dowells’ blog

well, i guess my thing must be it taking me 6 months to re-visit a site. :) sorry guys! i've been putting any
spare time i have into my online scrapbook--totspot. lots is new. i quit my job. long story short, it was
becoming painfully obvious that it was time to go. unfortunately it ended poorly and it was an emotional
day, but at last it is behind me. greg is my hero! he is allowing me to stay home for a few months to
focus on the kiddies and home. i'm so relieved but will be testing my true dependence on God to provide
through my husband. i'm going to fill out an application to substitute teach but i will only be able to do
it once or twice a week on Greg's days off. i'm so thankful that God gave me a husband that is so
supportive of me and my taking care of the kids. we are having a mild fall so far. many days have been
in the 50's and we have yet to see a snow day---hooray! we have been asked to join our good friends
Kim and Eric for Thanksgiving so we will be blessed to share that day with them. tomorrow we are going
to have family portraits done. we have never done this so I'm really hoping they come out amazing.
guess i just spoiled your Christmas gift surprise. :) we love you all and miss you bunches. it was so
great to see philip and becca in seattle. we hope it's not too long before we can get back to visit va.

hi to all! sorry it's been almost 6 months (can that be right?!) since i've written on here. things have been so crazy busy! good, but busy!
i have 2 weeks left in my 4th masters class, and then i am taking 9 weeks off! hooray! greg is making me take a break, and as much as i may think i shouldn't, i know i need to. i love the topic of my study but i am tired of being in school, writing papers and reading assignments. i am in the process of trying to renew my teaching license. i would love to find a part time teaching position for the fall, but also am considering maybe substituting. the hard thing is what to do with my babies. hmmm....if only some family would move out here. :)
just 4 weeks until heather's wedding, which i'm psyched that God has provided for me and caleb to come. i will feel a bit outta sorts with only half my family there, but i am thankful for the chance to get any time with you guys. it will be the longest i have been away from tay. :(
caleb is doing great! he's 16 lbs already, which is less than we anticipated at the rate he was growing. doc says we probably have about a month or two before he's out of his carrier! thankfully my boss gave us a toddler carseat so we can switch tay to that and use the convertible for caleb. he's starting laughing a little bit and has a smile that just melts my heart. he's such a blessing...so mellow, easy going, and a bundle of joy. i can't wait to introduce him to his cousin malachi and aunt cole and wendy. (we're hoping to go to seattle this summer (?!) to see uncle philip and aunt becca).
taylor is growing up so fast. she is so independent and mature i have to remind myself that she's only 2. we're very excited because she is starting to retain what she's learning in sunday school. this past week i asked her what she learned in class and she said "jesus loves me!" :) it blesses me to know that my daughter is already receiving from the  Lord. she loves prayer and praise. and she never seems to tire of going to church. we took her to the park last weekend and it was neat to see her do some things she couldn't do last summer. my girl is growing up. she really took an interest in a friends' kite so we are going to try to fly kites with her soon.
greg will start his new position with the nampa police force on monday! ahhh! it's so exciting and yet so crazy! i know that God has prepared him for this job at this time. he's psyched and ready to go. he'll be in the classroom for the first several weeks, so i'll have peace for a little while. :) then he'll go to academy (like boot camp) august thru october. he'll be able to come home on weekends. this will be tough on tay. she's a daddy's girl.
things have been trying at work for me. some issues with co workers and the children. but i can honestly say that i am blessed to work there. i have never before had the experience of building relationships with the leadership of a church, and it is a blessing. our church has amazing pastors and leaders. our senior pastor came into the childcare room today to see taylor. he loves her and she loves him! she always prays for pastor ken and asks to see him (and often runs off to visit with him) when we go to service. he eats it up! :) i thank God that she feels connected to her pastor.
well, i think that's enough for now. i need to get some sleep. i love you all and miss you terribly! i truly love our life here in boise, expect that my family is all so far away. you're always welcome in our home and we are always thinking about each of you. XOXOXOXO

hi to my preggy sis and my beautiful family that get to be there with her!  i wish i was there, especially for this last week.  i know wendy must be getting nervous, but she'll do great; God is definitely watching over her.  i know mom and dad must be getting anxious to have another grandbaby in their arms!  how fortunate will little malachi be to have so many who already love him!  (taylor has mastered saying the name malachi; i can't wait for her to meet him!)  soon heather and her fiance will be there too!  i'm so jealous!  please be prepared to take lots of pics and answer lots of questions!  nicole, you will be an aunt again!  aunt coley!  i know malachi will love playing with bubs!  

hi to all,
sorry we haven't been as good at communication lately. we have been busy,
but with good things.....like school, friends, and our church.  we thank GOD
for giving us good people to get to know and for the opportunity to be involved
in our church.  we love Capital Christian!  i just realized the other day, after
reading my mom's blog, that we hadn't told many people the sex of the baby.
so.....it's a BOY!  my due date as of now is january 21.  it'll be something
else to be a family of 4!  but we're excited!  and taylor will make a great big
sister. 

okay, so now that we've joined this blogging thing, we'll attempt to keep this up to date.