2 months!!!!!!

How is my 60 day countdown already here...so much to do and time is slipping away! I just feel so blessed to have a family and friends there to consistently help me get everything done. So far we are facing the current issue of when Jason will be home before the wedding. As of today (but will change in a few days I'm sure) he will be coming back to Dallas this weekend and staying for 5 days! Since Ike was pretty catastrophic (getting good at spelling that word) he will be in Houston for many many months. His company is trying to get as many people down there as quickly as possible, so this means that his vacation time is cut short now and will be given to him on the back end, or something like that! Needless to say I'm going to see my future husband for 5-6 days prior to our wedding in November! OH MY GOSH!!!!! Although that day will be even more special for us because we will have been apart for so long, this will cause a few areas of strategic planning...like getting that marriage license!!!!!! Thank goodness Houston's only 4 hrs away!

A special day for a special girl!

Today was a very special day for my cousin Chloe. Last Sunday after celebrating her mom (click "mom" to read about that story!) AND sister's birthday, she accepted Christ into her heart before she went to bed. We all got the phone call that evening and tears quickly filled my eyes.
So this morning we all went to the same service so we could be there when Chloe walked down to the front of the church w/ my aunt and uncle to take that next step into publicly displaying her decision to follow Christ!
As we were sitting in Church, Chloe sat right in between my mom and I. When I arrived she told me that today she was going to walk to the front of the church. I asked her why, and she replied "because I asked Jesus into my heart". PRECIOUS! I then asked if heaven had a party for her, and she replied "yes, do you still think it's going on?" OF COURSE...for ETERNITY!
Then while Jack Graham was giving his message and Chloe was just coloring away, not thinking she was really paying attention, he started talking about how we should lead our lives and be followers of Christ, and just then Chloe looks up and says "am I a follower of Christ?" It was probably one of the sweetest moments I have experienced, and my mom and I just smiled and said "yes, you are now. "
So the sermon came to an end and the invitation to follow Christ was given. She and her mom and dad started making their way down the aisle only to end up with Neal Jeffrey (one of our favorite speakers/CFB's convcation speaker this year!). Meanwhile my mom, sister, Jason, and I stood there in the pew watching with endless tears coming out. I could not contain myslef, our lil angel was growing up right in front of our eyes. This was something I knew would change the rest of her life. I am so proud of the sweet little girl she is growing up to be and so thankful for my aunt and uncle in making this day possible. They have been the foundation and models of a loving and christian home. Those girls are not afraid to love Jesus and will tell the world, that says a lot about the home they are in!
AMEN!
Can't wait for the Baptism!!! I will have my box of kleenex that day!

One week down...

hopefully not another month to go. I successfully finished my 1st week of school going into my 4th year of it. One thing I told several new teachers (and veteran) was that no matter how many years you've been teaching, you're never completely ready for the first day, and when you are...it's over! I can say that it went very smoothly for the most part and I really love this group of kids. I'm so excited to be with them again this year...I really got it good by going to 3rd this year! Anyway, Jason and I are anxiously watching hurricane Gustav or whatever. Depending on the strength it picks up while in the Gulf depends if Jason has to leave for a month again. Obviously I'm not happy about this, but again...it's hurricane season so I guess I need to get used to it... for now! I am ready for a long weekend doing a few wedding things, and spending time with him and friends before another work week and likely sending him off again.

Happy Birthday Fiance!

Today is Jason's 29th birthday! It is a very bitter sweet day since he is once again away from his me and his family. He is still in Brownsville for work and won't be back in Dallas until the 20th. Last year he was living in San Antonio and couldn't be here for his birthday as well. I know this will just make those birthdays we do get to celebrate together that much more special while he has this job. Unfortunately hurricane season falls during both of our birthdays, so some years we know will be like this. As easy as it is to complain about, I am grateful for his job and proud of how well he is doing at it. I'm also thankful for him and knowing that God had a plan for both of us 29 years ago is simply amazing. Together or not, I know we will have many more birthdays together.

Now I tried to be sneaky again this year and do something from a distance so I tried to send him a birthday cake to his hotel, but every bakery I called only spoke spanish and/or didn't deliver, so I will have to wait to see him in Corpus this weekend and sing him happy birthday. Until then I took this picture to help bring a smile to his face.

(yes we are those weird people that think we are parents already...we know we know but we love it!)