Update in Pictures...

It's been a while since I've blogged. I don't really think I get many readers, so I don't think anyone even notices... but for my mom (who I know reads it)... here's some updates for ya! My job is going great... but VERY busy!!! I love it though!!!! I am thankful everyday that the Lord placed me there! Steve and I got to go to the UT vs. OSU football game last weekend w/ some people that have season tickets! It was AWESOME! Yes, I am an Aggie fan... and still am... but I am not a UT hater! I like to talk some trash just to my family... for fun... but now after being at a UT game, I truly loved it! Last year Steve and I got to go to a Dallas Cowboys game (and you know how much we love our Cowboys)... but the UT game was even better than that! It could be because we were on the 18th row, 40 yard line, on the TX side! Couldn't get any better!!! It was a total blast! So, below are pics from that! There are more pics just showing what we've been up to... Enjoy!


The beautiful flowers I got from my team for Boss' Day!



Above are our good friends Joel and Rochelle haby w/ their first baby Jaden Alexander Haby



Bobby and Rose (the couple who took us to the UT game w/ them)

Drama in the neighborhood!!!

We had some "drama" in our neighborhood tonight. I was sitting in the living room after being home from work for about 20 minutes (Steve had clinic tonight for work so he wasn't here). Well, I hear sirens and they get louder and louder and I keep thinking... wow, that sounds really close. Well, then they stopped. I would hear another set and then they'd stop. Finally, I hear a loud engine and I thought it was the trash guys or something... then I heard a honk and realized, that's not just a trash guy. So, I look outside and there's a firetruck in front of my house and 2 more firetrucks 3 houses down from me!! I of course got a little freaked out because it was right in front of my house!!! YIKES! I walked out onto my porch where I could see down the street and saw a lot of people outside. I could see smoke coming out of the roof of the house 3 doors down. People were all standing around (including myself because I had nothing else to do, and let's face it, I like to know what's going on!)... just watching for forever! The firemen weren't running around or even in a big hurry after they finally got into the house. I decided that there must not have been anyone home because of the lack of "urgency". So, I go back inside. Welp, I looked outside about 15 minutes later and there's now an ambulance and a bunch of unmarked police cars... and the yellow tape was around the yard of the house. So, I stepped back outside and watch for a while. I took a few pics so ya'll could get in on the action. I came in to blog about it and could still hear lots of noise outside... so I paused on my blogging and went back out. There was an official of some sort walking by and I asked him if there was anyone in the house. He said "yes, there was". I said "oh no, were they okay?" He said "no, unfortunately not". YIKES! So, then a policeman was talking and said that the man that lived there started a fire in his kitchen and then barricaded himself in his bathroom and then shot himself! SCARY!!!

So, there's drama for our nice little neighborhood! I met LOTS of neighbors for the first time after living here for over 4 years! How sad is that. Anyhoo... I'm off to get ready for bed.

Busy, Busy, Busy!!!

Sorry it's been a while since my last post! I started my new job last Wednesday and have been SUPER busy!

I have to just do a re-cap again of how amazing our God is! Being in my new job I keep having reminders of how God TOTALLY opened this door for me! Quick run-down... they called me OUT OF THE BLUE in August after finding my resume from a guy I had given it to back in April! I got the job and started just 2 days before Wamu (who I left to come to SWBC) went down and then was bought out by Chase! Talk about God's timing!!! Then, we are in the process of hiring for our teams so I have been doing interviews and going thru resumes. I found the stack of resumes that were used to interview for the supervisor position that I am now in. All I can say is that there is no way I got this job except that my Lord is in control and had His hand in it and opened it for me! There are so many people that had so much experience that I didn't have!!! WOW! Thank you Lord for being so awesome! Again, it was a reminder that this is where He wants me! Anyways, I love what I'm doing... but I've got a LOT of learning to do! Please pray for me as I try to learn this business!

Other than my job, not a lot else is going on right now. Sorry for such a boring post! I am attaching a few pics from a few weekends ago. One of my best childhood friends, Hillary Coombes, got married a few weeks ago and I was honored to be one of her bridesmaids. Below are a few pics from her wedding!











On our way to Hillary's wedding, we stopped in Temple and had lunch w/ Shannon and the girls (Brad was getting ready for a soccer game that day so we missed getting to see him). Anyways, my mom had told me about Mallory singing this song... and I captured it on video!!! Now, pardon the background noise, we were in Whataburger while she sang this. But she's singing "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus... there's just something about that name!...." Enjoy!...

