Finally Graduating

Well, we finally did it. We finally finished writing those really long papers we call a dissertation. We finally were able to jump through the very last hoop we refer to so lovingly as a defense. We are finally able to say that we have a graduation date (May 17). AND . . . We can finally say that we are no longer in school!!!!!

Page and I have been in school since we were 5 years old. When you look in the dictionary under perpetual student, our pictures are there next too the term. We met, married, and have spent the past 6.5 years of our marriage (the entire marriage) in school. We have never known each other outside of school.

However, we are very grateful that we are both able to say that we have our PhDs by the time we are 30 and that we never have to return to school because we NEED to better our eduction. One of us WANTS to remain in school and when I say one of us, I mean Page. I have NO desire to continue my education any further. Through this experience I have realized that I am definitely more interested in counseling than research. 

We have learned a great deal through this process. We have been blessed with amazing friends and family members who have encouraged us and prayed for us through all the rough patches. They have also been faithful to cheer for us when we successfully jumped through those hoops that for us at times were on fire.

We are two of the few with the opportunity and privilege to graduate with a PhD. We do not take it for granted because we know that it is a blessing for us to live in the time, place, and era that would allow not only a man but a woman to receive such an honor. God placed us here for one purpose only . . . to give Him honor and glory. Our prayer is that we would use these marvelous gifts He has allowed us to receive for that purpose alone.

New Movie and Book List

Just wanted to draw everyone's attention to the new aspects on our blog. I have had family members complaining because they did not know what movies and books Karis owned. I have completed the list of movies in the Disney and Pixar categories as well as the PraiseBaby DVD's, which by the way moms if you have not checked these out you need too.

I will hopefully be completing the book list by the end of the week. I hope this helps everyone out.

Love to all!!!

Our Visits to Tifton & Philly

For those of you that don't know, Page left Karis and I for a month to do some training for the National Guard. Karis and I thought it would be a great time to visit with family and friends.

We started our tour in Tifton where we spent a week with Nanna, PopPop, Aunt Rebekah, and Anyston. We had a great time.


We took the girls to the park where they were able to swing side by side. Karis had never been in the swing before, but she had a great time.






It is now one of her favorite places to play.








The girls would take baths together and climb into Nana's chair to read books. They also liked to love on each other. They are sweet friends.






PopPop took them out on the porch one day that it was raining and rode them around in the wagon. It wore them both out and they were ready to come in and take naps. It was great for the Mommies.





We left Tifton and came home for a few days to rest before our trip to Philly. Mom was a little nervous about flying solo with munchkin, but she needn't have been. Karis did great on the flights. Other passengers were commenting that they wished all baby's traveled as well as she did. I agreed that I have been very blessed with an easy going baby.

We landed in Philly to snow all over the place. As our plane decended on the run way we came out of the clouds just as we touched down. Karis was turned towards the window and when we went below the clouds she could see the huge snow flakes outside. She started bouncing up and down and clapping her hands. She was excited until she was put in what she had to wear to go out into the snow.

She never looked too thrilled about the snow suit we put her in. Even when the temperatures dropped to about 10 degrees, she never complained. Her little eyes would stream tears from the wind, but she was a little trooper the entire time.


It was during our trip to Philly that she mastered....





pulling up. She scared Mom a little with the pulling up. We had an agreement that she was not to do any major feats until Dad came home at the beginning of February. That did not happen. She had two teeth come in, started pulling up, and mastered the crawling on all fours. She now is able to get around very well and very fast!!






We spent time with our friends Ginger and Adam. Karis become good friends with their dog, Sam. I am not sure Sam was excited about the friendship. Karis enjoyed chasing Sam around. Sam did not enjoy that part so much.




We had a great trip and Page did make it back safely from his month long journey to ARMY Camp. We have 2 more months to go during the summer. I am already taking applications for places to visit and people to come visit us.

Cousin Abigail

Not too long after Christmas, Chris and Katie welcomed Baby Abigail into the world. She is a very welcomed addition to our family. Karis was not too sure what to think about her though. Now she wasn't the center of attention. Or wasn't she?




Not too much changed for Karis at the hospital . . .

People still read to her












and she played with Uncle Chris' GA Bulldog hat.











She also waved bye-bye to Aunt Katie for the first time on the 1st of January. (Don't have a picture of that.....sorry).

However, she did begin to warm up to her new baby cousin.....well, sort of!

They both look a little out of it! A long day at the hospital is enough to wipe any baby out.

Christmas

I realize that it is several months past Christmas, but I thought I would start there and catch you all up on Karis' life.

We had a really great Christmas. We did not travel anywhere. My family came to New Orleans 2 weeks before Christmas to celebrate the graduation of Chris (my brother) and Katie (my sister-in-love). We celebrated Christmas with them during that time.

On Christmas Eve we dressed Karis up in her Christmas dress and went to the Christmas Eve service at First Baptist New Orleans where Chris and Katie attended. People commented that she looked like a little angel because the dress was so puffy and she was so cute.

Christmas day we opened presents before she went down for her morning nap and I got ready for Chris and Katie to come over for lunch. Karis received three gifts for Christmas. We have decided to do the "gold, frankinsense, and myrrh" gifts. So the gold gift (one that she wants) was bath toys, blocks, and books. The frankinsense (sp?) gift (one that she needs) was some cubical shelving on which to put her books and toys. The myrrh gift (one that she can share) was a movie (Dumbo). She also had a stocking with more books and a t-shirt which says "Don't tell my Mommy and Daddy, but they don't look a thing like me."

Katie and Chris came over for the afternoon and grilled out steaks. We know, it was not the most traditional Christmas meal, but they sure were good and easy. We spent the rest of the afternoon playing on Page's Wii (his Christmas present). I am not sure who was more excited this Christmas, Page or Karis.

Karis enjoyed her Christmas presents, but I think she enjoyed the boxes, bags, and wrapping even more.

Baby Grace

Hi Friends-

Many of you have been praying for my friends Ginger and Adam Hayes ever since I posted the blog about their pregnancy. I wanted to give you an update today.

Ginger went in for a planned c-section this morning at 10am. She delivered Grace without any problems for her. Grace lived for about an hour in both of her parents' arms.

I spoke with Ginger last night and she said that she and her family had spent most of the night in prayer with friends and their pastor. She said they were at peace going into today's delivery. Gin wanted a longer time with her today, but I know she is very grateful for the time she was able to hold her precious gift.

The family has planned for the funeral to be either Saturday or Monday depending on when Ginger is released from the hospital.

Please keep this family in your prayers as they celebrate the life as well as grieve the loss of their daughter.

Trying to Crawl

Karis is having a really great time moving across the floor. I can't believe she is getting so big. We don't know what we are going to do when she actually starts crawling. She is already getting into things she is not supposed to, like my computer cord. She likes crawling towards me and her Daddy and all things shiny. Christmas should be a lot of fun!!