So Much to Say...

It has been forever since I posted, almost 3 months.  I got busy wrapping up school and then there wasn't a whole lot going on.  About the middle of June things started happening and I got so overwhelmed with it all that I couldn't decide what to write.  At the end of June, we left on our 2 week Great American Road Trip.  It was amazing!!!  I'll try to post more about it later.

Now, I feel the need to start blogging again so that I can document our life.

The last post was about Mike's graduation so I'll pick up with that story.  We filled out a TON of applications for him.  Teaching applications sure have changed a lot in the last several years.  They are no longer little 1 page deals that take just a few minutes to fill out.  They are all electronic (which is nice) and they take FOREVER to fill out.  They want to know everything you have ever done and every thought about teaching you have ever had.  Anyway, we filled them out.  He had a couple interviews at the end of May, but we feel those were just interviews to fill their quota.  Those schools seemed to already have someone in mind.

Fast forward to the middle of June and we are starting to feel a little discouraged.  Well, I was feeling a little discouraged.  I am NOT known for patience.  He went ahead and signed his contract for his current school knowing that if something else came along he could always get out of it.  It was an at-will contract meaning that he can leave the school at any time for whatever reason with no penalty.  He got a call to interview for a middle school science position at a school district really close to where I teach.  He felt the interview went REALLY well.  We felt good about it and were excited about the possibility to be back to together!  A week went by without hearing anything.  Then, he got a call to interview at the new middle school in the district where I work!  We were beyond excited!!

He interviewed for that job.  The day before we left on the Great American Road Trip he got a call to go interview with the assistant superintendent for personnel.  He had that interview on the day we left and found out he got the job!!  He will be teaching 7th grade math and science.  Elation cannot even describe how we felt!!

Looking back over this last year, I really see and KNOW that God's hand was in this.  Last fall Mike had to do a practicum where he spent time inside classrooms in the grades he would be licensed for.  Mike did part of this at my school in 4th grade and part of it at the jr. high next door in 8th grade.  He visited several 8th grade classrooms there until he went into a science classroom.  He really hit it off with that teacher and continued going into that class everyday until he got his teaching job in November.  Mike stayed in contact with this teacher and would visit his classroom every chance he got.  This teacher later became an assistant principal at this new middle school, which helped Mike get an interview.  Our district is so large and desirable to work in that having someone know you and recognize your name among all the applicants really helps.  I truly believe that God connected these two and has had a plan for Mike all along that finally came to fruition.

I am so thankful for this blessing that has been brought into our life!

Graduation TIme

We celebrated a graduation on Saturday!  Mike finished his master's degree.  I am so proud of him!   He did it in a little less than two years while working full time.  It wasn't always easy, but now it's finished.


This was us before the ceremony.  He looks so happy.  This picture really lets me know I need to stay serious about my exercising.  Gotta get rid or at least reduce that double chin of mine.


Since he was a graduate student, he got to sit on the front row.  He never did see me during the ceremony, but I was able to get pictures with the big zoom lens.  When you're one of the first in line, you have to sit a while and wait for the rest of the graduates to file in.  This gave lots of time for looking around and talking to neighbors/classmates.


Waiting in line to go across the stage.  I was thinking what a journey it has been to get to this point.  Then, in a blink of an eye it's all over.  While this journey is ending, we are beginning a new one.


Mike getting "hooded."  I don't know if that is the correct terminology, but they did put his hood on him.  The purple and grey were the school colors and the light blue is for the field of education.  We now have matching gowns.  That is the same thing I wore 8 years ago when I got my master's degree.  That is something we can show our children one day.


After the ceremony, I was able to snap this picture before the cap and gown came off.  It was hot that day.  It was a very nice commencement ceremony.  Not too long, but a celebration of the transition all the students were getting ready to make.  Commencement really means the beginning.  For us it's the beginning of the job search for a teaching job in Northwest Arkansas.  It's the beginning of a career for Mike.  It's the beginning of a new phase of life.


This is the picture I saw when I looked in mom's newspaper the next day.  Mike and a couple of others made the front page of the paper.  The president of the university asked all the graduates to write a thank-you note to someone who helped them during their time as a student.  They were busy writing when this was snapped.

What a blessing this graduation was!

Five Question Friday

The time has finally come!  Mike is graduating with his master's this weekend!  I am so proud of him and his hard work over the last couple of years.  I am heading down for his College of Education pinning ceremony today and graduation is in the morning.  Yay!  Hopefully, I'll have some pictures up later this weekend or early next week

Now for Five Question Friday with Mama M.


