Move Info

This post is for Grace, but some of you may have her same question. I said we're moving, but I didn't say to where! Nick and I are moving to an apartment in a nicer neighborhood from where we live now. This is in preparation for Nick's probable deployment in the upcoming year. Keeping up a house - in a shady neighborhood to boot - is not my idea of fun times when I'm by myself.

Look for a big update with lots of pictures next week, after Mark and Lauren's wedding!

Quick Update

Ok, so I won't officially be Lindsay Hall, M.Ed. until graduation on August 9th. However, I just heard back from the professor with whom I did my independent study (submitted yesterday), and it turns out that my work was more than satisfactory! This means that there is no longer any impediment to my graduation. I am OFFICIALLY finished!!!

Another belated update

Ok, I know I have not done an excellent, some might even say adequate, job of updating the blog this summer. However, I think I've included enough about my schedule that you should all understand why I haven't had much time to sit around and spill my guts to the computer. The good news is that now that season of life has passed.

Late last week I was really feeling stretched to my limit, and I turned to an old favorite. Music has always been an outlet for me, and many of you are aware that my all-time favorite is vintage Amy Grant. Now, I've been watching iTunes since we downloaded it 3 years ago for The Collection, but every time I've tried to find it in the past, it hasn't been available. However, providentially last week it was there. I bought The Collection, made a CD for my car (no I'm not high-tech enough to have an mp3 thingy in there), and have been listening to it ever since. Although I find the whole cd to be really encouraging for daily life, I've really been uplifted lately by "All I Ever Have to Be." I feel like I have reached so far and pushed so hard in so many directions this summer that I've been at my breaking point more than once, especially when I was doing it on my own with Nick on the road.

However, I firmly believe that getting this degree and preparing for the job I'll do afterward are absolutely in God's plan for my life. And I know that if this is all in his plan for me, he'll give me the resources to get the job (or jobs as the case has been this summer) done.

Today I completed and submitted my very last assignment for my M.Ed. degree. Now I just have to wait for a grade and finish out my last two weeks as a GA in the History department. I have to tell you, it feels really, really spectacular to be finished with this degree! Although I'm glad to be finished I can't imagine what life would have been like here in South Carolina if I hadn't been obedient in pursuing my Master's. I'm so glad that I took what felt like at the time to be a huge chance.

Alright, enough yammering about what's going on in my head. I've got some pictures to post! I figure I need to get these up before I come back loaded with pictures from Mark and Lauren's wedding (Saturday).

These first pictures are from a picnic lunch Nick, Finlay, and I had Friday on the Horseshoe. I have to give equal opportunity to both parents here:

Alright, I have to admit that I've not been doing Nick justice with his soccer game stories. I actually have some pictures. They're not good pictures, but they are at least pictures. Now you can see Nick in action!

Here you can see the team preparing for battle

Nick is undoubtedly rushing to the fray

Very blurry action shot!

I hope you enjoyed catching up. Now that life is slowing down (ha! how can I say that when we're moving in a few weeks?!), well relatively slowing down, I'll try to keep you in the loop a little better. And for those of you I'll be lucky enough to see this weekend - I can't wait!

The Mentor

I am now published. Check out my article here: http://www.psu.edu/dus/mentor/. Now I just have to graduate, and I'll be a real professional!

Fruit

Have we ever told you that we have fruit trees in our backyard? We've got a fig tree and an apple tree (but the apples seem to be tiny!) Tonight we picked some fruit to try. Take a look!They were pretty tasty!

Weekend Fun and Our Little Patient

This weekend Nick and I joined some Air Force friends for dinner at a great restaurant here in Columbia. It's called Gervais and Vine, and it's a wine and tapas bar. You can find it here: http://www.gervine.com/. Here's a picture:

Now onto more pressing matters. Finlay was neutered today. He seems to be feeling ok, still a little loopy from the anesthesia. Here are some pictures of him and us this evening. We love our little patient!

No, he doesn't wear this all the time, but we can't have him biting his hoo-ha!This is where the anesthesia went in. He kind of looks like a poodle.He loves hugs from Dad!

Maybe not so crazy about those kisses from Mom, but she gives them anyway because it makes her feel better.

Shout Out

This post is a shout out to Dwight and Lauri, Nick's mom and her husband! First, we want you all to see what the Houston Chronicle recently had to say about Dwight. They were very complimentary, and you can see the article here:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/robertson/5856821.html

Dwight and Lauri just got back form a trip Dwight led to the Holy Land. Lauri sent us some great mementos from their trip - thanks! Tonight I tried the Dead Sea mud body mask. I thought a self-pampering night was in order since I've got to wait up until after midnight for Nick's plane to land. My bathroom is a bit messy now, but my skin feels so soft! I can't wait to try the bath salts, but I'm going to wait until I get in my big garden tub in the new apartment. Thanks for the gifts, you two, and we are so glad that y'all are enjoying your new life together!

Nicholas' Travels

Unlike Gulliver, Nick may not be headed to the land of the liliputians. However, it feels like he's been about everywhere else this year, and he's off on another trip today. In case you're counting, here's the roadtrip rundown since November 07:
3 weeks in Omaha, Nebraska
8 weeks in San Angelo, TX
1 week in Washington DC
2 weeks in Death Valley, CA
And now he's off to spend the week in Tampa. We'll see what voyages August brings.

Nick told me a sweet story a few days ago that I should have posted for July 4th, but sorry, I didn't. Here it is now, maybe you can still enjoy its patriotic spirit. Now, you know we don't get misty at our house over patriotic stuff, but I thought this was heart-warming and a validation that the sacrifices we make, like when Nick is gone as often as he is home, are appreciated.

This story happened to Nick when he was in transit to California. He was walking through the airport, rushing to make a connection when a little hand shot out into his path holding a piece of paper. He tried to walk past it, but the girl to whom the hand belonged called out to him. Still thinking that he had misunderstood, Nick paused a minute and then kept walking. The girl then walked up to Nick, placed the piece of paper in his hand, and walked back to her seat. Continuing toward his gate Nick opened up the piece of paper and was touched by what he saw. The note read "Thanks for everything you do, from a free thirteen-year-old girl."

Isn't that sweet? People like her make it a pleasure to serve.

4th of July

This independence day the Hall family showed our patriotism by stimulating the economy. We headed up to the Southpark Mall in Charlotte, NC to pick up a few things for Mark and Lauren's wedding weekend.

Fin did not enjoy all the fireworks. He spent the night cowering like this:

Happy Saturday everyone!

5 Weeks To Go!

Well, I did it. I survived the Summer I semester. To do this I had to turn in an original short story, design my ideal college, and complete a comparative organizational analysis by midnight last night. Fortunately it didn't take me quite that long, and I finished up yesterday at 3pm. It feels so good to be done! Now I'm really in the home stretch. I'll still be working full-time, split between Parents Programs and the History department, but since I'll be completing a practicum and and independent study for Summer II I won't be spending any time in the classroom. Phew! (Incidentally this means that I won't be spending any more time in the classroom before I am awarded my M.Ed on August 9th - crazy!)

Today Nick and I are celebrating with a shopping trip to Charlotte to buy clothes for Mark and Lauren's wedding weekend. We'll try to post some more pictures ASAP. We hope you're all enjoying a relaxing Fourth of July!