Fox Wedding 12/18/2010

*****WARNING*****
BEAUTIFUL GRAPHIC CONTENT
Katie looked amazing on her wedding day!

The beautiful bride Katie Sue Fox in the prayer room waiting for the ceremony to start.

Katie talking to her groom before the wedding.

Katie and me.

Katie and Danae.

Katie and her puzzle (just for show).

The beautiful, godly, amazing Fox family.

More pictures, details to come about Katie's wedding, but we are packing for our next vacation in less than 24 hours.

Thanksgiving

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Andrew and I made the trek south to Elkton, Oregon (west of Roseburg). Andrew's grandparents live there and his parents drove up from California and that is where we have Thanksgiving. Andrew's parents rented at house in Elkton, which was a brand new house with many amenities. Gorgeous house and we were thankful to stay in such a nice house. Below are the pictures because I wouldn't mind having this house some day or the items in the house.

The master bedroom's closet.

The master bath's tub! Used this twice and I was only there for less than 23 hours.

The master bath.

The master bedroom.

The master bedroom.

The living room (sorry for the blurry picture).

The kitchen.

The kitchen again. Check out the beautiful hardwoods.

The kitchen for the third time.

Awesome Professor

Just wanted to write a quick shout out if you will to an amazing professor. I turned in a chart in which I thought I did really well...well he did too, BUT I left a cell blank on my chart. I formatted my chart wrong and it ended up on another theory above it. I emailed the professor tonight after I received my grade and asked him if there was any way I could get my grade changed due to this format error. Well...3 minutes later....a reply....YES he would be willing. All I had to do was prove to him what I wanted to say there. All it took was a cut and copy onto the email! A PERFECT score for me on the paper. By the way I only missed one point originally, but I am really hoping for an A in the course that is why I asked. Plus I did not do too hot on the paper before (a B-). Thankful for my amazing professor who was willing to show grace to me tonight!

Yes, Andrew told me over the phone an A- is still really good for a master's course. I am just proving to myself and others I can do it!

PS...still writing my thesis paper. It is due on Friday at 8am. Excited for Andrew to get home tomorrow from California to add the finishing touches, read through it with me and help me with grammar errors, and get this bad boy turned in. Thanks to my sis for helping me on my paper today.

Paper Writing

Today, I received a paper back that I wrote for one of my classes this semester. I thought I put a lot of time and effort into this paper and when I received the paper back, well it was not the grade I was expecting. For me, this graduate work, I have taken more serious than my undergraduate work. I do not know if it is the money that I am investing into it (even though I am still paying loans from UG), if I want to prove to myself and others that I can do it, or I just want to show others that I can be smart. This brings me to a dilemma because every semester I strive to get an A. Andrew would tell you that I really try hard, but overemphasize the grades. I really struggle with being disappointed with getting a grade that I did not want and I become sad. Why is this that I struggle like this? Shouldn't I be happy if I get an A-? This brings me to the sermon, our pastor spoke about last Sunday. The one about Spiritual Practices highlighting Freedom. Why is it that I am trying to please other people? Should I not be the one pleasing God in all that I do? Hmm...I think I need to listen to that sermon over and over again.

TSO Concert

Andrew and I went to the Trans Siberian Orchestra again for the 6th year in the row. We had a great time first going to Stanford's Restaurant for dinner and then off to the Rose Garden for the concert. It was great and enjoyable once again.

Us

This is just us attempting a somewhat good picture. We were about to leave to go to a fundraiser with the Johnson's, Whaley's, and some other people at the Hilton in Portland. It was a great night and fun to hang out and learn more about Sarah's previous job.

Expensive

Why is graduate school so expensive. Looking at expenses coming up...
*Renewal of teaching license
*Graduation application fee
*Monthly graduate tuition
*Practicum fee
*ESOL endorsement test
Ready to be done with this master's degree. I am almost done with this semester and then only ONE more to go!

PLUS on top of paying our regular bills. Argh....so many bills, but we continue to trust that God will provide for us financially, spiritually, and letting us learn from Him

No Deal

Lame....Oneida has cancelled our order. TOO GOOD to be true! =(

3000

Something crazy that we did last night. Last night there was a deal on Oneida to purchase any amount of salad plates, mugs, and bowls for free with the cost of shipping for a grand total of $4.50. We decided we should purchase 1,000 of each and then donate it to our church or other places. We could not beat this deal. We are hoping it goes through, but who knows. Right now, the $4.50 is pending on our account until they confirm our order. We will keep you updated to see if the order really does go through. That's right....3000 dishes ordered.