GOD IS SOOOO GOOD!!!!

After almost 2 months since I had my first interview with SWBC, I got the phone call I had been waiting for! They called me on Friday and offered me the position!!! YAY!!! So, thank you all for all of your prayers! God is faithful and in HIS timing (not mine!!) He will show us HIS will for our lives! Isn't that just awesome! Thank you Lord for opening this door for me!

WARNING- Touchy Subject

I know this is a very touchy subject... but since it's my own blog and this is for me to tell what's on my mind, or what's going on in my life, or whatever I want to blog about... I'm gonna talk about this! Now, I'm not going to say as much as what is on my mind (which believe it or not is a lot more than what's in this blog)... but I just can't go without saying anything!

I'll go ahead and tell you now... before you read all the way through thinking I'm yelling at you! I use ALL CAPS to put emphasis on the word... not to yell at you! Just fyi because I do it A LOT!

This presidential election is going to be HUGE! I'm tired of hearing all of the trash and stuff... but I, for the first time, have to speak my opinion. If there are any liberals that are reading this, you may want to sit down and take a Xanax (chill pill) before you read this. ******So, if you don't want to hear my opinion, then stop reading now.*******

CAUTION: THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL THAT IS UNSUITABLE FOR IRRATIONAL, LIBERAL, AND POLITICALLY CORRECT THINKERS.

I tell you things that I'm about to say because I just feel that people aren't really paying attention to what they're doing. They are voting for Obama for dumb reasons! Some, just because of his race and they want to make history! Others, just because he's a democrat. Well, maybe people should take a look at some of the things he stands for before they make a vote based on reasons like that. This isn't for "student body president" of your school or club. This isn't just fun and games... this is for someone who will be RUNNING OUR COUNTRY and will have control over the SAFETY of our country!!!!!!

How can ANYONE vote for Obama???? I mean, seriously! Why would you want a president who cannot make up his mind on his own "view-points" of things?? Why would you want a socialist? Why would you want someone who has no experience at all in leading anything... especially a country- the most POWERFUL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD???

If you like socialism, then maybe you don't really understand how it works??? That's the ONLY thing that would make sense as to why you support it. Let me give an example of how it works... You go get a job and put in 40-60 hours a week and work your rear-end off! You move up in the company because you are so successful and you work hard to earn it! You get paid good money for your hard work, right? Okay, so me... I'm gonna get the same job that you have, work MAYBE my 40 hours a week, sit around on the Internet all day at work, talk on my cell phone, text my friends, BLOG while I'm at work to tell people about my life (which- yes, I do all those things currently at my job... only because we have NO work and our bosses know we have no work and nothing to do!). Now, you got paid for your hard work and I am going to get the SAME PAY you got... just to make it all equal and fair! THAT IS SOCIALISM PEOPLE! Is that really fair or equal??? I mean, come on... who thinks that's a good idea? I read a story about a girl in college who is a democrat and her dad a republican. They were having a debate over their ideas. The dad asked the girl how she was doing in school. She told him she was working hard, studying all the time, didn't have time for socializing or making many friends because she's studying so much... but she had a 4.0 GPA! Her dad asked how her friend was doing. The daughter said, "she's having a blast. She's in a sorority, socializing, partying, making all kinds of friends and having all kinds of fun on the weekends! But, she's not doing good in school because she's not doing any studying... she's only got a 2.0 GPA". The dad said, "well, why don't you just give her 1pt of your GPA that way you can both have a 3.0 which will make it all equal and fair?" The girl hated that idea. But, ladies and gentlemen... that's what democrats (Obama) support... everyone to be equal!

Okay, so outside of that ridiculous factor... what about abortion? Obama is pro-choice!-- which again, if you don't know what that means, it means they SUPPORT abortion!!! Obama has stated that he would not want his own daughters to have the "burden" of having a baby if they slept with someone and accidentally got pregnant.

