For my mom and Jody Thornton...

Because you guys are probably the last two people that are still checking my blog to see if I've posted anything new in the last 5 weeks!! Well, I may not even have Jody anymore, so it's just you and me Mom!!
The last five weeks have been nothing short of an exhausting, emotional roller coaster. When last we talked I had just gotten back from South Padre. That feels like ages ago! Well, two days after I came back, I left again for San Antonio to go see my mom. My dad was in Ukraine for 3 1/2 weeks and so she spent the middle of the time in San Antonio. We had a blast! We went to Buerne, TX and shopped in antique stores, and went to see Journey/Heart/Cheap Trick in concert. That was awesome!




After San Antonio, I was supposed to spend a few days at my best friend, Mindy's house. I'd been at her house for about 15 minutes when I got a call that my 2 day/week contract at Grand Prairie that we had settled upon when I left in June, was denied. We had a change in management in Special Education and the new leaders did not think that it was good for the students or the district. So, they decided to deny it without even discussing it with those of us involved. Therefore, I had to jet back up to DFW and try to schedule a meeting with the new boss. This is still, two weeks before I was supposed to return back on my contract.
Even after I tried to display my case in the best way I knew possible, it was still decided that I could either return to the district five days a week, or resign without any penalties (the time to request release from contract had passed a month ago). I was devastated. I went into a funk, my little quiet, brooding, protective state that usually ends with me crying on my bathroom floor. I felt like I couldn't get a yes to anything I'd been asking for. I had this all planned out. I would work in GPISD for two days a week and use that money to fund my private practice, which after it got off the ground, I could quit GPISD all together and just work in Granbury.
But I felt like God just kept saying no and doors just continued to be shut in my face. Mindy said that God closes doors sometimes, but just to keep my eyes open because he might open another one. Brian said not to be so upset. If I still wanted to start my practice, to go ahead and work in GP until it got off the ground. So, I made my decision, I was going to work in GP for 5 days a week until December, save all of that money, start my practice and hopefully everything would still work out. So I went to Austin as I had planned the week before and hung out with Mindy and her family. It was just what I needed. We went shopping, I tried on a dress and the kids told me how pretty I looked (that's never a bad thing to hear), saw Mamma Mia, sang the soundtrack to Mamma Mia, even though it made Madison cry, and stuffed our face at McDonalds. I sent my decision over email to GP and got a call almost immediately from my supervisor stating that she didn't think I had understood my options. I could return 5 days, resign, or come back contract for 2 days a week. 2 days?! YEAH I GUESS I DIDN'T GET THAT PART...I still don't know or understand how or why she changed her mind. But, like a slap in the face, God took something I thought I'd had figured out. He made me wait, not knowing the outcome, only to trust that He would take care of it. Then he answered my prayers, but gave me more than I had worked out in the beginning. Although it was earth shattering to me at the time, God was telling me, "See silly daughter, how I take care of this little thing. Now how much more incredible is it going to be when I give you your children? Trust me, I work all things for good!"
After those excruciating 8 days, the rest of the last two weeks have flown by! I finished my visit in Austin, came home and picked up my parents. My dad married off our dear Audrey Faye Gushwa Lugo, here's a pic of Rach and Tanya and me at the wedding:

I started back to work last week and hung out with the Varneys during their invitro procedures!! Check out Rachel's blog: rachelvarney.blogspot.com for all of the details. In short, everything has gone over-the-top amazingly! God is answering so many prayers, please pray for the darling little babies that they will hang on and that on Saturday, Rachel and Joe will find out that they are pregnant!


No one deserves babies more than these two. They are two of my dearest friends in my entire life and I can't wait to hold a couple of mocha babies in 9 months!!

This is what is on the outside of the fertility clinic! So funny!!!



So, now you're caught up. I promise I'll write soon about my souvenir from Padre, though most of you know what it is anyway! Brian and I are going to Disney World with Mom and Dad on Saturday, so if I don't post til next week, you'll know where I am!!