Prayer Request

Please be in prayer for Josh, Micheala, and I. We've been in Texas for almost ten months, and can hardly believe that it will soon be a year. Josh is doing well at Hi-Tech Aviation, he is one of the highest paid instructors at the moment. We are SOO grateful, but unfortunately it isn't enough for us to live on our own. I feel like Satan is working hard on our family right now. We feel so discouraged at times, that I just want to slink away and hide.
We are both working six to seven days a week, and feel like we have nothing to show for it. Ike of course didn't help because we ended up spending more money during our "vacation", the stay at College Station, and helping replenish the refrigerator at my parents.
I haven't received a paycheck from Sonkids since August, I think my check was lost or something. BUT , a month without receiving a check is a little tough.
My parents asked us about our plan and our budget. So, we revisited our finances and looked to see where we're at. I visit our budget often, because I'm in charge of all of the bills, but it was a little bit of a shock for Josh to see on paper.
So, my prayer requests...please if you think about it we need prayer:

1. That we would be reminded that Satan is a deceiver and looks to discourage us. That Josh and I would lean on God for our comfort and remember what he says in Matthew about taking care of the birds and lilies of the field.

2. That we would be able to save enough money for a deposit and a couple of months rent for an apartment by March. (We would like to move out by June, but earlier if things allow.)

3. Please, please, please pray that Josh would not make a hasty decision in his job choices or our home situation.

4. Pray that you would help calm my parents and provide for them. *The financial market is greatly affecting their way of living as well.*

5. Pray that a job, preferably a flying job, would open up for Josh. That he would be able to begin building hours in a company so that we can make the next step in pay. (Instructors make 20k to 24k a year, without benefits. Beginning pilots make about the same but with benefits. The following year is usually a substantial increase in pay.)

6. Please pray that God would give us wisdom and that he would continue to provide us with the means to provide for Micheala.

7. Please pray for the sale of our Orlando home. We need to free ourselves of it.

Thank you for all of your prayers and the time it took for you to read this!! I appreciate it more than you know.

Blessings

Our pilot for the trip to Fredricksburg, TX. Yes, his head is touching the roof of the plane, which hurt during the moments of turbulence.

Micheala and I trying to stay occupied on the hour flight. Micheala did GREAT! I was worried since she wasn't wearing a headset.

Micheala and I at one of the lookout point for a old railroad tunnel, which is now home to bats. We returned later that night to watch them come out of the tunnel! It was pretty cool! Micheala didn't seem to care one way or the other though.

This is were we stayed in Fredricksburg, right above the bar section of the brewery. It was neat stepping right out on Main Street though.

Poor, tired Daddy and his little girl. We tried to take her out and keep her occupied, but she just wasn't feeling well, and you can see how much sleep Josh and I got the night before. (1 hour)

Ike was a pretty nasty storm for Texas. Galveston is almost completely destroyed from what I've seen on TV and heard from others. Houston fared much better, but wasn't without its issues. There are still many many people with no power, and some with no homes because of falling trees. My parent's home was safe, and not a single shingle was missing. I was completely shocked! There were flooded roads, and some homes flooded as well. Again, we didn't fit into this category.

Josh's passengers to Fredricksburg, ended up deciding to stay in Houston because they couldn't fit their golf clubs into the plane. Again, another blessing because Micheala and I got to go with him. Micheala was pretty sick the whole weekend, and the accommodations that were set up for us was above a bar, BUT we had power, and a safe place to sleep. No air and power with a sick baby wouldn't not have been a lot of fun. We tried to fly back on Sunday but there was a flight restriction for Houston, but we were able to fly into College Station. My little brothers and their sweet girls were GREAT hosts, and we enjoyed our time with them. We stayed until power was up, Thursday.

Mom and Dad were fine, a little stressed with trying to find ice, food, and a generator. They never were able to find a generator, but their neighbors across the street had power so they kept some items over there. Mom said they had a party almost every night in the driveway, mostly because they wanted everyone to know that they were indeed home. (***Looting has been a problem in the area.***)

Thank you for all of your prayers. I know that there were many many people praying for Houston and Galveston this past weekend.

Vacate

So, I guess Micheala is going to get her first ride in an airplane. As Ike approaches, The Woodlands citizens begin to freak out a little bit. The grocery stores are completely out of bread, water, propane, and ice. Maneuvering around the store was quite a challenge and the lines were pretty long. It took Micheala and I an hour to get through the store, and we only bought $50 worth of supplies. (Not much.) Many gas stations are out of gas completely and the ones that aren't have HUGE lines. Luckily, my family decided to fill up on gas yesterday when we thought that Ike might be a problem. As far as food and water, we made sure to get all of that stuff when we thought another hurricane was on our way. Unfortunately/fortunately, that storm moved somewhere else.
The school that Josh works at has an investor that is asking someone to fly his plane away from the storm. Josh volunteered for the task. It is a six seater plane, and should have plenty of room for Micheala, Josh, and I. It is also air conditioned, which is definitely a plus. I'm not sure that Micheala will keep her headset on in the plane, but Josh assures me that we won't damage her ears. *Really that is my only concern about this whole volunteer mission.
I'm hoping that everything goes well, and that this hurricane will leave minimal damage on Houston. Stuff is just stuff, but it still hurts knowing that we could lose a lot of important stuff.
I'll let everyone know how we fair the storm later. Please be in prayer for us here in Texas.


SOOOOOOO, just kidding about leaving with Josh. It looks like Micheala and I will be staying in Houston and braving the storm. Josh will be flying the investor's friends out to Fredricksburg, TX. Josh will be gone and away, and I will be hanging tight with Micheala. Hmmm....which position would you rather be in?

Yikes Ike!

We all thought we missed the big one just a few weeks ago. And although we genuinly felt sorry for Mississippi and Lousiana, we were very very very grateful that we were not the ones dealing with the wind and lots of rain. It doesn't sound like we are going to be as lucky with this one. We will have to see how this all pans out. I am nervous about this being the BIGGEST storm that Micheala has ever been through. I'm praying that God will give me patience and show me how to comfort Micheala when she gets scared. (If she gets scared.)

On a brighter note, today went a lot better at preschool! I was grateful that they all seemed to follow our routines. I still had some hiccups and breakdowns. Luckily no one peed on anyone else. We had some tinkle showers on our first day. Mommies were none to pleased when they picked them up in different clothes. My kids dress way cutier than I do for preschool.

I managed to beg someone to take a picture of Micheala and I at school. AND I didn't cry when I dropped her off this morning. The picture is a bit blurry and Micheala isn't looking at me, but at least I have a picture of her during her first week of school.

It Begins....Tomorrow!

Tomorrow I finally begin teaching, again! I'm so nervous and a little leery after meeting my students last week. They all seem to be very sweet little boys and girls, mostly boys, but WOW. Tomorrow and most of the week is going to be all about routines and expectations. I pray I can hang in there long enough to see everything fall into place.
Tomorrow is Micheala's first day at school. :( I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. I'm comforted knowing that she is right down the hall from me, and that she'll only be in the class for half of the day. Once two o'clock hits we get to go home. Fridays she'll spend with her daddy or with her grandma.
Soooo, obviously there isn't a lot going on in our life right now. However, if anyone knows anyone that wants to buy a house in Avalon Lakes let me know! Our renters broke their lease and our house is officially up for sale. We are hoping to short sale it.