Moving to Iowa

I will try to upload pictures soon, here or on Facebook.

Some of my favorite quotes from the last several days:

Becca: "Oklahoma is boring. That's why we make fun of them."

Robert: (in Kansas) "Earlier we went over a hill, and you could see for miles. I almost woke you up to see, but it was miles and miles of nothing. I couldn't wake you up to look at nothing."

Robert: "If you give a man a fish, he can eat for a day; if you teach a man to fish, he can eat for a lifetime. It's kind of like - If you give a man a fire, you give him warmth for a day; if you set a man on fire you give him warmth for eternity."

"Well we have internet. Now all we need is a bed."

Robert: "I think it's time for your nap."

Becca: "NO NAP!" (including pouty face)

Becca: "If you were stuck on a desert island, and you can only get one thing, would you rather have a fish or a cell phone?"

Robert: "Is it Verizon or AT&T? ... If it's Verizon, I'll take the cell phone to call for help; if it's AT&T, I'll take the cell phone to kill fish!"

Becca: "Will the sun ever win?"

Robert: "Well it failed today, but it will try again tomorrow."

Robert: "My wife likes me to coordinate, so I coordinated with the weather." (wearing a gray turtleneck and his gray coat)

Robert: "Becca? I have something funny to show you... kind of."

(Upon the first use of our dishwasher, it started foaming bubbles onto the floor.)

That's all I've got for now, but we had a wonderful, safe trip! God blessed us abundantly!

- We were able to pack the whole house in 1 week.

- A guy came around the neighborhood looking for yard work to do, and offered to help us move for some money or food. We gave him both, and he and Robert were able to move all the big furniture into the truck before noon.

- Later 4 LeTourneau guys came over, and they packed all the boxes and everything else by three o'clock.

- We got out of the house and on the road at 5 am.

- There was no snow or ice, and Robert drove the Uhaul + car (towed) safely the whole way.

- We live on the first floor, next to the parking lot, so we were able pass everything other than the big furniture through our bedroom window.

- The next day a young couple from our apartment building offered to help us move the big furniture. Jeff and Robert moved in the couch, desk, mattress, and bed parts expertly while Kim & I cheered them on, carried boxes, and brainstormed how to get around the corners....

- We made another friend, Rebecca, in the parking lot at Sam's Club, and she invited us to her church.

- Did I mention that Jeff and Kim are Christians too? and they invited us to their church too?

- Robert and I had good attitudes and lots of energy during all the moving out & moving in. For the most part. ;)

God has been so good to us - providing for us, keeping us safe, and sending us encouragement all around! Thank you all for your prayers!

- One more! We had to have get a money order for our apartment deposit, which was very tricky because you have to have cash to get a money order, but you can only get so much cash out of an ATM without calling your bank. AND I still don't know my pin number, AND our car was still hooked up to the Uhaul, so we walked back and forth to the gas station several times.

All that to say - the lady who worked in the gas station right then, also lives at our apartment complex. She said she and her husband went through the same thing when they moved in, and she was very gracious and helpful!

Hurried Holidays

Well! The holidays have been wonderful, although incredibly hurried!

After Robert's graduation in Longview, and a few days with Corrie there, we all (Robert, me, Corrie, Silas, & Rose, oh my) drove to Austin for Christmas with the Dunlaps.

As far as Austin goes, I'll just hit the highlights of cute nephews and neice.














Youngest is cute little Rosie - she gets TWO pictures. The only girl around younger than me; she just turned 1 in August.

After Rose is her brother Silas (2 and a half) who is a total ham behind his shy facade. Much like his mother, Corrie.

Then there's Peter (2 and a quarter) an absolute cutie pie - and he knows it. Peter is also quite the ham, but he doesn't deny it. Hmmm... also just like his mother....














Oldest is James, who I unfortunately don't have a picture of by himself, but he's lots of fun to play with, caring, and quite articulate. What more could a girl dream of in a 7 year old?

They were a little tire of posing for pictures. James was a trooper though.

After a "Christmas Morning" in Austin, Robert and I flew to Idaho for Christmas with the Whitings!

We didn't even plan to match, but here is a photo of Carolyn, me & Robert, Michael, and Copper (the cockerspaniel) on Christmas morning at the Whitings.


















We have been having lots of fun in Idaho including:

hiking (not on the road - in the rocks),

geocache - ing,
(when you sign up for free to be a geocache-er, you can look up coordinates in your area, read the clues and go find something someone has hidden there. Most of the time you sign your name and what date you found it, then put it back. People do this all over the world!)


and lots of playing in the snow!

