Hey, I'm still here!

Sorry for the extended absence, there just hasn't been much going on. But I'll still update you on all the mundane details!

We made the trip to Oxford for Memorial Day weekend and Kayla & Chris' birthday weekend. Both were a lot of fun.

Memorial Day weekend, we stayed with Daddy and Gale, and I love that. There's plenty of room, and it's just comfortable. We went to the farm-share Daddy and Gale have joined (because Oxford is oh, so trendy and they have these all over now cause its so hip), and it was quite lovely. They had great produce and bread and eggs and stuff, and it was just really pretty. And very close to the house. That's about all I remember. Oh, I did get to visit with my sister, Amanda and her husband and my stinky-cute nephew, Zayden. And Grandmother and my cousin, Evans, who was on a trip home from his current working life in Afghanistan! I guess I did more than I thought!

On the birthday trip, we were able to stay in the Martin (David, Kayla, & Parker) family's new home! It's so cute! I love it and so do they. So proud for them. We had a yard sale there Saturday morning, and it was quite successful! That evening we made a birthday dinner for the honorees...fried chicken, mashed potatoes, tomato-cucumber salad, chocolate chip cake, and caramel cake. Beyond delicious.

Other than that, there really hasn't been much excitement. Chris has had some more interviews, applied for several more jobs...he even went to a job fair yesterday, but didn't feel like it was a great use of time or resources. Still no job, but we're praying and hoping and trusting.

On the day to day front, Charlotte is just a ball of fun. Every day I notice something new she has learned or developed. It's just the most amazing thing to get to experience a child grow up in front of you. Also, she's got great dance moves...girl loves to break it down! Music is definitely her favorite thing, with which I am totally ok!

I'd love love love to go back to school in the fall. So much. I really miss it. I just want to finish! I would have great study/homework time during naptimes. I'm praying it (and several other things) works out!

Speaking of school, I have a confession to make. After my first semester of grad school, I changed my major from marriage and family therapy to Christian/childhood education. I did that for the wrong reasons. I definitely do love children, and I've loved all the classes I was able to take. I know they have and they will all benefit me greatly. But I changed because I just wanted to hurry and finish school, and the MACE degrees all looked so easy, compared to what I was doing! (just to clarify, I'm only meaning seemingly easy by comparison...no graduate degree is easy!!) So, I changed to take the easy way out. The funny thing is, I always had in the back of my mind that I would still go back, at some point, to get my MSW...which would achieve the very same thing as the MFT degree. I'd still end up being a licensed counselor. Crazy, I know. So, with all that being said...when I do get to go back, I'm going to do it the right way. I'll be going back into the MFT degree, like I'm supposed to, and like I was in the first place!

Lesson: don't try the easy way out; you'll only make it harder on yourself in the long run.

Life lately.

I'd like to preface like my entire blog here by saying that I would probably update more if I had a more interesting life. Chris still doesn't have a job, and all of my money is going towards living expenses, so we don't do much for fun. We're still praying this changes soon!

I was able to go home to Mississippi this past weekend! It was so great to be home and to see everyone. The last time I was in Oxford was January, for Parker's first birthday...so it's been a while!

The weekend was filled with time by the pool, visiting with Grandmother, explaining to everyone how this diet thing works, kisses and hugs from Parker and Zayden, playing Phase 10 with Kayla and David, talking with Daddy about politics, and visiting Woodson Ridge Farms (a co-op Daddy and Gale have joined) with Gale. It was fast and furious, but so good. Hopefully we'll be able to go back sooner, rather than later. Especially since Kayla and David closed on their first house yesterday! I've only seen the outside, so I need to go back to see how great it is inside.

Other than the little weekend excursion, we've really not done anything of interest. We watch tv, make meals, grocery shop, and I work. Pretty much it. I am able to take sweet little Charlotte out more now, with her being older and her reflux waning. We've been out to lunch, to the zoo, to the park, and swimming lately.

I'm pretty excited that we will be going to the local farmers' market for the first time tonight. I've wanted to go for months, but I always forget about it! There are plans to start an herb garden this weekend. Notice I didn't say "I will start an herb garden". The plants are all Chris. I actually have special death powers when it comes to plants. And I'm also thinking some hydrangeas out front in this pretty blue pot I have. It will look nice with the window box.

If you happen to be the praying type, please keep Chris' employment situation in your prayers. He's had lots of interviews and phone interviews, but he continues to get the same responses: you're overqualified or you're under qualified. It's pretty discouraging. It's also quite stressful. In the interest of full disclosure, I make just around $300 less than what our average monthly expenses are. So far we've survived, but it's been touchy. He's supplemented from his savings, but that has now run out. We have enough to last through July, however, the family I work for is taking a week long vacation in August, so I will have one less week of pay. There is not enough cushion for that! The situation HAS to change before then, or else terrible things will happen!

Oh, as far as the diet goes...I've lost 14 lbs. total and Chris has lost something like 52 lbs. total! It's going great! Though we'll see this weekend how much of a set-back our trip to Oxford was...hopefully not that bad.