Best Birthday Gift Ever!

The third weekend in June I flew to Atlanta, Georgia to meet my newest niece. Actually I went to babysit Macy because Andrea was in a friend's wedding and needed someone to take care of our little princess. As you can see in the picture, Macy has the most beautiful blue eyes, amazingly red hair, and the softest cheeks perfect for lots of kisses from her Auntie Marie. I had the privilege of taking care of this sweet, almost always happy and smiling angel while Andrea enjoyed helping her friend celebrate. Meeting Macy for the first time was really exciting but I also LOVED seeing my sister again.

Overall, it was a good but busy weekend and well worth it. Thank you Josh, Andrea, Mom, and Dad for the best birthday present ever (flying me to Atlanta). I cannot wait to see Macy and Andrea again soon. (I was hoping to go home in August but plane tickets cost too much!) It is so hard to know both of my precious nieces are growing up so fast while living so far away from me. Aylah is talking SO much and says the funniest things. I continue to talk to her on the phone so she will remember me (She loves to sing to me now too:). The last time I called she all of a sudden said "An Re" like she could not believe she was actually talk to me. SO cute!

This post is so overdue. Just look at the title, my birthday was at the beginning of June and now it is almost August (the hottest month in Texas I have been told). Now that I have had my first taste of 100+ days I know I was not cut-out to live in Texas forever. Although I do not enjoy cold winters in Michigan at least I can bundle up more and my summer is not wasted inside because it is too hot to handle outside.

I now live in house with a very sweet Christian girl, Charity and her dog Lillie. It is Charity's house and she actually had it built. She has scripture painted on the walls in all of the rooms, which I love. I am only 15 minutes away from work and church so it is not too far away.

For a week or two after moving I struggled with a sore throat and extreme tiredness. One Friday after work I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with Mono which explained it all. Taking a week off from work was not fun but all I did was sleep and rest. I never knew how strong Mono was until I got it. I am still sleeping more than usual and tiring out more easily.

On the left is me and John at the Chinese restaurant and on the right is me at the Fort Worth Water Gardens, they were so beautiful.

Before I got sick (and tired) my boyfriend John took me to downtown Fort Worth and Dallas. In Fort Worth we saw the Water Gardens at night which was very pretty. In Dallas we saw the place where former president JFK was shot and learned all about the possibilities of several shooters and where other shots were fired from etc. There were so many beautiful churches in downtown Fort Worth, John is sitting in front of just one of them.

On the left is part of the JFK Memorial and on the right is The Green Monster (a building lit with green lights).

I have been a floater working in all of the classrooms at work. My boss calls me her "everything girl". Working in the baby room continues to be my favorite but I have grown to love all the kids at work. It helps me miss my nieces just a little less. The "politics" of work stink though. I went to the center to apply for the Assistant Director position. Well, I was told I needed to work in a classroom for three months, I started the beginning of March, and that I could apply for the position. The position was recently filled with another teacher at the center and I was never even given the chance to apply. In fact they were training the other teacher on the job for several weeks before even admitting she was training. Needless to say I need to find a better paying job where I will be respected more.

If you have not heard from me lately I would like to blame it on the Mono. I seriously come home and take a nap before dinner most nights. So just give me a call sometime and if you talk to my voicemail I promise I will get back to you, just maybe not the same day.

My trip home this weekend did not work out due to expensive airfare but I am hoping for Christmas now. I never thought I could stand to live outside the state of Michigan for so long!