Professor Whitley

Jonathan has recently been given the opportunity to teach an Ethics course at the local community college. The first class period was interesting...he said no one took notes and one student actually leaned her head against the wall and slept the whole time. A bit different from our Alma Mater, Truman State University, a.k.a. "Harvard of the Midwest." :) Nevertheless, Jonathan finds teaching at a college to be challenging and exhilarating. This week, he found out he will be teaching Religion in American Society next fall. He is really thrilled about that class because it will allow him the opportunity to present the Gospel in a secular school when he covers Christianity. He has talked about getting a doctorate someday and teaching more in the future. I think this is giving him a good taste of what that might be like. Jonathan was willing to humor me with this "First Day of School" photo...I'm just excited for him. :)

Woot Woot to my cuz, Jil!

When I was growing up, I had two older cousins on my dad's side of the family with dynamic personalities. When we celebrated Christmas and held our annual family pageant (made up of whoever wanted to perform whatever number...mostly comedic) Jil and Shaun would guide my sister and I in some sort of creative number for the kids, then they would usually come up with something requiring a little more talent for the two of them to perform. I remember them rapping and dancing to Will Smith's "Parents Just Don't Understand" and hearing Jil talk about how she wanted to move to LA and become a music video producer one day.

Low and behold, that girl made it happen. I have always looked up to Jil for her fearless confidence and her ability to realize her dreams. She sets her mind to something and she sees it through. She is a woman of great determination, creative talent, and work ethic. She inspires and encourages me not to live my life in a box, but to press forward toward my goals and ambitions and believe that they can happen. As if she wasn't the full package already, Jil is also quite humble and never brags about her accomplishments. I actually didn't find out till years later that she had won a grammy for a Ricky Martin video she produced. And her recent feature in Conde Nast Traveller UK edition magazine was only made known to me by my aunt! Read a little about Jil and be inspired to go after what it is you have always felt you were called to do.

Mama's New Ride

With our Explorer reaching the 200,000 mile mark and sporting a roof leak preventing the installation of a 2nd car seat, we knew it was time to search for a better "family" vehicle. We decided to keep the Explorer for Jonathan to drive as it is 5 years newer than his truck, and we prepared to say good-bye to our old Drive-In friend, the Chevy pickup.

We cleaned it up, researched a fair price, put a sticker in the window, and parked it in the church parking lot (which is on Main Street in town). After 2 days, Jonathan got a call from a potential buyer and we started praying... praying that Jonathan would stay cool and collected (as we were anxious to sell and get something new before the baby arrives) and to receive an offer for our full asking price. God delivered on both accounts! Jonathan handled everything beautifully, the buyer was super excited about the truck, and we had a check in hand that afternoon.

We immediately began research on the "Mom-mobile." Contrary to my previous thoughts and expectations, I realized a minivan would be the best option for our family...after 2 Jeep Cherokees and a Ford Explorer, I decided to be okay without my SUV hat.

After careful research, we landed on the Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey and spent every evening scouring the internet for a good deal. We found a stellar situation in KC, which was to our advantage because my dad could test drive the vans for us (and he knows WAY more about vehicles than we do). He test drove our top choice first thing on a Monday morning and called Jonathan right away--there was another family very interested but Dad didn't think we should let this one go, and he had first dibs. We had prayed to find something in our price range, made in this century, with under a hundred thousand miles. This was a 2003 Sienna with 93,000 miles. We called, made the offer, and got the paperwork going immediately. Within 6 days we had sold our truck and purchased a minivan, and my sister and brother-in-law were going to drive it here 2 weeks later when they came for Christmas. A perk on top of it all--I've always liked navy blue vehicles with leather interiors and sunroofs...this was never a necessity for us, just a preference. Our new minivan is navy blue, with leather interior and a sunroof...and it was the best deal in the country. Seriously. We only found one better price for the same thing and it was in California. The plane ticket to pick it up would have made it second to the van we ended up buying. We were satisfied to say the least.