(Above)
a snow Pirate Ship

(Right)
Robert carving the castle door

(Below)
A snow man looking in the living room















(Right)
the completed castle.

Look at the picture of Robert for scale!


Our time in Idaho has also included learning a bunch of 19th century folk dances at a dance Carolyn put together. Robert and I can now do
the Spanish Waltz, Cetlic Cross, Virginia Reel, Patty Cake Polka, and Posties! It was sooooo much fun, and such a work out!

Since I'm hitting a new record for longest blog, I better quit. I've had a blast this Holiday though!
AND there's still another party tonight of MKs! Whew!

Mustard Blog

This would be a shout out to Mrs. Freeman, my pre-cal teacher at Boswell. Periodically during the semester she would declare a "Mustard Day." "Hey!" She would say, "All the other teachers get to have Catch-Up days! Why can't I have a Mustard Day?!" hahaha.

The reason I need a catch-up day is because - just like Corrie - I felt like I couldn't blog about anything else until I blogged about our camping trip. And that was in October. So, for those of you that don't frequent facebook, here are some of my favorite pictures from our camping trip over fall break!Our Campsite: Lakefront view, firepit, No electricity or running water = $8!

gorgeous East Texas Pine Trees

One of my favorites: brushing teeth in the morning

NOT so much one of my favorites...


Beautiful fog on the water early in the morning. Robert was awake for this; I was not. ;)

Robert made awesome pancakes right over the fire! Echo & Daisy liked them too. :D

Stew! I was very proud of my stew. I brought the vegetables, knife, cutting board & all!

Us looking cute on the trail to our campsite.

Whew! I have now fulfilled my blogging duty. That wasn't so bad afterall! Especially since I really only photo-blogged, instead of really writing....

The newest news is that Robert is graduating in 19 days! (well that's not new, that's background information.) The EXCITING news is that he got heavily pursued and then offered a job by Rockwell Collins. (And he accepted it!) So, we will be moving in January. Oh my!
Lots of LeTourneau grads go there, and it is a great company! The scary part is it's in Iowa! Well, this is not scary per say, but more daunting for a sun-baked Texan like myself.
Haha just kidding. That's not Iowa. That's Mongolia. In a snowy desert. Gotta love Google Images.... Although this is where I feel like I'm moving. I was informed by a friend at LeTU that my "Texan hoodies" weren't gonna cut it, much to my surprise. But then I was re-encouraged by my friend in Rhode Island (hmmm wonder who that could be?) that a hoody + a pea coat IS sufficient. Hmph. I thought so.

Well, THIS is Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and now that I think about it, the first picture I've actually seen of Cedar Rapids. Robert says there's a big mall too. Man after my own heart. :D

And THIS is Iowa in the winter! Post card perfect! I'm thinking Robert and I should take next year's Christmas pictures this February or something....

Well, I love you all, and I hope this photo-blog was ADD friendly!

Midterms Already?!

Well. SO much for having tons to write about during the semester. "My blog's just gonna take off" I thought to myself.
I thought wrong. I guess the problem is more that I have too much going on in real life to write about it... I don't know what that says about my summer - hmmmm. Not the kinds of things that are interesting enough to be etched into cyberspace at least.

Let's see...
This week is midterms. I actually only have 1 midterm and 1 test. And 2 more tests after fall break. This weekend + Monday + Tuesday is Fall Break. FINALLY! Although, I have way too many things that need to get done over fall break.

I have discovered (prepare yourself for vast philosophical wisdom) that I am only good at refilling the toilet paper roll when the toilet paper is kept in the under the sink RIGHT NEXT to the toilet. I have prided myself on this self-discipline for years. But apparently, if the toilet paper is farther than I can reach while ... occupied... my mental facilities are not strong enough to remember what I meant to do until after I am done washing my hands. Maybe I just get distracted by making faces at myself in the mirror. Much to Robert's frustration though, my mental facilities ARE witty enough to put the empty springy-toiletpaper-tube on top of the toilet seat (in an attempt to remind myself what I was up to) before I wash my hands. As a result, most of the time Robert just comes in and finds a springy-toiletpaper-tube placed neatly on the toilet seat. Like, "look Honey, we're out of toilet paper, but I didn't put a new one on. Have a nice day!"
On the topic of toilet paper, girls apparently have a lot higher overall toilet paper consumption (not to eat) than boys. Not my fault. I'm a girl. Tough.

