Last weekend....in Texas!

*May I suggest you click Southbound 35 on my playlist while reading :) You'll definitely get the TX feel going on with some Pat Green music! I of course had to post our great 'long' weekend back to TX! Seems so long ago....but it wasn't. Last weekend, Forrest and I flew out of Nashville to Dallas and drove down to Waco. We managed to see almost everyone we wanted to...and caught 2 Baylor basketball games! May I just say Baylor is beautiful. I mean look at that picture of a building on campus? But what makes Baylor even more beautiful are the PEOPLE. Here is a picture of my dear friends, Kim & Rachael. Rachael once cheered on the Coed Cheer squad for me and this fall took my place as the All Girl Cheer coach. She also got married this summer. My kids are growing up! :) And of course you all know Kim. She used to be my 'boss' in Campus Recreation at BU...but more importantly life long, eternal friend. I lived with her this summer before we moved to AL. They both rock....and bless my heart. The Men Bears (as I affectionately call them) lost by 1 measly point to Texas :( And on Sunday...the Lady Bears smoked the Texas Longhorns by 15!! This is a fun picture of both Baylor mascots that I oversaw while I was there. They are both fun to watch! Sic 'Em Always!

We had great fellowship time with our Sunday School class at church and then for lunch. They too bless our hearts sooooo much. We miss them greatly! We also had a chance to see some friends that just had 'twins' in November. Forrest coached with Brent at Connally...and they are still best friends. Brent & Kelly are a great couple blessed this fall with Hayden & Haylee. The twins were 2 months premature! A God story goes along with their birthday. Brent was scheduled to fly over with our friends, the Campbells, to watch Forrest's game and at the last minute said..."I have this feeling I just need to stay here with Kelly this weekend." WELL... good thing he did...b/c that night while we were in the middle of the game, Kelly went into labor and soon after had them. Talk about close call! Praise the Lord for intuition huh? The babies are doing good...weighing 9-10 lbs. They were born a couple of weeks before Jenny's (Holloway) were born. They are precious! Since Forrest is praying for multiples, I made him hold both at the same time. We felt so special with them allowing us to come over and hold the babies. Thanks Merritts!

Another highlight was having dinner with Forrest's former head coach and his wife...at one of our favorite restaurants....Johnny Carinos. Thanks Jennifer & Kevin for a great night of convo. It was just like 'old times'...who knows maybe we'll be back and do it again sooner than later :)

Another highlight of our trip was getting to attend 'SING' at Baylor last Friday night. I planned our trip just right to catch it all huh? My first year at Baylor I got to judge one night of competition. For all of you non-Baylor Bears...to try and give you a taste of how amazing it is...you can click here to see! :) There are about 20 acts (all done in one night) it lasts for about 5 hours but very worth it to see how much hard work the students put into it. Basically every sorority and fraternity do an act and compete to see who's is most creative and has the best 'wow' factor. It's supposedly the nation's largest amateur show. I guess for my MSU friends, I'd compare it to Derby Days but on a stage and a lot more $ poured into it with a much larger audience and the entire fraternity or sorority participates. The Top 8 acts are awarded to perform in PIGSKIN. The performance done during Homecoming weekend for all of the alumni & family who could not make it to SING or rather did not want to sit through 20 acts! :) It's a big 'bragging rights' thing between the Greeks. It truly is amazing to see their 'hidden' talents come out and perform in such a way. They have to SING all of the songs performed with a live orchestra accompanying them, as well as, design/ make all costumes and paint the backdrop. And to see that many boys 'synchronize dance and wear makeup' at the same time...quite impressive! :) See for yourself...Sing Winner 2006 (KOT) or 2nd Place 2006 (Kappa Kappa Gamma) ...Outtakes 2007-Part 1 ...Outtakes 2007-Part II...Outtakes 2007-Part III. The first two links are actual acts from last year and the outtakes are from this year and pretty funny! Happy Viewing! We had a great time...thanks BU & Waco friends...we LOVE you!

It's true...finally time to blog...

Well...it's true. We are pregnant! As if you didn't know from the countdown ticker above? We found out a couple of weeks ago and since then I've had several visits to the doctor for this and that. I go back in 2 weeks for another checkup. I really like my doctor because he is being careful and making sure things are on track. All glory definately goes to God! When we found out we were pregnant....we were in the middle of 'infertility' testing with both of us...after a 2 year waiting game. He definately spared us from much more stress, wait, heartache, and financial strain. The news also couldn't have come at a better time with all of the 'bad' news with Forrest's job drama. It was a week later that we found out we were pregnant...and all of that other 'mess' just seems to pale in comparison huh?

We appreicate your prayers each day for this little one. After the miscarriage in '05...we definately take one day at a time and consider each of them a triumph. We have learned how fragile life really is, and I just wish more people did too and wouldn't take it so for granted. Life just doesn't happen...GOD chooses to CREATE it from nothing...and to SUSTAIN it each day...whether inside or outside of the womb. He creates miracles. You and I are miracles! So go...and enjoy the life/ lives God chose to give you.

1 Samuel 1:27 For this child I prayed; and the Lord has granted me my petition which I made to him.

A Trip 'home'....

This weekend Forrest & I went to Memphis to visit my side of the family. It had been since Christmas since we had seen them I think. I regret that I did not take any more pictures than these. My friend Colleen who I grew up with in our HS days...now lives in Maine and was visiting 'home' too. I also got to see another friend, Kelly Woodard (Wood) who still lives in the Memphis area. We all were very active at Germantown Baptist Church back in the glorious JH/ HS days! We all met up for lunch on Saturday afternoon. Abby, my precious niece, wanted to go with her Aunt E so I of course brought her. How could I refuse a face like that. Colleen has Lucy and is pregnant with one on the way this June. Kelly has 2 kids, Sarah & Drew, but she opted for alone girl time with us :) I LOVED being around Abby and listening to her mature sayings. We played 'restaurant' and 'doctor.' She too has a little brother on the way in May. She likes to be silly as you can see and close her eyes and laugh. So this is the best we could do for now. Thank you Lord for sweet friends that we can still have relationships with through the miles and months and for a great family.

