Good-bye 2008, Hello 2009

What a year this has been! Last December I finished my Teaching Credential, and I definitely thought that right now I would be on my first "Christmas Break" as an official Teacher. Well, God had different plans!
Here I am in Austin, TX in my own apartment (as of almost two weeks ago) alone on New Year's Eve (by choice, didn't really feel like being around a bunch of couples) and thinking about all that has gone on in the last year.
Well, even though 2008 didn't go as I had planned, I know it went as God had planned, and He definitely knows better than I do! All I can do now is look forward to this new year and be patient as He unfolds the plan for the coming year.
Things I'm hoping for the coming year: a couple trips to SLO :); the rest of my furniture and belongings to be in TX; a Full Time Teaching position (sooner rather than later would be nice!); if we could throw in a nice Christian boyfriend somewhere, that would be cool; more friends here in Austin; being involved in a Bible teaching church here in Austin; success in my CM business, including earning a trip to Ireland for my mom and I; visits from friends in CA.... I'm sure there is more if I really sit and think about it, and of-course the above things are in no particular order :)
As far as pictures of the new apartment, they will have to wait until a few more boxes are unpacked... but I will tell you it is a 1 bedroom with a study and an attached garage. I think I like it, it's not perfect, but it is mine for now (and for the next 10 months). It is definitely conveniently located close to a lot of things (shopping, freeways, restaurants, etc.) and it is a nice complex.
Well, I hope that as you look back on 2008 that you can see the blessings God provided you (even if they were different than what you had wanted) and that you can look forward to the blessings that He will give you in 2009.
Please pray for me as I wait for His timing in providing a full time teaching job, and that I will be able to get lots of subbing jobs, and good tips at the restaurant now that I have rent and bills to pay!
Love and miss you all! I hear there are some good deals on Airline tickets the next week or so... so book a flight to Austin and come visit! :)

Answered Prayer!!!!!

I got an apartment!!!!!! Yippee!!!!
I found out today that I got an apartment that I applied for!!!! It is a 1 bedroom with a study (in Texas you can get a "second bedroom" for cheaper, by them calling it a den or study) and an ATTACHED GARAGE!!!! This is such a blessing because I come home late by myself with cash and didn't want to have to walk across a parking lot by myself! It also provides a little extra storage :)
The "study" will be my office/guest room. It is big enough that I will be able to have room for my teaching stuff and my Creative Memories stuff. And, I'm on the second floor! A little more security :) SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited!!!
Thank you so much for all your prayers!!!!!
I'll post pictures after I get in... I start moving on Friday! :)

I need your prayers!

I don't have much time for details but I really need your prayers.
I've been in Texas for 3 months now and I don't have my own place to live. I am working 3 jobs trying to have money to accomplish that. Waitressing and Subbing are both unstable income.
I applied for a permanent Second grade Teaching position right before Thanksgiving, but haven't heard anything and can't even get the Principal or Asst. Principal to answer email or phone calls to tell me when the job even starts.
Anyway, I have just been really stressed lately. It's hard being here basically alone. I live with my best friend and her family but I probably only see them 3-5 hours a week on average because of how much I work. I don't really have any other true friends. I go to church alone and since I don't know where I will be making my church home just yet, I am not in a small group (and don't really know where I would fit it in).
Coming home for Thanksgiving was so wonderful and now that I am back here I miss it even more. It was so nice to go to church and get hugs and have people ask about me and let me know they are praying for me.
On the upside, when I got back to waitressing on Sunday night I did get a few hugs and several people told me they missed me.
Anyway... I need to go because I am definitely tired of crying today. Please just pray that God would open doors to where I am supposed to be living, and if it's in His will a Full time teaching position or a very long term substitute position that He would open those doors as well.
I love you all and miss everyone terribly.

Coming home!!!!

Hi! I can't believe I haven't updated in November! Crazy! Well, I've been sick all week, and I have to sub 1/2 day tomorrow and then waitress... so I have to go to bed! But... I will be getting on an airplane on Saturday morning in Austin and landing at LAX! I am soooooooooooo excited!!!!! I miss everyone in SLO and at Grace so much! If you are reading this and you live there or go to church there... be prepared for Ginormous hugs!!!!
I promise a longer update with some photos as soon as possible!

Pumpkin Patch Pictures as promised :)

What a fun day we had at the Pumpkin Patch! It was an hour away (and actually a little more b/c the GPS kept thinking that there were roads where there wasn't... but eventually we arrived!)
So below are like a million pictures out of the billion that Steph and I took that day. I will narrate a little along the way :) Enjoy!

First stop: Picture opportunities! They had cut-outs and all kinds of places to take great pictures... so we took advantage while the kids still had energy and smiles! :)

I had to get in for one! :)

It was so cool that they had all these things set up and ready for you! :)

The Hahn family: Greg, Daniella, Brady and Stephanie

Auntie Heather's turn!

Diva pose:

They also had pumpkins everywhere in the cutest places.... boats, trucks, old bathtubs... the photographer in me had so much fun!

The cutest little baby... his mom was having a hard time getting him to look at the camera... he was having too much fun playing with the truck and pumpkins!

I had to take a picture of this table... my grandpa built us tables out of these wooden wire spools... it made me think of him.

I thought of Bekah and Lisa as I was taking these next few :)

Time for the maze!!!!

Which way should we go guys?

"Follow me!" ~ Brady

Does this picture look familiar? :)

Being goofy! :)


This is a little out of order... but oh-well! We got to stuff a Scarecrow while we were there... the kids had so much fun! :)

Daniella stuffing the head

Greg and I stapling the head in place

You want me to do what?

Family picture with the faceless Scarecrow (we still haven't put a face on him.. his name is Bubba!)

They had these huge rolls of hay... we had fun playing and taking pictures on them. Brady is dancing in the first few pics.

Family pic

Just girls pic

Proof that we weren't the only ones playing on them! :)

Feeding the animals. I love Daniella's face as she is watching Greg feed the horse in this first picture.

Teaching Daniella how to pet a horse

When we were walking away the donkeys started following us because they wanted more food... they followed us all the way to the end of their gated section!

So we gave them a little more food! :)

Finally... it's time to pick out the pumpkins!!!!