Changing/Updating the Blog!

Hi everyone,

This past year has been a very busy one and I have clearly not done a good job keeping up with my blog. I have decided to redo the whole blog and "restart." I am working on it right now. Hopefully it will be finished by next week and I will be able to start updating on a regular basis. Please check back soon for updates!

Lots to come!!!

Reflection of 2009

As we enter into 2010 and I reflect on 2009 I see how much things have changed and how I have grown. 2009 was a rough year. It started out well. I loved working at Cutler Middle School. Don't get me wrong there were days that were rough, but I love working with kids. They provide so much excitement and adventure. Eric and I were blessed with taking a 5 year anniversary trip to the Riviera Maya in Mexico. It was an amazing time to enjoy an all inclusive resort and just simply spend time together.

After we returned from our trip things started to get more challenging.
1) Eric and I have always known and felt that CT is not our home and that we would only be here for a short amount of time. Just before the new year (2009) we seriously prayed through our future and believe that God was telling us our time in CT is coming to an end. We felt an unexplainable pull to Philadelphia area. We started to seriously job search and keep our eyes and ears open. After more than a YEAR of hard searching nothing was coming up.

2) My job at Cutler Middle School was coming to an end. My student was graduating middle school and Cutler was cutting the budget so I was no longer needed for the up coming school year.

3) In 2008, after joining Weight Watchers I lost 20lbs and was finally proud of myself and my body. I was able to keep it off for an entire year. Then I came off birth control in May. I gained 5 lbs in May, 1lb in June, and July, 5 lbs in Aug, 1 lbs again in Sept and then 5 lbs again in Oct. There was no reason. I was working out very hard, I was eating right. In fact nothing had changed since I originally lost the weight in '08 except for being off birth control.

4) We are trying to get pregnant. Instead I keep gaining weight.

5) Started to under go a number of tests: Blood work - lot and lots of it, MRI - to scan for a brain tumor, which there wasn't and many exams. I went from my regular Dr. to my OBGYN to another OBGYN for a second opinion and then was sent to a specialist - Reproductive Endocrinologist in New Haven at Yale Medical Center.


PRAYER is the only thing that got us through 2009. Eric and I kept our focus on God and his plan. I meditated on many verses that I collected throughout the year. The following are some of my favorites that I memorized!

Philippians 4:6 - 7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6 - 7

Jeremiah 29:11 - 13
'For I know the plans I have for you' declares the Lord, 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'

Jeremiah 29:11 - 13

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on Him because He care for you.

1 Peter 5:7

These are just a few of the verses that helped me through 2009. 2009 was a challenging year. Looking back I can see how much I have grown as a person, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend and mainly as a woman in the Lord.

"Thank you, Lord, for helping me grow and getting me through this rough year!" ~ Amen!

Christmas in Connecticut 2009

This year I was slow at putting up my Christmas decorations, but when I did it greatly improved my mood and made the apt look very festive. Here is the apartment.

Our Christmas Tree

Mystique likes to snuggle with the stocking.

Tanzi found a place to snuggle...

...somewhere she was not allowed to be

I baked some christmas cookies and they had to cool. Eric and I had to go out for a little and when we came this is what we found... see the table, see tanzi and see the cookie on the floor by the snack table.


After I collected all the cookies this is what I got...


I made Thanksgiving dinner for a group of 8 people. It was so much fun and it turned out great.

Rachel, Kyle, Amanda, Aaron, Chris, Kathryn, Eric and myself.

The boys volunteered to clean the dishes, which was so sweet.


And they let Amanda Hicks and I split the wishbone. I lost!

My New Job!

This past summer I found out that I would not be returning to Cutler Middle as a Special Ed tutor. Due to the economy they had to cut tutor positions. After spending three years at the school it was hard to think about doing something else. Summer was honestly rough as I wrestled with this time I had been given. I could substitute, but those of you who have subbed know how stressful and inconsistent subbing is. Those of you who know me understand how I hate going into things unprepared, which is what you do every day as a sub.

As the school year began it was a lot harder not being in the school then I expected. There were some days that I seriously considered subbing. After talking to Eric and a few friends and spending time praying through this situation I realized something. I realized I have been "Blessed" with time. I can use this time to strengthen my relationship with God and learn more about Him. I can also use this time to help other. I have a number of friends who have kids or are pregnant. I can be an extra pair of hands or wheels or ears or whatever they need. God has taught me a lot during this time. I have learned that I need somewhat of a routine, need to accomplish something each day (even if it is just laundry and I need to get out of the house once a day.

I am now a receptionist at Weight Watchers. Through Weight Watchers I can work a few at first and build hours as I desire. I get to work with people, help them through a difficult time and support, encourage them through this time in their lives. I am very excited. I still have time to study God's word, help others and work at Weight Watchers!

~ Thank you God for Blessing me!

Amanda and Adah come to Groton, CT

After spending a week in CA. Amanda and Adah joined me on my flight back to CT and visited Groton for the following week. It was great to spend more time with them and also plan and throw Rachel's baby shower. Here are some pictures from the week.

Adah hanging out in the Las Vegas airport. She was so content for most of the flight!

Las Vegas strip

This is how Adah was the whole flight - sleeping

Our flight we were given water, soda, and a free glass of champagne and Adah's milk.

After arriving in Groton Amanda and Adah hung out as we made Rachel's diaper cake. Adah modeled one of the gift - a huge giraffe bib.

Rachel's diaper cake

We were all hanging out one night and Amanda was trying to "shhhh" Adah to sleep. Apparently she wanted her mommy to stop!

Adah won the competition on Sunday for having the biggest bow!

Eric holding Adah for the first time!

He even got to put her to sleep one night.

Adah loved bath time at Aunt Rachel's

At B.F. Clydes Cider Mill Amanda and Adah got to enjoy a week of Fall.

RACHEL'S SHOWER:

The Mommy to Be.

Rachel's favorite flowers are Gerber Daisies. Amanda and I made the cake. It has a "1 and 2" "R" for Rachel and a "K" for Kyle with "C" on the top for Calton.

The Party

The Food

Val made a great pumpkin dip and wonderful chicken and tuna sandwiches.

Baby Boy Calton

Some of the clothes Rachel received.

The party favors Amanda and I made - cute duckies and baby feet.

ADAH VIDEOS:
Adah loves her Aunt Rachel, especially when Rachel calls her stinky. Here is a video of Rachel calling Adah stinky. She laughed so hard the first time, but we couldn't catch it all. Enjoy!

This is a video of Adah talking to Aunt Christie!

Mommy and Daddy talking to Adah