. I have started taking classes that will equip me to get my alternative certification, and I have mailed my first application into a school district today. I am nervous, anxious, doubtful, curious, and about a million more emotions right now as I tackle this, but I am trying to overcome it all. More than anything I need prayers. I have to take two tests at the end of this month that are not designed to just test your knowledge. They are designed to test your test taking abilities. The thing is, mine are poor, I haven't been good at objective testing since high school. I seem to get too anxious, believing I can't do it before I even try. Please pray with me that I can get past these two hurdles and pursue a career in education. Love to you all!

Aggies for Christ

2007-01-25T11:34:00.000-06:00

The Aggies that came to La Vernia
John (an Ag) with a lady at the Nursing Home
Singing at the Nursing Home
Justin (an Ag) and Michelle
Su Ann, she is from Malaysia and currently studing at A&M

A group from the Aggies for Christ came to visit our church in La Vernia this past weekend. It was a different feeling being a part of the congregation that hosts the Aggies, and not actually coming with the Aggies. They came in late friday evening and stayed through lunch on Sunday. On Saturday we had a lot of outdoor service projects planned, but the Lord has something different in mind :) The weather forced us to emergency plan an indoor service project. Naturally, we knew going to the Nursing home would be just the thing. The Ags were great there, and the people seemed to enjoy the big (about 50) group that came. Maybe they were a little overwhelmed :) The afternoon was spent playing games and having a good time. We enjoyed a skit show and devotional Saturday evening, and the traditional pot-luck for the Ags on Sunday for lunch. All in all, despite the weather, we could not have asked for a more uplifting and encouraging weekend. God Bless those college students who are balancing their time in a manner that puts the Lord first, before anything. We are so blessed they came and shared that time with our youth and congregation.

There is Power in the Blood

2007-01-22T10:27:00.000-06:00

So every time my sisters and I sing this song, we think of our father, and usually, we have to laugh :) You see when the chorus comes up, it goes , "There is Power, power, wonder working power....." However, growing up, dad always sang, "There is power, power, power, power, wonder working power......." It always made us smile, and now, we all like to sing it dad's way. I love ya dad!

Icey Anniversary

2007-01-19T14:26:00.000-06:00

The Ice as it is Melting

Jared gave me this rose and a Nicholas Sparks book for our anniversary :)

So, like many San Antonians, I was on lock-down for 48 hours. I didn't see the ice come, and I didn't see it stick, but I walked out, on my way to work Thursday, to see it slowly melting. Yesturday was our 10 month anniversary. Despite the bitter cold, it was a nice day. I got to get out of the apartment, and I didn't even care that it was because I was going to work. I enjoyed the couple days off to get some things done around the apartment (I even started my scrapbook!), but it was nice to get back in the swing of things. We celebrated by going to Dave and Busters. I had never been, and I was pretty impressed with it. It was much more low key then I thought it might be, and that was nice. We played some games, and with the tickets we got, we were able to buy a shot glass for our collection. Side note: Neither one of us are drinkers, but we wanted to pick something we could collect from the different places we go to together. Shot glasses are cheap, so we went with it :) It was a fun and really relaxing evening. Now, bring on the Aggies! The Aggies for Christ are coming to our church this weekend and my sister, cousin, and I are planning the activities. I just pray, with the weather and all, we can still be of service to our community. It should be a great weekend!

Happy New Year! (a little late, I guess :)

2007-01-09T12:22:00.000-06:00

Our niece on her new rocking horse

Christmas Eve at Maw-Maw and Paw-Paw's

Christmas with the Johanson's

Shan Pinson, our cousin

New Years Eve

Jared and Jinine trying to find a way to take the lead

Our firework show

Well, it's somewhat hard to believe the New Year has come and gone, and in just a few short months Jared and I will be celebrating our one year anniversary. Time can sure fly, as I am sure most of you know :) The Christmas holidays were nice and long for both Jared and I. We spent Christmas morning with his family, and then went and had lunch in La Vernia with the Johansons. We both took some vacation days after Christmas, so I got to relax until January 2nd, and Jared only had to work one day between Christmas and the New Year. It's nice to finally have a job where there is paid vacation! :) This was our niece's first Christmas, so, of course, it was great watching her play with the wrapping that came off the toys :) And the New Year was really special because our cousin Shan was in from Washington where he is training to go to Iraq in May. Too bad I had to beat him at Monopoly just before he left to go back :) It was a fun New Year of Pyros (Amanda and Jared) and fireworks. And 2007 will prayerfully bring new changes and new beginnings in our lives (no, not a baby, or at least a baby is not in our plans :) Love to you all!

