"Every good and perfect gift is from above!" James 1:17

Baby A and Baby B- may now be fraternal twins instead of identical! Watch them having fun!

Double Trouble!!

Like I said earlier, 

Ken and I are expecting TWINS in April!  Here are some pictures of our families celebrating with us from a distance!!

"HUNKER DOWN!"

Well...

A lot has changed since the last time I blogged on here!   Ken was loving his experience at UTMB and the people he was working with there, school had started for me and Oppe Elementary was really starting to feel like a "home away from home",  we found out we are expecting TWINS in April, we have been blessed with amazing friends that live near us- it all was going so well!  THEN...

September 10, we heard that Ike was headed OUR way!  As a Tennessee girl, I really had no clue what to do to prepare for a HURRICANE!  My vocabulary has expanded tremendously!  If I had a nickel for every time I heard "hunker down", "surge", and "the cone of uncertainty" I could replace all the stuff that we had to leave!!!  But like so many who have been through this before, I packed up what I could- and couldn't live without.  Tried to move what I couldn't take to "higher ground", boarded up the windows and doors with plywood and headed out of town on a bright sunny day- leaving Ken behind.  :(  He had to stay for a little while to discharge his patients at the hospital and finish up at the house.  He soon headed to Houston (regularly a one hour drive that ended up being about 3 for both of us)  and met up with me to head to Memphis!  It has been great seeing everyone back here, but a tough waiting game to see what has happened at our house.  Ken is in Galveston right now going through our house trying to save what he can, but really trying to get most of the "moldy" stuff out of there.  Our builder said the house needs to be gutted from the water that did come in- about a foot.  He is coming back with pictures and I will post those when we get them!  Hope all is well with you guys!  Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!   We have a very busy, rough rode ahead, but God is so good and sovereign!  The perfect plan is laid out before us!!!  

Summer Lovin'

Oh the summer of weddings and traveling! Here are a few pictures of our trips back to Memphis. It has been a true world wind- both of us trying to get moved, Ken start on OMFSurgery, unpacking a classroom and a home, 2 weddings that we were both in, and making friends here! WHEW! When did summer begin? I need a vacation! SSeriously, Ken and I have been very blessed that everything worked out for us and that we have been able to go home so often. Unfortunately, I don't think we will be home until December from now though! Oh well. Time to get setteled in with the "laid back beach life!" I think I can handle that! Love to all- come visit us!!

"Who Let The Dogs Out!"

I can't believe I haven't posted these two sooner! Ken and I have 2 puppies inside! Agh! The oldest one is our Yorkie (or what is supposed to be a Yorkie) named Snickers. He is precious and can definitely hold his own with the "big dog". Our other puppy is Memphis Belle! She is a 6 month old German Shephard. She loves to play and chew on things. We are amazed at how fast she has grown! It is kind of like a circus ALL the time here!

My favorite day so far has been the day that the FedEx man rang the doorbell and in some amazing way I let both the puppies out running free in Fish Village! That FedEx man got a show as I was chasing , yelling, running, catching, and throwing puppies in the house! Always exciting at my house!

San Antonio!!

My parents came down in the middle of July to visit and they took us for the weekend to San Antonio! We LOVED it! We stayed on the Riverwalk, ate at Boureax's, and went to the Alamo! We were definitely doing the "touristy thing". We had an amazing time and enjoyed the visit with the family!! Thanks mom and dad!

Dr. Kenneth Haynes

Here are a few pictures from "Dr." Ken's hooding ceremony and graduation! I am so proud of you! Don't forget to brush and floss daily!

There's no place like home...

Well it has been a long, windy road, but it is offical- Ken and I are home in Galveston, Texas!! It has sure been a busy summer with the new puppy, Ken's graduation, moving to Texas, Rachel's (Ken's sister) wedding, and unpacking... LOTS of UNPACKING!!! We are finally set up and it is about time for me to go back to school- and UNPACK some more! I am really excited though. I have had a chance this summer to meet alot of the teachers that I will work with and they all seem GREAT! Ken has been SUPER busy on his OMFS (Oral Maxillofacial Surgery) rotation-which ends Friday. It has been pretty intense and we have come to truly appreciate our time together since his pager could go off at anytime. He is gearing up to go to medicine next month which should keep him on his toes as well! I will be back at school, so it will be a CRAZY time for us! Here are a few pictures of our "new to us" house! You just might have to come to visit to see the rest! :)

TEXAS BOUND!

OK! They did it again. My mom is the world's greatest "theme-party" thrower! She (with the help of my twin Lauren) threw a surprise get together with our closest friends and family! It was a great way to help us remember Memphis! We were given gag gifts like a cow's horn on it's head, Spanish for Dummies, and Ken and Erin Barbie dolls dressed up like us! Lauren's personal touches! It was such a great time. As excited as I am about the move- it is very tough to leave such love behind! You must all come visit- OFTEN!
(That is an open invitation!)

Oh the Places you will go!

Congratulations!
Today is your day. You're off to Great Places! You're off and away! You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. An YOU are the girl who'll decide where you go. You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care. About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there." With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street. And you may not find any you'll want to go down. In that case, of course, you'll head straight out of town. It's opener there in the wide open air. Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you. And when things start to happen, don't worry. Don't stew. Just go right along. You'll start happening too. -Part of Dr. Seuss's Oh the Places You Will GO!

What an incredible story! I have always loved this book it is so great when a chapter is ending and new one is beginning! to catch you up- I am married to Ken Haynes (soon to be Dr. Kenneth Haynes) :) He is the most incredible man I know and I am the lucky one that gets to call him my husband. We got married September 1, 2007 at 1:00pm. Song 8:6 This is one of the most amazing days of my life. Now, as Ken is winding down with dental school- he received EXCITING news- he has been accepted into a 4 year program at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX where he will be the one and only oral surgery resident!!! So we are off to Texas in June, but not a minute before. We were able to go down and see the town this past weekend! It was incredible. God is so good and works in MAGNIFICENT WAYS! We looked at lots of houses only a few precious ones- waiting to see how those pan out... should know soon... I also went on 2 interviews- so cross your fingers that a job is available soon. Most importantly, we made GREAT friends. It is always a blessing to know that no matter where you go- there are people that are willing to make you feel special and welcome! One of the great people is KATY- who showed me all the hot spots in shopping and learned a great lesson in shopping- it is all a game! If you ask a friend how much you think something is and she guesses more than the actual price, then it is a must have! Almost like a SALE! She is precious and I can't wait to see her again! I am so excited to head back down there!!

You will get all mixed up, of course, as you already know. You'll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact adn remember that Life's a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous adn deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and 3/4 guranteed.) KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS! So be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai ALi Van Allen O'Shea, you're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So.... get on your way!

ALL WE CAN DO IS HOLD ON FOR THE JOURNEY!!!!