We got to go to Birmingham this weekend. We went to watch the ALABAMA game with B's family. It has been an outstanding tradition . This year it will be broken since we have moved to Dothan, but we hope to get up there as much as we can.

While we were up there we went to see some friends.
One of B's law school buddies is in the process of moving to B'ham because his wife has opened a coffee shop downtown at The Pepper Place. It is called O Kafes . It just opened on Tuesday and we had to go and check it out. When we first walked in, you could smell the wonderful aroma of fresh coffee. I LOVE the smell of coffee. The place looks great too. It has great tables and sitting areas to hang out with your friends, lots of yummy food to snack on and my family agrees the coffee tastes GREAT too. I have to insist that if you are ever in downtown Birmingham, go check it out! Tell her I said hey!!!



So, on with the story. Right before the game, Page and her family came over too. Ian ran up to Anna and gave her a hug. He looked up at Anna (it used to be the other way around) and said, "Wow, Anna! You have grown!" Noah ended up skinning his knees pretty bad, but he didn't cry. He was so tough. He did get a little dramatic after the fact. He didn't know if he would ever be abe to walk again! Children's tylenol works miracles! When you put The Hooten family, my family, Chuck's family and the Dollar family all under one roof, a party is started! There are very few moments that you aren't laughing with this group. What can I say, we know how to have fun!

Speaking of laughing ****Here is a funny story. If you don't know David this will require a little background info first.****
My brother in law, David, is mentally challenged. He is 18 years old. He is super smart and an awesome guy to be around. He just can't speak all that well. When you get to know him real well, you are able to translate what he says. We say that he speaks his own language, Davidese. He prnounces what he can and uses hand motions and facial expressions as well. Just a side note: He is probably the biggest Alabama fan there is. We all love him so much.

Okay so now that you know that, here goes the funny story. My little boy, he is four, comes into the family room and walks up to his Aunt Libby singing a song that David made up. The words are "old papa, Diddy, old papa, Diddy." Translation: "You are as old as an old grandpa, Libby." Who, by the way is two years younger than David! He just likes to tease her! Bret asked Ian if David told him to sing that to Libby. Ian said that David did. Well, Bret told Ian that he needed to go and give David a message from Libby. Libby said to tell David that he smelled like a fart. So Ian repeats it to himself and asks Libby how to say that in Spanish like David talks. Everyone starts laughing. I enter the room a little while later and Ian comes up to me and tells me that David taught him a song in Spanish and proceeds to sing the afore mentioned song. I burst out laughing. I asked David if he knew he could speak Spanish and he laughed and said no. Isn't being young and innocent adorable. Although, Ian was right, it is a different lanuage-just not Spanish. Aren't the Dora and Diego shows great!

So the game starts! We are ALL big football fans. We are HUGE Alabama fans! We all enjoyed the game so much. RRRROOOOLLLLL TTTTIIIIDDDDEEEE!!!!!! I think Bama fans needed this win. We know what our team is capable of and can't wait to see how much they improve through the season. I mean my goodness, they were awesome last night! How much better are they going to be after all the kinks are worked out and the freshman get more playing time. All the freshman we had on the field really showed their stuff. Oh and how awesome was Coffee, #38, last night? Dude, you rock! Keep up the good work! Coffee is my favorite. Elliott, another one of B's brothers, got me his autograph at fan day. I asked him to tell Coffee that he was my favorite, but he didn't. I am grateful for the autograph though!! No complaints here!

Page, thanks for showing me around blogger. Notice, I did some of the things you showed me! What do you think?

I hope we make it back up to B'ham again soon. I have so many more people to see. I miss you all so much! God Bless! I hope to see you soon!

Well, it is late and I am exhausted! Night all!

Well, I'm here. I have been in Dothan for a month and a half. I can honestly say, I never thought my family would ever leave Alabaster. We were establishing a life there. I was making friends. I had my two best friends as close as I could get them to me. I had a great neighbor that I could count on for a walk around the neighborhood, eggs, milk or cake decorating advice. I had a school to teach at and for my daughter to attend that I (still) completely believe in. I was establishing incredible relationships with teachers that were/and still are becoming great friends.
I guess the Lord had different plans. And I am willing to follow Him wherever he leads. Even if I don't understand why. I remind myself that faith is believing in what is not seen! I pray that I will always have that faith.
Well, we are as unpacked as I think we are going to get. I think we all feel "at home." After all, as long as Bret and I are with the kids, that is home, right? Those five months that I was away from Bret were extremely hard and I pray that the Lord will not ask us to do that again anytime soon. (If you missed this part, check out my facebook or myspace blogs. www.myspace.com/bretsgirl)
I have my classroom decorated and am in the process of getting it as organized as I can. Lesson plans are underway. I really do have a good group of students. Most want to obey and still please the teacher. I have a few that are just wild at heart. Maybe this is the year they will get reigned in. Let's hope!
It is different teaching at Providence than at Evangel in many ways. Things are not bad at one place and good at the other, it is just different. At E I was in an all inclusive classroom. We didn't team teach. I taught all subjects, but Latin. We didn't have enrichment classes and we got out of school at 12:40. The schedule was tight, but I usually got everything taught and was (in a good way) exhuasted at the end of the day. I had the rest of the afternoon to be with my children, work on school or house work. At P, we team teach. I get the privilege of teaching History and Literature twice in one day. I am not being sarcastic. It really is a privilege. I get to teach about how God has shaped history and we can see His hand in it. It is awesome. Literature is just exciting. I get to take my students into another "world." I love adventures! I also teach the rest of the core subjects to my homeroom class. I don't get to teach my other two favorite subjects (math and science). We get out at 2:40, but that doesn't mean more time to teach. We have several enrichment classes that make our schedules even tighter than if our day ended at 12:40. Leaving the school after 4:00 doesn't leave a lot of time for anything else except cooking dinner and getting the kids ready for bed. I know I will get the hang of it...it is just going to take time. The more organized I get, the easier it will be.
I am not one for change and EVERYTHING has changed. I now have a new house, new job, new everything. I know the Lord is teaching me to get out of my comfort zone and that eventually things have to change. I am a slow learner, but eventually I do get it. Lord, just be patient. I promise I will learn. I am grateful. I have my husband again (every day of the week-not just two). I have a house (we are renting) that isn't in need of any repair. I get to have my two dogs again (inside the house-not out). They are just too funny to watch chasing each other around the sofa.
Hannah has made some friends in her classroom and has three little girls that live in our neighborhood. Ian on the other hand has been left out. We haven't found any boys his age here yet. Maybe soon.
We are on the hunt for a good, God-centered, church. If you know of any in Dothan, please let me know.