Sweet Potatoe Baby!

They kicked us out of our house in Bagdad because Tom got laid off and the mine owns the houses and they would not extend our lease through the end of the school year as we requested. So we rented a Uhaul and moved everything into a storage unit and are now staying with my parents. Less than a week after we got here Tom got a job offer in Colorado. Right before we left Conor's teacher's (they team teach) told me that he would need to repeat 1st grade. I was shocked because he has done great in school. His Kindergarten and 1st grade teachers at his previous school told us how amazed they were with his intelligence and how he was above average academically. They even told me at the beginning of 1st grade that he was reading at a level well beyond 2nd grade and he got an award for Aceing all of his math tests. He only got 1 word wrong on one of all of his spelling tests. So naturally I was upset and nicely let them know that I disagreed. I told them that he would be in second grade next year regardless of their suggestion. Even if it meant summer school. So we got him enrolled immediately in school when we got to my parents house. Three days later his teacher informed me that she did some assesments on him and she to is shocked that someone would refer him to be held back. She said that he is in no danger of being held back and has the skills he needs to be a successful student.
At first we could not understand what the purpose of moving was, only to find out four days later that we would move somewhere else. What a pain! We now realize that if for no other reason than for Conor, it was all worth it. We are so proud of him and are so happy that he is doing well and enjoying school again. We know that the Lord guides us if we let him and even though we may not always understand his reasoning or timing, we trust him. We know he loves us and wants the best for us.

*This is a picture I took yesterday of Conor. Tom moved to Colorado a week ahead of us so while he's been up there Conor lost one of his front teeth. Tom is sad he wasn't here for it. The tooth next to it is also loose and Conor calls it his Nanny Mcfee tooth. I thought I better hurry and post a picture for Tom before the other one comes out. I'm hopeing it hangs in there till Saturday, when we see Tom so he doesn't feel like he missed out. We miss you best daddy ever!

While we've been here the kids have been without most of their toys and even though Grammy and Papa provide plenty of toys, I guess Kya needs something more. So she begged Grammy for a sweet potatoe she found in the pantry. At first Grammy said "no thats for me to eat." But who can say no to that sweet little face and request for the potatoe to be her baby. So she gave it to her and Kya asked me for a blanket for her baby. I found her a little (handmade by Aunt Joanne) dishcloth. It was the sweetest sight I've ever seen. Later it got even sweeter when Kya asked Grammy to make a pillow for her baby and once again Grammy could not say no. So now sweet potatoe baby has a pillow and matching blankie. We dread the day when Kya's baby starts to rot and we have to explain why her beloved babe will have to be thrown away.

Bull Elk!!??...and job

A few nights ago at about 11:00 pm Tom woke me up to tell me that he got drawn for Bull Elk in area 1 for the early hunt. I told him he shouldn't have checked in the middle of the night because now he wouldn't be able to sleep. I am not really into hunting but being from Round Valley I know enough about it to know that that is a coveted, and not likely to get drawn for, hunt. So my reaction was, "holy cow! congrats, but yeah right it's probably just a cow elk." Don't worry, He has checked it like 20 times since then and yep it is for a Bull. It's all we hear about now. A lot of guys at my dad's work are excited about it because it's cool to even know someone drawn for this hunt. So even though I told Tom that I didn't want him to put in this year because of the money, I'm way excited for him and glad he did. Congratulations love. As I always say, I did marry you partly because of your manliness, and even though I complain when you're gone for hours doing manly things, I do love you for it.
......More exciting McDowell news........
Tom got a job! We will be moving to Colorado and he will be a supply manager at the largest beef manufacturer in the world. It's the perfect job for him, His degree is in Agribusiness & Resource Management and he has lots of buying experience. He enjoyes the purchasing/contracts field. So I'm excited for him. Good thing we're not vegetarians huh. Our lives seem to revolve around meat right now. Actually my dad is in the kitchen right now making elk jerky out of the elk he shot last year. yum. We're at my parents right now until we move. We're letting Conor finish school and then we'll join Tom in Colorado. Thanks Mom and Dad. You are the best for having us. We love you. Also thank you to everyone who has been praying for us, especially our little nephew, Ave, who prays for uncle Tommy to find a job. We appreciate and feel your prayers. We too pray for others whom the economic downturn has effected. The Lord truly hears and answers our prayers. We're grateful for our knowledge and relationship with Him. We feel His love and in return love and desire to serve Him.