Grades!!

Well, our grades are in . . .

Jackie worked his tail off this semester and he got two A's!  So proud of him!  It takes so much courage to go back to school after so long.  He did it!  He stayed up late and worked on his homework.  He only asked me for help just a few times.  So he's taking two more classes next semester.  He's taking Algebra and Intro into Environmental Health and Safety.  I think he will enjoy next semester even more once he gets started with the classes.

I got 1 C, 1 B, and 2 A's.  3.25 GPA.  It's no 4.0, but I'm so happy with it.  I was really afraid I was going to have to retake the Genetics class (the one I got the C in).  It's a core class and I had to make a C for the class to count.  On the second test I made a 58.  I had never in my life made a 58.  The questions were worded so tricky.  So I stayed up all night studying for the final.  I had to make a 78 to get a C.  The final was so hard.  I cried as soon as I walked out of the room.  However, the Lord allowed me to move on.  Jackie and I have been praying for a week that I wouldn't have to retake this class.  It would be so hard to take 15 hours next semester, if I was even able to get into the class.  There were already 4 people on the waitlist when I looked.  But anyway, it all worked out and now it's on to methods and then student teaching!!

So Christmas is just 4 days away.  I have not wrapped one present and Jackie has not finished Taylor's Santa present.  So, we might need some elves to come help us!  :)  We have just been relaxing and enjoying our break from school.  We are trying to not rush around and enjoy this season with Taylor.  We are going to go take a carriage ride and look at lights this week, and that should be a blast!  We are going to go take a carriage ride and look at lights this week, and that should be a blast!

We took two groups of kids to look at lights this week.  Saturday we picked up two boys who have been living in a hotel for three weeks.  We were going to take them our to eat, but when we realized they hadn't had a home cooked meal in that long we came to the house and had spaghetti.  They loved it!  We played Monopoly and Farkel.  No tv, no video games, just simple dinner and simple fun.  It was just what they needed.  They are sweet boys who have been through SO much lately.  That's the best part about what we do at CityChurch.  We really get to love on people who are hurting and really need to know there is a God who cares and loves them.  It was important to remind these boys that they are NOT FORGOTTEN!!! 

Sunday was our anniversary.  Hard to believe it's been two years.  It seems like we have been married forever (in a good way, not a bad way).  We started out the morning by being able to sleep in a little bit.  We started church an hour later, so we got to enjoy some quiet talking time before starting the day.  We don't usually get to do that so it was a treat!  Then we went to church and picked up kids.  All the kids went to big church and we didn't have Sunday school.  It was nice to be able to enjoy worship together.  We are taking kids home during that time, so we don't get to do it very often.  We had about 15 girls sitting with us, so we didn't get to sit right together, but we were still together!  Then we took kids home and went and ate some lunch. 

We ate at a Chinese food buffet.  You can tell we are so much more comfortable with each other and there were no high expectations.  We just wanted to be together and it was nice.  Food not so great, but they weren't too busy so we all got to talk and Taylor was being so funny so it was a very nice time! 

Then we went to the hospital to visit one of the kids Jackie picks up for church.  He was chasing one of his sisters and he was holding a pool stick while running. They have a wall heater and the stick got stuck in the wall heater and it jabbed into his stomach.  It didn't puncture the skin, but it ripped a hole in his stomach.  About four hours later he started throwing up and getting really sick so they took him to the hopsital and did surgery.  Thankfully he's going to be just fine.  It's a really common injury.  He was playing a game at the hospital when we visited.  Hopefully he will get to go home Christmas Eve. 

After that we ran to the grocery store and then took a short nap.  We then got up and made some poppers and Cherry cheesecake for a Christmas party.  We went to a Citychurch staff/Volunteer party and it was SO much fun!  It's so great to be able to spend time with friends and laugh and just enjoy being together.  I'm so blessed that my best friends are also my church friends! 

While there, our next door neighbor called and they needed some help.  So, I left the party and went over to their house.  EmmaLee fell last week and broke her knee cap.  She's 78 and her husband George is 81.  She was having some bathroom trouble and needed a woman's help.  So I helped her and spent about an hour and a half getting her situated. 

Then as soon as I walked back into the party, Taylor came and got me and said she had poop on her shoe.  How she did it, I dont know, but there was poop on her shoe.  So Sunday was my poop day! 
We stayed at the party until after 11:30.  Then we came home and all three snuggled in our bed. 

It was a wonderful day.  No drama, just fun and helping others.  I felt so much love.  I have a wonderful husband who is very giving and trustworthy.  I could never be more thankful for him than I am right now.  There is no way we could do all the many things we do if he wasn't so helpful and willing.  Happy Anniversary Jackie, I am one very blessed woman to have you in my life!  I look forward to see what things the Lord has in store for us in the coming years!  This year was an amazing year and we did so many things we never thought we would.  The Lord has placed some big dreams and desires in our hearts and can't wait to see how He fulfills them in the coming year!  I love you!