More News!!

Mike received a call on Monday from the pastor in Beeville, Texas. We will be going down August 23 for Mike to lead a back-to-school gathering for the youth that he is also planning!! He will also lead the short introduction for the youth Sunday school. This will allow the committee to view Mike’s teaching/speaking. If they do not have any other reservations at that time, he will go down one more time in view of a call. The committee is supposed to meet between August 24 and September 1 to decide if they will bring him back in view of a call.

We are so excited about this direction. When we visited Beeville, we got such a sense of belonging. With a few of the ladies, I felt I'd known them forever. They really reminded me of the support group of adults that I had as a high school student. The committee has some great things in mind for the youth group and the future youth pastor and we are excited about the possbility of joining them. What they want for their youth group is what we have always felt a youth group should be.

We will have a CRAZY week and a half the end of August. If you haven't read the previous posting, Mike is having surgery August 28 in Dallas. That is the week directly following our trip to Beeville. We are still working on all the logistics for that! Please keep us in your prayers through all the transition and medical issues.

We have a date set!!

Mike has an appointment August 27 with a doctor in Dallas for his consultation. His surgery will be the next day. We were told he should be able to go home the next day. This particular doctor specializes in this and will use a scope to insert a shunt to drain his cyst off of his pancreas. Mike was so releaved that there won't be an incision.

Thank you all for your prayers and concern. We are praying that this surgery will help resolve his medical problems. It has been quite an ordeal!

Thank you for being a friend...

We lost a Golden Girl this week....Estelle Getty passed away. I LOVED "The Golden Girls" when I was younger (and every now and again these days). I remember watching it at my Nana and Dad Dad's house right before another show that I LOVED but I can't remember the name of it! It was about a doctor whose daughters lived with him and he had a dog...anyone? lol...anyway, I loved Estelle's character's quick whit. She was hilarious! Anyway, just wanted to say a little something about a little lady...

Mike's medical information is being sent to a doctor in Dallas. They should be contacting us in a few days. Dr. Patel told Mike to call him if we did not hear from the new doctor within 2 days. We should know more in the next few days.

On a different note--how crazy is Hurricane Dolly? My friend Angela was vacationing with her family in South Padre...thankfully they left Tuesday morning to head inland. I saw a few pictures online today but not many. I pray there wasn't much damage to the coast.

Odds and Ends

Mike is having his MRI (actually an MRCP) done as I type this. Of course, we won't know any results until next week but this is the first step to scheduling his surgery.

We are going with my mom, Craig, and my sister to the movies tonight...WE ARE SUPER EXCITED! We are going to see The Dark Knight. And we were smart! We already have tickets! Yea for presales!! It is going to be really interseting to see Heath Ledger's character. It is such a sad situation that he isn't around to see the final product.

I got to go to the Grand Opening of Maurice's in Midland last night...for anyone who doesn't know, I LOVE Maurice's! Kate was brave enough to go with me and it was a nice time. Not only did I get to catch up with my buddy but I got a few new digs and jewelry! Plus, Kate's the kind of friend that will answer truthfully to the dreaded question, "Does this make my butt look big??" Good times!

My sister scanned this picture and sent it to me...it seems like so long ago...but in a good way! So much has happened in the last 4 years and 2 months--to the day!! (I'm going to have to tell Mike, "Happy 4 year, 2 month anniversary!!" lol)

Just wanted to share this picture with you all!

OH, on an update note, Mike is having his MRCP (MRI) done this Friday morning (7/19)--keep him in your prayers!

Mike had an EDG done today. The results were good in the fact that they confirmed what the dr. thought was going on. He has cysts on his pancreas that are pushing on his small intestine, causing his food not to digest properly. The cyst is also affecting his liver numbers by cutting off something else...don't remember all of the details on that. He will most likely have an MRI done and then probably surgery...in Dallas. That is all down the road. We'll keep you posted..

