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!!

Christmas

Our trip to Texas was great!! We had such a great time! It was SOOOO nice to get to see everyone, although there were some that were out of town! We spent Christmas Eve with my dad and grandmother, Christmas lunch/afternoon with my Mom's family, and Christmas night with Mike's family. Our hang out night was a blast!! Hope you enjoyed the pictures from our trip!!

PICTURES!!

I apologize about the format but hey, at least you have some pics to see!! There are pictures of our trip to Stone Mountain while my mom was here, our first Thanksgiving away from family (and to cook ourselves!), and our new "apartment". Hopefully the pictures are self explanitory! We are still working on getting our new place together so I may add some pictures in the future! Also, there is a blog w/info of how we are doing before this one if you haven't read it!!

I'm sure it's taken me so long to post that no one is reading this any longer...but hopefully someone will!! Things are going great here in Woodstock! We have been pretty busy lately, especially Mike! He just finished his 15 page paper for one of his classes (with only a little bit of help from his Grammar Nazi wife!!) and he is so relieved! Unfortunately, he finished it up just in time to leave for tonight and tomorrow with the Young Life group here so today was kind of rushed! He and Mikey are still working at getting in the school's and things are slowly coming together! They were able to do some volunteer work at the middle school and are taking what they can do to get into the school. It is such a neat position! One small but AWESOME note: Mike and Mikey were in charge of Wednesday night (Rick, the middle school pastor, was gone to a youth choir thing) and it could not have gone better!! They had the junior high and high school (they are usually split) and had a little over 300 youth...things went AMAZING!! Mike was so syched (yes, I just said syched...lol) about having planned the evening and how it went!!!

For those of you who want to know, I haven't started working yet. I've had to work through some things to figure out what I am supposed to be doing right now and altough I'm still not sure, I'm starting to look! I'll keep ya posted!

All in all, things are great with us right now...other than us missing TEXAS!!! We are getting our new place together and filling it with all the necessities of living...like kitchen knives and laundry hampers!! ha ha! Well, I'm getting off the computer now but wanted to get a quick post on here!!

LOVE Y'ALL!!

finally!!

Well, we are FINALLY in our "new place" that we should be at for the next year while we are in Woodstock!! I don't have much time to type now but wanted to at least post this in case I don't get back on here for a while...

We are in an apartment type place that is attached to a family's house...they are great and Mike and I feel it is really going to be nice!! We have a very large living room, a very large bedroom, a bathroom, and a small kitchen area (minus a stove/oven). We will try and get pics on here soon...the house we are at is amazing! lol....I never thought I'd be living in a house like this!

Mike is really enjoying his job and I will hopefully have one soon. My mom's visit was GREAT!!! but now it is time to get back to the "real world"...Anyway, I need to get to bed but will try and post more later!!

I know, I know, "It's about time!!"

Hey everyone! Sorry for the lapse in time between postings...first there wasn't news to post and then we were out of pocket internet wise!! Mike started work Tuesday at First Baptist Church Woodstock and we have been staying up there with Rick, the Middle School Youth Pastor (and Mike's "boss") so Mike won't have to commute. He is really enjoying his job so far and is still really excited about the year! We should find out our living situation next week. It looks like we will be living in an apartment type space with a family from the church. It is our understanding we will have our own bedroom, bathroom, living room, and a small kitchen! Rick said we should know something by Monday! Also, we won't be able to get online regularly until after we get settled and figure out internet capabilities and all! (just for general info!)

My mom is coming to visit a week from today and i'm SUPER excited!! My dad came through here during our first week in Georgia but because of time restrictions, we didn't get to go do anything...so taking my mom to see the attractions of Atlanta is SO exciting! Plus, just getting to spend time with her will be nice. We've always been close and we worked together for over a year so the move away from her has been tough! Needless to say, I can't wait until next Friday!

Well, I don't think there is much else to share for now. I will start looking for a job soon. I decided to wait until after my mom came down so I could spend time w/her! I'll let everyone know what i'm doing once I find a job! I hope everyone is doing GREAT!! We miss you all!!

