At long last!

I am employed as a Paraeducator 24 hours a week! M-TH in special education with preschoolers. The first official day of work is Tuesday! I'm super excited! Today we had an all staff meeting and yesterday night was open house so I've meet a good chunk of my new coworkers already as well as some parents and students. It is such a good gift from God that I finally have a job and that I'll only be substituting on Fridays. Now, at long last after three years someone will sub for me, not the other way around! It's SO liberating!

I went to my Awana training meeting and I'll be volunteering with middle schoolers. That's not exactly my favorite age group. (I like preschool-5th grade), so we'll see what great things God has in store for me. I'm sure lots of growing and learning on my part as well as the kids. I'm not sure if I'll add Women's Bible Study to the mix. Maybe that will come in the spring.

Here We Go Again!

Job hunting... for the third year in a row. At least it's a good way to keep track of how long I've been married. ;-) Maybe God will decide that this year is my year to finally be gainfully employed full time or at least near full time. *prays* I've been on 4 interviews in the past 4 weeks. One of those weeks I was on vacation and therefore had no interviews so really it's 4 interviews in 3 weeks. So God, how 'bout it? Eh? A job would be awesome. 

Anyways, I mentioned vacation in my previous paragraph. I was in Yakima for my niece's 1st birthday on the 15th of last month and then on the 21st my best friend got married. Joel was there for the weekends, but returned home to work during the week. I stayed in Yakima and hung out with the fam & friends the 14th-22th. It was so fun and mostly relaxing. (The only not relaxing thing was the matron of honor speech I memorized and then gave at the wedding- I hate public speaking.) Now my best friend is married and her new husband is good friends with my husband. The best part is they now live about 5 minutes away from us. :-)

I hope to volunteer with Awana at our church (Christ's Church) starting next month. I am also excited for Women's Bible Study to start back up. I want to meet people and be involved. Joel and I have been attending full time for a year next month and we really don't know anyone. That makes me sad.

It was a tie!

My new niece Juliette Amelia arrived the same day that Harry Potter #7 Part 2 came out! She's so super adorable, of course. :) Joel, Barbara and I booked it out of town to go see our new niece the same day she was born (Friday the 15th)... and Barbara sweet talked the security at the hospital into letting us all go up together even though it was after visiting hours. :D

I got to see friends from college last weekend and it was so fun! We got to swim, chat and get a tan/burn because it was warm that day as summer should be. :p

Soon Joel and I are off for Seattle via the Light Rail to go have lunch at PF Changs and walk around Seattle. The Light Rail is awesome and PF Changs has amazing Chinese food. :D

I took an unintential hiatus

I have another brother-in-law. From that I learned strapless dresses suck. I plan on never wearing one again. :p The wedding and reception were lovely and quite fun. :)

Joel and I celebrated our two year anniversary by going to Long Beach. It was super fun to walk the boardwalk and the beach. I love the beach. :)

I end my 6 months as an aid in the 4-5 preschool class the end of next month. Then we will see if God thinks it's time for me to get a different job of my very own. Also the end of next month brings me to the end of my year long commitment at Mars Hill in their childrens ministry. Then we can attend Christ Church on a regular basis which will be amazing.

Laura will have her baby anytime now! It's very exciting to get another niece. :)

And the count down is over

We finally paid off our car so Hercules is officially ours. :) Booya!

There is also the count down till Valerie's wedding. May 21st is coming soon! I have yet to find nude colored shoes that will work for me and I only have 5 weeks left! Eek!

I accepted a 6 month aid position in the 4-5 yr old preschool room at GRCDC. It ends August 31st. There are many children that need special attention so we're constantly on our toes. It will be an interesting time. And we'll see how many times I'll get sick. The count is already at 2 times since March 1st. *sigh*

Then we wait until Laura & Cahnen's little girl arrives in July! Right about the same time the last Harry Potter movie comes out. We'll see how well baby girl times it. ;)

December was busy

We went to Tempe and Scottsdale to visit Joel's family and it was so great! It was not sunny or warm though. I was greatly disappointed. It was so fun to spend time with his grandparents, sister, nieces, aunt and cousin. :) We saw movies, had really good food, saw the nieces perform in their Christmas concert, and got to look at lots of pictures. I found out Joel is the spitting image of his Grandpa Dean.

After 5 fun filled days in Arizona we flew home and drove to Yakima to see my family for Christmas. All the cousins were there for the first time in at least 6 years. It was great to see everyone. :)

I started a long term sub job at GRCDC in the 3 year old preschool room the first week of this month. I'm not sure how long it will last but I love the hours (which are the same as JOel's)- 7:30am-4:00pm. I have fun coworkers so it's been such a blessing.

We lead such exciting lives ;)

The night before my birthday we picked up my in-laws and brought them to our house for dinner. My mother-in-law brought pictures she'd painted for us and Bethany. I'm so excited to frame them and have Joel hang them on the wall. I think that will be a January project that I'm already looking forward to. :)
My birthday was so fun! I had a marvelous time having lunch with my in-laws, seeing Harry Potter, having dinner and a game night with friends! I was just telling Joel I wish we could do it again. :)

Joel and I couldn't make it over the pass and back in one day for Thanksgiving (stupid snow!) so we opted out and instead joined Barbara & Jordan and his family on the west side. Jordan's parents and sister are so awesome and it was great to see them! It was different to not be with the fam doing the things the way they're always done, but we still got to spend the day with fam and nice people. There was delicious pecan pie and we played Cranium. Thanks again Barbie & Jordan for including us in your Thanksgiving! :)

We went Christmas present shopping today for our nieces, my sister-in-law and the family members we drew for my side of the Christmas fun. I love getting presents the people I love will love. :) We're not anywhere near done, but we shall continue tomorrow.

Joel's 26th birthday is Thursday! We both are taking the day off to hang out and do something fun together. We might go bowling. We'll see what Joel decides to do. Next Sunday we're celebrating his birthday with friends nerd style with a LAN Party. Then dinner out and a game night. :)