Our lives since Christmas have included a little bit of change and a LOT of busyness (is that a word?). Unfortunatley that means, I'm horrible at keeping this up to date! So I'm going to try harder! Promise!
Marc is back in school. From what I can tell this semester is a lot harder than last semester, but he is taking it like a champ. He studies ALL the time, and has done really well! He has also become midly obssessed with fly fishing and has even tried it in the bayou (read:creek) across the street from us.
I am almost through with my teaching certification (two more weeks!) and I just got a substitute teaching job. I am so excited about it, and I hope it leads to some more opportunities. I really hope to work at a school called YES Prep next year. It is a charter school and it would be the perfect mix for my social work/education background so keep that in your prayers! I would be overjoyed if I could work there... here is a link in case your interested in knowing more about it: http://www.yesprep.org/
First I have to represent my family and say GEAUX SAINTS! Mom, dad and Luke came down to watch the game with us here (since we couldn't go to Abilene) and we had so much fun finally watching the Saints win. It is definitely a big deal to my family and I am so happy we all got to experience it together!
On Valentine's Day I "surprised" Marc with a trip to Gruene, TX to go fly fishing. It wasn't a real surprise because I told him before Valentine's Day weekend, but I planned it all without him knowing. We stayed at the cutest little bed and breakfast. (I lied about no pictures, I found some on the internet so here they are)
I will add more later, but one is of our room (it was pretty big, you can't tell from the picture. And soooo cute!) and the other was our patio outside our room. It was perfect to sit and watch Chloe play in the yard (yep! she was allowed to come too!). The whole place was perfect. The owner made breakfast in the main house everymorning and it was delicious. I never want to stay in a hotel again.
Saturday during the day we drove to the Guadalupe and tried out fly-fishing. I am horrible and evidently there were NO fish because we didn't catch a single one, but it was so much fun! I think it will be our Valentine's tradition.
Gruene, TX has to be the cutest little town in Texas and Saturday night we ate dinner at the Gristmill... which is the restaurant in the old cotton gin. And Marc being the sweet sweet husband he is gave me this beautiful necklace from James Avery for Valentine's Day....
I had no idea he was going to do something so special! (I thought the trip was for me too since I got to pick the B&B and go shopping!). The necklace is beautiful, he did SO good!
We wanted to go dancing at Gruene Hall (the oldest dance hall in Texas!), but there was a concert that night and a line going all the way down the street. It was cold outside so we decided to head back to the B&B and watch the Olympics (Go USA!).
On Sunday we did our shopping in Gruene and found some cool antiques stores...it was a beautiful day and it ended our trip perfectly! I didn't buy anything because somehow people label random things as antiques so they can charge more, and I would rather have something new than old. However, we found a ton of cool random things to put in Marc's office someday (like old optometry stuff). So we will probably be back to look for that when the time comes.
Other than that, our lives our busy but boring. I work 40 hours a week and usually have class for 10-15 hours a week too. And Marc is going to school like 25 hours a week and studying for what seems like an eternity. We are busy bees, but we like it that way! I have started making jewelry to keep me busy while Marc is studying and I love it! Its relaxing and I get some great jewelry out of it. I will post some pictures soon so everyone can see!
This is long but I want to leave you guys with this... They played it at the beginning of our teacher class last week and I loved it, so hopefully you can get something out of it too!
Paradox of Our Age
The paradox of our time in history is that we have
taller buildings but shorter tempers;
w i d e r freeways, but narrower viewpoints.
We spend more, but have less;
we buy more, but enjoy less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families;
more conveniences, but less time.
We have more degrees but less sense;
more knowledge, but less judgment;
more experts, yet more problems;
more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much,
smoke too much,
spend too recklessly,
laugh too little,
drive too fast,
get too angry,
stay up too late,
get up too tired,
read too little,
watch TV too much,
and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life.
We've added years to life not life to years.
We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space.
We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.
We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.
We write more, but learn less.
We plan more, but accomplish less.
We've learned to rush, but not to wait.
We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion;
big men and small character;
steep profits and shallow relationships.
These are the days of two incomes but more divorce;
fancier houses but broken homes.
These are days of
quick trips,
disposable diapers,
throwaway morality,
one night stands,
overweight bodies,
and pills that do everything from cheer,
to quiet,
to kill.
It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.
A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.
Remember, spend some time with your loved ones,
because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember to say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe,
because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you,
because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember to say "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it.
A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment
for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak,
and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
