It started with a fun, and really sweet (in more ways than one!) week at work where our administration set up a week of Teacher Appreciation. There were lots (and lottttsss) of delicious goodies every day, and many of our parents lavished gifts and sweet notes on us all week long. If you're involved in an education field of work, you know that it often feels unnoticed and unappreciated. The pay is often low, there's lots of tired days, emotional days, and plenty of praying for God to remind you that we work as unto Him and not for the praise of Man... but sweet gestures like this are great reminders that simple "thank yous" go a really long way!
I still think about this delicious strawberry. It was ginormous!
and so super juicy and sweet!
and so super juicy and sweet!
this was hilarious to me!
We have some bounce-type horses in our classroom.
This little boy's older sister drew this for me!
Such generosity!
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The week ended with a quick drive over to the next town to see my parents for about 20 minutes.
Always happy to squeeze that into a work day!
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Next up ~ you guessed it... a weekend away! My cousin and her family were living near us when we moved down here, so I've gotten to see them several times while living in Louisiana. They have just moved back to the east coast, but thankfully were still close (Austin/Round Rock area) enough for us to pop in for their daughter's 1st Birthday! Her BEE Day. Such a cute party!
We started our journey west by stopping in for my first visit to a Buc-Ees.
If you don't know about these stores, please make sure you keep your eyes peeled the next time you're traveling. It's a phenomenon.
Us and Bucee the Beaver.
It was still to early in the morning for decent selfies, but here we are.
The hotel wasn't ready for us when we got there, so we we ahead to Ikea!
A girl's always got to visit Ikea when there's one available!
A girl's always got to visit Ikea when there's one available!
Gimme all the thingggsss!
Also. Take me back to this hotel and that big bath tub! <3
And finally! Sunday arrived, and it was time to PARTY!
Happy Bee-Day to this cutie patootie!
She wasn't as much of a fan of the SnapChat filters. :o)
So happy my Aunt Lora (Baby Girl's Nana!) was able to make it from North Carolina!
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*blip in the days to come... another quick visit (this time, long enough for dinner!) with Mama and Daddy. We got some recommendations for where to eat in Lafayette, and ended up at Don's Seafood. It was quaint, very quiet, and we enjoyed our food!*
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Next up - Grease! Damion's cousin Dylan was part of a performing arts group doing Grease in town! I'm SO glad we were able to make it. I wish we could have see the performance several times. They all did such a great job, and I so enjoyed seeing Dylan on stage! He's such a detailed performer!
I tried not to take a billion photos, even though I wanted to!
Dylan is the second person from the far left. :o)
Dylan is the second person from the far left. :o)
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And then... we became parents. For a day. :o( :o( :o(
I almost didn't include this story, but when I was organizing my photos for May, there were just so many of this sweet boy that I couldn't not tell you.
As you know, Damion works for the state park here in town. One morning, he found this sweet guy abandoned in the brush by a boat launch. We've since learned lots more info about this situation, but he was for sure abandoned... and deaf! He texted me, and of course, my heart wanted to be stern and unloving and remind him that we aren't ready for a pet right now. But then he sent me a photo, and I wanted to die a million times from the cuteness! I should also tell you that I had already picked out the name Moses for a boy doggie if we ever get to have one, so knowing that this baby was found by the water in the brush just about nearly did.me.in. So, while we decided what we were going to do, I told him it was okay to bring him home for the night.
I almost didn't include this story, but when I was organizing my photos for May, there were just so many of this sweet boy that I couldn't not tell you.
As you know, Damion works for the state park here in town. One morning, he found this sweet guy abandoned in the brush by a boat launch. We've since learned lots more info about this situation, but he was for sure abandoned... and deaf! He texted me, and of course, my heart wanted to be stern and unloving and remind him that we aren't ready for a pet right now. But then he sent me a photo, and I wanted to die a million times from the cuteness! I should also tell you that I had already picked out the name Moses for a boy doggie if we ever get to have one, so knowing that this baby was found by the water in the brush just about nearly did.me.in. So, while we decided what we were going to do, I told him it was okay to bring him home for the night.