Giants are onto the World Series

True fans watch and then photograph the celebration after the game. Yes, we had our camera out, so Kathleen in true fashion decided to photograph the celebration of the San Francisco Giants winning the National League Pennant. We are excited that the Giants are in the World Series! Go Giants!

The winning pitch by "Fear the Beard" Brian Wilson.

Buster Posey and Brian Wilson.

Pumpkin Carving

Last night-our niece Jazmyne and her dad (Kathleen's brother) came over and we carved pumpkins. Kathleen carved a mickey head and she carved starts into Jazzy's pumpkin. After we cleaned them out, we put in battery operated candles that smell like vanilla and took some pictures in and outside the house.

Update

Things we have been or still doing

Went to Salem to see Katie last Saturday when her team played Corban and then got to hang out with her after the game.

Ending three weeks of sickness, but have not missed a day of teaching.

Kathleen has enjoyed immensely teaching second grade.

Andrew and I are still getting through this semester of homework, reading, papers, and the joys of just school.


Things we look forward to....Lord willing
Trans-Siberian Orchestra Concert in mid-November.

Thanksgiving in Elkton, Oregon with the Finch family.

The Fox's wedding in Jacksonville, Oregon.

Christmas in Phoenix, Arizona with entire Studenny/Lewis side of family.
A possible Christmas day NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals.

Another semester down once December comes....Kathleen has ONE more left after December.

Another possible long-term sub position for Kathleen.

Kathleen is kicking her niece in the shin to toughen her up.

How Do You Know/Show....

I came across this song on a Beauty and the Beast soundtrack cd that we got with the princesses. I just was thinking...how do you show your spouse that you love them? Even though Andrew and I have gone through rough times, it makes me realize that God is in control and He has brought us through some really HARD times. God is faithful and continues to show Himself to us if we allow Him to without thinking we can do it on our own.

Today

Today, I started my first day as a full-time long term substitute teaching position in the second grade. Yesterday, I was able to be mentored by the substitute before me and just be able to get my questions answered if I had any (and yes I had some). Andrew and I are very thankful that this job came about because we have not had a pay check come in for about 2 months, but thankful that we are living with my parents and have saved money through my jobs that I have had. I am learning a lot about what a full-time teacher really goes through and get that experience. I am excited that it is the weekend, but still need to plan for this coming week. This was my big announcement and NO we are NOT expecting a baby.

Thursday

Thursday, September 30!
8:00am!
Excited!
Thankful!
Blessed!
Hopeful!
Trusting!

Eagerly Awaiting Amazing Race

Andrew found this off our good friend's Sam's Facebook page. Haha

Last Month in Pictures

This past month (in August) was spent finishing up work at the Portland Spirit and then taking a 10 day vacation to Sacramento, California to visit Andrew's parents. We also have been visiting friends, watching friends coach soccer, taking pictures of our nieces and nephews, and hanging out with more family.

Today is my dad's 64th birthday and we decided to compile pictures of his grandchildren. This originally was going to be for both parents, but we decided to give it to my dad since my mom saw the picture early. We took the grandchildren out on a photo shoot two weeks ago and got the best pictures we could before everyone's nap time. We went through Costco to order the print and the frame from Craft Warehouse. All less than $21.00.

We stopped at my college roommate's parent's dairy farm one Saturday before we went out to lunch with my parents. This was a new calf that had just been born a few days before this.

Went to go watch Northwest Christian University vs. Clackamas Community College soccer game. Sarah and Eamon Johnson came with us. We also have been enjoying going on walks with Sarah and Eamon and enjoyed the last day of $2 Tuesday at Dutch Brothers.

Augustine watching his mom coach (CCC) against Katie's team (NCU).

Andrea at the State Fair with her cows.

Andrea with the milk truck on the farm.

My last Portland Spirit cruise as an employee. I went on a lunch cruise with my boss and a good friend who is my boss's boss.

Jazmyne making (with my mom's help) strawberry pie for her dad for his 35th birthday.

Alistair watching his mom coach soccer.

Coach Katie watching her team warm-up for their first official game of the 2010 season. She did an amazing job. I went and watched her game the next day in Eugene and they played really hard and tied Simpson.

My brother Josh with his daughter and our niece Jasmine on the Big Slide.


My brother Stephen was his youngest daughter Madison.

Alistair smiling and very happy at the Picnic at Oaks Park.

Saundra, Alistair, Stephen, and Madison on the Carousel.

Madison looking at something at the picnic.

Terri and Alistair on the carousel.

A very busy month, but thankful that we are able to be up in Portland to spend time with family. Thankful that God led us up to Portland when He did. God's timing is perfect and I can never doubt this.