So it has been a while...I think more and more posts on pleonast say something like that.

Anyway, a lot has happened in the past few months. Nate and I both lost our jobs in January. It's been stressful but we have been blessed in so many ways. We have an amazing family and a supportive church family as well! Thankfully our difficulties have not been long lived. Though Nate has struggled to find a full-time, permanent job for the past year and a half we hadn't had to experience both of us being unemployed. Anyway, I am now babysitting full-time. I guess you could call me a nanny---that's what some people are calling me. I am looking after a 15 month old boy and he is so cute and so well behaved! I'm loving it! In a couple of months I'll be taking care of his new baby sister! Talk about busy! I'm looking forward to it though! I used to babysit over 50 hours a week and enjoyed it so I'm excited about doing this again!
Nate got a full-time job offer yesterday with benefits after 90 days! YAY! I'm so happy for him and so thankful to God and all the prayers that were offered on our behalf!

Since I haven't updated since Thanksgiving I guess I could throw in a few other updates:
Christmas was great, especially because I got to see my sister and brother in law! It was way too short though! Though I am so glad that our families live close together sometimes I hate that we have to split up Christmas day. It is a little chaotic and can make it seem rushed, but on the flip side, I'm thankful we get to see everyone!
Nate and I went to see the Kalightoscope exhibit at the Galt House. Talk about fun! I think they bought it so they should continue to have it around the holidays! If you are in the area and have the time I recommend it.

I guess nothing else big and exciting has happened since then. Maybe that's good.
Anyway, hope you all are doing well! Tell me what is new with you!

**tootles**

Well, next week is Thanksgiving! I'm excited but also sad. I hate that I will miss spending Thanksgiving with the family in Alabama. This is just one of those things that you have to trade off when you marry I suppose...well, at least until we figure something else out. So this year we'll be spending time with Nate's family on Thursday and Friday. Sometime Saturday we'll meet up with my parents and hopefully do some Christmas-y stuff.

Speaking of Christmas, I have had an urge to decorate since the beginning of this month and it has been hard to resist...and I haven't completely resisted. Oh well. I also got a good start on Christmas shopping, or I thought I did, but as time gets closer to Christmas I wish I had more done. I don't enjoy online shopping but I also don't like shopping with tons of people around so I've been shopping early to try and avoid those things as much as I can!

I decided I wanted to read the Harry Potter series again. I never read the 7th book because around the time I got it I was really busy with school and since my reading and writing responsibilities increased in school I basically stopped reading for enjoyment for a few years (HORRIBLE, I know!). Well, talk of the new movie started up and I knew it would be harder and harder not to hear what happened during the 7th book, so I started reading the series. I sped through book 1 but didn't make it through a third of book 2. I really don't enjoy book 2 much so I always have difficulty here. Anyways, as the movie premier approached I knew I wouldn't have time to read all the books, which I didn't like because 1)I wanted to read them again and 2)I've only read books 5 and 6 once and remember little from them. Well, I picked up book 7 and took a couple of days to get through the first 150 pages but after that I sped through till the end in just a few short hours. So, once the crowds die out a little I am ready to see the movie.

Now that you know my Harry Potter readings habits...

Dad is still doing well after the surgery, but still gets tired some days. He's had an infection and took antibiotics but the pharmacy didn't give him one of the medications he needed to kill the infection and so he may have to do the whole thing over again, but we'll have to wait for a couple of weeks to find out.

Jordan, my brother in law, and his fiancee Holly are getting married in December!

This time of year seems to be too short! I never can do all the holiday things I want to get in!
BUT, something new this year: Nate and I hope to start a new tradition. We're having both sets of our parents over at the beginning of December for dinner. We'll have the tree up and have the music out and we're stuffing stockings for them (which is lots of fun to plan)! I'm especially excited because our parents rarely get to spend time together!

Well, have a wonderful day, week, month...however long till I post again!

**tootles**

Hello all!

Since my last post dad has had his surgery. He had a complication with air and fluid building around his lung after surgery, which set him back a couple of days in recovery. The problem was taken care of and he is home now. He has his good and bad days, but I know he'll feel better in the next few weeks!

We're having a birthday party for Nate in a couple of weeks. We had one last year and it was lots of fun. Suzy Brewer made an awesome cake that looked like a pitch pipe. I won't say what his cake will be this year (in case he sneaks on here), but it'll be fun for him! Our birthdays are only 3 days apart, but the party is mostly for him. The weekend after the party we're going to my parents for birthdays. Nate's birthday is on the 20th, Dad's on the 21st, and mine on the 23rd!

I really don't like dressing up for Halloween, but Nate wanted to go to the Halloween party this year. We have our costumes mostly worked out, just need to find shoes for mine. I think it'll be fun! Does the word "mullet" mean anything to you?

I feel like I've been out of the music loop lately. Finally there are a couple of new cds out that I want. Jukebox the Ghost and Guster have put out albums this year and I really want them for my birthday or I'll even wait for Xmas!

I started my new job. It's physically demanding but lacking in drama which is wonderful! I think it'll work out for now!

How are you all?

**tootles**

Well, I guess a lot has happened since I last posted...or at least it seems like a lot has.

For one thing, I didn't have to start school with everyone else this Fall.

My sister visited and that was AWESOME! I wish she didn't live so far away, but I'm so glad things are going well for her and Curtis.

I started looking for a new job about a month or two ago. I kept praying to find something new just because the current job situation wasn't good. This week I was offered a new job. It isn't anything I was looking for or wanting, but it was offered and it is going to help Nate and I out a lot since he is also looking for new work. A friend's husband owns two environmental recycling companies in Etown and BG and there was a position open at one. Not ideal. At first I kind of turned my nose up, but then they described the conditions of work, the better pay, possibility for increase in hours, and NO WEEKENDS, plus I can bring my iPod or whatever and listen to tunes while I work. So, I am so thankful for it. A load has been lifted off me!

Nate and I saw The Little River Band last weekend and they sounded AWESOME! They're harmonies were really tight and I was impressed. If you're a fan of them and get a chance, go see them!

I'm also decorating all the doors and the bulletin board in the kids classroom hallway at church, so I'm busy with that too!

Dad is having a heart valve replacement surgery at the end of this month! Please keep him and his doctors in your prayers! Thankfully I'll get to stay with him for 3 or 4 days before I start this new job!

Hope you all are doing well! Fill me in!

I guess a lot has gone on in the past couple of months.

Visit to the Space Center in Huntsville to see the Star Wars exhibit.
Dinner at Federal Grove with Nate's parents and grandma.
Wedding of a dear friend.
Work and more work.
Looking for new work.
Going back through seasons of 24.
Huey Lewis and the News concert that was absolutely awesome...and it was Nate's first time seeing them.
Finally hung up a wedding photo.
Got my diploma.

Well, maybe not too much has gone on, but it seems like things have been busy!
Becca is coming to visit next week and basically that is what I am counting down the days to!

**tootles**