Trading In...and UP!

The newest adventure in our life right now is looking into getting a new car for me. Typically this isn't too big of a deal for people right? Well I need a few extras in my car, the main one being a ramp conversation. Right now there isn't anything wrong with my car, however, it has all the EMC driving equipment in it, and it isn't getting used at all! Ben and I love the idea of him being able to get in the car without dodging around all the extra equipment. Right now we are thinking that we'd like to see what trade in on my car would be before it needs work. The driving equipment is very expensive and we found a dealer in Michigan that works with clients all around the U.S. The salesman we are working with says that he has at least 8 clients in the states that would be interested in my car. Great news right? Well he said that if we could take pictures of my car, especially of the driving equipment, that he could try to let me know by Monday what it might be worth for trade in. The reason this is such a good time is because if we can get good trade in on my car we can get a good down payment on my new car, which theoretically should cost less than the setup I have right now. We are hoping for a good trade in to get the balance on my new car down to something we can reasonably finance. And this is the exciting part...my new car (if this all works out) will NOT be a mini van!!! That's right we are moving away from the soccer mom ride. We are looking at a 2010 Honda Element. This car is the first SUV to be converted with a ramp. And the other bonus is that it would have 4-wheel drive! We are hoping that if this is what God wants for us right now that everything will go smoothly. The fact that there is a demand for the way my car is equipped is a good start...with high demand and fewer products available cost should be up right? Well that's the economics point of view anyways! So as I type this blog Ben is washing and detailing my car for pictures! (Thank you Lord for no rain today...it will make for much nicer pictures!) I will do my best to keep you all updated...we are trying not to get our hopes up, this is truly just a shot in the dark...and we are in no big rush.

Late Christmas Pictures...

I realize how late these pictures are...I almost didn't even put them up because we are so past Christmas, but I thought, what the heck? So here we go...Christmas in January!



Here I am in front of the Christmas tree...about to open my present from Ben...which by the way he denied getting me the entire time...he said that my new trunk in the living room was my present...I knew he had to be joking! ;)

I was spoiled AGAIN this year with diamonds...they are a girl's best friend right? Well Ben has that figured out! I got a diamond necklace from Ben Bridge! Thanks honey, I love it!

A quick picture of Ben before he opened his present from me...

Yay...an iPod nano...took him awhile to figure it all out...but he eventually got it. I told him that if he couldn't figure something out, that he could take it to work and ask one of the middle school kids...I'm sure they would know!

We had a nice relaxing Christmas morning/afternoon together before heading to my grandma's for a family dinner...I'll post more pictures of that soon!

Meet The Ladies...

Okay so I promised some pictures of the puppies some time ago...but they really just started looking like puppies so here they are!

From left to right we have: Charity on the bottom left, Hope on the top middle, and Faith on the bottom right...And of course Landen!

This is a close up of Charity...she is by far the smallest so far!

Here is a close up of Hope...she is MY FAVORITE!!!

Another cute one of Hope...she is the biggest, and the fattest!!

Another picture of Hope...she is such a cuddlier...I held her for hours on Christmas day...and she slept for the majority of it! If Mom and I can talk the boys into it, we'd LOVE to take Hope home...she is such a sweetie!

I'm sure I will have more pictures of the girls soon, and I will try to even it out a little more, I realize there aren't very many of Faith...and I have A TON of Hope...but I'll try to get some more later this month. Right now they are just starting to walk on their feet, they are very wobbly. All three of them are starting to rough house and play with each other...especially Charity and Hope. They still don't have teeth, but they give a lot of puppy kisses already!

Christmas pictures will be coming soon...I'll try to get them up during Landen's nap tomorrow!

God said: "Not This One Either"

Well we got the phone call, and Ben didn't get the leave replacement position. It is disappointing, but Ben and I are both feeling at peace with the answer to our prayers. Ben was told that he interviewed very well. The principal said that he really enjoyed getting to know Ben and having the opportunity to observe Ben work with kids during his observation at Lynden on Friday. Ben was told that the only thing holding him back was experience. We (and the principal) realize that it's hard to get experience without a job, but we know God has a plan for all of that.

On the bright side...Ben has a lot of sub jobs lined up for after Winter Break. We are glad to have an answer, and now feel like we can move onto the next opportunity God has in store for us. Thank you so much for all your words of encouragement and prayers. We are so thankful for such a great supportive group of friends and family.

Merry Christmas!

UPdate...

The update is...we still have no update! Sorry people...I have been getting a lot of phone calls and messages asking "have ya heard anything?" So just to help everyone stay patient...no word yet. The earliest we will hear is probably tomorrow...but it could even be Wednesday. We caught word that Ben is in the top three (that was on Friday, before today's interviews) but who knows what that had in store. Thank you so much for all your prayers and words of support...Hopefully my next post will be "good tidings of great joy...about a job!"

Quick Update...

Just a VERY quick update...today Ben found out that he is going to be observed while subbing at Lynden Middle school tomorrow. Hopefully this is a step in the right direction, and the Nooksack Middle school principal will like what he sees. Please pray that Ben will feel comfortable and shine like the great teacher he is! Until the next update...!

Is This The One?

Alright people...would you believe God has put another Art job opening in our lives?? But out of every job opening, so far, this one seems to be the MOST perfect job for our family. First of all, it's with the Nooksack Valley school district, which is the district I work in, and the district our kids (SOME DAY) would go to. Second, it's a FULL TIME POSITION! Third, it is a middle school position....which is Ben's preferred age group. (Old enough to take care of themselves, but still a little fearful of adult authority...) For now it is a leave replacement, but hey...a job is a job! Ben had his interview today after subbing at Lynden middle school...made for a busy day but a great first step! When I asked him how it went...he said he couldn't remember what they asked, or what he said, but they smiled a lot! So now we wait and see what God has in store for us...we should hear something before Christmas...I will do my best to keep you updated!