Adventures in Weenie Sitting

Florida has been hot and rainy almost all week. We've had a few days of "fun in the sun". And we've had lots of opportunities to get together with our friends. Micheala is enjoying her friends, Levi, Cooper, and Micah. She especially enjoys loving on Micah and feeding him. Micah doesn't seem to mind because his brothers are usually busy wrestling each other, or Josh.

Still no job for Josh. He hasn't heard back from any schools, businesses, or airlines. We continue to pray for God's guidance and a job.

Gale and Paul come back this Thursday from Brazil. I'm looking forward to picking them up from the airport. No matter how often we take the dogs outside, there always seems to be an accident waiting for us to clean up. They've been good with Micheala, but they don't really want her attention. (Unless she is willing to feed them.)

Another week in Florida...I'm looking forward to going back, Micheala is so off of her schedule. Not too mention I'm tired of saying no to the numerous things she seems to get into. However, it has been nice to see friends. There are so many people that I've really missed seeing.

Bling Bling

Children are truly a blessing. They're a lot of hard work, but so worth it. I was overwhelmed with love today as I watched Micheala dress herself up, with a little assistance. In just sixth months my little baby is becoming more independent and a toddler. She loves dolls, jewelry, and real babies. She bends down and talks sweetly to them. What she says, who knows. The babies usually giggle and smile at the attention and love. It is so amazing!!!! I wish that Josh could be here to see it all. My favorite thing is when she actually gives me kisses and hugs me! A mommy's joy!
In a few days Josh will be home and done with his training program! We are excited about him coming home and a little nervous about job opportunities. We are still praying that God will open up a job for him. With all the news about airlines cutting jobs, it is hard not to be a little discouraged. But, for now, this is where God has us. We will be traveling to Florida to visit friends and dogsit for Josh's parents while they are in Brazil. It will be first time we will have been a lone as a family in months. I'm looking forward to spending time with my husband and daughter.
I was offered a job at the YMCA here in The Woodlands. They have asked me if I would be interested in a director's position, and although the opportunity to work for a Christian company in that capacity sounds good, its just not an option right now. With Josh's job being unknown, I have to think about it as if Josh isn't here to help at all. Daycare is not an option because the pay is enough to make is a true benefit for our family. (More than half of my paycheck would go to daycare, while the other half to gas.) So, I'm holding tight. Being Micheala's mommy is a lot of work in itself, and I will be teaching soon. (Although that is just pennies too.) So this is where I learn to trust that God will provide for us, and that is okay to be Micheala's mommy. This is the first time in 12 years that I haven't worked at all. It is very weird. :)

Done?

Josh came home from ATP this past week! He passed every checkride and every oral exam they gave him!!!! I am so proud of him! We had a week to be together and then he was back at ATP for his final course, the jet course. He's pretty excited about it and says that he expects this to be a lot work, but enjoyable. He finishes on Saturday, June 20th.
Now we pray that a job will open up for him. ATP would love for him to come and teach for them in Dallas or Jacksonville, but we're hoping for a "real" job. Josh applied this week with ASA. It would be a commute for Josh, but we have friends and family in Atlanta, which is the hub for ASA, so he wouldn't have to get a crash pad.
I had my first group interview yesterday at the YMCA. It was an interesting experience. Twelve other people all fighting for an opening, or multiple openings. (They didn't specify how many openings for the position there were.) I have been praying that God would give me peace and help me to trust in him. I often get nervous about how we're going to provide for Micheala. My biggest fear is failure in this area. Sometimes Satan just throws it in my face and tells me that I shouldn't have had a child knowing that we are so unstable. God is so much bigger and I always have to remind myself that those are lies from the ultimate deceiver.
In just a week, we will be off to Florida for a little "vacation". "Vacation" because we coming all the way from Texas to dogsit for Josh's parents. I guess I can add that onto my list of "odd" vacations.

Almost Finish?

Josh continues to do extremely well at ATP! I am so proud of him! He has worked hard, and has loved every minute of it. We are all starting to miss each other though. Its been quite some time since we've had a visit. We are all hanging in there and hoping for the end. Josh is suppose to come home sometime this week. I continue to pray for good weather so that he can finish his last two check rides. Then he's all ours for a week...he has his jet course scheduled for June 14th-20th.
We are praying that God will open doors for Josh in the job arena. Airlines have begun to slow down a lot in their hiring of new pilots, and many other pilots are simply not flying. God brought us out here for a reason. He has asked us to trust him without knowing exactly what he has in store for us. It would have made just as much sense to stay in Florida as come here. Except we would never be able to afford to live in Florida on a beginning pilot's salary with our house. (Which we can't seem to get rid of.)
Micheala continues to grow like crazy. Just the other day she said her own name! Its crazy, and amazing. Everyone told me that time would fly. I remember holding her on my chest at three weeks, cherishing her smells and sounds, knowing that I wouldn't have them forever. It is amazing how your life changes with a baby. Josh and I love it! She is the light our life, and quite a source of entertainment. She keeps me busy.
Please pray for us and our job situation. I begin teaching in August or early September. Even with my job and the "potential" job for Josh, we still estimate that we will be short every month. Living with my parents is not what we want to do forever. They have been so much help, but we want to take care of ourselves and don't feel like that should be their burden. I continue to pray that God would bless them for taking us in and providing for us.