Another thing, experience? Okay, so, when is the last time that you didn't have to have ANY experience to get hired to be the president/CEO of a major (or small for that matter) company? Let's use Wamu (since that's where I'm currently employed) for example. I don't think that I could come in... even after working here in 2 different depts for 2 years and get hired as the president/CEO of Wamu! So, WHY IN THE WORLD would we want someone who has no executive experience and did not accomplish ANYTHING significant while in the Senate to have THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN THE WORLD... President of the United States? (And if you don't know how he got the job of a senator... do some research on it. Let's just say he's VERY shady and did some "digging" like he's doing to Sarah Palin. He got dirt on people that were running against him and they "dropped out" of the running for senate. After the frontrunners in the election dropped out, Obama's final opponent entered the race less than 3 months before the general election and was not even from Illinois, giving him practically no chance of winning. So, in essence, Obama did not have to run against anyone... which is how he got in! Sounds like eliminating the competition is the only way he can win.) Click here to read more about it.

Keep on going with my list... the man can't make up his dad-gum mind! If you're gonna be President of the USA... don't you at least need to know what YOU-(meaning Obama) believe?!?! He has flip-flopped on HOW MANY ISSUES??? Geez! I bet you money he's gonna change his VP candidate! I wouldn't be surprised at all if Hillary Clinton ends up being on the ticket before November! Again... if he can't make up his mind enough to stick w/ AT LEAST his VP Candidate of choice... why do we think he can run our country and make MAJOR decisions? Even if he keeps Biden... what about his other "flip-flop" decisions. One being raising taxes! In the beginning, he said that it's not going to have any impact on our economy. Now, he's saying that if the economy is in the same position it's in now, he's not going to raise taxes. Okay, so Rush Limbaugh said it best... if it's not going to have any impact on our economy whether you raise taxes or not... then, why would it matter if you didn't raise them??? Is it because he KNOWS it will impact our economy and he's just lying to people? Or, is it just because the guy can't make up his mind and stick w/ a decision?

Okay, I've already said too much probably. I ask that if you do read this and you are voting for Obama... PLEASE, consider what you're voting for! Pray about it!!!

Hurricane Ike

We had a GREAT weekend this past weekend! My parents were vacationing in Galveston and were supposed to have been there through the weekend, but due to Hurricane Ike, they had to evacuate! It's a good thing they did because the hotel they were staying at had lots of damage. I'm sorry that their vacation got cut short, but we were super excited that they got to come to SA! They don't get to come down here very often, so we enjoyed having them here!!!!

Steph and Ed had a houseful of guests that were evacuated from Victoria, so Ted and Sherry came to stay at our house with us too. We had so much fun w/ everyone!

Friday night (before Ted and Sherry got into town) Steve, me, my mom and dad all went to a local high school football game. It was not a good game, but still fun to be with them! Saturday Zach was getting a level of his black-belt in Karate, so we went to the ceremony for him to get that. Below are some pics to cap off our weekend...

Mom and Dad at the house before they had to hit the road on Sunday. (Look at how good my mom looks! And mom, thanks for the recipes on the triscuits!!!)


Ted and Sherry out on our deck while we were goofing around in the yard on Sunday:


Steve and Zach in the backyard:


Steph, Ed, Zach, and Autumn after Zach got his belt:


Steph and Autumn on our deck:


Below is video of my favorite part of the weekend! After church Saturday night, we went back to the house for dinner. Unfortunately, Steph and Ed couldn't come :-( , so it was just me and Steve w/ both sets of our parents. We ate and then sat around telling funny stories and laughing! Dad told some good stories about my Peepaw (his dad) who died when I was just a little girl. We filled Ted and Sherry in on some "Brad" stories of him being a prankster... they were quite amused.

Here's dad telling stories. And in one of my previous blogs I talked about Ted and Steve being so fun to watch laugh... here's a little taste of them laughing at one of the stories my dad told!:


And here's Zach breaking a board in a demonstration that they did for the audience. He's so good... and growing up so fast!:

Random conclusion of our summer in pics!

Okay, so I know I've put some pics on here already from our summer. But here are a few more of some recent activities and some old (but I just now got them downloaded!)... so, enjoy...

Here's Julia when we were in Burk back in August at B-mom and Pop's (isn't she growing up... and BEAUTIFUL!)

and then here's me w/ Julia and Johnathan at B-mom and Pop's house

A few weekends ago Steph and Zach came to the gym w/ Steve and I. After us adults worked out, we all went out to the pool. Steph and I enjoyed laying there getting some sun while Steve and Zach did some swimming.

