State of OUR Union

I started this post way back in July and am just now getting a chance to finish it (a mere three months later :).  I'm glad for the extra time because things have changed so much in these short months.  Our last few weeks in CR were tough for J because he was dealing with constant back pain and couldn't sleep in the newer house.  My first few weeks back in the States were tough because I truly missed the simplicity of life in CR and struggled so with all the busyness and emptiness of American culture.  Those individual struggles presented challenges to our family, but thankfully, God saw us through!

 

Just as the kids got settled into a new school and new routines in Missouri, J and I got settled into new roles here.  I can honestly say that it has been amazing!  The time in CR was good; we had lots of time to reconnect and talk, but there's been more honesty and transparency and pure enjoyment here.  Our friendship is blossoming again, and we're able to work better as a team as parents.  Since J isn't working an insane amount of hours and traveling all the time, we're better able to "see" each others' strengths and weaknesses and complement (and compliment :) each other. 

 

We are plugged into a good church and a great life group; we have also been blessed with some new friends who are simply wonderful people who genuinely live life to glorify God and make a difference with their lives.  It's really encouraging to have connections with people who want to talk about what's really important and not all the fluff that so easily sidetracks and consumes needless amounts of time and way too many conversations.  We had similar relationships in Texas and weren't sure what we'd find here.  We feel so blessed!






Our anniversary was our one and only date night while we were in Costa Rica. 
We had a great time at Café Club (yummy Italian!). 

We snapped this photo on our way down to the bus stop because there was
a fairly clear view of the volcano.

June 12, 1999, handsome JJ and I were married in a tiny church in rural Indiana -- we have been married for 14 years now!  Wow, time truly does fly!  We've faced some challenges and had some wonderful adventures, and I wouldn't trade any of it.  Even the bad.  God can use it all, even the stuff that makes people uncomfortable, and I hope he does.  I don't want to shy away from talking about our experiences, don't want to shove anything under the rug . . . God can't use it then.  No one will benefit.  No ministry will happen.  So, it's yours, God.  WE are yours!

The next series of pictures is a little photo journey of our last two or three years of marriage.  There have been a few misperceptions about us, and these show our reality.  To be completely honest, we did separate for about six weeks in February and March of 2013.  J sent his resignation letter to his boss right before and that started all the craziness we've experienced the last six months. 

March 2010 - Spring break trip to Arkansas

 Oh, no!  My albums from April to September of 2010 are missing!!  :( 

Maybe I'll update this later after I find them!

 

March 2011 - Spring break hike in Waco.  We were so excited to be pregnant
with baby #4 (for the third time); I was about 10 weeks along in this pic.

June 4, 2011 - Funeral Day
Naomi Faith Jett was born June 3, 2011 in Mansfield
at almost 21 weeks.  Just a few more weeks, and
she could have survived. :(
Naomi is buried in Waxahachie, so part of our hearts
will always be just south of Dallas.

Naomi's casket. 
I apologize if this is sad; it's a big part of our history.
There are a lot of people that never heard about
Naomi -- God can't use this experience if we don't
talk about it and share our pain and in whom we put our trust.

July 2011 - Family vacation to California for Jett Family Reunion!

July 2011 - Hiking Big Sur on our way to Paso Robles, CA.

July 4th, 2011 - CA vineyard

Yes, I did freak out when we came home from CA and
our pool was being built so far out of the ground. 

 

August 2011 -- Enjoying the finished project with
family friends.  Hope's under water, but the whole
family is in the pool for this pic.

September 2011 - We watched J's sister play soccer in Boulder.

September 2011 -- J and I had a great getaway in CO. 
Lots and lots of beautiful hikes!

September 2011 - Another hike in CO

October 2011 - Texas State Fair - Big Tex

October 2011 - Texas State Fair - Ferris Wheel

October fire at Magnablend



November 2011 - We visited OU to watch J's other sister play.

Thanksgiving 2011 at J's mom's house.  Fun family!

Thanksgiving 2011 - In our living room the night of E's 3rd grade play.

Christmas 2011 -- We're off to a wedding.



December 2011 -- The last time we were together with my grandparents.

Christmas 2011 -- At my grandparent's house in Indiana.  J hanging out with
my mom and the kiddos.

March 2012 -- J and I coaching H's 1st grade soccer team.

Easter 2012 -- Sunday morning pics on the side of our house before church.
Yes, H insisted on those tights.  :)

Easter 2012 -- Texas Bluebonnets!!

March 2012 - Our first family mission trip
The kids all did book drives at their schools, and we went to Belize to
donate the books and work at a school.  What a great time!
This picture was taken the day we left while waiting for a
boat to take us to the mainland.

Mother's Day 2012 -- J's mom and stepdad came up for a great day of swimming.
Here's our family in our lovely backyard :). 

July 2012 -- A super FUN visit with J's sisters.  We are
enjoying yummy mules in Dallas before heading off for pizza.  Great day!

July 2012 -- Family vacation to Schlitterbahn and Austin. 
We are waiting to see the bats in this pic.

October 2012 -  Annual Hackberry Court Fall Festival
We LOVED our time on Hackberry Court and were so blessed
to have such wonderful friends and neighbors. 
 

December 2012 -- H took this picture of us on our trip north to Indiana.

December 2012
The Jett Family (oh, L!) in the church where it all began in '99.
J and I were married right here.  Wow!

March 2013 - Skiing in Durango 

March 2013 - Last day of the Durango trip.  We went to see
some ruins with the fun family friends we shared a house with. 



The whole gang

March 2013 - Train ride

March 2013 - What a beautiful setting!

March 2013 - Taking a break from skiing.  Gotta love that guy in the green!

March 2013 - Cadillac Ranch on the way home from CO.

March 2013 - H and L's Birthdays (7 & 5)



March 2013 -- Our last morning on Hackberry Ct. 
We lived in this house for 8 1/2 years. 
Good-bye!

Disclaimer:  I didn't purposely leave any family out of the pictures; the intention was to show that my family has been intact for the last few years :).  We have many, many great photos of the kids with their cousins and other family; there are plenty of those in our scrapbooks :).  I hope no one is offended!

Here are some links to two blogs that God blessed me with this week.  I don't usually spend any time reading blogs, but these came to me somehow, really ministered to me, and truly express my heart.

 http://www.thenatos.com/2013/09/why-our-marriage-survived.html

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2013/09/dear-church-the-real-truth-about-family-values/