School's Out for Summer!!

Russell ended the year with a bang. This year at Shadowridge has been a great year for him. This week he has been enjoying getting back into his workout routine and also playing golf. So far this week he has played golf everyday! Russell works so hard during the year with coaching that this is a well deserved break.

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This weekend I had the chance to go see my good friends Amy and Terri. I spent Friday and Saturday with Amy. Terri came in on Sat. night and we ate at Macaroni Grill and went to see a movie. Terri and I went back to Searcy and I stayed in her adorable little house. I can't even tell you how cute her house is! I was a little jealous of how cute her house is. One day maybe I will have a cute house of my own. I also ran into long time friend Kyla at church. She is so cute pregnant right now. I can't even believe it. I had a great time. It was wonderful to get to see good friends.

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Well, here are so long overdue pictures of our recent graduate. Rachel's graduation was great. The graduation speech about the history of the Masters of Speech program at UTA was the most inspirational graduation speech ever!! I was inspired!

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Here is Rachel in her cap and gown. Isn't she beautiful! She also got a job on the day she graduated! Very exciting for her!

Here's Rachel and James. They have recently celebrated their one year anniversary. Way to go guys after the first year, the second year is a cake-walk!

Here are me, Terri, and Amy waiting at the restaurant. Terri told me I could put this picture up, but it was the only one I had of all three of us. I think it's cute. I love you Terri!!

Here is Terri and I taking a picture of us on swing at Harding. We both thought we would get engaged on one of the swings. Terri still has a chance of that coming true. I, however, do not. I couldn't have asked for it to be any different than it was though. Russell's proposal was perfect.

Terri and I in front of the fountain!
I had another job interview today and it went very well. At least I think it went well. You never really know with these things. The interviewees all smile at you and say thanks for coming. So it's hard to get a good read. They said I should hear something next week. I hope so. I haven't heard anything from my previous interviews. Oh well! This whole finding a job thing is stressful! I know in the end something will work out. Keep praying though.

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Well, that's it for now. I am going to try to post a little more often. Have a great week!!

Sad News

I just wanted to ask all of you fellow bloggers to keep Russell's family in your prayers. Russell's grandfather passed away on Monday night. He had been struggling with Alzheimer's for as long as I have been associated with the family. That's been almost 3 years and I think it had begun a little bit before that. Russell's grandmother has been a devoted care-taker. I admire her for everything she has done for him over the years. It has been a true testament of unconditional love.

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This weekend will be a crazy weekend for the family. Rachel is graduating from college on Friday at 11. Visitation will be Friday evening and then the funeral will be on Saturday morning. Family members and friends will be travelling in for these events. I am so excited for Rachel's graduation. She has worked so hard and I know she will be a great social worker.

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On a lighter note I have a job interview this afternoon. I am excited and nervous all at the same time! Think of me between 4:30 and 5:30ish. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog!

A Little bit of this and a Little bit of that...

Well, I haven't posted about Russell and I in about 2 weeks so I thought I would fill you in on a little bit of what's going on. Don't get too excited because I really don't have much to tell you.

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I am finally starting to get calls about jobs. I have an interview next Thursday in Hurst. It is a little farther away from Russell's job that I would like to live, but all I am worried about is being great at the interview. We can worry about the rest later. I have been subbing everyday for the last couple of weeks and that is going really great. Only two and half weeks left of school, so I am trying to find something to do this summer. I am hoping it will be at the pre-school/daycare that I worked at during the fall. We shall see though. Still trying to figure out how to balance working, keeping the house clean, cooking dinner, laundry and working out.

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Russell is in the middle of finishing up school. Only 3 weeks left and he looks forward to a summer of working out and playing golf. This past week the 7th graders went to see a movie on Thursday morning for being so good at TAKS. On Friday they spent the day at Six Flags for Texas History day. Now if that isn't a great week then I don't know what it is. He is going to be at the same school next year and will be teaching P.E. instead of Texas History. He will get to go to school and play all day. The only thing that has made the end of school a little less desirable is spring football, but it will all be over with soon.

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I told you I didn't have much to update. I haven't taken pictures of anything recently so nothing to show you either. Well, I am off for now. Maybe next time I will have more entertaining things to post about.

Update

I am posting information from Terri's sisters blog. This is info from over the weekend and a doctors appt. they went to today.

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This is from Friday:

Melissa and John went to the doctor yesterday for a routine ultrasound and to find out the sex of the baby. The baby is a girl but they found out that she has anencephaly. This is a fatal birth defect that is caused when the neural tube doesn't close over the top of her head. This means that the baby's brain will not develop and she doesn't have a developed skull. From what I've looked up, it is like spina bifida at the other end of the body. Melissa and John are at the beginning of some serious decisions. They are going to Macon on Monday to talk to a specialist - the specialist will shed some light hopefully on what their next steps should/could be. Please pray for them and all of us. Kayden is being a great uplift to all of us. I flew home yesterday and will be here until I feel it's time to go back. comments are appreciated but it seems every time we talk about it or have to explain it to someone, we get bogged down emotionally. Thanks for your prayers.

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This is from Sunday:

It's me again .... I just wanted everyone to know that Melissa and John picked out a name for the baby. Janey Hicks! - It's kind of a mix between Janice (John's mom) and Cathy (mine and Melissa's mom). It might stay just Janey - she doesn't seem to need a middle name with a first name that cute :) Melissa and John are going to Macon tomorrow. I will update after they get back. John's parents are driving down tomorrow from Memphis so keep them in your prayers. Thanks for all the encouragement - There are so many of you that have been in tough situations and Melissa needs your prayers now. There will probably be time in the future to share your stories with her, but for now, it's enough just to tell her you care. Thanks to everyone for their understanding in this. If you would like to ask me questions or tell your story, feel free to email me. I can relay your stories to Melissa when they become relevant. Thanks again - Terri (Melissa's sister)

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This was posted earlier today:

Melissa and John went to Macon today to visit with a specialist. They received much of the same information as their regular doctor had told them. Melissa will have to be on Folate for the remainder of her child-bearing years. The doctor spelled out all of the options for Melissa and John and baby Janey. The prognosis is still the same so please remember them in your prayers. John's parents left Memphis at 2 a.m. and were at the doctor before Melissa and John got there. They are traveling back here right now. I talked to Melissa and although she wants to talk to all of you, she is exhausted - emotionally and physically so please- no calls at this time. Thanks for all your prayers and we will update as soon as we know more. - Terri (Melissa's sister)

More Prayers Needed

Most of you who read my blog know Terri Lee and for those of you that don't know her, we worked out at camp together. Terri called me today around 11:50ish. That is very weird for Terri to call me during the day because she is usually hard at work. Here is a little history before we go into the phone call. Terri's sister, Melissa, is pregnant and today they went to find out the sex of the baby. I am not sure how many months along she is, but long enough to be able to tell what the sex is. Anyways, Terri called and said something was wrong in the sonogram. I don't know all the details so I don't want to give the wrong information. I just know that Melissa and John (her husband) as well as the family need to be kept in your prayers and lifted up to God. I know it is serious because Terri hopped on a plane and went to Georgia today. I will give you more info as I find more about the situation. Just please keep them in your prayers.

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Keep praying for Kanyon as well. They are concerned about his apnea right now. I know prayer works because this little boy gets stronger everyday!

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Have a great Friday!