Downhill Stretch

Hey guys, now that the busy season is over for me (and for Gary, for the most part) I can post again. I know you're jumping up and down in excitement waiting to hear about all the fantastic adventures we've been on since our last post...well, here we go.

At the beginning of March, Gary had the opportunity to present the sermon at our church. You may be able to hear his sermon online. On our blog, click on the Northside Christian Church website, and once you get there, click on "Resources" then "Archives." His sermon is listed on March 9, 2008. He did a really great job, and both of our sets of parents were able to come into town and listen, along with Annie, Travis, Mollie, and Briana. Oh, and Gary's grandmother came over from Tomball for the morning service, as well. It was a really good weekend with everyone in town - no matter how long or short we were able to visit.

Then on March 13, the very next Thursday, my mom came back into town for a concert that Briana was in. She had auditioned for and gotten the soprano solo to the Mozart Mass in C Minor, and she really did a bang-up job on that solo. Mom and I went out to eat when she got there, and headed down to see Bri in all her glory. Here's a pic of Bri and me in the concert hall after the concert. Briana had no idea that Mom was coming in to hear her, so right before the concert, when Mom stepped into view for Briana to see her, Bri almost burst into tears right there. That would have been a mess. She held it together for the remainder of the evening, and both Mom and I were beaming with pride for her amazing abilities. God is good!

That next weekend was the beginning of Spring Break, and I was able to relax a little bit for the first couple of days of the week - while also catching up on some spring cleaning that needed to be done around the house, as well as some other errands that I had been putting off until I had more time. That Wednesday evening, we headed to Cuero to visit Gary's folks and have a relaxing time there before we headed out to San Antonio to see my family for the Good Friday weekend. Here is a picture of Gary playing "Nerf" football with Moses. The football was almost as big as lil' Mo' himself. By the end of the weekend, Moses had shown that styrofoam ball who was boss, though, and we had to throw the ball away because he had chewed so many holes in the ball.

Here's Ma-B and Poppy with Moses right before we left. They sure do love there Grand-doggy.

When we got to San Antonio, Mom was en route to/from the airport to pick up Grandma. This is the first time Grandma has been able to make the trek out to San Antonio since our family has lived there, so it was a big event that Gary and I didn't want to miss. We took pictures on Friday morning and had a leisurely Friday afternoon/evening. The next day, Annie and Travis had a big breakfast at their brand new house for everyone.

Below is a picture of everyone (except Briana) on Annie and Travis' staircase. It was a good picture, and a good time for everyone to be together.

Unfortunately, somewhere along the way (we're pretty sure it was while he was making friends with the cows on Ma-B and Poppy's land), Moses picked up fleas. By the time we arrived back home on Saturday evening, he was going absolutely bonkers scratching and bouncing off the walls going crazy from the fleas (we actually only found 2 on him). But early on Sunday morning, first thing when we got up, Gary and I dipped Moses and Lucy in the kitchen sink. Lucy turned into Demon-Feline for about 15 minutes there and scratched and bit the heck out of my hand, but it has since healed. Moses has gotten used to taking baths, so he just stood there like a good little boy while we scrubbed him down. That was a big fiasco - and not something everyone can say they've done first thing on Easter morning!

Once Easter was over, I got back to school and had just a week and a half to get my girls polished and ready for our choir contest on April 3 & 4. We ended up - by the skin of our teeth, mind you - pulling off straight ones (the highest ratings) in both Concert and Sightreading. I was so proud of those girls, and they were none the less ecstatic about the Sweepstakes ratings. Now we're gearing up for our Spring Trip to San Antonio next weekend (Apr 11-12), and Gary and I will be able to see my parents for a little bit of time hopefully on Friday evening.

Right now, we're looking at what the future holds (yes, still). Kind of honing in on a couple of key spots - mainly in Illinois. Gary's really had lots of communication with Lincoln Christian College, and that seems to be the one that he's the most interested in. We're planning on taking a tour of the college when we go on our annual road trip. This year, we'll be heading straight north - mainly to check out Illinois, then head southeast to spend some time in the Great Smoky Mountains in eastern Tennessee. We're going to try to hit a few places where we know some people (Howe, TX to see Stephen and Paige, Omaha, NE to see my aunt Cathy and uncle Bill, and maybe stop in to see my cousin Paul in Chicago). We always love our road trips - however long or short they may be, as it gives us time to just get away and venture into unknown lands and territory and break away from the normal routine of every day life.

So, how can you be praying for us? Well, here's a list:

1. First, that God would maintain his position as the center of our focus in our marriage and family. Please pray for His guidance with the upcoming decisions we will be facing and all the extra details that go along with those decisions.

2. Please pray for a baby for us. God knows His exact timing, and I'm convinced that He knows exactly the perfect time to bring a little one into our lives, to where we will be able to handle it. He gives us no more than we can handle.

3. Please pray for me (Krissy) as I close up shop at the school. Having put my resignation in just before Spring Break, it's wind-down time, and I'm excited, scared, and sad all at the same time. Pray that the Lord would quiet my soul and that He would flood me with his everlasting peace.

4. Please pray for our families as they get used to the idea of the possibility of us being 1,000 miles away. Especially with the possibility of us having a baby, I know that will be hard on them not being able to be there with us to raise the family. I realize that people go through this every day, but it's difficult when you're used to being 3 hours away your whole life, and then moving very far away. It will be an extremely difficult adjustment all the way around.

I hope this post was everything that you could have hoped for. It's always amazing how the stories of our lives are unfolded just one step at a time - but that we have our hope in the eternal King. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.