Counting down while full speed ahead....

This past Thursday was a very exciting day.... John had his first "final final" of his last semester. So in the morning, he finished up and got out early... early enough to come home before work!! Then he got off of work at 300p because he had finished his afternoon course the week prior.

And to top it off... there was time to grill on a weekday evening!! Imagine that?? Hard to believe that grilling was a regular thing before Bright was born.. now its a special occasion seeing that I have no idea how to grill :) It was by far the best meal we've had in a LONG LONG time (home cooked by us anyway!!) John grilled marinated pork chops and onions.. I baked sweet potatoes and made long grain wild rice!! I realized the secret behind the sweet potatoes: baking them for an hour (not microwaving!!)... it makes them SOOOO much more delicious and a wonderful secret that I learned that night... Uncle Bens 90 second steam bag for the microwave makes better rice than I ever have in my life!!

Its the little things in life :) And let me tell you... I made John promise to start grilling more after Dec 14th :)

Yep you read it.... my hard working amazing husband graduates in 4 days!! 4 DAYS!! We are so very blessed to have made it through this season closer than ever before... and to think that John works 55+ hrs/week, takes 15 hours of class and still makes straight A's!! God is soo good and has created John in an incredible fashion!!

He interviewed this past week at the Ministry Referral Office on campus here. They are the contact between the churches and the seminary... John interviews and they send out his resume for different ministry needs that appear to suit him well!! We are praying about how church planting plays into all of this... whether its now or in a couple years!! Only He knows and we are sooo excited to find out :)

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Updates on Bright:

This week has been full speed ahead :)

First, I must commend my son and thank the Lord for the boy He has graced us with to raise and shepherd. We spent a lot of time this week out running errands. Bright, as always, an incredibly friendly trooper :) While at one of the stores, we ran into the same sweet lady in 3 different areas. Of course, Bright found it to be his goal to make her talk and smile... and boy did he succeed. By the third time we ran into her, in the men's sock section... random yet so not... Bright immediately chimed in with the "hi!" "hi!" and the lady looked at me to say "you have no idea how your son has brightened my day... I was really struggling and now he has totally uplifted my spirits!!" As we parted ways, I realized that God's plan for part of the day was to run into this lady... that through a 16 month old child who is amazingly silly, He refreshed a woman's heart in a moment :) What a great God we serve and what an amazing blessing to know that He uses us as His vessels!!

Bright is really advancing in his independent skills... this week he has been absolutely obsessed with utensils during his meals. He successfully ate pancakes yesterday morning with a fork!! Oh, it makes me cry just thinking about it :) He also ate his yogurt this week by himself too... well, I held the container for spillage reasons... but he used the spoon and fed himself!! Hes getting really good at using a plate too... which is such a blessing :)

Also, Brights verbal skills are rapidly increasing!! This week he has become a parrot and is really mastering repeating peoples names!! It is soo cute :)

Funny story for the month: Bright went about 3 weeks refusing to say "mum" or "mummie".. everytime he was prompted to say it... hed look at me and deliberately say "daddee" with a twinkle in his eye. For a brief second, I really saw my brother in him... that same terrorizing nature :) Nothing but love for you, Eric!! Well, two days ago we hopped right back on the "mum" kick... only now... its 770 times a day... like a game now as he calls "mum-ME" and I respond "Brighton" or "yes love." Its funny how with anyone else it would probably be a temptation to get frustrated or annoyed... but honestly, I could listen to him call me that FOREVER :)

Again this week, Im learning why Clorox deliberately has their commercials talking about kids sharing germs... funny enough its the commercial thats on in the other room right now as I type- now thats funny!! Anyway... Bright caught another yucky cold this week. Its really his first one with a cough so again its a learning process for us all!! Along with many other symptoms, Brights eye swelled up yesterday and started oozing... a lot like it did when he was first born due to a blocked duct. This morning, it was both lids and he could hardly see out of it. So after I spent a few minutes freaking out and researching his symptoms on WebMD (which I thank that Lord for too!!)... I realized that I probably had some of his $50 eye drops (Viamox) from last year.. yeah $50 for like 1/2 teaspoon... needless to say I was sure I didnt throw them out :) I went searching right then and as a testimony to Gods great provision... we have 3 weeks till the discard date and almost a full bottle. So we did drops after John got home from church this morning and again this evening... and it seems to be working wonderfully :) There was certainly no way we could afford $50 eye drops this week... Isnt He amazing?? Providing in the smallest ways!!


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Alrighty... I better get going :) Figured I better update this blog before this week gets started... because now till Dec 27th are jam packed with wonderfully family and festivities :)

Love to you all.... Sorry no pics this time :) Happy 2nd Sunday of Advent!

Off to sterilize the toys since Brights in bed...