Feeling Better

Aren't they precious? They are feeling much better. They still have runny noses and the occasional cough, but they are playing by themselves again and not needing Mommy to hold them all the time.
They are playing in the rain water from the great rain we had over the weekend. They still have their church clothes on, but water doesn't hurt them. Jared just turned 11 months and Jonathan will be 23 months on Saturday the 4th.
Jason's still doing well too. He preached Sunday at a small church in Sweetwater. (By small I mean there were only about 35 people there in all!) He did a very good job and made a quick $200, which we desperately need now that the medical bills are arriving rapidly. Please pray for our financial state. We owe quite a bit since we don't have insurance.
God Bless you all!
Shana

Sick, sick, sick

Well, it's been a while since I updated last. I'm using all of our sicknesses as my excuse. Let's see, we started out in January with Jason going to the ER twice in two weeks. Then Jared got rotavirus and threw up and had diarrea for 8 days. Following that, Jonathan and Jared both got ear infections. We were well for about 5 days at the most. Then I got a cold that put me on the couch for a few days. Then Jonathan got another ear infection and last night, Jared was in the ER with RSV and another ear infection. ( They didn't admit him into the hospital because his breathing was okay. I'm supposed to watch him closely.) I'm sure Jonathan has it because it's highly contaigous (spelling?) . There is no treatment for RSV because it's a virus. We just have to wait it out. Will this ever end? Is everyone getting this sick this year? Last year, we didn't get but one ear infection and it didn't last but a few days. My relatives are convinced that we have mold in this house. I'm not sure that's what it is, but there is something blowing out of my air ducts because it's leaving black dust all over everything. I'm cleaning as much as I can. Prayers are appreciated.
Tired of being sick,
Shana

New Year, New Beginnings

Here are my precious little ones in their new TV chairs that Gran and Big Daddy got them for Christmas. Jonathan absolutely loves his. The weather has been so bad lately that we've been doing a lot of movie watching and the chairs have been used quite a bit already.

Jared is now 9 months old and Jonathan is 21 months. We're approaching the 1 and 2 year marks! I can't believe it!

Well, as my title suggests, we've had some new beginnings. Jason has decided to try to go MIT (Manager in Training) at Academy. This will put him on a salary starting at $24,000 and after going through the program, he'll be a manager here in the Abilene store starting at $32,000. These numbers are double and triple his $7.50/hour rate right now.

As for me, I'm working at MOPS now instead of attending. That saves us $5 every couple of weeks and I earn a whopping $6.25 per hour. But I'll be with my boys! Also, I've decided to try to give some piano lessons. I really want to buy an electric keyboard. I can trade in my very heavy console and get the bottom of the line one for $900 which is a good deal, but I'll have to figure out the payments. We'll see about that.

Jason has withdrawn all applications with churches for youth ministers. We both love Southern Hills Church of Christ here in Abilene and find ourselves getting extremely involved. The managerial position at Academy would solve our financial difficulties, so hopefully that will pan out. We'll know pretty soon.

I'll keep you posted! HA!
Love,
Shana

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I hope this finds you all doing well. We are excited about Christmas this year. Jonathan is going to be lots of fun. Jared will probably follow suit. Jason has interviews with two churches in progress. One is in Marble Falls, TX (45 min from Austin), one is in Mansfield, TX (south of Fort Worth) and the other is in Ruidoso, NM. We're hoping for something to pan out. Any of these would be fine assuming the church is the kind of church we would work well with. I am doing well. I have really good days and really bad days and not many in between. I am losing more weight due to loss of appetite, but that's okay. My size 8 jeans are about to fit nicely for the first time in 2 years. Jason thinks I go shopping all the time because he doesn't recognize my clothes when really they're several years old and this is the first winter I've been able to wear them since 2003.
Jonathan is talking up a storm. He loves to vacuum and anytime I asked what we should do, that's his answer. He repeats pretty much anything I say now.
Jared is crawling all over the place and even pulling up already. He's falling a lot and bumping his head frequently.
Hope you all have as Merry a Christmas as we have begun to have.
Love,
Shana