New Year...New Home

Well, we are officially in our new home. We are so happy to have a place that is ours! After renting only a short while we realized that we NEVER wanted to do that again! We thank God daily for all the opportunities that we have had for the year 2010 already. We closed on our home on Dec. 31 and moved in Jan 1 so we really did start the new year with a new home! Maybelle and Laylah are very happy to be settled and not be traveling anymore (however they miss a fenced in yard that actually has grass). Before closing on the house we stayed with the Wright family a few days (a big thank you!), then we went to St. Joe and visited my family for Christmas. While there we were snowed in for days (12 inches of snow!!). Even though we were snowed in we made so many memories with my family and will never forget this Christmas, and Jack was very happy to have his big sister to play every video and board game under the sun with for days straight. After spending time with my family we visited Brett's family in Neosho for a few days and then came back to Springfield to close on the house. Hunter came with a few days to help move in and we had so much fun spending time with him. He is growing up so fast!

Two days after moving in I started Winterfest classes (Neuroanatomy and Teaching and Learning). Winterfest was 3 straight weeks of studying and going to class. So, since I spent every waking hour studying the human brain you can only guess that our house is still not completly unpacked. We have moved all the unpacked boxes into the guest bedroom so at least they are out of sight. Out of sight, out of mind I guess...haha. I started my Spring semester of classes this past week. It is a very busy semester but so far very enjoyable. I am very much enjoying school and learning how to incorporate my faith into my future career.

Brett has been super busy this past month! Hamlin Memorial Baptist has found a pastor (Pat Findley) and he started the first week of January. Brett and I are so thankful to have Pat and Becca to serve along side with at Hamlin. We can't wait to see what God is going to do with Hamlin and the Hamlinites. With that said Brett has been so busy finally seeing what it's like to have another staff member at the church, planning his summer activities, running the bus ministry, and of course enjoying his time with the youth. He is doing amazing things and it is a blessing to get to work alongside him! I love listening to him tell me what he thinks God is showing him and how he is going to incorporate that into his ministry. He has also started taking online classes to work towards his Master of Divinity degree. Which he informed me yesterday that at this pace will take 6 years! Haha....I guess neither of us can get away from school!

***Pictures of the house to come soon****