We're Moving!!

According to Andrew, "We are going to be our own landlord!"

We get the keys on Friday. We are so excited. I am still in awe and can't believe that it's real. We weren't even really looking and then a house on our street came up for sale. We took one look and fell in love. It all happened so fast-- it was only on the market for 5 days. Although we hadn't been actively looking to buy a house the Lord had been preparing us so when it all of a sudden came up it was easier for us to say, "This is the place-- we'll take it!" The kids are way excited to have a basement-- according to them they just "love" basements. Derek is excited to have a home of his own and likes the idea of being able to do whatever he wants to it. He can't wait to stock up on home improvement books. Me-- I am excited to have some room. We will be moving up from 1800 square feet to 3200. I can't wait!! Now to just make it through the move. Why do we always move when I am pregnant?!

It's FINALLY done!!!

It's official-- Derek's thesis is FINALLY done, handed in, and signed off on!! It has taken three years to get to this point. It has been a LONG process with many sacrifices and numerous sleepless nights. We've had to jump through many hoops to get here-- but, we're here!! We are so excited! Now we can spend our weekends together as a family again. :) Official graduation is on July 29th. Now Derek will have is master's degree in Strategic Intelligence. Woo-hoo!!!

Derek with his finished thesis:

Being silly!!

This is the acknowledgement Derek wrote to go with his thesis. It melts my heart every time I read it. :)

"To my wife Jodi and our children; Brian, Andrew, Timothy, Kylie, and Philip who had to

forego many family activities because daddy had to “work on his thesis,” thank you for your love and patience. Additional thanks to friends and co-workers who continued to support and

encourage me throughout the process. Lastly, a most humble and heartfelt thank you to Dusty

Stewart and John Davidson, two of the greatest in-laws I am blessed to call family."

Thank you to everyone who has been praying for us/Derek all this time. We know it truly helped!! We feel very blessed to have been given the opportunity to make it to this point and to achieve this accomplishment. :)

Blogging from phone

Figured I ought to try out this blogger app since I've had it on my phone for months.  Currently I'm on the Metro heading in to work to finish my thesis on the 4th of July.  Hopefully this truly is my independence day from this paper.

Have to try and add a picture too.

Why I've Been Away

I know, I haven't posted anything in a long time. It's not like I don't have anything to post, in fact at this point, I have too much to ever catch up. There is never a shortage of excitement at our house. :) Anyway, I thought I would at least let you know what has been keeping me so busy. My sewing machine and I have been spending A LOT of time together lately. Here are a few photos of what I have been working on.

My sister got married this month and we wanted all 15 of the grandchildren to match. So this is where most of my time was spent-- making these 7 dresses and 8 bowties:

Here they are on the grandkids:

All 7 of the little girls:

All 8 of the little boys (they aren't as photogenic as the girls):

We did it not only because it was cute but so my parents could have a picture like this:

In between making all the stuff for the wedding I also found time to make Kylie this Easter dress (Philip wanted in the picture too):

I also made Kylie and me these matching skirts to wear on Mother's Day:

I made two more skirts for the wedding like the ones above and a special white dress for my niece who got baptized the week before my sister's wedding. I also made Timothy new curtains for his bedroom and new curtains for my living room that have jabots and festoons. And lastly, I am half way done with a blessing dress for my sister's new little baby girl. It would be all the way done but Kylie decided she wanted to help. Too bad it wasn't really so helpful. After I had the lace sewed on around the bottom she snipped slits all over in it all across the front. Someone ran off with my seam ripper at some point so that project is on hold for a moment. Did I mention that she cut her bangs while she was helping me too. As I said, there is never a shortage of excitement at our house. :) Oh, and I wanted to add that I sewed all these things in just over two months time. Like I said, my sewing machine and I are really close right now.

Happiness

Happiness means different things to different people at different times. Today we find our definition of happiness in Psalms 127: 3-5, which says:

"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them. . ."

We are happy to add to our already full quiver!!

Expected arrival for this little arrow is October 19, 2011.