Relief

Today I accepted a job! I am so excited about this big change! I am going to be teaching Kindergarten! It is a huge jump from fifth grade but I am so excited to experience and try something new. I have been wanting to try a different grade just to get a feel of what I really want to teach forever (because we all know teachers don't retire until they are like 80 ha) so I think this will be the perfect opportunity!
Here is kind of how the whole thing played out (for those who are interested to know details)...
I went to an interview Friday morning in BA. I was excited about the prospect of moving closer to home and the family, but was a little anxious about the timing of it all. A few hours later I got a call of a second interview! I was really excited by then and really hoped that if this is what God wanted us to do then it would work out. Saturday I was getting ready to go take my Early Childhood certification test when I get a call from the principal at Pawnee. I had interviewed with her a few weeks ago so she was calling to see if I had found anything yet because she had a job come open. She was pretty excited to know that I hadn't and that I was about to be certified in Pre-K & K. She ended up calling me back on Tuesday and we had a long talk about the job, concerns, opportunities etc. I was pretty confident about our conversation and knew that God was working something out; it just felt right. Today we spoke again and she told me to tell the other principals who were contacting me that I was "taken!" I loved that she put it that way! It made me smile!
So anyway now I am moving on to a whirlwind of the next few weeks with trainings, meetings, and setting up my classroom for the first day of school for 14 (or so) little 5 year olds! I can't wait to see their bright shining faces and get to know them and grow with them! I know that this was totally God's will and I feel so relieved that I am where I am supposed to be. Fall is going to bring lots of great things our way! We are just so blessed to serve an awesome God!
I know Ryan and I were somewhat hopeful to be closer to the family this year but the move would have been so quick and a little stressful that we know this is what is best for us. We get to be in the same town as our best friends and we really aren't that far from the family!

So it's off to another busy school year, but first we are spending a relaxing and fun weekend in Dallas with the family for Robert & Alicia's wedding! We are so excited for them and can't wait to congratulate them as they take the next big step in their lives!

Have a great weekend all! I will be back to update when we get back (hopefully I will find the time)!
P.S. Does anyone want to come work in my classroom?!

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME AND ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD!

Nails

Last night Cassie and I went to get our nails done. We had a great time and it reminded me of one of my family's favorite youtube videos.

If you haven't seen Anjelah Johnson you definitely need to watch this!

She does the perfect illustration of a nail salon experience.

Our Greatest Fear – Marianne Williamson

Our Greatest Fear – Marianne Williamson:
it is our light not our darkness that most frightens us
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

—Marianne Williamson"

Can anyone name what movie this is quoted in? It was not quoted in whole but only in part! I love when the way it is quoted in the movie too; almost in a rhythmic rap form. It sounds nothing like a poem when he says it but as if it is truely his thought being spoken aloud.
If you are a Lifechurch.tv attendee you should know! Maybe I should have a prize for whoever can get it!
More importantly, I hope its words inspire you.

From the desk of one who is powerful beyond measure,
Amber

Lately

I apologize for my lack of existence lately. Ryan and I have just been keeping busy with life. Nothing too extremely exciting has been taking place, just the things that keep life going.

Ryan attempted to plant a garden for a school project. Unfortunately Oklahoma is just too terribly hot. If we would have started earlier the vegetables would have had a better survival rate but in this hot weather it is too hard to nuture a seed to grow into anything. At least we have the garden all dug out and set up so we can try again next year! We will definitely be starting earlier and trying to beat the heat!

Ryan only has one more week of his summer course then he will only have 27 hours to graduate! He is really looking forward to completing his degree and starting a new chapter of life. He still isn't sure what exactly he will be doing after graduation but he has some ideas and so we will see where God takes us.

The job search is starting to pick up for me! I will update more on that later when I have more info! But all I can say right now is that God is working and showing me great opportunities and for that I am so grateful!

Anyway, Ryan and I have a busy week ahead! We are looking forward to spending the weekend in Dallas for his brother's wedding! Along with that we are going to hit some of our favorite stores and gather some much needed things for the house and possibly classroom!

