1st Visitors

My parent's helped us move in and stayed for a day, then headed back to CO. We really enjoyed the trip down and the help! Thank you Mom & Dad!! And Thank You to Mike Jones for letting us use that sweet trailer! Ohhh - Shelby just loves George. Her face lights up whenever she sees him and she loves holding on to him. It is pretty sweet. Thanks Mom!

Grandma Mary was able to visit the first week in March and Shelby fell in love. She really had no choice as Grandma Mary showered her with kisses and hugs and laughter. They had a great time together and we are so glad she was able to come visit.

Josh's Uncle Dennis and Aunt Carol (Ron's sister) were in Texas and driving to California so they dropped in as they were (somewhat) in the neighborhood. We really never thought that anyone would ever be in the neighborhood. It was a very nice surprise! Shelby and I were able to spend an hour with them chatting. Then we meet them at the BP station for a picture. Thanks for coming by, Dennis & Carol!

If anyone ever wants to come see us that would be great!

Catching up...

We'll try to catch you all up here in the next few posts. We arrived in Sanderson without any hick-ups. THANK YOU to all who helped us pack up and move!!! And THANK YOU to my parents for driving with us and helping us move in and unpack. You guys are a huge blessing to us!

One week before we left CO Shelby started making this super cute face with her nose all scrunched up. It is hard to catch on camera, because as soon as the camera comes out she just smiles as she loves to have her picture taken. But on the drive - somewhere in NM - Josh caught the face. She does it all the time now and everyone loves it!

There is a hiking trail that goes around the hills in town. We enjoyed a hike one afternoon, even though we were almost blown off the hill from the wind! Thanks for the backpack, Kim & Adam! You can see our house in this picture, but it is hard to describe. It is even with Josh's nose/mouth and to the left of Josh.

Shelby looked so sweet in this dress one Sunday ~ thanks (again) for the hand-me-downs, Bonus's! We love all the sweet clothes Shelby now has. She is still rollie-pollie and we love it!

More later...

Our House!

Ok, so we can borrow the internet at our friend's house, the Bovat's. In May we hope to have the internet at our house! There is so much to update you on - I am not sure where to start. We are doing great! I am loving this place. So many great people that we have met. Josh is liking his job. God put us in a great place. Shelby and I get to go on walks most days. We get together with other moms and BP wives as well. We made bread with some ladies. So fun! Josh's days at work are long (usually 10 + hours), but he is learning lots. He is into the Field Training Program which will last 12 weeks.

You can pray for us - that we'll be a light for Jesus to all that we meet. Our church is good and we are getting involved in several areas. Two Bible studies started just after we moved here so we were able to get in on those right away. What great timing! There are lots of opportunities to make food, so I am baking and cooking a lot. So fun! The church has a potluck the last Sunday of each month.

Our home is small, but it is new and clean and we are so very thankful for that!

Ok, that is it for now. More later. We hope you all are doing well!!!

And we're off!

The trailer is packed, the vehicles are gassed up and ready to go, now a few hours of sleep and we are off!
Josh got in Friday night just before 11:00 - so great! Saturday we ran a lot of errands and were all tuckered out by the time we met friends and family for dinner at Famous Dave's. Sunday was nice as we enjoyed church and a semi-relaxing afternoon at the Griffin's. Today we loaded the canoe and finished packing the trailer.
So glad to finally start this new adventure. The electricity should be turned on tomorrow in Sanderson. FYI - no internet for ~90 days, so this is your last update for a while. Feel free to call our cell phones to chat.

Goodbye Colorado ~ we will miss you!!!

He's coming home!!

So excited! Josh graduated from Spanish - and did great - and is on his way home!!! Pictures to come from this weekend, then it may be 90 days until we post again, as it may be that long before we have the internet in Sanderson.

We are thankful for good weather so far on Josh's trip home this afternoon and tonight. Tomorrow will be packing and errands, then family time on Sunday, then more errands and packing on Monday. Tuesday morning (early) we'll head out and arrive at our new home by Wednesday afternoon. The place has been cleaned and electricity should be turned on Tuesday.

The time has finally come!!! Love to you all ~

Seven months

Shelby is seven months old today, January 7th. She continues to be such a sweet little girl. My parents are really enjoying her, especially these last few days with her before we move to Texas. Here are some Shelby stats:

• She can sit up very well on her own
• She can roll from her tummy to her back
• She has her two front, bottom teeth
• Her top front, left tooth is poking through and her other tooth is ready to come through
• She will give you a high-five (and expects that you'll be very pleased with her after doing so)
• She loves to move her mouth as though she is chewing while others are eating
• She stands well, even on her own for a few seconds
• She loves playing with and watching other kids
• She sleeps 7 to 8 hours in a row most nights
• She loves to talk, jabber, babble & squeal
• She knows her name
• She reaches her arms up when she wants to be picked up
• She likes to fake cough, because we think it is funny
• She is always busy - hands & feet moving all the time
  
• Height: 26 1/2 inches (50th percentile)
• Weight: 19lb 8.6oz (93rd percentile)
• Head Circumference: 17 1/4 (75th percentile)
  

She is so great and I love being her mommy. I think crawling will be next!


Shelby has moved up to a bigger car seat now. It works well, but is not as comfortable for sleeping as her old "carrier" car seat.


Today it was snowing and the wind was blowing so it was pretty chilly. She looked so sweet in this warm outfit with her slippers.


Shelby got a nice afternoon nap on Grandma after getting her shots at the doctor's office today.

And we have a place to live in Sanderson!!! We are praising the Lord because we heard from Monty and Lisa and they have a place that we can rent. Here is a picture of the type of place where we'll be living. Two are pictured, but there are actually three all in this one area/lot. It is small, but it will work until our condo sells here in Colorado and until we can find a more permanent place to live. We are so excited! These are brand new houses which is hard to come by in Sanderson. So three weeks from today we should be rolling into town.

Bringing in the New Year

While Josh was in Sanderson looking for a place for us to live, Shelby and I brought in the New Year with the folks at the Legacy Senior Center. We had a nice time with them, after Shelby got over her initial shock of waking up from a nap at a quiet house and then driving to a noisy party. :) We did get the bring in the New Year sleeping, which I love! However Shelby was up until 11:30 PM.

Grandma & Shelby

Bob & Janice (sitting), Lucille, Sharon & Shelby

Donna, Sharon & Shelby, Dale & Sandy

Sharon & Shelby, Lucille, and two sweet ladies whose names I can't remember...oops

Thanks again for the cute outfit for Shelby, Grandma Mary!