....wow! It has been 4 months since my last post!
So what has been going on in the last 4 months of the Duncan world?
September - Madeline has continued to attend Dallas Christian and has loved every minute as have Will and I! She is so smart and of course we are biased but she's growing into a beautiful young girl. It has been so fun watching her grown in her education and develop her own identity. She has become quite the expert at bible stories and goes around singing songs and retelling us her favorite stories. We attended several football games and have been really getting into the groove of the year!
October - This was the month that set us off in the direction of the next chapter of our lives together. Early in the month, Will was told that his position, at the firm he has been with since graduation, was being eliminated in November. This was quite a blow to us because we felt that his position was pretty secure. Unfortunately, the problems with the economy have prevented the architecture industry to be crippled. Although Will has lots of experience, the open job market for architecture is practically non-existent! During the month of October Will applied for the few jobs that were in the metroplex and made tons of cold calls on firms in the area. During this time we were praying overtime for God to show us His plan for our family and to give us peace to trust in Him. Before halloween, Will received a call from a firm in Odessa (the firm he did some summer work for in college) wanting to meet and talk about Will's future plans and the plans of the firm.
November - Will talked with the firm and was told they might have a position for him in the Odessa office if we were interested in relocating. This offer caused the both of us to do some serious thinking and praying!! Were we ready to leave our lives here in the metroplex and start over again? We had lots of prayer time, deep talks, budgeting, and more. We didn't let Madeline or any of our friends and family in on the developments because we weren't sure about our game plan.
The Friday before Thanksgiving was Grandparent's Day at Madeline's school and they do a huge open house and campus-wide presentation just for the grandparents. Madeline was blessed to have both sets of her grandparents attend this special day. The only conflict was that Friday before Thanksgiving was also the day Will was scheduled to interview in Odessa! So with now way to explain his absence so we told the family about the interview. OF course they were supportive and happy for Will's opportunity there.
December - After the interview in Odessa Will returned home and we finished out November by having a Thanksgiving meal at our home with his parents and then headed to Arlington to meet up with some more family! After we were alone and were able to really talk as a couple, we had some serious thinking to do. The pros and cons were enormous and took hours to go over. Here we have a great house, church, friends, and my job. In Odessa we have the comfort of our families being so close and the promise of a stable and secure career for Will. In the end, after a few tears, a few laughs, and many, many discussions we have decided to take the plunge and explore this new chapter in our lives together.
Will begins work on Monday the 4th in Odessa and Madeline and I will remain in Mesquite while the house is on the market. This allows me to continue working and Madeline to continue attending school until the house sells. The decision to move was not an easy one and 2010 promises to be a year of many decisions and the big unknown!
I guess will all the turmoil of the last few months, I haven't been good about continuing my blog. With this decision behind us I feel that I need the cathartic therapy of writing. I promise to be more deligent about the blog again.
I am signing off now but I'll return...I'm just sayin'!
This year Madeline and I decided to make her Valentines for her school party. We cut hearts from card stock and glued them together.
Tomorrow after they finish drying we will punch holes and slide pencils through. It was fun to work together...even though I was trying not to get the glitter everywhere!
Madeline brings DC Bear home for the weekend and he went to have pizza with us!
Madeline in Chapel
"Shining Like Stars"
Looooong day at school!
Before school
Big girl hair cut
At the Stephen Fite concert with her school.
Guns Up!!
At the Baylor Vs Tech game in Cowboys Stadium...amazing place!
Chapel - She shows courage "when I try new foods"!!
Cousins at the little one's 3rd bday party! So much fun :)
On a really cold morning in December at The Museum of the Southwest.
Working the new game with Aunt Christine!
Dressing up at Oma and Grandad's house
Madeline and Oma : A Portrait
Madeline and Aunt Tracy!
Madeline and Uncle Beau Beau
More Aunt Christine
For some reason I can't find my pictures of Maddie with her Auntie and Cousin so this parting shot will have to do. In case you are curious, it is probably around 34 degrees in this picture and where is my brother's jacket??
Riding her bike in the freezing weather!
First bowling trip! She LOVED it!!!
Bowling with Daddy.
We went to Odessa before Christmas and while we were ther we did family photos. I was pretty happy with how they turned out...the photographer (of 2 Angels Photography) did a great job!
Brothers and Sisters
D & D
Cousins!
Just Will and me :)
Charles, Kara, and Cassie
The three of us
Friday the 28th was "Dress like Johnny Appleseed" Day for the PK4 classes. The kids have been studying the life cycle of the apple, making apple sauce, reading about Johnny Appleseed, and all sorts of apple stuff! Here are some pictures of Maddie Appleseed before she went to school!
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