Photos

So...I'm sitting at work, waiting on five o'clock...and started messing with my photobucket account. I haven't looked at the pictures I have saved on that account in a long time. It is so interesting to me how you can look back at a picture and remember either all of the positive things about that time in your life or all the negative things. Although I am negative more than I'd like to admit, I caught myself remembering all of the positive things about those times. A lot of the pictures were of Georgia and I caught myself REALLY missing Georgia: the people, the weather, the smells, the sounds...I think I just need a trip back! Mike and I have talked about visiting GA since we left 2 years ago (WOW!! it's only been 2 years???) but have yet to make it there. I hope to go soon...maybe in the next 2 years or so. We'll see! Until then, I'll have to make due with my photobucket pictures and memories of the people, the weather, the smells, the sounds...

WE'RE BACK!!

The MIKEANDCYMBRE blog is back in session!!

I'm not sure why I abandoned the blogspot...maybe it was that my life seemed more under control and didn't require as much communication...maybe I just got lazy...who knows! No matter the cause, I'm hoping to be more proactive about writing.

If you're reading this, feel priveleged! I'm not "shouting it from the rooftops" that I'm using the site again. Mike and I have always had so many people involved in our lives (not in a bad way) and I'm beginning to see the beauty of not sharing EVERYTHING with EVERYONE! It is a hard habit to break! I run into people from my past and don't hesitate to share all of our current details with them...I guess I've always been like that! Knowing that only a "few" of you know that I'm updating the blog, I feel good about sharing...but I'm also not naive to think stuff on here is private. lol...

Anyway, Mike and I are excited to say that God may be leading us to a new destination. He has interviewed with a church in South Texas and they are doing further reference checking. We hear this is normal from some of our minister friends. It's nice to have people who know how things go with ministry! Sometimes it's like Greek to me! :)

Well, this is it for my first posting back...hope you all enjoy!

a year ago Tuesday...

(*A Note to Jennifer...I know this is some of what I wrote you but it inspired me!*)

I can't believe it has almost been a year!! It's all I seem to think about this month...My mind keeps taking me back to the heat and humidity of when we moved in...We (Randy, Linda, Mike and I) were so miserable. And poor Justin Ray...we were SO thankful for Justin that day, August 8, 2005~that’s the day we moved into Sunlake and began what we thought would be the one of the greatest experiences of our lives. And it was and has been...but in a COMPLETELY different way! We soon met Justin's wife, Jennifer and they invited us over for dinner. YEA!! Another couple! Justin and Jennifer had already met Tim and Stephanie so it was a little intimidating but that meant we now had 2 couples to get to know!! Shortly after, at orientation, we learned there were several other seminary couples in our complex, one of which was Rhyne and Micah. Orientation was also where Mike met Rhyne. I wish we had met them so much earlier than we did. I feel we were cheated in a sense...we didn't have as much time to get to know them as the others. But we soon got to spend some time with them and it was like we were old friends! They are the only ones that have ever given us some competition on "Friends" trivia! (And they better be practicing because we're definitely having another round when we see each other again!) It was amazing to have such good friends with the Ray's and Putman's after such a short time.

We were so excited! And the atmosphere of the city was amazing...there was EXCITEMENT and newness! We would drive around for hours and hours, just learning the city and the sights and sounds. It was also the first time we were able to visit different churches! We were so excited about that part! We visited 2 with the Ray’s and Peabody’s and were so thrilled about the church we were to attend August 28…Gosh, it was an AMAZING time! A VERY SPECIAL TIME...

I miss that time everyday and long to go back to those 3 weeks! Gosh it would have been so much fun to live there for 2-3 years together! I think about all the things we (the 4 couples) would have shared together...probably several births (I’m sure Stephanie would have been first! Lol…She has since had a baby), birthdays, holidays when we couldn't get home...we would have been each others families and I could see God forming those bonds in those long but short 3 weeks! When I spoke with Jennifer after we were in Georgia, she said those were the longest 3 weeks ever...in a good way! Mike and I totally agree that it was as if time stood still. Truly an amazing time! But, with all things, it was to come to an end August 29...3 weeks to the day of us moving in.

