Richland Mall

So today we ventured out to Richland Mall here in Waco, and i have to say, it was surpisingly really fun! You see, i thought the indoor mall here was kinda dying every since the Central Texas Market Place opened, but actually, the mall has a lot of really good stores, and it was a good outing for us today.

Any of you stay at home moms, let me know if you ever wanna meet there. We can grab lunch and let the kids play in the indoor play area thingee.

Bottom line: Richland Mall is still a cool place to hang. At least i think so. :)

Here's jackson thanking the Atkin's for our wonderful chick fil a coupons!! and sorry to the person in the background!! gah!

OH MY GOOD LORD!!!! I'm Back! :)

So how long has it been since i've blogged? Uh...too long! So sorry all you faithful "blog checkers!" I feel like ever since i've gotten to waco i've just been "decompressing" and haven't been into a good routine yet!

But we are loving being back in Texas, and it's been so fun. We are ready for our house to sell, but still enjoying the time with my parents. (although my mom and i did get into a BIG argument last week! hey - we're NORMAL right??) :)

Josh loves his job at Columbus and he loves his coworkers, so that is a huge blessing.

since i haven't blogged in forever, here's a few things that have happened over the past few months:
1. Jackson is peeing in the potty - huge accomplishment for us! it's not ALL the time, but at least he's telling us he has to go, and i think it's just b/c he wants M&Ms!!
2. i do not miss working - ha ha! Sorry Belmont...although i DO miss the paychecks.
3. i got pregnant, and then miscarried a few days after i found out i was pregnant. :( It's been such a process, but i am doing much better and just trusting that the Lord has other plans for another Crosby baby. we look forward to the future with anticipation! it was such a blessing to be close to my family during that time of heartbreak.

Things i am missing about Nashville are:
1. Cheesecake Factory - i know i know, cheesy, but loved having one of those close
2. Sweet church friends at FBC - Lori, Sara, Rebecca, Lesley Ann, the Atkin's...and many more!
3. my house...or shall i say...my STUFF! My CLOTHES!!! my BED, my kitchen...you get the point
4. Fall Weather - ahhh, the leaves were so pretty there

(we love waco tho, and next time i'll fill you in on things i've LOVED having since we've been here.)

Here is a pic of the cutest Jack in the Box you've ever seen!


more soon...really, i promise. :)
hugs to you all!
sal

Debate Countdown is ON baby!

Fox News and CNN have been doing live shots from Belmont off and on today, you'll have to tune in and see if you can see some of the campus. oh, and yeah, i'm in the background waving.

ha, just kidding.

the countdown is on - the campus is bustling with peeps, and i'm checking out mccain's advance team! they are very good looking, don't worry, only really looking for kari and ellie ok. :)

Ya'll have to tune in and watch Tuesday night, Oct. 7th at 8 pm EST.

more soon...

Josh and Jackson - i love and miss you!!

*sal

Starting Part 1 of the move...

We are starting Part 1 of our journey to Texas today!

We head to Hattiesburg, MS on our way to Waco with a car load of stuff. :) We'll be staying with Josh's sister Rachel, and her family and it'll be a fun lil reunion with them as we pass through - it's been a while since we've seen them and it's always so fun for Jackson to get time with his cousins.

Saturday we'll drive on to Waco, Sunday I'll fly back to Nashville.

Should be fun...i'll be in touch soon!

Pray for safe travel and good spirits...eh-hem, for me mainly. I've been pretty stressed and a barrel of fun to be around for poor Josh - ha ha! :)

We're getting there - step by step.

how cool is this?

Josh's incredible team of youthworkers had a farewell gathering for us, and check out this gift that Lacy did for Josh. Lacy is an amazing graphic artist and did the church website, and she compiled thousands of picture to make this gift!!

this is what it looks like far away, it's the Student Ministry logo at FBC:










as you get closer, you can see the pics she compiled to create that image: it's unbelievable!!

Thanks so much Lacy - this is so special and we love you! we're going to miss you AND all your talent!!

Movin' to Texas!

Ahhh yes, it's truly bittersweet.

We're saying goodbye to 2 1/2 wonderful years in Nashville, TN, serving at an awesome church with whom we call family at First Baptist Nashville.

We're heading to a city we know and we love, filled with family and friends we know and love: Waco, TX at Columbus Ave. Baptist Church.

To say the past few weeks have been tough has been an understatement. The month of September has truly been a blur filled with such range in emotions, from joy to sadness, from excitement and anticipation, to grief of another chapter in our lives coming to an end.

Josh and I both have moved many times growing up - and yet this still doesn't make things any easier.

If I could get our youth kids and church family to truly hear my heart right now, it is that we love them so much, and are truly going to miss them. The ministry we've had at FBC Nashville as been such a growing experience for Josh and I, and such a journey filled with being humbled seeing God at work - it's incredible.

This Friday, Josh, Jackson and I will load up the car, and drive to Waco, trying to
remember all pack stuff to get us through 1 month, or 6 months - we don't know!
I will fly back to Nashville on Sunday and finish out what i've been planning at work for almost 8 months now - this Presidential Debate happening at Belmont on Oct. 7th!! Lord help us all - we're almost there and I couldn't be happier and am ready to get that over with! :)

Once that is complete, I'll join Josh and Jackson soon after in Waco, where we'll stay at my parents until we sell our house here, and find one there. (Thanks mom and dad - ya'll are incredible!)

This week is a big week as we have various farewell gatherings, and finish up some major house projects so we can put it on the market next week.

Thank you all for your love and support in being there for me as i feel like i've been all over the place lately, and am just trying to keep it all together. Can i just say, i hate moving! gah!

Jackson keeps asking "mommy, when we goin to tessus?"

Next week, i tell him, with feelings of sadness, yet excitement.

I can believe it's actually happening, but we are indeed coming to Texas...next week!

hugs to you all!
Sally

Funny? YES! Easy to clean up? NO!

So, it was just a matter of time before of course, we got TP'd, or forked, or in this case "saran wrapped."

Although we think we know who did it (eh-hem, Josh's summer interns!) we still don't have full confirmation.

Josh does turn 29 tomorrow, so yeah, it was a funny 'lil birthday message.
But, who was cleaning up the melted oreos today? Who was scraping off the trash cans already covered with ants? And who was cutting the saran wrap off with a knife?

Yep, me. I was so annoyed as we cleaned it up...but Jackson and Josh did help. :) It was quite funny as we looked out at it this morning, and once i got my panties out of a wad after cleaning it up, it did make me smile again. :) HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSH!!!