1. What did you wear to prom? Include a picture if possible.
The only reason I had easy access to a picture is because one of my friends posted some to Facebook.  I knew Facebook was good for something.  So here are some shots from junior prom in 1996.

I'm on the right.  I fell in love with the sequined top immediately.  You can't see the bottom, but it was flouncy chiffon that came above the knee.  I remember thinking I was cute and sassy that night.  The best thing about this picture is that it has two of my good friends in it.  We were rocking the red.

2. Would you rather be on the biggest loser or a food eating challenge?

I think a food eating challenge sounds so fun.  I would love to travel across the country/world trying different foods.  My waistline probably has a different idea.  Going on the Biggest Loser would be better for my health.  I'm pretty sure I would be miserable the whole time I was there, though.  I'm really sensitive and wouldn't like the trainers yelling at me.  However, everyone always looks so amazing at the end so that would be the nice part of it.  I would be really happy then so I guess the Biggest Loser it is.

3.  Favorite Sonic Drink?  Refreshing Summer drink?

Oh, how I love Sonic drinks.  The ice and cup that keeps everything cold for a really long time are the best.  My all-time favorite Sonic drink is Cherry Dr. Pepper.  I usually get a Cherry Diet Dr. Pepper or Cranberry Sprite Zero to save a few calories.  There's nothing better than getting your favorite drink at Happy Hour for half price.  My favorite summer time drink is homemade lemonade.

4. What was your first car, and what did you call it?

My first car was a 1994 Pontiac Grand Am.

It looked a lot like the one in this picture.  It had tinted windows.  I used some of my birthday money to buy a nicer radio for it that had a CD player.  I didn't really have a name for it, but I was so proud of this car when I got it.  I was so happy to have this car when I turned 16.  I'm sure I'll always be a little nostalgic about it since it was my first car.

5. What's one thing your child or spouse does that sends you over the edge?

I know this is going to sound so weird, but it drives me completely bonkers when Mike picks at his fingernails or toenails and it makes noise. He is a little OCD about his nails. If they are not perfectly even and smooth he will pick at them to get them that way. I am always bugging him to use the proper grooming tools, but he says they are not always available. But, that little clicking sound gets to me every time!

Before and After

After today I am sure I will have exhausted my material to post about our cat Sadie.  I'm sure today was her least favorite day of the year so far.

This was her this morning while I was eating breakfast.


A couple of minutes after that picture was taken, I grabbed her up and shoved her in her carrier/bag against her will.  We then took a five minute ride in the car to the vet's office.  The ride wasn't very pleasant since she cried the whole way.  Things didn't get much better when we arrived.  We got there right at opening along with 2 large dogs and two other meowing cats.

It was time for Sadie's annual grooming/haircut and vaccinations.  I dropped the cat off with the instructions for her haircut (which they followed perfectly) and went on my merry way to work.

This is what she looked like when we got home many hours later.



My poor kitty was exhausted and mad.  She hates having to be shaved, but I really hate for her to throw up hairballs all summer long.  I also really hate having to clean up the previously mentioned hairballs.  So it is an "ugly" stage that we put up with.

The following picture demonstrates another perk of Sadie getting a haircut.


Sadie is not normally cuddly enough to actually lay on my lap.  So I will take it as long as I can get it!

The Simple Life of a Furbaby

It has been a while since I have posted about our sweet Sadie Rose.  She just turned 4 and has the easiest life imaginable.  Sometimes I envy the life of a cat.  I have noticed that she has become quite a it more clingy since Mike took his job and has to be gone during the week.  She sure misses him!  I love on her and pet her, but he would play with her.

 Here is a view of a typical day for Sadie:

She starts her morning by sitting in the bathtub watching me get ready.



There is absolutely no telling what she does while I'm at work, but this is how I usually find her when I get home.


When I settle into the recliner to watch a little TV, she's right there with me.  It is kind of comforting to hear her purr in my ear.


When it's time for bed, she's right there with me.  She makes sure to hog my side of the bed even though there is the whole other side that is empty.


In between naps around the house, Sadie makes sure to beg for food and treats.  She also runs around like a made woman.  She's my little equestrian.  She goes over, under, and around all kinds of obstacles.  Since we don't have kids yet, Sadie has become our child.  She does a good job of keeping me company while the hubby is away!