Updates

I got the 'update' bug. Scroll down for several new blog posts.

Cambodia Bound

Our dear friends, Andrew and Natalie Hayes are bound for Cambodia. They are about half way over the Pacific ocean as I type. We were able to say goodbye to them on Wednesday evening.
It has been a blessing to see how God has opened doors and provided for them. We look forward to seeing how God will use them in Cambodia. They will be working with another couple who have already worked in Cambodia for several years, Nate and Cheryl Wheeler.


Joshua will miss the Hayeses, too...

Aussie Mission Team

Our team is alive and well. It is a busy time for us. Jason, Jon and Shawn will all be graduating this Saturday. Corey will graduate next May. The wives who are teachers are wrapping up another school year. Kendra is also graduating with a Masters. Emily will be looking for a new job in the fall since the Wesley school will not be re-opening. Jon and Sara are keeping on keeping on with numerous jobs and the busyness that comes with two little ones. All the Aussie Mission team kids are growing like weeds. They are a lot of fun.

The biggest change for us recently is that the Griffiths and the Whaleys have decided to aim for a departure in the summer of 2008 now (US summer...so June, July-ish). The Mullins will hopefully be leaving around this time, too. Lord willing, the Grizzles will join us at the beginning of 2009.

Birthday Boy

These recent posts aren't chronological. We've been so busy and are about to get busier with the move coming up. So I'm trying to get the blog updated. Jason turned 32 on April 22nd. We enjoyed a team meeting, and then went to eat Indian food for his birthday dinner. I have more than 32 reasons I love my husband...but it was fun to chose my favourite 32 things and let him know what they were this birthday.

Not enough steps...to the Nashville 1/2 Marathon...

Saturday, April 28th was the Nashville Country Music Marathon. You might remember that I gifted Jason with registration for both of us to run the 1/2 Marathon. The last few weeks I wondered if I had done this in a less than sane moment! Nonetheless, in the meantime, Jason's brother Stephen agreed to join us. Despite the best of intentions, I, at least, did not maintain the rigorous training schedule I had planned out. My longest run had been the 10km (6.2 miles) three weeks ago. So, every step beyond 6.2 miles was a record for me. I finished in 2:42 and some seconds. I am not proud of my time, but I would have to say I am proud that I finished 13.1 miles. Some 34,000 people competed in the event yesterday - it was huge. We celebrated Saturday night at the Outback Steakhouse. Rumour has it that you might see us in the Memphis St, Jude 1/2 Marathon this year. No promises - but the race inspired to keep running and maintaining a level of fitness that allows me to participate in events like this.

Team Whaley

Team Nieman

Who are these people...and WHY?

Who are these people who send profane email blasts, and leave nonsensical comments with profanities on people's blogs? I have had a few anonymous blog comments recently that are full of profanity! Perhaps it is time for me to start 'aprroving' comments. I just don't get it...what is wrong with these people, and don't they have anything better to do?

Steps to a 1/2 Marathon

In preparation for the Nashville Half Marathon, Jason, Kari (my other faithful running partner) and I ran a 10km race in Mississippi. We ran well even though it was cold and rainy. This was the longest distance I had run yet - I completed the race in 1:09:38. I decided that this would be the last time I signed up for a 'fun run' hosted by an Athletic center. It was just slightly intimidating to run with those 'professional runners'. Kari and I managed to beat 7 people...not that there is anything wrong with coming in last, of course. There's just something about being escorted to the finish line by a police car with its lights flashing that makes me want to be sure I am not the last runner!

In less than two weeks we will be living in a new apartment. We signed a 6 month lease on a 1 bedroom apartment in Cordova. We are excited about our move. It will be nice to be just 10 minutes from the office. We will have everything we need right around our apartment - we could even walk if we wanted to.
It is almost time to say goodbye to 1000 Cherry Rd. Graduation is Saturday, May 5th. Joshua will miss being on campus, too. We hope he'll make new friends when he comes to visit us in Cordova. Stay tuned...

In keeping with the reunion theme of the past month or so, we have been doing some traveling and visiting this past week. On Friday we drove to Jonesboro, Arkansas to meet Rusty, Laura and Alex Campbell. It was our first time to see little Alex. It is so fun to see our friends with children! From Jonesboro we drove to Kennett, Missouri to see Bob & Billie Hesselrode. We had a great time eating BBQ, touring Kennett, and playing Nurtz and 9-Hole.

Saturday night was our last official campus event - Spring Thing. We always love getting together with the HUGSR community. We will cherish these times.

Late Sunday night, Rusty and Laura came into Memphis and stayed with us. We didn't think Sunday night would lend much time for visiting but we ended up staying up late and catching up some more which was awesome. We got very little sleep that night but it was worth it.

We flew to Abilene on Monday, thanks to Max and Jerita's frequent flyer miles. What a treat to fly instead of the 11 hour drive. When we arrived at the departure gate in Memphis, we heard them advertising a free upgrade to first class if you could answer their trivia of the day question. The question was 'which Chinese airline recently joined the OneWorld Alliance group?' Thanks to my corporate clients who travel to China, we got the right answer. I first answered Eva Air...incorrect. So I sent Jason to the counter with 'Dragon Air' which was correct. :) Memphis to Dallas is just an hour flight, but we enjoyed an hour of comfortable sleep!

Since in Abilene we have been studying, working and running. The half marathon is at the end of this month. I'm not running as far as I had hoped to be, but we'll keep on keeping on.