Who knew marriage could be so enlightening? ;)We are having a lot of fun though.
Robert is counting down the days until graduation. I like to bake whenever I don't want to do homework. (Tasty habits do not always equal healthy habits.)
Daisy and Echo are doing really well. Daisy is growing crazy fast, and Echo loves always having somebody around to play with, even if she is a bit more... touchy feely, than he is.
We used to put Daisy on top of Echo in "his chair" when she was real little, but she did this all by herself. Echo wasn't incredibly happy, but he puts up with her.
Mostly, I can't wait till Thanksgiving and Christmas! Luckily for me (but unluckily for my school stress), after Thanksgiving we only have 1 week of class + 1 week of finals - then it's graduation and Christmas break!

Wahoo!

Compassion International

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I am going to a Compassion event tonight to help run a table (I think?) and pass out sponsorship packets. I am so excited!

My little girl, Tasya from Indonesia, is 9 years old and just started the 4th grade. Her grades are improving and she has been healthy. We write tons of letters back and forth, and she is very sweet. It is very humbling to know a little girl is so incredibly thankful that I write her letters.

If you can handle skipping a few meals out to eat every month, or buy generic brand groceries (Be a Generic Hero!), it is only $38 a month. That sounds like a decent chunk to most of us, but compared to restaurant prices or the cost of the newest name brand chips (Sour Cream & Chive Wheat Thins anyone?), we blow $38 on things much less important.
MUCH less important than education, basic health care, and a Christian involvement for an underprivileged child.

There's my plug. But don't give your excuses to me. You know who. ;)

Last Drop of Summer

Robert and I have been having a great time squeezing out our last drop of summer. Actually, we haven't been squeezing that hard for summer fun. We've just been laying around enjoying NOT planning a wedding and NOT having homework! So, in contrast to our relaxation, we had a blast this weekend!

The daycare where I worked was closed all week, and Robert took off Thursday AND Friday, so we were beside ourselves with the endless possibilities for fun.
On Friday we went to see the new GI Joe movie - which will be our last non-dollar-theater movie viewing for a while. It was lots of fun in the cheesey swashbuckling hero, scary villain kind of way. Plus we love action movies.

***Note: I do NOT approve this movie for children. The beginning is really scary (I covered my eyes) and lots of people die in various ways. The deaths aren't gory, but the inject-and-mutate-your-face scenes would probably be disturbing for kids.***

Just in case you wanted to know. :D

On Saturday, we threw together a trip to Martin Lake State Park. I've really been wanting to go (that's where I was going to take the Waxlers if it hadn't've rained) since I went there in February with my floor (D1) and our brother floor (Quad 3) for a Valentine's Day picnic.
This time is was hot-but-not-too-hot beautiful weather, and the water was swim-worthy.

PS. I didn't take this picture, so there weren't actually wild flowers this time, but it was still very pretty and not overcrowded!

We took Echo and Daisy for their first water experience. I certainly wish we owned a camera to capture it! Robert threw the tennis ball increasingly farther into the water and Echo and Daisy kept up! The lake was nice squishy mud (not "Keep your shoes on so you don't get cut with mystery items!"), and got deeper very gradually. I really have to take families with little kids there! Daisy (pointer puppy) didn't hesitate to start swimming when the water quickly got to deep for her to wade or leap over it. Echo was determined not to swim if he didn't absolutely have to. When it got to deep to run, he would bound over the water and looked absurd. If he still couldn't reach the tennis ball, he would look back at us like, "Does this look like fun to you?"

It was a truly wonderful day, and it felt like pure summer. We didn't even stay too long because it's only 40 minutes away. We could actually go back during the semester! HA!

I'll save Sunday's events for my post after school starts. I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

It might be time for school to start if...

You can't help but drift towards the fresh and brightly colored school supplies.
Anyone else craving bouquets of newly sharpened pencils?

The most exciting thing that happened today was receiving your new drivers license (Rebecca Whiting, thankyouverymuch) and your new student parking sticker (Commuter).

You got spit up on every day this week. And we wonder why I wear flip-flops? Because they can be cleaned in the sink at work.

You cleaned up throw up today AND you got peed on. Kind of. Also daycare. Need I say more?



I really do love my job, honest. But I have a nasty cough (which mysteriously matches one of the 9 mo. olds), which makes the 3rd time I've been sick since I got married. And judging by the list above, I'm really ready to be taking 18 hours of college courses. Whether or not you choose to remind me of that in a month is up to your discretion. :)

So, not much EXCITING or amusing has been going on in my life lately, but hopefully (like say, after August 24) I will have plenty of collegiate anecdotes to share. Just as long as my professors don't find out about my blog!

Ta ta for now!
Becca


Oh yah, a word...
witzelsucht - a feeble attempt at humour
capernoited - slightly intoxicated or tipsy

Find other unusual words here.