Of course, his foster daddy ran right out and got him a small bag of food, a couple of toys, a cheap leash and collar, and cleaned out an old dog kennel he had found at work in the past.
THIS FACE. I cannot. I miss that sweet thing so much!
Like I said, he is a deaf dog. We began to research how to care for him (not knowing if it would be one day, one week, or what might happen), and figured out what would be the best way for him to sleep that night. It's super strange when a deaf dog goes to sleep because it's not like things startle him, you know? In order to keep him from waking up in fear, for example, we learned that you need to begin stomping the ground a few times to help send him vibrations.. that way, you don't reach your hand to touch him and get snapped back at! Night time was a little rough because covering his crate scared him since that made him deaf and blind! So, we took him in our room (in the crate), and let him watch us 'wind down.' Lights off, lay across the bed with just the tv going, being still, etc. He finally got tired and went to sleep. Damion was a trooper and got up with him every few hours to make him potty outside. Around 4-5 a.m., he was done with that crate, though, and cried so much that Damion gave in and took him to sleep on the couch until it was time to go to work. Ha! He said that was his least favorite part of all this experience. I reminded him that this is why he needs to be really nice to Mothers. :o) When they were leaving for the park that morning, Damion kissed me goodbye and I laid back in bed. As they were about to go out the door, Moses broke away from him and beelined to the back of the house where I was. He jumped onto the side of the bed and licked my face from top to bottom, then ran back to Damion who had come looking for him. Oh, my heart is breaking all over again telling you. :o( So, off they went to work and his co-worker and his girlfriend (who rescue dogs regularly and helps find them homes) agreed to take Moses and find him a better situation than we could give him at this time. I cried so much at work that day after Damion texted to fill me in. It will be fun to have a dog together some day. <3
Like I said, he is a deaf dog. We began to research how to care for him (not knowing if it would be one day, one week, or what might happen), and figured out what would be the best way for him to sleep that night. It's super strange when a deaf dog goes to sleep because it's not like things startle him, you know? In order to keep him from waking up in fear, for example, we learned that you need to begin stomping the ground a few times to help send him vibrations.. that way, you don't reach your hand to touch him and get snapped back at! Night time was a little rough because covering his crate scared him since that made him deaf and blind! So, we took him in our room (in the crate), and let him watch us 'wind down.' Lights off, lay across the bed with just the tv going, being still, etc. He finally got tired and went to sleep. Damion was a trooper and got up with him every few hours to make him potty outside. Around 4-5 a.m., he was done with that crate, though, and cried so much that Damion gave in and took him to sleep on the couch until it was time to go to work. Ha! He said that was his least favorite part of all this experience. I reminded him that this is why he needs to be really nice to Mothers. :o) When they were leaving for the park that morning, Damion kissed me goodbye and I laid back in bed. As they were about to go out the door, Moses broke away from him and beelined to the back of the house where I was. He jumped onto the side of the bed and licked my face from top to bottom, then ran back to Damion who had come looking for him. Oh, my heart is breaking all over again telling you. :o( So, off they went to work and his co-worker and his girlfriend (who rescue dogs regularly and helps find them homes) agreed to take Moses and find him a better situation than we could give him at this time. I cried so much at work that day after Damion texted to fill me in. It will be fun to have a dog together some day. <3
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Here are a couple of other random photos for you from our May. :o)
Thanks for reading!
We were finally able to make it over to Sulphur Community Church, a church plant I had been following through social media that ended up being only a mile or two from our house. Damion ran into a friend from school who invited us, not knowing I had been wanting to visit for a little while now. His friend wasn't there that day, but we enjoyed meeting several folks and worshiping there!
We look forward to learning more about the church soon!
We covet your prayers as we continue to seek the place God would have us serve!
Also... I finally joined a gym.
And this is me hating life on the treadmill, like always. Ha!
Where my girls at?!?! I need you!!
And this is me hating life on the treadmill, like always. Ha!
Where my girls at?!?! I need you!!
(That means YOU Kristin, Alicia, Heather, Julie, Casey, Hallie, Dawn...
gotta get that 2009 body back!)
More on this later.
