Happy First Birthday Alyssa!!
You have brought us so much joy!!
We love you very much!!
[Mommy & Daddy]
Friday, November 13, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
October 2009
October has really flown by!
Alyssa is now 23 pounds and almost a year old! She is crawling everywhere and licking everything. Yes-LICKING!
Alyssa is now 23 pounds and almost a year old! She is crawling everywhere and licking everything. Yes-LICKING!
She will lick something (her crib, my pants, Bobby's hair, the dishwasher, her play pen) and then laugh hystericlaly about it. It's really funny and...wierd. She has 6 teeth now and waves bye-bye to us. She loves to cuddle in the mornings (I usually steal the cuddles before work!) and loves to turn the pages in her book by herself. She is learning to sit up in her crib and there are mornings when we go in her room and she's sitting up and talking to the wall. Alyssa also went to her first fair and LOVED looking at all the lights! We also heard Steven Curtis CHapman perform "I Will Be Here" which was the song we danced to at our weddng!
Bobby is still looking for employment. He has been so focused on applying for jobs an dmaking sure he doens't waste any time while at the house with Alyssa. He's been looking and applying for jobs daily since July...so I sent him on break to Cincinnati. He went with a friend who is an enrollment counselor for CSU. It's a much needed break for him and they'll be attending the National Youth Workers Convention, which he is incredibly pumped about. There are going to be some speakers there talking about Family Based Ministry-and that's where his passion is.
I spent 2.5 weeks in Columbia for work. The good things about it is that Bobby and Alyssa came up to see me for two days while I was there! That helped ALOT! I am settled back into my office now after being in training. I feel more prepared for my job and ready to get out there and do it. I did get accepted into the M. Ed program at Liberty for School Guidance Counseling. We're still not sure when/if I will start the program. For now, I am enjoying the place I am in.
Some news, my grandmother had an X-Ray and CT scan done last week. They located a mass in her lungs and will do a biopsy this week. This is my father's mother. She is 80 years old, was adopted, was on the island when Pearl Harbor was bombed, smoked for 60 years, raised 7 children by herself when her husband left her for his mistress, and watched 3 die of cancer. She is an incredible woman. We're making plans to see her the 2nd weekend in November.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Memory Book for my Mom
For those that don't know my Mom is disabled.
She fell and hurt her back November 2004 at her work and has had difficulty standing and walking for long periods of time. Ever since her injury, she has seen over 15 doctors and has been on over 40 different types of mediciation. She is dependant on medication just to function daily.
With that all being said, she is beginning to show signs of early dementia (which I feel is due to her extended use of certain medications, but I digress). I've noticed that she is having some issues with her memory for the most part.
My project now is to make a memory book for her. She has boxes of pictures and 35mm negatives that I need to go through. It will be hard I think because my mom has never shown me any picures of her childhood, her family, or talked to me about the good parts of her childhood. My sister showed me ap icture of my grandmother (who passed before I was born) about 3 years ago. My mom said she has pictures of the reservations they lived on (she is Cherokee Indian) and I have never seen these things before. It will be sort of theraputic for me I think as well because maybe for once I might actually get to know my mom for real.
I want Alyssa to know who I am, to know what I value, to see people that are important and played a part in my life, etc. I want my daughter to know my heart and see my passion for the Lord, for our family, and for others.
My goal is to complete this by Christmas, but I think I will need ALOT more time to get it the way I want it. But, time is the enemy here...the longer it takes, the more she forgets. To think that one day, she'll see me and think of me as someone just passing by makes me very sad. Very sad.
I supose one good thing about her losing her memory is that she finally forgets the horror and pain that accompanied various points in her life. But within those awful moments, there were ones of joy that she held onto to help her survive.
She fell and hurt her back November 2004 at her work and has had difficulty standing and walking for long periods of time. Ever since her injury, she has seen over 15 doctors and has been on over 40 different types of mediciation. She is dependant on medication just to function daily.
With that all being said, she is beginning to show signs of early dementia (which I feel is due to her extended use of certain medications, but I digress). I've noticed that she is having some issues with her memory for the most part.