Steph, Steve, and I also decided to try out the water slide w/ Zach. I have to say it was quite fun... and FAST!


This pic doesn't capture it very well 'cause I snapped it too late, but it was cute because Steve was sitting w/ his arms on the edge of the pool. Zach swam right up next to him and did the same exact pose! It was cute.

Zach and Daniel (Zach's cousin from Ed's side of the family) eating lunch w/ the family at Willie's


Steph and I celebrated our birthdays together (hers is Aug 14th and mine is the 12th). Sherry made us the cake of our choice. Steph's was chocolate w/ gooey icing (don't know how to describe the icing!). I chose strawberry cake w/ white icing! YUMMY!



My FAVORITE time of the year is here.... ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBAAAAAAAALLLL!!!!! When Steve bought me my Marion Barber jersey, he bought himself a Jason Witten jersey. So, the first game of the season for the Cowboys was Sunday and we wore our jerseys! You will be seeing us in those EVERY game day! We talked to Ted and Sherry on Sunday and found out the Ted is now a proud owner of a Cowboys jersey as well!! We'll get a pic of the 3 of us when they're in town this weekend! Fun times! "How 'bout them Cowboys!"


One weekend it was rainy/stormy and Steve and I were just bumming around the house. Well, Briley takes after me in that she is terrified of thunderstorms! I mean, her heart RACES and we're honestly worried that one day she's going to give herself a heart attack! Anyhoo... Steve was just laying on the couch that day. Briley is NEVER aloud to get on our furniture... and she knows that. But, because of the storms, she was freaked out and just ran and hopped up on top of Steve! It was so funny. She snuggled herself down between him and the couch. (pardon the ugly couch! My couch slip-cover was in the wash!)

Lastly, this is totally random and it's not a great picture... so, sorry. But, I pulled Briley up in my lap the other night. She is SOOOO NOT a lap dog! I thought it was funny because she could hardly fit! It was like having a big bear in my lap!

Desire of my heart...

For those of you who don't know, I am STILL getting laid off in November from WaMu.

Let me fill you in on what's going on right now. About 5 weeks ago I got a call out of the blue for a job interview at SWBC (Southwest Business Corporation)for a supervisor position. (This alone was just a God thing. I had sent my resume to them back in April when I originally was getting laid off. The position at that time did not work out but the guy told me he would hold on to my resume and pass it around to people he knew.)

So, out of nowhere I get a phone call from SWBC back in July and the lady told me she had received a copy of my resume (thanks to that guy for passing it on to them!) and wanted to know if I was still looking for a job. Long story short, I went in for an interview, and a week later got called back for a second interview. I hadn't heard anything until I talked to them yesterday. They said the process is taking longer than expected. So, she doesn't know when they will have the decisions made but told me they'd be in touch by the end of next week.

All that being said, in the past 5 weeks, Steve and I have really prayed over this. I know that the Lord is telling me to wait and to FULLY trust in Him. At first, that's what I did. Then, as time went on, I started to worry and get anxious and have a constant battle in my mind about it. Finally, last week I had a break down in my mind and had to give it back to God... again! I am completely letting go of it. I know He's having me wait for a reason. It could be for SO MANY REASONS! I know that He's faithful and He's going to answer my prayer... even if it means the answer is "you didn't get the job".

Steve was getting ready one morning last week and Joyce Meyers was on TV. He DVR'd it for me so I could hear what she was saying. One thing that REALLY stuck out was about how I'm praying. I don't want to be praying for something because I want it. I used to say, "but it's the 'desire of my heart' and the Lord tells us to make our requests known to him". But, after hearing Joyce Meyers, it really hit me that I've been praying the wrong thing and I need to get "the desires of my heart" on the right track! I want the "desire of my heart" to be GOD'S WILL FOR MY LIFE! So, my prayer now is strictly "I want to be where you want me, Lord. And if this is where you want me, then I'm asking you to open the door and offer me that job. If it's not your will and not what you want for me, then I'm asking you to shut that door and have them turn me down." For now, the answer I'm getting from the Lord is "Wait! In my time I'll show you what I have for you"! So, that's what I'm doing. All the while, still praying for him to show me his will.

Sorry this is long and there are no pics or videos (I know those are always more entertaining), but just wanted to share my heart. Please be praying for me to continue to stay strong in the Lord and not get discouraged... even if the answer is "no".