Hurricane Katrina caused so much damage to the city of New Orleans and surrounding areas. The area is still such a mess; I know we were blessed by being able to evacuate (THANK YOU JUSTIN AND JENNIFER...AND EVEN MORE, JENNIFER'S PARENTS!!!) without problems and most of our stuff "survived". But the emotional stress this storm brought was way more than I had expected. I was able to "handle" the changes at first but after a short time, the reality of it all sunk in. It is something I have tried to put into words for 11 months and I still come up empty…I wish I could explain it…

Despite the emotional roller-coaster it has brought, we are so blessed to have experienced the last year…We made such good friends, not only in New Orleans but also in Georgia, that will last our entire lives. Miles upon miles (lol) may be between us but I believe the friendship God rooted in us will keep us close. We share a bond that is special!!

Please keep New Orleans in your prayers…not only for those who have moved back and are working to repair the damage but also for those that continue to deal with the emotional stress of the storm. I can’t imagine enduring this without the love, direction, and support from God, my family, and friends! Thank you all!!!

I didn't want to post anything until it was official...if you've kept up with us, you know things change CONSTANTLY...Mike and I finally got to move into my Nana's mother-in-law house!! Just in case you don't know what a mother-in-law house is, it is a smaller house back behing a main house. Anyway, the tenant moved out July 15 so we got to move in Tuesday and are so excited to have our own place. We have lived with someone in many different situations since September! Anyway, it is a one bedroom, one bath house. We have a very SMALL backyard (which Mike is happy about!) and our own carport!

Other news about us: Mike is still working at Clark's hardware and I'm still at Tessco. I am planning on subbing once school starts and know that will keep me busy! Nothing much new in this area right now!!

We were so happy to get to go visit Mike's grandparents this past weekend. They live in the hill country and it is so nice to get to visit with them, play cards, and just relax! Although, we were more active this time than in the past. We drove down Thursday night after we got off, played golf Friday, played LOTS of cards Friday and Saturday night, then went to church with them Sunday morning and headed home Sunday evening. It was a great time!! I'll add some pictures below of our trip. Not many but a few! Hope everyone is having a great summer! Thanks for checking in on us!!

It was brought to my attention that I have been neglecting my blogspot blog...I am a myspace addict!! Although I don't blog on that, I have been checking it instead of this! SOOOOOOOO, here's a new blog to catch EVERYONE up!!

We have moved back to west Texas (Andrews to be exact). We aren't sure if it will be temporary or long-term but for now, we are staying with my Nana until we have definite plans! No need in getting locked into a lease somewhere!! Mike's job was being cut short and due to having several weddings to attend during June, we decided to leave Woodstock at the end of May. We got back into Andrews Labor Day weekend and Mike got a summer job at a local hardware store our first week here. It isn't quite what he wants to be doing but it will work until we figure out what we'll be doing next. I am filling in for my mom at her office while she is on vacation and have applied for a case worker position with MHMR and a local bank, both in Andrews. We will see if anything happens with those!

Let me explain about the "what we'll be doing next." Mike has his resume in at a couple churches in the area. We don't know anything about the direction they are going with the search and are trying to keep from getting tied down somewhere in case God moves us to one of these churches! Howard Payne University began an undergraduate program through Midland College last semester and if we stay in the area, Mike will start there in August. He has taken classes through HPU's certificate program that they have in Midland since High School and really enjoyed them.

We have REALLY enjoyed being home...you don't realize how much things mean to you until they aren't there. I know I have truly realized the value of family through the past 10 months. Without the support of our families, we COULD NOT have survived...physically, emotionally, spiritually, or financially...our exprience this year!

Anyway, we are doing GREAT and just enjoying being home and surrounded by our friends and family! By the way...the picture at the top is from Michael Peterson's wedding....CONGRATULATIONS MICHAEL AND AMANDA!!!

stuff

ANGELA'S COMING!! ANGELA'S COMING!!

I'm so excited that Angela is getting to come visit us before we move...she'll be here May 14 at 5 and I'm counting down! I don't know if the ATL can handle us!! lol...I have all sorts of stuff planned! CAN'T WAIT!!!


Mike and I were leaders for a Disciple Now weekend this weekend in Griffin, GA (by Hampton) and we had an AMAZING weekend! I had high school girls and they were AMAZING and Mike had 7-8th grade boys...we both had a good weekend leading them to learn the basics of Christianity!