One of my favorite verses from church today:
I can do everything through his who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
If you don't have a great church home to go to each Sunday I pray that you find one. If you live in the Stillwater area and are looking please e-mail me. Anyone is more than welcome to attend church with Ryan and I! I promise you won't be disappointed when you get involved with God!

Celebrating

This week two amazing people in my life are celebrating birthdays!

My mom celebrated her birthday yesterday! I love her! She knows me better than anyone else in the whole world. She has taken the best care of me and taught me the best she can!

She has gone through a lot of changes this year and there have been ups and downs but I'm so happy she is celebrating another wonderful year!

LOVE YOU MOM!

Today is my bestie's birthday! I can't live without her!

She pretty much keeps me sane (and laughing)!

We have been through so much together-college, our first year of teaching, and we have both been married for over a year now I cannot even begin to tell you our story!

She is living in Texas this summer so I miss her lots but that just means we will make up all that time in the fall!

P.S. Sorry this is such an old picture of us...we definitely look younger here!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to two wonderful ladies! You all rock and I hope your days were perfect!

Murray-ied

This weekend Steven and Katie got "Murray-ied"

We had an amazing time in Austin! We started the weekend off by picking up Ryan's tuxedo then heading to the rehearsal. Afterwards we headed to a great little Mexican restaurant for the Rehearsal Dinner (sadly those pictures got deleted off my phone so I will have to get copies from friends). It was a great dinner complete with a mariachi band! They were great and kept us really entertained. We also got acquainted with some of their other friends so that was nice too.

Afterwards the girls headed over to Katie's house. I love her sweet parents! They took great care of me during their busy weekend! We will definitely have to visit them soon!

The next morning was the Bridal Brunch...delicious!

Here is Katie with her sweet mom!

Here are all the girls!

Sweet Katie-she took great care of me this weekend and it was her big day! I adore her!

Doesn't she just look gorgeous? I'm so glad I could help on her big day!

She was such a wonderful bride!

Their wedding was absolutely gorgeous! It was so sweet and true to who they are. Here they are sharing their first dance!

The beautiful cake! Ryan and I didn't enjoy any because we were taking their things out to the getaway car but it sure looked good!

Here they are cutting the cake which Steven had so anxiously waiting for!

We wish them all the best! They are one amazing couple and we cannot wait to see them again! If only we lived closer together....one day that is our plan!

Love you guys!

Birthday Celebrations 2009!

Thursday night we headed to Tulsa to celebrate birthdays! My best friend and I share birthdays 6 days apart and since she was in town we decided we had to celebrate!
We started off the night at Ted's one of our favorites! It was an interesting experience to say the least-we had a waitress that wasn't too happy with us but the food was AMAZING!
Then we headed to Cheesecake Factory for dessert! Happy Birthday to us!



Here I am with my birthday dessert!
Strawberry cheesecake

Stacia giving the thumbs up approval!












She hates pictures...so I wasn't allowed to take a picture of her & her cheesecake. This is payback for her! Ha











Thanks sweet husband for making my birthday great!

We celebrated my actual birthday by driving to Austin to see our great friends get married. More on that trip to come soon!

Florida: Days 5 & 6

Day 5: Cocoa Beach

This was aout an hour away from where we were so we headed out in the early afternoon packed and ready for the beach! We hit Ron Jon before we walked down to the beach. Got a few souveniers, some which will never be seen again because they accidently got thrown in the trash :(

Here is Ryan on the board trying to stay standing.

Next Jon gives it a try!

The boys covered Abby in sand! YUCK!

Ryan and I admiring the beautiful ocean!

Day 6: Leaving and New Orleans

We had to get up early Friday morning and be on our way. It was sad to go but we are already planning our next trip and are excited to go back. We took a different route home than we did on the way there. Dallas' parents asked us if we would like to drive through New Orleans and pick up his car since it has been sitting at the baseball stadium since he had to go to Florida.

While we were there my dad took us to experience what Bourbon Street was really like!

It was definitely an experience and I don't have any need to go back!

