Job Update

This is the blog post I've been dying to make for weeks (well really months, but I only recently started a blog)...


DARRIN HAS A JOB!!!! :) :) :)

After 8+ months of steady searching he has finally landed the job he's been describing to me all along as his "dream job," he just couldn't put a title to it. He will be a "producer" for Nationwide Insurance with The Shipp Agency here in Bryan/College Station. There is a probationary period at the beginning and he'll have to prove to the company (and to himself) that he's got what it takes over the next few months. If he can do it he will become an agent! (Or at least this is how I understand it to work. :) ) So, if you're in the market for a new insurance provider give my sweet hubby a call!!! :) I'll put his business contact info up as soon as we get that (he won't be starting until next week).
This adventure has been a lesson for us that God's timing is perfect. He has provided everything (AND MUCH MORE) we have needed, exactly when we needed it - funny how that works - ever since we got married. Through the job hunting process, each job that's come along has had a little hitch at the end that kept it from working out until this position became available. Then it was a matter of the right person seeing the job opening at the right moment (thanks Abby!!) and the next day Darrin was headed down the interview road again - for the last time! This certainly wasn't an easy road but we learned to be patient, frugal, appreciative and so TRUSTING.

"Aren't five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God's sight. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows!"

-Luke 12: 6-7

This verse seems to keep popping up around me everywhere - what a wonderful reminder that we are so precious to Him and will always be cared for! He will always provide what we need exactly when it's necessary. Darrin finding a job certainly doesn't mean we never have to worry about money again - it just means we have a little more comfort. I can't wait to share how we both will grow as we advance within our careers, but for now we are just SO THANKFUL to have jobs! We will never take them for granted that's for SURE! Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement along the way - it means so much to us!

Adoption & Patience

Well friends and family, we did it...we adopted! As of Monday, March 29, we're now the proud parents of the two most adorable little twins!! Their names are Chloe and Soot and they've been nothing but joy and pure entertainment since they arrived. (And lots of scratches and sleepless nights... haha) I guess you're wondering how we managed to adopt in only 4 short months?? Well, that's because they're kittens! :) We're having so much fun with these little cuties that we haven't even had a chance to put up their precious pictures yet. Now if we could just figure out how to make them stop growing so quickly - we just LOVE how tiny they are right now. :)

Please continue to keep Darrin's job search in your prayers. The Lord has been so good to us and continued to provide week after week, month after month. He's really taught us to be patient and trust in His timing. It's so wonderful to know that no matter what, He will always provide! :)

Our little man, Soot

Sweet girl, Chloe

Soot helping Mommy pack

Chloe attacking her "mouse" - best accidental action shot I've ever taken!

Soot does a LOOOOOT of sleeping

Chloe helping Daddy drive

Our little family!! :)

Our 1st Getaway!

We love Spring Break!!!!! :) :)

As part of our pre-marital counseling with Brother Chris we were given a homework assignment for our first year...get away 3 times for a weekend alone. Easy enough!! Since we had Thursday & Friday off this week for Spring Break we decided to make it a long weekend and went to San Antonio for our first "getaway". We had such a great time!!! We stayed at the Marriott Plaza San Antonio, a really nice hotel a block from the Riverwalk which we just loved! Our Friday activities included a trip to the San Antonio Zoo. Apparently that was also on the agenda for about 95% of San Antonio residents. It was PACKED, but we still had a great time. There was a neat Lory exhibit where they sold these little cups of sweet liquid that you could hold and make the birds land on you! Darrin & I had so much fun playing with those Lories and letting them fly and peck all over us, although he was much braver (more brave?) than I was! After the zoo we came back to the hotel to watch the Aggies first game of the NCAA tournament and then went to dinner at CHEESECAKE FACTORY!!! It was amazing and we both thought we were going to die afterwards! The weekend was absolutely perfect...a little shopping, some March Madness watching (especially the Aggies), the Riverwalk, the Zoo, and lots of yummy food! On our way home, we stopped by for a delicious lunch with Gram & Champa at IHOP. Saturday night after we got back, we went over to Mema's with Martha, Perch, and Aunt Susie for some coffee cake. We topped off the weekend by watching Darrin's little cousin, Cade, get baptized this morning! What a wonderful way to end our fabulous Spring Break!!

On the beautiful Riverwalk!

This little dude was loving the neck massage he could get by rubbing his head on Darrin's finger, it was SO cute!! 

Our families were awfully busy too this Spring Break:
Chrissy & Justin went to Las Vegas, Kaity & Layne went to Mexico on a mission trip, Mom went to El Campo, and Dad held down the fort in Bryan while enjoying some estrogen-free time! haha
Martha spent a week and a half in Houston at her Pump show, Perch went up to Dallas for classes (ugh!), and Brandon & Allison celebrated little Avaree Grace's 1/2 birthday today!!! Happy 1/2 Birthday little Princess!!! :)

Darrin's job hunt updates:
He still hasn't heard anything about the potential job that was being reevaluated last week. New development, he has been talking to a good friend of ours this week about another potential job here in town that is looking promising. Please keep both of these in your prayers. Hopefully there will be more detailed, positive updates next week!! :)

Love,
Darrin & Jamie