New Year's Eve

Wow!  I can't believe it's New Year's Eve again!  Where has this year gone??  It's been a somewhat rocky year for Michael and I, but God saw us through and we are looking forward to what He has in store for us in 2012.  Here's a (not-so-quick) recap of our year...

I completed my second year of teaching in Junction City.  The second year went MUCH smoother than the first, and by the end, I felt like I finally had my feet underneath me.  I had a great staff to work with and an amazing parter in Tracy.  It was tough at the end of the year leaving her behind.  We went through our new-teacher journey together and I couldn't have asked for anyone better at my side.  :)  Miss you!!!

Michael finished his engineering degree this year.  After working at it for 5 years, he finally got his hard earned piece of paper!  What a proud moment!  The job search had begun months earlier, leading to a few interviews but nothing sticking.  Still, there was a great deal of relief in knowing that the degree was completed.  :)  Love you, Michael!  So proud of you!

Michael and I moved to Wichita shortly after Michael graduated.  The idea behind the move was that Wichita would be an easier place to find an engineering job.  Too bad Wichita was laying off teachers when we got to town.  :(  I took a couple interviews, but nothing surfaced in the way of a teaching job.  The plus side to being in Wichita was that we are now MUCH closer to my family!  Sis and Adam are literally less the 5 minutes from us!  It was a great summer spending time with them!  We spent most Thursday nights over the summer in Old Town at the wine bar and watching free movies at Rock Island Studios.  :)

In June, while Sis and Adam were on vacation for Sis' birthday Michael and I helped Mama work on Sis and Adam's flower bed in their back yard.  We spent several days in the hot sun weeding, hoping we weren't pulling things that were actually flowers, and planting all sorts of new flowers.  :)  In the middle of the week Michael and I went to the Humane Society to look around (like we've done for months) but when we got there, a little girls stole our hearts.  :)  This summer we added Gabby to our family, she's been SO MUCH FUN!  :)  What a personality!!!

We've been through quite a job ordeal this year.  Michael began looking for a full-time engineering job in January for after he graduated.  He spent time working 10-15 hrs/week at Toys R Us, and he spent a week at Bunting Magnetics working as a drafter before landing a GREAT job working on Ag Equipment for Dell.  Definitely not where we thought he would be, but this job has turned out to be a huge blessing! 

I've been through a number of jobs this year too.  After leaving Junction City I tried to find a teaching job, but with no luck.  In the middle of the summer I got a part-time job at Belden Jeweler's, which has turned out to be an amazing job with great, understanding, and helpful people.  I spent a month and a half as a para in Augusta before finally turning to subbing.  It's been quite an adventure getting our jobs figured out, but we've got them settled now.  Praise the Lord for ALWAYS providing for our needs.

Through everything we've been through this year, Michael has always been there at my side, staying positive and looking for the silver lining in everything.  I'm so thankful for having him in my life.  He is an amazing blessing and I don't know where I'd be without him.  :)  Love you, Sweetheart!  :)

I'm VERY MUCH looking forward to 2012.  I have a feeling it's going to be a big year for Michael, the girls, and I.  I hope you all had a safe celebration ringing in the new year.  I wish you all much health and happiness this year.  God Bless!!

Love,
Jen, Michael, Harlee, and Gabby

Fall and Winter in Wichita

Hello again, friends and family!  :)  I do appologize that it's been so long!  My oh my, how life can get busy in a hurry!!  Holy smokes!  Here's what's been happening the last few months in our lives....

October:  Michael and I had a great plan to be pirates for Halloween!  We started getting stuff ready for costumes and everything, and then life took over and those plans went down the drain.  Maybe next year.  :P  We DID manage to make it to the Ren Fest on the pirate weekend!  It was the weekend that Wichita was the sponsor city, so both of us got in for the price of one.  The trip set off our fall nicely.  We love going every year!  I had a big greasy turkey leg and regretted it 2 hours later.  :P  We also saw Nick and Maggie while we were in KC.  We went with them to a bar called the Flying Saucer where they have nearly 100 beers on tap!  It was a nice little trip.  Michael continued to work at Toys R Us and continued to ask for lots of hours, but they continued to schedule him only 10-12 hrs/week.  Michael interviewed with 4 different companies in October and November.  On Oct. 26 he was offered a job at Bunting Magnetics in Newton.  He was VERY excited to have a real job and a purpose each day.  It was exciting to see God providing!  We also found out at the end of October that Sis and Adam are having a BOY!  So we will be getting our first nephew at the end of March!  :)

November:  On Nov. 11, after working only 1 week at Bunting Magnetics in Newton, Michael was offered another job at Dell (the computer company).  He accepted the job and gave Bunting his 2 weeks, but they decided he could go early, because after only 1 week of work, they were still training him.  Michael started working for Dell right after Thanksgiving.  He was driving with a group of guys to Heston every day to work at AgCo on a project.  You see, the small office Michael is working in was originally called E-Serve and was an engineering contracting firm.  Then, Ross Perot's company bought out E-Serve.  When Ross Perot retired as CEO of his company, Dell bought out everything that he owned.  And that is how Michael works for Dell, but is actually working on farm equipment for Pioneer and AgCo.  He LOVES the new job!  He's learning a lot and they treat him very well.  I am still subbing and working at Belden's.  The 2 jobs are working out very nicely.  I found that I like to stay busy between the 2 of them.  I sub 4-5 days/week and I work 20-30 hrs/week at the jewelry store.  Definitely keeps me on my toes.  In November I also bought our next set of Christmas dishes (pictures to come).  The puppies are doing great!  (Pictures and videos to come)

December:  As Christmas approached, Michael and I got more and more busy.  I went up to 40+ hours at the jewelry store, and was still subbing quite a bit.  Michael continued to drive to Heston, and even went to Manhattan for a few days to work in the machine shop on the Pioneer project (which he will be on full time starting in January).  I ended up selling $20,000 in jewelry in December!  It was a great month!  We had/have (1 to go) 5 Christmas' to schedule this holiday season!  We went to Mama's with Sis and Adam and I got boots, some new Christmas decorations, a new food processor, and a creme brule set (just to name a few).  On Christmas Eve Michael and I ate junk food on our new Christmas dishes and played lots of games.  We also gave Harlee and Gabby their big bones that we bought them.  Gabby chewed on one bone continuously for over 3 hours.  She ate over half the bone in that time!  Michael and I did Christmas together on Christmas morning.  Michael gave me some new socks, a black and white diamond ring, and a gift certificate for an hour-long, full body, hot stone massage (just to name a few).  Michael's big gift from me was an extra large hammock complete with a stand and all!  It fits both of us and is the width of our living room!  (Pictures to come)  It's been a fun gift so far!  We also went to Topeka on Christmas day and did Christmas with Michael's family.  I got another creme brule set (someone forgot to take it off amazon, so I ended up getting doubles), a new blanket, candles and candle holders to use as a centerpiece on our new table, and a crockpot cookbook (just to name a few, pictures to come).  It was nice spending some time in Topeka.  Last night Michael and I went to Grandma and Grandpa Counterman's and had supper.  We visited for 5 hours and didn't get home until Midnight!  It was good to spend some quality time with them.  We have one Christmas to go, tomorrow night we'll have Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa Heorman's house.  Then our holiday season will officially be over.  I'm looking forward to some rest!

Well, I hope you all had a great holiday season!  Sorry I don't blog nearly as often as I should.  I'll try to work on that for my New Year's Resolution.  We love you all very much!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from us here in Wichita!

Love,
Jen, Michael, Harlee, and Gabby