One thing I really enjoyed about the French Quarter was the buildings! They have really cool architecture and it was neat to look at all the different buildings. There were a lot of them that had not been fixed up since the hurricanes. Below you can see part of a building but I have a lot more cool building pictures that I didn't share here!
Here we are standing in the middle of all the craziness on Bourbon St.

There are beads everywhere! We found these hanging on the power lines that run down the middle of the road.

Ok, well its off to pack and head out of town again! Two of our favorite friends are getting married this weekend and we can't wait to see them! We love you Steven and Katie!

Florida: Days 3 & 4

Day 3: Universal Studios Islands of Adventure

This is Abby, Jon, Hannah, Maddy, and Ryan
enjoying spinning in circles.
Jon, Dad, and Joe having a great time!

We met Popeye Olive Oyl!

And visited Suessland!

Would anyone like to pick out a Dr. Seuss book? I think they had them all!

After a day at Universal we met Erin, Trent and the youth group at Hard Rock cafe for dinner!

It was almost Trent's birthday so we decided to celebrate!

He had to take his shoes off and stand on the bar. Then our waiter announced it was his birthday while Trent yelled "Hey look at me." It was quite comical!

After Hard Rock we went to the airport to pick up my mom! We won't talk about how much time we spent lost going to and from the airport. But I will tell you that we passed the new Magic Arena at least 3 times!

Florida: Day 4

SHOPPING!

In the morning we got up to go visit Erin and Trent and see the mission project the youth group was working on. I forgot to post those pictures! They definitely did a lot of hard work and restored a lady's house that looked pretty awful. She was very grateful for their work.

Afterwards we hit the outlet mall. It was one of the best I've ever shopped at! We found lots of great deals and had a blast! We also visited the Bass Pro Shop in Orlando (or I should say the rest of the group did) I wasn't feeling well so I took a nap while they went inside.

That night we decided we were all pretty worn out so we relaxed at Joe's house.

He made his favorite: Sausage, peppers, and rice.

It was fun to sit down to a family style meal together.

Joe must have said something funny while Ryan was taking the picture because we all seem to be laughing. He was our entertainment! We never knew what he would say next!

Florida:Days 1 & 2

Most of days 1 & 2 were spend in the car. We packed up the car and headed out on Father's Day after the church and lunch festivities. We are pretty good at entertaining ourselves in the car since most of our vacations in life have consisted of long drives. We entertained ourselves with movies, iPods, books, phone calls to family (gotta love the parrot so we can all join in the conversation), and of course my dad's favorite Roy Mercer. Day one we drove all the way to Birmingham Alabama and stayed the night there.

This is a picture of the gang hanging out on the highway near Tupelo Mississippi. There was a semi truck turned on its side laying across the highway so we were stuck. We decided to hang out and stretch our legs while we waited.

We finally arrived at our destination in Florida on Monday evening. We tried to beat my uncle Jon there but with some direction problems they pulled into the driveway just before we did. We were within a matter of minutes from them which was pretty cool since they left from New York and we left from Oklahoma on Sunday.

Once we got there we took a tour of Joe's house and hung out for a bit before finally deciding where to eat! We chose this great burger place called Five Guys. It was delicious and we were stuffed! Once we finished eating we went back to Joe's to relax in the pool. Unfortunately those pictures are on Abby's camera. I guess I should get those from her!

Hopefully this week I can get therest of the trip posted!

I want to hear about everyone else's fun summer vacations too!

I'm Back!

I apologize for being non existent for the last few weeks. I feel like we have been traveling the world! Ha But literally over the past few weeks we have driven to and from Florida which included seeing Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Arkansas, and many other places. Not to mention we have been to various places in Oklahoma. I promise to do a full update soon but for now I just wanted to say I am here!

Here is the family enjoying dinner in Florida.

We had a great time visiting family we don't see often.

We saw uncle Jon, Hannah, & Maddi and Joe and his wife Loretta!

It was definitely a great party of 11!

In this picture we are all listening to Ryan explain why rice is good with sugar on top. He didn't really convine anyone to try it, but he enjoyed it.

More updates to come soon!

Hope you enjoyed your 4th of July holiday!