Family Time...

We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving with our family. Ben and his family came up on Thursday to spend a couple of days with Nana and Papa. The boys are growing up so fast! They both have such a fun personality. Amazing how they take after their favorite aunt! :) It is always good to be together. Ben and Theresa are going to see her family in Dickson, TN for Christmas, so we had to take advantage of our time together. I love my family soo much! The Lord has been so good to us.

I hope you all are doing well. Sorry I haven't kept up with posting, but our internet is down at the house. I love hearing from you all!

Tribute to Chester...

Sir Chester Qualls (the best dog ever) went to doggy heaven yesterday. He was 13 years old and such a huge part of our family. Those of you who know me well know that he was just like one of us. :) We are going to miss him so much!!

Long Time No Post...

Sorry for not posting the past few weeks...it has been super busy here. Everything is going very well. We are getting ready for the mission conference. It is hard to believe it is that time of year again...but it is such a wonderful and exciting time. I know the Lord has much in store for our church family. I am most excited to see what the Lord will do in the hearts of my students.

Believe it or not, I had planned to post several different times and I have taken so many pictures...but I do not have them with me at the moment. Beware when the pictures come...there are so many they will probably take up the page...and I will probably be too lazy to organize them. :)

I hope you all are well. I appreciate your friendship and sweet comments. The Lord has truly blessed me with the dearest friends.

Until next time...

Cathleen Angela...

Six years ago, the Lord placed a wonderful person in my life...my best friend, Cathleen Henschen. We are extrememly different, but that is what makes us such good friends. Cathy grew up on a farm in Ohio and she is the hardest worker I have ever known. I am so grateful that the Lord placed her in my life and has given us such a precious friendship.


Today is Cathy's birthday! She turned 25 years old...a quarter of a century. We started the celebration on Saturday with a surprise party at PF Changs. She was shocked! She thought Mary and I were just taking her out for an early birthday dinner...SURPRISE! Then, the second grade suprised her today with a party at lunch. Her students are so much fun! We had such a good day...I say we like it was my day too. :)


I love you Cathleen!! Your favoritest pal...Sarah Lauren.




Cathy's family at PF Changs...

So, I am not a UT fan but...

Yesterday, Cathy and I were just sitting at home when a friend called and said he had two extra tickets to a UT game. Neither one of us had ever been to a game before...it was a blast!!


We ended up parking about a 30 minute walk away...
this is what we saw for the entire walk.


Don't we look like orange blooded UT fans??


The marching band was awesome...as you can see...




Me...pretending to have a clue about football.


Our good friend Joe. We met him at the game. He is from Virginia and drove down with his wife and his daughter's family. We were sitting between Joe and his wife...and so were several other people...and offered to move so she could be with him, but he said it wasn't good for their relationship to sit together at games. :) We soon understood why. Haha!! Don't sit next to Joe when UT isn't doing well...just a suggestion.


The stadium after it got dark...can't you see how packed it was? The wave went around like 10 times, it was awesome!


The Pride of the the Southland was blocking the entrance to our seats during halftime.


Cathy and I at halftime, already exhausted. Right before halftime we walked to the other side of the stadium to see my uncle John who is and usher there. Then we walked all the way back to the student section to see Amanda Lapp and Nicole Sitter during halftime.

We had such a great time! My dad said it was okay for me to cheer for UT even though he is a Georgia Bulldog. Sorry, dad...not only did I cheer, but as you can see, I wore ORANGE!

By the way, UT won the game. :)

New Pics...

Here they are as promised. The cutest boys around...

Hiya Everyone...

Well, I have officially survived three weeks of school. I am stuck at home right now with strep throat. Two of my students were out with it this week...so it is definately going around. My class is so fun. I am enjoying my students and getting to know them so well. I have spent 112 hours with them, so it seems like we are family. :)

My brother's family will be here tomorrow. Get ready for lots of pics of the nephews. I just know they are so excited about seeing me...well, at least I like to think so. My parents just sent me the cutest video of Lucas talking on the phone. Of course it is just jibber-jabber, but it is adorable.

Here are some pics of my class...they are so fun!!!