My project now is to make a memory book for her. She has boxes of pictures and 35mm negatives that I need to go through. It will be hard I think because my mom has never shown me any picures of her childhood, her family, or talked to me about the good parts of her childhood. My sister showed me ap icture of my grandmother (who passed before I was born) about 3 years ago. My mom said she has pictures of the reservations they lived on (she is Cherokee Indian) and I have never seen these things before. It will be sort of theraputic for me I think as well because maybe for once I might actually get to know my mom for real.
I want Alyssa to know who I am, to know what I value, to see people that are important and played a part in my life, etc. I want my daughter to know my heart and see my passion for the Lord, for our family, and for others.
My goal is to complete this by Christmas, but I think I will need ALOT more time to get it the way I want it. But, time is the enemy here...the longer it takes, the more she forgets. To think that one day, she'll see me and think of me as someone just passing by makes me very sad. Very sad.
I supose one good thing about her losing her memory is that she finally forgets the horror and pain that accompanied various points in her life. But within those awful moments, there were ones of joy that she held onto to help her survive.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
I can't lie about it.
It's been a rough couple of months.
But it's getting better and maybe we'll be on the other side of this mountain soon.
Getting settled, finding employment, keeping a steady paycheck. It's been very tough for us. Financially and mostly emotionally. We've spent hours pouring over the computer finding places to apply at, hours talking to friends on the phones to use their respources and connections, going to the library to print the applications and resumes out, dropping them off in our nicest clothes and waiting for days...weeks for maybe a phone call. Then, you get a call for a possible interview at a place you really don't want to work at, but will so you can provide for your famiy. You interview and they turn you down because they can see based on your resume that this position is not where your passion lies. As Bobby put it: "Who really wants to sell furniture their whole life!?" If you someone to work then hire him!
Luckily, I was able to get a job with the state again. I very much DO enjoy my job, even with its intensity at times. I enjoy meeting families and children in need and working with them to help encourage the positives and the strengths I see in them. I want to help change the lives of adults and children in my community for the better. I have three years of this experience already.
I had looked into Liberty's Masters program: Masters of Art in Human Services-Emphasis on Marriage and Famlies. It's a 30 hours program, but I can have 6 hours transfer in so it would only be a 24 hours program and could be completed in less than a year. Because then, I would just need to take the Praxis II and could apply to be a guidance counselor and work more one-on-one with teenagers. I have daydreamed about this opportunity. I don't feel called to complete my Masters degree yet-but I daydream about it all the time. Until we feel called by God to go back to school-then we won't. The decisions I make affect my family-Bobby and Alyssa. If I go back to school, it causes our family to incur more debt financially and I would also miss outon spending quality time with my family. Like I said, until we are called back to school-then I suppose it's okay to daydream about it.
I started feeling better in August. It has been 6 months since my dad died and I feel stronger now than I have in the past when I think about him. Grandparents day was hard-I felt sorrow for Alyssa. I think I would have forgotten about this day, except at the daycare, the staff (super friendly and awesome staff!) did a craft project with her little handprint on it and a letter. I'd like to go back to his memorial at Arlington next year-I'm not sure if I'm ready yet.
We know that we are supposed to be here in Charleston-for how long, only God knows. We are continuing to seek His will for our lives. Please pray for us as we continue to pray and search for a job for Bobby.
It's been a rough couple of months.
But it's getting better and maybe we'll be on the other side of this mountain soon.
Getting settled, finding employment, keeping a steady paycheck. It's been very tough for us. Financially and mostly emotionally. We've spent hours pouring over the computer finding places to apply at, hours talking to friends on the phones to use their respources and connections, going to the library to print the applications and resumes out, dropping them off in our nicest clothes and waiting for days...weeks for maybe a phone call. Then, you get a call for a possible interview at a place you really don't want to work at, but will so you can provide for your famiy. You interview and they turn you down because they can see based on your resume that this position is not where your passion lies. As Bobby put it: "Who really wants to sell furniture their whole life!?" If you someone to work then hire him!
Luckily, I was able to get a job with the state again. I very much DO enjoy my job, even with its intensity at times. I enjoy meeting families and children in need and working with them to help encourage the positives and the strengths I see in them. I want to help change the lives of adults and children in my community for the better. I have three years of this experience already.