We got to go golfing Friday afternoon in Griffin and man, was it an experience! Mike and I both love to golf but had never golfed together. We hit range balls once but never played. Anyway, Georgia courses are STUPID! lol...they have hills and lots of trees and water! In west tx, if your balls go out of bounds,you can look for them. NOT IN GEORGIA! Out of bounds is full of trees, bushes, and all sorts of critters! I lost two balls in the trees and one to a snake on hole 2. The snake slithered at me when i was trying to get my ball out of the bank of a creek....i decided it wasn't worth it. I called my dad from hole three to gripe about Georgia courses after I had to hit a ball on the side of a hill and the slant nearly made me fall and roll! lol...but after i called him, things got better. The land flatened out and we started remembering how to play..lol...all in all, we did OK for not playing in a while but more than how we played, we had a GREAT afternoon together. It was a nice way to start the weekend. I only wish I had taken my camera! Those would have been great pictures!

We are starting to finalize everything with the move and it's a bit more stressful than the other moves. Gas is going to KILL us...God has been taking care of us little by little already concerning the move so I know it will all work out! If anyone can help us unload into a storage room on memorial day (Monday, May 29) we can use all the help we need. It shouldn't take long!!! Anyway, better get back to work...i'm doing data entry for the tape ministry today!! yea!!

Texas bound!

Hello all! We have some more big news! I know we've had a lot the past 9 months! and no, I'm not expecting!! ha ha!!

God has revealed to us that our time in Woodstock, Georgia is coming to an end! Mike's job at First Baptist Woodstock has been shortened to the end of June...however, after much prayer, thought, and planning, we feel we should leave the end of May/beginning of June. Mike's best friend, Michael, is getting married during June and the combination of Mike missing camp due to the date and the amount it would cost to fly back, we don't feel it beneficial to anyone for us to stay until the end of June.

My nana has a mother-in-law house behind hers and the man who has been renting it for the past several years just HAPPENS to be moving out during June, so she has been GREAT and said we can live there (in Andrews). As far as long term stuff, we aren't sure what will happen, but moving home in May/June will allow us to figure out where we will go next. Mike has his resume in at several churches and there is one that we feel strongly about! But, there is a waiting game! We will let you know if anything happens and about mike's school when God reveals it to us! There are a few options for Mike's schooling if we stick around West Texas.

There is one thing I wish for everyone to know...Mike and I continue to feel that we obeyed God's call for us by moving to New Orleans AND Woodstock. There have been SOOOOOOOO many things that we have learned and been challenged with that wouldn't have happened if we hadn't followed his will. I don't know what God has in store for us next but I know it will be AMAZING! I was always taught about abandoning everything and following Him but was never truly forced until August 2005 and even more so in September 2005. These 9 months have been some of the most intense, hurtful, stressful, amazing, blessed, and eye opening months of our lives and we will NEVER forget them! I've said all that to say this: our decisions may not make sense to some of you, and that's OK. Some may wonder why we even moved in the first place if we would just move back in 10 months...all I can say is I am so glad Mike and I followed our God's direction. We will be returning to West Texas changed people, individually and as a couple. It is amazing what God can do when we get out of our comfort zones and follow Him.

Hey everyone! Sorry I am just posting...I know I said a LONG time ago to check the site for info on us subbing...well, now that's old news! lol. Mike and I were FINALLY able to take the class required before subbing and were cleared to sub two weeks before spring break (April 1-7). We have really enjoyed it! I've subbed more than Mike~mainly due to the amount of sub jobs, my availability, and my getting paid more to sub because of my BA. Anyway, he subbed for the middle school for the first time today and has decided he liked the high school much better! He had to "babysit" a bit too much! It is nice for us to be subbing at the same time too! We've been able to have lunch together a time or two!

Spring Break was an exciting time! Mike went on a mission trip to Ohio (Cleveland to be exact) while I was off to visit everyone back in the homeland (Texas!! lol). We both had very different but very good weeks! I tried putting my photo slideshow on here for everyone to view but it didn't work. You can see it, and another slide show we have on our myspace page. You do NOT have to be a member to view our slideshow...just go to www.myspace.com/mikeandcymbre and scroll down a bit to see both slideshows...there's one of the left, and one of the right.

Anyway, it is time to head home...I'm at the church wasting time while Mike was in a meeting but he is out! We have to get home, eat, and then he has class tonight!!

