Happy Birthday to Us!

This last Wednesday, we celebrated two birthdays. We celebrated my 26th birthday and Lucas' 5th birthday.

The Saturday before, we had Lucas' party with a "Fall Festival" Theme. We had it out in the field with hot dogs, hamburgers, hay bales, blankets, games, and a fire. Everyone had a great time, but I must admit, making smores was the most fun! :)

Brandon went out of his way to make my birthday a special day. He sang to me, took me to lunch, and even helped in planning a party for me and Lucas at my parent's house after church. He also got me a KINDLE! I have been wanting of these for a while and I can't wait to put it to good use on my back porch or as I listen to the waves and dig my toes in the sand (hint, hint, Brandon) :)

I had a special day and I'm thankful to share my birthday with Lucas. I am thankful for all the people that helped make the day so sweet including all the Bass Girls that called me and said "Happy Birthday, Nancy!!"

It was a great day!

I will blog later about my Birthday Date that Brandon is taking me on. We are going tonight (Friday) to Asheville :)

Where We Are

Last week, I blogged about the Season of Waiting Brandon & I have found ourselves in for the last few months. Since this last blog, a few substantial events have taken place. I mentioned then that I was waiting to hear from the School System about my application I had pulled for an open position. A few days later, I received a phone call from them requesting an interview. The next day, I met the panel and had my interview. It went well. However, a week later, after an additional week of waiting, we learned that I was not chosen for the position. I cannot say that I took the loss peacefully and with understanding, because I certainly did not. Don't get me wrong, I didn't pitch a fit at Central Office or anything, but I did shed a tear or two... or.... :)

Through this the Lord is reminding me that He has a plan AND a time to reveal that plan to me. I may not have received a teaching job within the time I would have wanted, but again, this is a reminder that God's timing is not my timing.

As I wait (but not as diligently as I have been), I am incredibly thankful for the job that I do have. I don't ever want to come across as though I am not. I feel as though the fact that I have a job, even without getting a teaching position, is yet, just another way God prooves His provision.

So for now, you will find me in the window of the theatre prepared to serve you for all your ticketing needs. :)

"Eat Less & Exercise More"

Brandon has been working very hard to lose weight. In April, he began really watching what he ate and began exercising. I want to show off his work! I took the first picture from a blog I posted in September 2009. The second picture, I took over the weekend, just so I could put them side by side. I took the second picture with my phone, so it didn't turn out as well as I hoped, however, you can definitely see the difference.

When people ask Brandon how he lost the weight, his answer is, "Eat less & exercises more" and it is so the truth. I am proud of all his hard work and determination.

Brandon has lost around 40 pounds and I am oh-so proud of him!

Happy Birthday Kelton!

Yesterday, August 31st, Kelton celebrated his 7th birthday. His party was at the Franklin Golf Course Pool. We had pizza, cake, ice cream... all the birthday necessities. His friends came and loved playing in the pool. I didn't take a lot of pictures, mostly because I was getting to sit and talk another 2nd grade teacher from the school I did my student teaching at. I've missed her over the summer, so I was thankful to get to catch up.

Happy Birthday Kelton!

The Birthday Boy

Chloe & Kelton

Alex-man

Group Photo Take 1

Group Photo Take 2 --- Much Better

*P-R-E-S-E-N-T-S*

Brandon & I got him a camping tent and sleeping bag.

Last but not least, the little sister of the Birthday Boy, Cadee.

Be Anxious For Nothing...

...but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. -Philippians 4:6

**This blog has potential to be ridiculously long, but it will be necessary**
I wanted to blog about this so that when Brandon & I look back into the pages of our lives, the faithfulness of Jesus will never be debated.

Honestly, I don't really know where to begin as I sit here trying to blog about all that has taken or has not taken place within the last few months. Brandon and I entered into a specific season of our lives a few months ago, a season that required patience, perseverance, & trust, a season that would stick around long enough to challenge all we had to offer - The Season of Waiting.

