First off JJ did not get the job with google. While we are very upset he did not get the job we are not so upset about not moving to New York. Plus, JJ got to see New York for a little while so now he can say he has been. The entire trip was filled with delayed flights and I think he was happy when he finally made it home. The experience was great, but I firmly believe God has a different plan for our family. Now we are putting all of our efforts into finding a job either here in Norman or in Texas. So we could still use all the prayers possible while we work through this high stress time in our life.
I have been quite sick for a few weeks and thought I was feeling better. Now I am not so sure. I went to the doctor two weeks ago and was diagnosed with bronchitis. I finished my medicine and started to feel better, but yesterday and today the sore throat and stuffiness has set back in. To be gross I have started to hack up some nasty stuff. I think I might have to make my way back to the doctor next week and make sure this has not progressed to something else. I had a birthday since last time I wrote and was actually sick for the day. I did get out and go for Japanese food with JJ and Marie. While we lived in Indonesia my dad took me most years to a Japanese restaurant where they cooked the food in front of you. I always loved doing that so I am starting a new birthday tradition for myself. So next year everyone will know where to find me for my birthday! I got some great presents and spent most of the day resting. I finished my last bible study yesterday as a facilitator. I have been facilitating some sort of bible study for a year and a half and am taking a break next semester. We still have our ladies brunch that I am planning and then my work is done. We did a book called courageous Women by Stacy Mitch. It looked at all the important women in the bible. It was an ok book, but the group was what made it great. We had a group of about 20 ladies and were very diverse so there were some lively conversations. I do however look forward to taking a little time off, but I will more than likely join a study as a participant.
Now on to my pride and joy...Marie!
She has grown up so much since she started school. We are forever sounding out words and learning so much. I found the other day when we went grocery shopping that I must write neater because she was trying to follow the list and could not read my handwriting. I spent most of the time telling her what the word was supposed to be and she kept questioning why I was writing it wrong. I have however learned my lesson. She loves sc
hool and loves her teachers. They are always telling me how caring and compassionate she is to her fellow classmates and to her teachers. I love hearing these things! We are still doing dance and gymnastics. She asked to quit Pom class and we let her. She is really in love with gymnastics and she had her first meet yesterday. 
Now before people go up in arms about her being to young to compete this was a fun meet. Every child got some sort of ribbon as long as they tried. If they were able to do their entire routine with no mistakes and no help they got a blue one, if they had some help they got a red one, and then if they were helped pretty much the entire time they got either a white or a pink. With that said Marie got the following ribbons: floor routine - blue, vault - blue, uneven bars - red, beam - blue. We are so proud of her that I cannot even put it into wor
ds. She has been practicing very hard and loves doing her gymnastics. If we would let her she would probably live at the gym. She is training under Steve Nunno who just opened up a new gym here in Norman. He is the former coach of Shannon Miller (Olympic gold medalist) and former OU girls gymnastics coach. We know Steve because his three kids go to the same school Marie goes to. He is just such a wonderful coach and has hired some great people to work with the kiddos. Marie used to be so afraid of doing some gymnastics things, but some how Steve can get her to do the things and then once she does it she loves them! We feel so blessed to have her in his program
and would love to be able to stay here and let her keep training under him.We are heading to Austin this week for Thanksgiving. We are actually going to drive to Austin and then grab my sister and brother-in-law and head to Houston for Thanksgiving day with my mother. Mom has to work so we are going to eat at the restaurant with her. Then we are heading back to Austin to spend a little time with family. Just a short trip because JJ is trying to save up his vacation time for when he gets close to getting out of the Air Force and also for interview time. While in Austin we will probably spend a little time looking at houses and neighborhoods and also make a drive by some of the schools we are interested in.
For Christmas we are spending our time here at home as usual. JJ and Marie (and perhaps me) will go to Baton Rouge for JJ's brothers PhD graduation. Richie graduates on the 21st of December. Marie will have to miss her last couple of days of school in order to go to the graduation. The reason I am not sure about me yet is because of music practice at church. Graduation is so close to Christmas that I am not sure if I will be able to miss the practices. I have committed to playing flute for two masses on the 24th and then mass on the 25th. We have practice scheduled for the 20th. As it gets closer to the time I will figure out how things are going and then we will make the decision as to who will travel. They will drive back on the 22nd because Marie and I have tickets to see the Nutcracker. We are going to Tulsa to see the ballet and then at that performance they have a special thing where you pay a little extra and the kids get to go on stage and have snacks with dancers, goodies, and their picture taken with a dancer in costume. She is very excited about going and I am excited about taking her for her first time! We used to go as kids every Christmas so I hope to have this become a tradition for us.
I think that is all the information I have to pass along to everyone. I will close now and post some pictures. These are from last night at the gymnastics meet. Love to all!
