Happy Birthday Brandon!

I want to wish my husband a Happy Birthday! Brandon, you are a great husband and you are for sure the best friend I've ever had. You are so intelligent, you know so much about anything and everything. You are my go to for any problem, and you are patient to answer all my silly questions about life. You patiently fix all of our computers, install anything electric, plus maintain and fix all our cars. I have been so proud of you as we have battled through the last few years, you have remained a man of integrity, even when I know it was difficult. I enjoy our drives, and there is no place in this world I would rather be than with you in a car discussing anything under the sun! There has never been another person that I have been able to drive for so long with without the radio ever being turned on! You have made my life so much sweeter, and I cannot imagine my life without you in it! I look forward to all the fun times that we have ahead of us. I can't even imagine where the road will lead us! May this year be your best year yet! I love you!

Just Checking In

OK, so I know that I have been the world's worst blogger, but we have had a lot going on. I am working on a blog to post on here soon, so please keep checking in on us!

I got to visit Grandma last weekend, and she is looking great! I know that she is still tired and worn out from her surgery, but she seems like she is doing so good. I am so grateful for all of the prayers that were sent out for her. I know that she felt them, and we felt them too!

This moving stuff is getting old. Brandon and I are so ready to get settled in our own place, but it looks like we are going to be spending a couple of months with my dad. He is doing well overall, but he hasn't been eating well. Brandon and I have decided that we want to stay there and help get him eating better and get through the anniversary of losing Momma (Oct 27th) all together as a family. Can you believe that it has almost been a year? We sure can't. We will surely take any prayers and encouragement through the next few weeks. I am feeling that this may be the hardest time we have had. I know that moving back (and soon moving in to their house)has made me face that she is really gone, and I am sure that the holidays will be a little harder this year since the shock has worn off and the rawness of her loss has set in.

Over all, we are doing great though, and I am still very very glad that we were able to move to Dallas, and we have been blessed richly lately.

Prayer Request

My Grandma (my dad's mother), is in the hospital in Temple, Texas. She was admitted due to severe abdominal pain this weekend. They found that she had an obstruction that they were able to partially clear out today. They also found that she has a mass that appears to be cancerous. Prayers are already being answered, though, because it appears that the mass is not connected to any organ, which means that it most likely has not had the chance to spread. My grandma is such an amazing woman of faith, her trust in the Lord is so encouraging to see. We are praying that Grandma's wounds heal rapidly, that the doctors are able to remove all the tumor, and that there is no cancer anywhere else in her body. I am praying that the tumor is biopsied and there is no cancer. My God can do that!!! Thank you all for lifting my family up in prayer today and throughout this next week. I know of the power and comfort that comes from a body of believers praying for you!

Thanks again for all your prayers. My dad has had a long year, and I know that this is concerning him. May God bless each of your lives this week!

Movin' on Up!!!

It's official... Brandon handed in his resignation today. We are moving back to Dallas! We have been toying with the idea to move back for several months, but knew that we needed to find jobs to be able to move and thought that it would take several months to do that. Well, we did it in a little under two weeks! Fooled us big time!

I have a job working for my dad at his company. I am pumped about it. I will help him find candidates for positions he needs to fill (he is an executive recruiter). I will make a salary, plus bonuses, and the best part is benefits! Yeah health insurance! I have enjoyed being a stay at home babysitter, but I have missed being out and about. Even if I wanted to here, there was really no where to go within 40 miles or so. I was beginning to feel the walls closing in, even with my precious husband taking me out to eat or to walk around Walmart almost every night. We have been spending buckets of money on gas driving all over just for a little change of scenery! But no more, Super Target here I come!

Brandon got a job as an engineer at a networking company in Dallas, a big step up. He is so very talented, and now he will get the opportunity to use his talents and grow. He also will only be working Monday through Friday 8 to 5, with on call at a minimum. I cannot tell you the last night that Brandon did not get a call here during dinner or even later. He will also have benefits, so we can now go to the doctor if we get sick. Yeah!!!

We are so very sad about leaving our precious friends and their daughter whom I love dearly. Little Josie has brightened even the darkest of days here in this small town, and I loved every minute with her. We are trying to convince them to get a webcam so we can talk to her and see her long distance.

This last year has been the hardest year I have ever had. I cannot believe all that Brandon and I have been through. We have lost a parent and moved across Texas where we were hours away from our family and friends back home. We know that God moved us out here for a reason, and I can even see why He did, but we are so very blessed to be moving back "home." God swung wide open the doors for a move back, and we are thanking Him every minute.

We will be moving to Dallas the weekend of the 15th. At this point we do not have an apartment/house yet, so we may be staying with Brandon's mom for a few weeks to get us situated. We covet your prayers for safety as we move across Texas, and for our new jobs and experiences. God is so VERY VERY good to us!!!!

Memories and Fun Times!

Here is a game I copied from Lori:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot-- or just from blogland-- anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Palo Duro Fun

Brandon and I wanted to go see the Palo Duro Canyon while we were living out here, and so we just up and decided to drive out there this weekend. We had a great time exploring, God's creation is amazing! I am glad that we finally got out to see it, even if is was 100 degrees down in the canyon (so please pardon the sweaty looks).


My Cutie!


Our Classic Self Portrait, we keep getting better at these!


Brandon's awesome shot from in a cave he climbed up into...


My view of the cave, I decided I would let him have that fun of the climb, so I sat back and watched him (and prayed that he didn't get hurt!). If you click on it you can see Brandon standing in the mouth of the cave!


A picture taken by these women for us. They were CRAZY, and we kept running into them at all the spots along the canyon. We should have gotten a picture of them!

July 4th Fun

We got to spend July 4th with our friends and their precious six month old daughter. We enjoyed Bahama Bucks and then went to the park to watch fireworks. It was wonderful weather... not hot at all! Josie loved being outside, and watched the fireworks in awe. It was special to share the day with them and watch Josie have new experiences.


Bub & Me


The Hardin Family


"Did someone say fireworks? Yeah!"


Yumm! Bahama Bucks!



Fireworks and Brandon... life doesn't get much better!

Bub & I without trying to hold the camera ourselves!


Josie loved her wand... great purchase Mom!