I had looked into Liberty's Masters program: Masters of Art in Human Services-Emphasis on Marriage and Famlies. It's a 30 hours program, but I can have 6 hours transfer in so it would only be a 24 hours program and could be completed in less than a year. Because then, I would just need to take the Praxis II and could apply to be a guidance counselor and work more one-on-one with teenagers. I have daydreamed about this opportunity. I don't feel called to complete my Masters degree yet-but I daydream about it all the time. Until we feel called by God to go back to school-then we won't. The decisions I make affect my family-Bobby and Alyssa. If I go back to school, it causes our family to incur more debt financially and I would also miss outon spending quality time with my family. Like I said, until we are called back to school-then I suppose it's okay to daydream about it.
I started feeling better in August. It has been 6 months since my dad died and I feel stronger now than I have in the past when I think about him. Grandparents day was hard-I felt sorrow for Alyssa. I think I would have forgotten about this day, except at the daycare, the staff (super friendly and awesome staff!) did a craft project with her little handprint on it and a letter. I'd like to go back to his memorial at Arlington next year-I'm not sure if I'm ready yet.
We know that we are supposed to be here in Charleston-for how long, only God knows. We are continuing to seek His will for our lives. Please pray for us as we continue to pray and search for a job for Bobby.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
I have enjoyed the sunny weekends at the beach! I've enjyed being unemployed for the last two months and being a stay at home mom. I've realized that for 5 of Alyssa's 9 months, I have been home with her. It certainly was unexpected and such a wonderful blessing!
Alyssa is now 20 pounds and working on crawling! She's still trying to get her knees up under her, but when she does, we're going to be in trouble! She can walk backwards in her walker and clap now! She continues to be a very happy baby and is doing great!
Bobby started working at "Palmetto Behavioral Health" in Summerville, SC. It's a residential corrective facility for juvenile males. He is also getting back into running alot. Our apartment complex is located in an area with miles of family friendly trails so he has been taking advantage of it!
I was offered employment with the Charleston County Department of Social Services and will start on September 2. I will be working to provide state recommended treatment services to famlies who have some type of abuse or neglect in their home. I also turned 25...and found many grey hairs.
We've been attending Summit Church (http://www.summitcharleston.com/) and are very excited to see how God is going to use us for ministry at this church. We went here while we were in college as well!
Bobby started working at "Palmetto Behavioral Health" in Summerville, SC. It's a residential corrective facility for juvenile males. He is also getting back into running alot. Our apartment complex is located in an area with miles of family friendly trails so he has been taking advantage of it!
I was offered employment with the Charleston County Department of Social Services and will start on September 2. I will be working to provide state recommended treatment services to famlies who have some type of abuse or neglect in their home. I also turned 25...and found many grey hairs.
We've been attending Summit Church (http://www.summitcharleston.com/) and are very excited to see how God is going to use us for ministry at this church. We went here while we were in college as well!
We're continuing to pray to see what God has planned for us. Sometimes, the Lord just wants us to wait and rest in knowing that He has only the best instore for us. Most times, I do not want to rest and be still and would much rather make something happen.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
July 2009 Update
The move went smooth for the most part. Alyssa did great on the drive and had some restless nights with sleeping in different hotels each night. She is now back on schedule and sleeping through the nights again! Thank Goodness!! She is very much enjoying having her own bedroom and is working on crawling. She can push herself up and then she goes backwards! When she is on her back, she just wiggles around everywhere! Alyssa has also done well adjusting to a new climate and new people. She also has 4 teeth now!!
Bobby and I both have had interviews, but haven't heard much back from them. We are still applying and following up for jobs. In the meantime, we are doing our best finding work and enjoying the weather and sun!
Bobby and I both have had interviews, but haven't heard much back from them. We are still applying and following up for jobs. In the meantime, we are doing our best finding work and enjoying the weather and sun!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
June 2009
Bobby and I have been working at the Boys Ranch. Alyssa has been working on sitting up and, as of yesterday, getting a top tooth! We've gone to the pool a couple of times this summer and Alyssa very much LOVES the water! She is also working on drinking out a sippy cup and eating thicker foods!
As you may know, we are moving back to South Carolina! The movers will be here on 6/30. We should be in South Carolina by the 6th! We've done lots of packing and will be doing lots of driving this coming week! That's all we really have to update this month!
As you may know, we are moving back to South Carolina! The movers will be here on 6/30. We should be in South Carolina by the 6th! We've done lots of packing and will be doing lots of driving this coming week! That's all we really have to update this month!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)