Woodstock

Hey Everybody,

Whats crackin' baby!!!

I am going to have to start setting my alarm for the middle of the night, so that I can start making some posts on this blog. Cymbre just wont let me make any postings on here!!!
Just Kidding !!! I just never think about it. Anyways, I had a couple of interviews at First Baptist Church of Woodstock ( a suburb in North Atlanta), we didnt want to tell anyone in case it didnt work out! So, I got a call back after my second interview a couple of days ago and found out I GOT THE JOB!!! This is a great oppertunity that God has given us. The church runs about 10,000 members. No that is not a type-o, it is just nuts. I really dont even know why they even gave me an interview, much less given me the job! So basically, my title is Minister in Residence; which is like a step above an intern. I will be a campus minister at Woodstock High School and Woodstock Junior High. The church will certify me to substitute teach, so that is one way that I will be able to be on campus and they are also going to try and get me on as either an assistant basketball coach or more likely a chaplain for the basketball team. I am sooo excited about this!!! Cymbre and I feel that this is why God brought us to Georgia! We also feel that everything that has happened in the past 2 - 3 months has just brought us to this place. It is just so amazing to see God work and how the 8:28 principle applys (Romans 8:28). That verse talks about how God works everything for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose! When we moved originally to New Orleans, we took a step out in faith. When the hurricane hit alot of people said that well i guess you made a mistake, but I would have to disagree. This is an amazing oppertunity, and will go a long way for our future! It is just awesome to see what God can do when you completely put your trust in him and let him guide you and tell you where to go!!!

And the winner is...

Well, Mike was the winner of last night's Nugget Eating Contest...83 nuggets!! Cory stopped at 70! They were both sad that they didn't break the record of 118 (held by a H.S. Varsity football player!) but I made Mike promise me he wouldn't make himself sick! And I'm SO proud that he didn't! lol... the pic of them together is an after picture...i should have taken a before, but oh well!

Anyway, after the nuggets, we were off to 722 and I'd like to share a little of what was shared there! The 2 creators of www.xxxchurch.com were there and it was extremely interesting to hear their story and how they use the website to minister to those addicted/affected by pornography. I think everyone should check out their site and what it has to offer...not necessarily for yourself but for anyone you know or may come in contact with that needs help. Porn is such a big thing today and so many people are affected by it each day. Anyone that knows me very well at all knows my stand on sexual purity and porn is ripping that away from so many people from all backgrounds: young, old, male, female, married, single, believer, non-believer...you name it! They have a program you can download that keeps you accountable for the websites you visit. It is an awesome resource...mostly because it presents the need for accountability. If anyone needs this program, it is free and Mike and I would be glad to be anyone's accountability partner on this, no questions asked! If it is something you feel you should do, just give us a quick e-mail...

Cymbre-cymbreg@aol.com

Mike-thealleydude@aol.com
Please check out the website just so you know that the ministry is there!!

PICTURES!!

Just a few pictures to add...I really don't have much to say other than I had a GREAT birthday despite being so far away from "home". Mike made sure that it was a special time!! This pic is from our night out on the town for my birthday!

Linda made me a Pina Coloda cake minus the coconut on top for my birthday! I am still snacking on that cake! and the best part is, it only gets better with age!! lol...the cake's age that is, not mine!

Everyone keeps wanting to see pictures of our new friends...Tracey, Cory, and Kenneth (l-r). Tracey and Cory are also NOBTS students displaced to Atlanta and Kenneth is from the church that is helping us out...he also happens to be Linda's second cousin. They are Floyds and there are Floyds everywhere down here! lol...he's related to probably over half the church! They are all great and it's so nice to have friends here!

This is one of my favorite pictures! Mike says he knows how to make drinking out of a straw look MANLY...well, this is it! It sure looks manly, huh??

Anyway, those are all the pictures I have for now but I will be taking the camera tomorrow for the 2nd Chick-fil-a nugget eating contest between Mike and Cory tomorrow night. The first one was a forced tie due to time restraints but we are giving them more time tomorrow! Chick-fil-a may reconsider their All You Can Eat Nuggets after tomorrow! Good night all!!