MY SISTER'S VISIT!!

Well, my sister has been back in Texas for about an hour and a half now and I miss her already!! We had a GREAT time together and can't wait until we get to hang out again! Here are some pics of her trip. She got to go with me to our Ladies Night Out at church to hear Candace Cameron Bure from Full House share her testimony...she did a GREAT job!!


Here we are with Candace Cameron Bure herself (aka DJ Tanner)

Mike is SLOWLY becoming accustom to Nascar! (this is at Atlanta Motor Speedway)

Mike and I hitting the bar...the Coca-Cola bar that is!!

She went a little CRAZY!!!

They had to cut us off!! We were sad!

Christy looking sweet!

Mike at his best!!

Mike ripped one at the Varsity!!!

Mike, Cymbre, Christy, and Mikey at the Varsity...can you say heartburn??

We toured the CNN center! Ted says hi!!

Hey everyone!! Just a quick post! Here are two new pics...from our lifegroups! Lifegroups are on Monday nights for Woodstock High School kids! We are growing by leaps and bounds! It is AMAZING!!! When I have more time, I'll try to give more details and possibly pics! Anyway, the leader pic includes Mikey, Kristy, and Sarah...Sarah is the one laying across us.

Anyway, things are going good. Mike went to help w/a Disciple Now in Tennessee this past weekend and REALLY enjoyed it. He said it was very refreshing and something he REALLY needed! I have been working for the tape ministry a couple weeks and they've been keeping me BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!! But it is good for me and good for them!! I've had two interviews in the past two weeks for jobs through Express Personnel. One I turned down because of distance and one wasn't offered to me...during the interview the guy kept reminding me how over qualified I was...I just wanted a job! lol.....but good news!! Mike did a little bit more research and found a sub class we can take March 2. I know he will take it and most likely I will as well. It depends on the cost (the church will pay for his!) So, that could be an upcoming adventure!!

For those of you who forgot, my sis is coming to visit THIS week so look for an update w/pics coming next week sometime!! We are both SOOOOOOOOOOO excited!!!! It's going to be a GREAT visit! Well, better get back to work but wanted to update a little!!! love everyone!!

Hi everyone! Just a small note on us! Things are going good! I've been working off and on and it's been great! I got a call today about a job (through Express) but I'll have to interview for it through the actual company so I'll let everyone know when I know. It will be a good thing as far as location and money! Anyway, more on that to come!

Mike is busy busy with school and work...but he's really enjoying his semester!

and the most exciting news: MY SISTER IS COMING TO VISIT!! She'll be here the end of Feb. to go to a Ladies Night Out with me...guess who the guest speaker is...CANDICE CAMERON BURE!!! we are SOOOO excited!! About Christiy coming to visit AND getting to hear Candice!

New news!

Hi everyone! Things have gotten busy around here the past several days so I am just getting a chance to update. GOOD NEWS!!! I have started working and although I haven't enjoyed getting up extra early, it has been nice working and staying busy! I am working through Express Personnel doing temp work (clerical). As long as I stay busy with assignments it will work out GREAT having a temp job! I can take off when visitors come to stay and don't have the stress of leaving when we move from Woodstock!

Anyway, things are going good...Mike is teaching LifeGroup next week (Monday night) and he is super excited! For anyone that doesn't know, LifeGroups are a way to filter kids from the public schools into the youth program. They take place in a home and are a non-threatning environment for our kids to invite their friends. Anyway, Mike and Mikey have reformated the group and it was awesome Monday night! We are really excited about it all!

The new season of 24 has begun and let me tell you, it's going to be good!!! We had a friend TiVo it for us and we watched the 4 episode premiere last night! Hopefully we'll get out of LifeGroups in time to watch it each week!

Anyway, other than me working, not much is new with us...but i will let you know if anything comes up!!

Trip to Tennessee

Here are some pictures from our trip to Gatlinburg, TN for Winter Xtreme with the High School youth. It is in the Smokey Mountains...it was BEAUTIFUL, but COLD!! The trip was better than we had anticipated but we are so glad to be home!! We left the day after returning from Texas!! Anyway, hope you enjoyed!!