HAPPY FEBRUARY!

Happy February all! Just thought I'd show you a few pics of our February thus far. My front door hanger I found at Michaels for $4.99 I think...love it against our bright red door. On Wednesday night, we traveled 4 hours north through Nasvhille and landed at Forrest's sister's door in Kentucky. Forrest interviewed for the HFC job at a 6A nearby. We should hear back something next week hopefully. It was a quick trip, but glad we got to see the Harveys. Here is Caitlin, my niece, Ginger, Forrest's sister, and I playing with Valentine decorations for a project Caitlin was doing.

Bella had a hay day with their pets, Dixie--the dog...and 2 cats....and it seemed like every neighborhood dog came over to play. This is our attempt to keep the pets separated! Yeah right! And last but not least....Uncle Forrest & Patrick playing a 'guitar' video game...pretty fun for them...so I 'heard!' :) Well have a great weekend everyone...we are off to Memphis...FINALLY to see my precious niece, Abby....and my family and Colleen, and the Lockharts! Yeah for family and fellowship!

My heart belongs to a coach...

Well...I have been waiting to write this post when I had 'enough' time to write it...so why not during the Superbowl? Yes, I love football...but it seems to not be so important right now. As many of you know...Forrest was notified on Wednesday afternoon that he was 'no longer needed' as the Athletic Director & Head Coach at his high school. As you can read in the articles below...he was given NO reasons, NO whys, NO incidents, NOTHING....just told 'we are going in a different direction.' I think this dad who wrote the Sunday article says it best..."Was it for taking the team to the 3A state playoffs for the first time in 15 years, or for winning four games after moving up from 2A to 3A, or for moving all the way from Texas to coach a team that he unknowingly thought was more important than trying to figure out which alumni have the highest stature and not stepping on their toes?"

So he's been in the newspaper 3 straight days....FRIDAY'S article, SATURDAY'S article, & SUNDAY'S article. Be sure to scroll down to on Sunday's article written by Keith Smith (a football parent). We are still in the 'can this really be happening to us' mode. Forrest stays on the phone a majority of the night these days talking to 'dads' that are just shocked this is happening...and giving their best wishes. But I guess as every day passes it will become more real. We took a quick road trip to his parents in West Point Saturday-Sunday to 'get away' but then spent several hours on the phone with parents. So it seemed to follow us. We are so appreciative of the love and support we have from the parents, community, and seems what to be the 'majority' of the community/ school...but maybe not the 'loudest'...(yet). Too bad this strong support is a little too late for us. We have now found out it's about 5 people in the community that are not Coach W 'fans'....and still seem to be campaigning to get the 'unhappy' player parents on 'their' side. Evidently, there are more 'Team Williams' fans than they had thought! :) We are honestly trying to stay out of it. Our 'soon to be' pastor came over to pray with us on Wednesday night and said something that is so true and is replaying over and over in my head. "You have each other and you have a Sovreign God and that's all you need." Tuesday night will be a tough one for us. It is 'Senior Night' for our basketball teams...so everyone will be there and so will we. Please pray for those interactions and that night. Other things to please pray for:

• Forrest's interaction with the other faculty, staff, coaches, players, parents for the rest of the year


• Forrest's search for another job somewhere in the South


• My job search here to have at least a part time job for the next couple of months to help us out financially


• To sell our house at the perfect time so we won't lose any $ but Lord willing...make $ to cover moving expenses


• That we would have strength and self-control to leave with class and integrity and not say anything that our 'flesh' might want to say to a select few; that we would not be sarcastic that we would 'finish the job' as Christ would want us to and that all would see Jesus in us through this difficult time and He would get the glory for it all

I picked this picture because it was taken Forrest's FIRST year of coaching. Honestly, all of the other pictures from this year really made me sick to my stomach. I think back of what a 'great life' with 2 great jobs, loyal friends, and a great church body....all that we left behind to be here...and now it ends like this? But I do have to remind myself we met some great people, families, players here...and got to see both of our families A LOT more! We truly believe God "called" us to Alabama for certain purposes....those of which we may never know this side of heaven...and as I'm studying in Romans..."who are we to question God?" He works ALL things out for good for those whole love Him and have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). I leave you with this truth from God's word that we found this weekend to help us through all of this... Thanks everyone! We love you!

Proverbs 10:9 He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who walks the crooked path will be found out.

1 Peter 2:15 For it is God's will that by doing right you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

1st Snow in AL...& the white girl...

We awakened Thursday morning to a winter wonderland...our 1st snow in Alabama! Bella enjoyed it the most. We believe it was her first time to see and be in snow...and was a little apprehensive about it all. She didn't know whether to trust it or not. She has been pretty 'snuggly' lately on the couch (see pictures). I think it is due to 'cold' weather!! She is definately an inside dog. Isn't she the cutest thing ever?

HOME IMPROVEMENTS...

Well....here are my latest home improvements...after our "Family of 3" moved out last week. I actually started painting the closets to our 'extra' rooms the day Forrest found out about being asked to 'step down' from his job. It was so ironic that I was in the middle of 'home improving' when he came in to tell me the bad news. Now, there is a new purpose for all of this...not to please our guests who visit...but to SELL THIS HOUSE! Don't they look so much better?