Merry Christmas to all....and to all....a GOOD night!

2006-12-21T11:49:00.000-06:00

We just wanted to say Happy Holidays to everyone! We hope that this next week is filled with joy, love, and alot of family!

God Bless you always and you know we love you!

You won't catch me, I'm the.........

2006-12-12T15:22:00.000-06:00

Gingerbread man!

Jared says that Gingerbread men aren't associated with any season!! Is that true? I have always thought they were a Christmas thing. Ya know, the gingerbread house, the gingerbread men, leaving out gingerbread cookies for Santa, how can they not be a Christmas thing?

"A Vision Beyond Time and Place"

2006-12-08T09:59:00.000-06:00

When my father was a boy, an old man used to come to my [grandfather] Mammedaty's house and pay his respects. He was a lean old man in braids and was impressive in his age and bearing. His name was Cheney, and he was an arrowmaker. Ever morning, my father tells me, Cheney would paint his wrinkled face, go out, and pray aloud to the rising sun.

I often think of old man Cheney, and of his daily devotion to the sun. He was a man who saw very deeply into the distance, I believe, one whose vision extended far beyond the physical boundaries of his time and place. In his mind's eye he could integrate all the realities and illusions of the earth and sky; they became for him profoundly intelligible and whole.

Most Indian people are able to see in these terms. It is indeed the basis upon which they identify themselves as individuals and as a race. When old man Cheney looked into the sunrise, he saw as far into himself, I suspect, as he saw into the distance. He knew certainly of his experience and of his place in the scheme of things.

In contrast, most of us in this society are afflicted with a kind of cultural nearsightedness...[W]e do not see beyond the buildings and billboards that seem at times to be the monuments of our civilization, and consequently we fail to see into the nature and meaning of our own humanity. Now, more than ever, we might do well to enter upon a vision quest of our own, that is, a quest after vision itself.

by N. Scott Momaday

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree......

2006-12-01T09:48:00.000-06:00

Right after we put the tree up

Hanging the first ornament

The ornament we picked out together

Our Tree!

Jared and I spent Monday evening decorating the apartment for the Christmas season. This was an extra special thing for me because I can't remember the last time I decorated a real Christmas Tree. I didn't even think we would get a full size tree, since we lived in an apartment, and we didn't have many ornaments, and such. However, Jared said that of course we would get a real tree. It's funny how two people have two very different ideas of what will happen based on their pasts and experiences. It is such a joy to combine those ideas. When his parents first started out, they realized that they didn't have much for their first Christmas as newly weds, and they didn't want this to be the case when their children got married. So every year, they would buy one ornament, writing the year on it, for Jared and his sister, Jenny, knowing that when they got married, they would take all their ornaments with them. We had a whole box full, and combined with the few I had, the Christmas Tree turned out beautiful! We bought one box of ornaments and poinsettias to give it an extra touch.

Traditions! I love traditions. The familiarity of doing something that was created special for a particular season and is carried on through the years is really heart warming. Like my grandmom's french silk chocolate pie made at Thanksgiving and Christmas, tradition. And going to look at Christmas Lights on Christmas Eve, tradition. Singing Hymns together when the family gets together for Christmas, tradition. Playing Monopoly on New Years Eve until the New Year, tradition. So, of course I wanted to start traditions with Jared. So far we have begun these two... Jared wanted to carry on the tradition his parents started, but to buy an ornament for each year of our marriage. Of course, I loved the idea. We chose the church inscribed with "Oh Come All Ye Faithful," because we thought it symbolized our wedding that took place this year in a Church, but also our faith. "Oh Come all Ye Faithful" has been a favorite song of mine for many years. The other tradition we have started is that on the first cold night of the season, which happened to be Wednesday night, we ate smores :) And normally we will accompany that with hot chocolate, but we decided not to then. We thought it would be a fun way to kick off the cold season (however long that might last here in Texas. :)

To Jared and I, this truly is "the most Wonderful time of the year." And we feel so blessed.

"Oh Come Let Us Adore Him, Christ the Lord!" for now and through all this next year!

Love to you all!