More and more I realize that I am no where near the patient person as I would like to think I am. In fact, I possess very little patience at all. This fact is extremely frustrating to me as my dad is probably the most patient & laid back person on earth. All through my childhood I watched him demonstrate his patience with all four of us kids. He taught us how to ride a bicycle, catch a softball (with the glove up :)), any math homework, drive a car, etc. The man is patient, but I lack the gene. However, I am learning that possessing patience really isn't a matter of genetics, but instead patience is learned and oh, how I am trying to learn it.

In March of this year, I posted Decisions, Decisions. Brandon & I could easily look ahead and see that decisions would have to be made in a few areas of our lives. One specific decision, the most identifiable, was what job would I have when the summer was over. At the time of this specific post, my graduation from WCU was two months away. I would have my degree in Elementary Education and my North Carolina Teaching License. I would have everything I needed to teach in North Carolina Public Schools. The decision was this, would I go out of my way to get a teaching position or would I stay at the theatre and continue working there for a while. A lot of people would never understand the way my heart was truly torn between the two places. Yes, I loved being in a classroom, but I also loved being at the theatre. By no means do I hope to down-play all that went into this decision I knew I would have to make. This decision consumed my thoughts and it wasn't until months later that I truly came to the conclusion and answer I needed. I was going to teach.

In April of this year, I posted Change Is Coming. During this time, Brandon came along side of me and together, we sought how the Lord was calling us to serve Him. Together we sought, together we prayed, together we listened, together we waited. This is when we entered the new season of our lives.

In May, I graduated from WCU and a week later, I had an interview for one of five teaching positions that was available for the next school year. I had my interview on May 7 and on May 8th, we headed for the beach. Even as we were on vacation, we had one choice: to wait. At this point although we had fun and exciting plans for the summer, we had also stepped into the new season of our lives.

Ends up, I didn't get one of the positions that were available earlier in the summer. I think one other position opened between that time in May and the middle of August. All summer long, we waited. Last Tuesday, August 24th, the day before school started, I checked the Macon County Schools Website and low and behold, an Elementary Education position had been posted! I applied for the position and have waited and I still wait to hear from the Schools. I know that something must be done pretty quickly as school is in its second week and there is not a teacher for the class, however, for me, every morning I wake up with a hope that "today will be the day" that I hear something, but until then, we wait.

Although my teaching position has most definitely required us to wait, there are other areas of our lives that we seem to be just waiting on as well. We are watching a few aspects of our lives change and we are waiting to see the affects and our response to them.

Regardless to all that our hearts are waiting on, I am confident that when I melt with the overwhelming of the unknown, the exhaustion from waiting, the frustration, impatience, questions, plans of my own, and the brokenness, I know that Jesus is whispering "Be still and know that I am God".

So for now, Brandon & I are doing our best to be still...and wait...so that when we walk out of this specific season of our lives, we do so just as we walked in, hand in hand as we follow Christ.

New Neighbors

Today, our great friends, Aaron & Tiffany Garrett closed on their new house. The best part about is, the house is right across the street from us! This is going to be fun!!!!!!

Tool Box & Spray Paint

This week, Lucas has been out of pre-school, as it will start back next week when "big school" (public school) starts. Throughout the week, he has been doing different things with Moma & Daddy.

Today, Moma went to work and Daddy had Lucas. They built a toolbox together and decided they would paint it. At some point, Daddy left Lucas' side and when he returned, Lucas had spray painted his hair black!

Daddy was able to get most of the paint out of his hair but his scalp is still black. When Daddy asked him why he did that, he said, "Girls do it all the time, Papa."

I was coming through town and when I stopped at the red light, Papa & Lucas were beside me. We pulled over so I could see his new painted toolbox and scalp.

Lucas & his tool box

Papa & Lucas

Lucas & his "Fire Department Boots"