Halloween

Landon and I dressed up as a couple for our first Halloween party together. GUESS WHO WE ARE?????

Kat Von D and Jesse James :)

(Landon told me when I dyed my hair red that I looked like a tattoo artist.)

We also had our first Halloween in a neighborhood where we had trick or treaters. It was a lot of fun, but after spending almost $40 on candy and my dog bursting out the door to attack another dog who was trick or treating, I'm glad the night is over.

Let's just hope my kids are too high on sugar tomorrow, or else it's going to be a LONG day!

short and sweet

I've been wanting to get this written down but just haven't known how to write it and answer all questions but not write a book. So here it is.

Landon joined the military. There are many factors that have led to this decision over the last several months, and it has finally all fallen into place. Yesterday he signed with the National Guard, which is a reserve branch of the Army. There are so many benefits that will happen because of this decision that we had a hard time just brushing it to the side, the biggest being that Landon's nursing school will be completely paid for by the military which means no loans. And he really is excited about this. Joining the military has always been an interest of his, but he knew he wanted to go to school first. Now that the opportunity has come up, he has been excited to take on this challenge.

So here is what the next year looks like for us (in my head anyways)

• Landon will begin training with his unit next month while he finishes off teaching this school year. He will go train with them 1 weekend every month.
• He will leave in May for basic training in South Carolina and will be gone until August.
• He will return in time to star another year of teaching until he gets into nursing school.
• He will continue training with his unit 1 weekend each month and will be training to be an Officer which will take 18 months.

I think over the last several months with our jobs and now with this, the name for God that has been revealed to me has been Peace. God has definitely been my peace through this. While I know there will be difficult times, especially, being alone, I know God is going to take care of both me and Landon.

Please keep us in your prayers as we figure out how we will transition into this new military lifestyle!

help!

I want to paint my front door, but I don't know what color because of the color of our brick. Any suggestions??

Here are a couple pictures of my house. Not the best, but it's all I have on my computer right now.

Never Once

This song brings tears to my eyes every time. It's truly how I felt between March-July when dealing with Landon and my job situation. God has been SO faithful. It's only through Him that we had such a peace through the entire process and it's only through him that we are where we are today, standing on this mountain top.

one more

I really want to learn how to sew. When I was younger, I did 4-H, and I made a vest (yes, I actually wore it, and yes I know, pathetic), and I probably made a pare of flannel pants, but I don't remember anything. I want to be able to make my own simple things like pillows, curtains, sew the hem on pants and shirts, etc. So I'm going to learn. I'm going to get a sewing machine, and I'm going to learn!

My List

I have been making a list in my head over the last year or 2 of different purchases I would like to make and things I would like to see happen in the next few years. I finally decided to put them into writing so that maybe I will actually have more motivation to make them happen sooner rather than later.

1. Pay off these ugly suckers!! I'm on a mission! I'm going to get them paid off before I am actually "projected" to get them paid off. I'm going to buckle down! I'm determined!

2. Since high school, I have always been interested in Photography. I thought that was what I wanted to go to school for, but the school that I was set on going to didn't have a photography program. I could spend hours on different photographers websites just looking. Even if I never did it as a business, I would love to be able to capture "life" is a unique and beautiful way.

3. I'm going to try my hand at refinishing furniture. I have a couple of pieces in my house that I have redone and I have been fairly impressed with myself. I LOVE Craigslist, and I have been able to get a few really good deals. My goal is to be able to sell it one day for a little extra "student loan payment" or just for some extra spending/saving money.

Not the best picture, but this was my first piece.

I'm sure I have more, but those are the ones that have been on my mind most recently. I'm looking forward to seeing these things happen!

He is faithful

The last few months have had the potential to be stressful, chaotic, and hard on a marriage, but God has been so faithful to us.

Everyone in the whole state (or US) is dealing with budget cuts in the education system. Landon and I were concerned, but we knew God was in control. On March 25, the day we were supposed to find out if we weren't going to get our contracts renewed, I told the Lord, on my way to school that I knew he was in control, he already had a plan, and to just give me peace with whatever that plan was. The rule was "Last in, first out". Landon and I were both hired in July of 2010, so our principals came in and gave us BOTH the news. Both of us were losing our jobs, and in just 2 weeks we were supposed to close on our first home. While we were both upset and a little nervous, we knew the state was not in control of our future, but God was.

We decided to go ahead and close on our house (HUGE leap of faith), and both decided to get jobs in the summer. We knew we would be getting paid through August, but our summer money would be for our September and October house payments if it came down to that. Landon got a job selling fireworks in Louisiana for 2 weeks, and I got a job teaching summer school.

We had so many people praying for us and our situation. We could truly feel the peace of God from those prayers. I was applying for other jobs, and Landon was applying for jobs at hospitals, but nothing was opening up. I had 1 job interview, but that job was given to someone else. Even through all the rejections and lack of job openings, we still had such a strong peace that the Lord was going to take care of us.

Two weeks ago, the Denton ISD school board had a meeting and rehired 30 teachers that were previously let go. Landon and I were not in that count, but we did receive an email that we were going to be recommended for rehire at the next board meeting. We were ecstatic, but still not wanting to get our hopes up. Two weeks later, the meeting was held, and the new budget was passed! We got our jobs back!! We don't know exactly where or what we will be teaching this coming year. Because of all the switching around and loss of positions, we more than likely won't be at the same school we were at, but we are so thankful for our jobs.

The Lord has been so faithful to us. We have had such a peace through this whole process, and we give all the glory to God. We are so thankful for the prayers from our friends and family! God is so good! (and now we get to go on a trip with our summer job money!!!)

I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.

Psalm 89:8