So Much To Do...and so little time!!!

Well needless to say we have been VERY busy these past few weeks!
Keith turned the big 26 years old
Bekah turned the big 3 years old
Keith has 4 weeks left of his student teaching...Yay!!!
and
We finally sat down and talked about what our next step is after Keith get's his teaching credential. After many months of discussing, praying and avoiding the topic we finally made a decision.
WE ARE MOVING....to the valley
And we are actually looking forward to it...and least mostly. We always knew we would most likely need to move out of SLO after Keith graduated but we finally decided to go the Fresno area. My sister - Katie - lives in Kingsburg with her family and loves it. Our good friends just moved to Visalia for teaching jobs. There are about 4 or 5 job openings that Keith has applied for in the area and plenty of subbing opportunities if the jobs don't work out. The rent is lower and the jobs pay more.....and most importantly we both felt led to take this step and go....so we are.
I went up with my mom and the girls this past weekend and after a lot of searching I found a cute little older house that has 2 small bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a big back yard!!! and laundry hook ups!!!! (Keith and I have been married for almost 5 years and we have never had laundry in our home). It's on a quiet street in Selma (8 minutes away from my sister) and our landlords are really sweet... and they live right next door. They offered the house to me a few minutes after we met and hugged me when I left! Oh and it's month to month rent!

Keith and I are moving all of our stuff up the weekend before Thanksgiving (I have sooooo much packing to do!) so that I have a few days to clean our appartment and maybe have a garage sale before Dec. 1st. Then we will spend the first two weeks of Dec. living back at my mom's house while she and Bill are out of town so that Keith can finish school and then it's up to our new home in Selma.

I can't belive I'm actually going to be leaving San Luis - this is a first for me - but I'm ready for the next step in this journy we call life and I'm excited to see the blessings that come from it.

Surgery Update

Thanks for all who have been praying for my Dad (see previous post). The update is that the doctor said the prostate surgery went "perfect" and the outlook is excellent. I know he so appreciates your prayers, so thank you! Keep em coming!

In other news, I am slightly over the half-way point at my student teaching down at Lopez High School in Arroyo Grande. I just submitted grades for my first term and continue to be alternately inspired and, yes, sometimes infuriated by my students. Some are fighting to get an education despite already having babies or dealing with crippling life circumstances while others lose more and more of themselves through drugs and alcohol. And I get to walk in there every day and do my best to empower them. I love this profession.

Thanks Cara for being so understanding, loving, and just all around amazing!! She is making sacrifices every day to allow me to follow my dream.

Surgery for my Dad tomorrow

Around two months ago now, my Dad (Mike Badger) was diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer. I'm humbled to remember that he was diagnosed just after Cara and I were reflecting back on the last year and asking Why did God have us go through all that? The answers to the question are unfathomable, but it left us realizing that God has a plan, however cliche that may sound--it is absolutely true.

So tomorrow my Dad goes up to Mountain View to have surgery. Since they caught it early, the chances for full recovery are extremely high and he won't need chemo or radiation, phew! He's in good spirits tonight and looking for how God can most be glorified through this latest trial, but he needs prayer for tomorrow morning and the subsequent recovery. So take a moment just as you're reading this to stop and pray for him--thank you!

Wherever you are tonight, here's hoping that your afflictions are being eclipsed by glory.

Is there such thing as an EEA group!!!

I've been eating left over pizza and mini cinnamon rolls all day and I need to stop but I can't...I keep telling myself that my diet starts up again tomorrow but part of me really doesn't want it to...and as I'm typing this post all I want to do is go eat more junk food! I think I may need to join
Emotional Eaters Anonymous

Why does bad food have to be so stinkin yummy?

Our Sadie Lady

icecream anyone

these pictures are from our summer vacation but they make me smile...

Cole Robert

is here! My sister Katie and her hubby Rob are new parents as of last night at 11:05! Cole is 7lbs 6oz and 21 inches long!

I can't wait to meet my new nephew and my girls are just as excited. When I showed Bekah (I was sent his picture on the phone) she held it like a baby in her hands and started swaying and whispering, when I showed Sadie the picture she leaned in for a kiss and now they are working on an art project to give him....they already love him....cousin love is so cute.