I once heard a pastor preach that God doesn't care about the little details of our lives and we shouldn't bother Him with them. What I have to say to that pastor is this: If you haven't seen God working in the small things in your life and showing how much He cares for His children by being merciful with these little things, then you are missing out, my friend! Start presenting all your requests to God! If answering your prayer in the affirmative will bring Him glory, then He will take that opportunity to be glorified, no matter the size of the request.

CATCHING UP!

Somehow, I have let the blog get away from me! This is an attempt to catch up on the last several months in the lives of the Whitleys:

IN NOVEMBER, we took Ross to Build-a-Bear where he made a puppy dog...
dressed in a Pujols Cardinals uniform (which is apparently soon to be vintage).

Ross raked leaves with Daddy...

and played in them too!

IN OCTOBER, we went to KC for another half-marathon.

Ross enjoyed cheering on Daddy and Uncle Bruce.

We played at a park...

and visited a pumpkin patch.

We enjoyed the amenities in KC, then...

came home and watched the Cardinals win the World Series!

IN SEPTEMBER, we took Ross on his first camping trip.

IN AUGUST, we celebrated our 10-year wedding anniversary by going on our first overnight away from Ross...a whole 30 miles from our house. Jonathan said, "Look at that beautiful sunset" and when I looked out the hotel window I said, "You can't see the sunet from here. Are you referring to that reflection off the Golden Corral sign?!" Folks, the answer to that question was, "Yes." Boy, did we need a vacation!

We couldn't go away without bringing something back for the little man.

IN JULY, Ross mowed a lot of lawn with Daddy,

played a bit of piano...

and we celebrated being pregnant with Whitley "Baby Deuce!"

IN MAY/JUNE we visited friends in North Carolina...

and took Ross to the beach.

First look at the ocean

Playing with toys in the sand

The sand took a little getting used to, but...

Ross very much enjoyed the water.

We got some Brit's Donuts on the way out of town...

and Ross tried ice cream for the first time at a roadside peach stand.

IN APRIL, my cousin, Becky, got married! I was honored to be a part of her wedding and to get to know the great guy God placed in her life.

Becky's parents are farmers and they let us ride on one of their antique tractors, which once belonged to Ross' Great-Great Grandpa, Noble Williams. Thanks, Uncle Dave! This is when "tractor" became one of Ross' favorite words.

Ross got to meet Aunt Jeannine...

and Aunt Joy.

Puppy Party! Ross is ONE!

For Rossy's first birthday party, I took him to Party City and he picked out his theme. We went up and down the aisles and the only thing he pointed to was the puppies. He then added a "woof, woof, woof!" I went by the puppies twice to be sure, and he pointed both times so that's what he got!

We decorated the house in puppy prints and got excited for guests to arrive! Thank you to Grandma, Grandpa, Grammie, Aunt Andra, Uncle Bruce, Cousin Layla and the Kisat family for coming to the party!


Ross and Cousin Layla were ready to greet friends!

Rossy's friend Collin was a special guest: they were born one week apart and baptized on the same day. Collin's family just moved in down the street so the boys are really getting to know each other now!

Ross was sure Aunt Andra had milk just like Mommy.

Pin the paw on the puppy!

A puppy themed feast!

He even ate some gluten-free, all natural cake! It was the first time he ever fed himself and he really enjoyed it.

Ross had fun opening his presents. He ended the night with a determined walk on the sidewalk out front. Thanks to all who made his big day so special!

Red Carpet Delivery!

We recently purchased a new bed for our upstairs bedroom. We ordered it through The Mattress Firm and took advantage of their "red carpet delivery" service. It was a fun experience and not something we normally do (we're all about taking the truck and haulin' it ourselves)! So naturally, I had to document the occasion. With this new bed we are one step closer to moving upstairs, folks! Woo-to-the-hoo!