A January Update

Well...
I haven't really been busy, yet I haven't updated the blog in quite some time. I guess I just haven't found it in my heart to blog, but that's okay because here I am now!

Thomas is well into Phase Two, which is very exciting to think about. It means he is closer to Phase Three, which means we are closer to being back home in Georgia! He has his midterm next Friday (February 5th). It will be a tough exam, but as most of you probably know, Thomas is doing a great job, so I know we all have faith in him to do an excellent job on this midterm.
I think I can speak for him and say he has truly found his calling. He loves this! He is all the time talking about new things, and as hard as the process is, I know he will be blessed two-fold when we get back to Georgia. Thomas' dedication to this job is strong, and his passion to see people be protected and secure is what drives him. He has met many people who will be lifelong friends and this process is teaching me more about the man I married and his love for others and his love for me. I know we will always be taken care of because of his deep understanding of insurance and because God has brought us this far. This has been, and will continue to be an amazing experience. Cold, but amazing!

As for me, I finally stepped my way into the classrooms here. I took a signal from my marketing husband, and thought of an idea that many people I know did in Georgia, and I made a little business card about myself and took it to every elementary school in hopes of getting my name out there. I have a good amount of days coming up at the end of February, and a few in between now and then. Hopefully I will get even more days to fill my time. I love being back in the classroom, even though all the kids immediately ask me if I'm from the country, or if I'm a cowgirl, or if I own a horse... As if all people from the south own a horse?! Ha! One student got very close when guessing where I was from...Tennessee! Thank the Lord for Nashville and country music! Teaches the northerners where we come from...ha! Of course, I've had many teachers tell me that they could listen to my accent all day and that I just sound so pure. Of course we all know they want to talk like us...who wouldn't want to be a southern belle? Hello!? There are many aspects I like about Minnesota and its education, but I can honestly say I miss Georgia and its familiarity. I mean when you have to give students 5 extra minutes before recess to get your snow gear on....Something is wrong! Ha! It's a great experience and I have seen many things that I will take back to the Georgia classroom...

But on another note...I've got some pictures to update you with life in Owatonna, Minnesota..

Most mornings, when its below freezing of course, you wake up to your trees looking like the picture below. Our own little ice sculptures. They are beautiful!

And because I know you wanted to see... The back of our house.
This was taken about two weeks ago, and we've had a couple more inches of snow. Yes, that's a slope coming from the top of the house to the bottom. No, you can't tell.

This is a stick in the ground.
This stick shows us where the road is.
This stick is gradually getting smaller.

Thomas and I drove west to Mankato one afternoon.
This is the view with the sunshine I caught from inside the car.

Monday, Kirsi, Taryn and I decided we needed an adventure. We drove 2 hours east to a little town called Wabasha. In this little town, one would find The National Eagle Center. Housed in the center are 5 bald eagles that have been taken in due to injuries in their lives. Most of them had been found on the sides of roads after being hit by cars. They were absolutely gorgeous. There are two pictures of them below. The pictures you will see first is the drive back from Wabasha to Owatonna. We knew there was a chance of high winds and white outs, so mothers ignore the next pictures, while others thankfully look at them and notice that we made it safely back and can honestly say that we will not be driving in this type of weather ever again. Kirsi did an amazing job, but the last 20 minutes, where this started, were very scary, and we prayed the whole time! If it had been like that when we left for our adventure, we would have turned right around!! We made it safely though, and we did have a good time, and we have experience of driving in whiteout conditions in Minnesota. Who would have thought...

Well..that's a little update for the month of January.
February to Late March--- Then Thomas and I will be back on Georgia soil. (Thomas every other week, but still the same!!)
Once again, thanks for checking up on us again. Hopefully it won't be so long until next time I update!! Love ya'll!!