The Flu Shot

Well mistake number one was not getting my flu shot my first year of teaching.  Wow am I paying for it now :(  I'm slowly getting better and trying to rest ALOT so I can get back to my lovely kiddos.  It's crazy what a few days away from them does for you!  I'm also glad I have a sweet husband that takes good care of me, even though I pretty much made us have a yucky Valentines day....that's when it all started.  He even surprised me with a dessert from our favorite bakery and we are just now getting around to eating it.  He's too good to me!

Even though I've been sick I've gotten awfully caught up on my new obsession....Lost!  I totally know why people when crazy about that show...even though 24 will always hold a place in my heart.

I'm very excited for spring break this year because I get to go to Dallas...yes for a whole week!  I already have a slumber party planned with my best friend Mollie and I couldn't be more excited.  Mom and J are taking off a few days and we are getting to see some friends on Friday night!  We miss everybody so much so it will be so fun to finally spend some time with all my loves!  If you'll be there and are free for a coffee, lunch, or breakfast let me know!

Blizzard to Bikinis

We have officially arrived back in Amarillo earlier this week to begin life again.  After being gone from West Texas about 2 weeks ago, we were pleasantly surprised to come back to lovely 60 degree weather.  When we left Amarillo for Christmas break (yes we both still get two weeks off and it's glorious) it was snowing and "blizzard warning conditions."  We enjoyed a wonderful moc Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with my family.  They were such good sports and pretended to have Christmas one day early so we could be included.  We all had so much fun being together and found so much joy spending time with them.

On actual Christmas Eve, we headed the trip down to Cypress to be with Sean's family.  I enjoyed my first Christmas morning with the Townsend's and loved spending that time with them.  A family of boys is SO different than a family of girls....especially on Christmas morning :)  We snacked all day, played rock band, and hung out with the dogs.  The next day we left for our week long Caribbean Cruise from Galveston.  It was so hard to try and get in the mindset of warm weather and beaches while it was chilly and raining when we left; however it didn't take long for us to get used to having fun in the sun again.  We enjoyed laying out, eating TONS of food, watching shows, having wine, going snorkeling and diving, seeing the bluest water, and relaxing. Here's a few highlights from the cruise:

Before the first formal night. The ship was still decorated with Christmas things and it was so pretty!

Chillaxin in Jamaica...it was beautiful! 

Gig em!  

View of the "Royal Promenade" which was the shopping area in the middle of the ship.  BEAUTIFUL!

Happy New Year!  It felt like Time Square!

Sean and I were also so glad to be able to get away for awhile and spend some quality intentional time together.  After going through the first semester of 3rd year and my first semester of teaching, some away time was much needed.  We really tried to focus on being intentional with each other, meaning putting the other person's needs ahead of our own, and assessing things we felt were God honoring in our marriage and things that provoked selfishness.  We set some goals and set some practical ways that we can better serve Christ through our marriage.  I'm so blessed to have a husband that is always looking for ways to grow and never settling for what the world says is ok.