My Estelle

2006-11-29T12:13:00.000-06:00

A couple of weekends ago I took a trip to Houston. I hadn't been but once since March, and that was only for one night. My step-mom, Estelle, had a conference in Houston, and extended her stay through the weekend. So of course, it was a perfect opportunity to go and spend time with her. She, Amanda, and I spent the weekend together. We did all kinds of "just the girls" things. My step-mom has been a Mary Kay consultant for several years, and since I am a new consultant, she gave me several neat cosmetic tips and we played with the products, teaching Amanda too. It is so funny to me because before, I wouldn't be caught dead in a bathroom of girls playing make-up. However, after learning so much about cosmetics and the importance of using them, I loved the time we spent in front of the mirror that weekend. It was great and very special to spend the weekend with Estelle, I cherished the time.

I Found my Camera!!!!!! two months later :)

2006-11-28T14:26:00.000-06:00

Okay, this camera is a LUCKY camera, or I am a LUCKY owner of this camera. Whichever way I look at it, I can't believe I still have it after everything I have put it through. I really thought it was gone forever. Last Saturday I decided to clean out my closet. I figured, okay, this is the last place it could be hiding, if I don't find it here, its Gone. I didn't find it there, but the closet looked great :) Then, my friend from Houston, Kathryn, called, we hadn't talked in FOREVER, so it was nice to chat. Well, the subject of my lost camera came up and we talked about just how valuable those things are in capturing the memories. She had recently got a digital and said she could take like two hundred pictures in a matter of minutes. I started hoping that maybe I could get a new one soon before the holidays came. Well, I went about cleaning, and decided to clean out my Aggie tote bag that I take to work. I keep various things in it and for the past few months it has been stocked full. I had searched it 2-3 times after I realized my camera was missing. However, this time, I took everything out and sorted through it all. After I put the things I needed back in, it was much lighter then before and less bulky. Once I zipped it, it kind of fell over and revealed the contents of the small front pocket, MY CAMERA! And that solved the case. I had slipped it in there before I put the bag in my car for the move. The bag was so full that the front pocket had kind of shut the contents out of view. My first thought when I saw the camera was to thank God, and I did. God teaches us such valuable lessons through very simple things in life. HIS convictions continue to shape, mold, and encourage me. So here is the first picture I took with the camera after I found it. This is Jared coming home from work. He didn’t know that I had found the camera until I snapped this picture :)

Happy Birthday Girls!

2006-11-09T09:34:00.000-06:00

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." -- Anais Nin
I have always been able to relate to this quote, except I don’t think I truly appreciated it until I went to college. In the Aggies for Christ I was blessed with many different friendships. Each brought a new perspective, and a unique way of looking at life and walking with the Lord. I praise God for the worlds that exist in my soul because of them.

Especially, today, I praise God for the presence of Sarah May and Kim Hegi. Two very dear friends of mine that share a birthday today, and share a special place in my heart. These girls individually taught me the depth of genuine, God-fearing, soul sharing, and faithful giving friendship. They, in their own unique ways, encouraged me and strengthened me constantly throughout much of my time in Aggieland.

Sarah and Kim, I treasure you and your happiness very much, and today I am thinking of you and wishing you all of God’s blessings, as I do most every day!

A VERY special Happy Birthday to you both!

This is a picture taken of us in Hawaii on the day Sarah May was married. It was such a special time that the four of us shared together. Kim is the one on the left, then Sarah, then me, and on the right, is our other dear friend, Sarah Schuler. I wish I was going to Hawaii with you girls again this December! Love you!

Halloween

2006-11-03T10:23:00.000-06:00

Well, you've seen last year's picture (left), we decided to twist it around and be funny, This year Jared was my dear! We got alot of laughs. Everyone especially liked Jared's tail, sorry it is not pictured :) They liked it so much that it was mentioned at the pulpit on Sunday morning! Good times. Also, speaking of Halloween, my boss is a BIG scary movie buff, A and B movies, so he lent us Halloween and Halloween II. Jared and I have never seen them before. Let's just say I have had nightmares for the past two nights :)

In-Law Irony

2006-11-01T13:14:00.000-06:00

Okay, so we all we all have seen the shows, “Father of the Bride,” “Meet the Parents,”etc. And secretly we all have wondered, is that really what it will be like with the in-laws someday? And then that day comes and you have to laugh at the irony of your husband being a little perturbed when you are on the phone with his mom for almost an hour. :) I am completely blessed with my in-laws. I feel very comfortable around them, and so completely miss them when I am not around them. I am very thankful for that! I love you Mom and Dad!