Update on prayer requests

Both of Jeremy's interviews went well. The one in Durham that he interviewed with yesterday has already called him back this morning for a second interview. He has to create a new piece of work and take it with him for the 2nd interview. The lady said it is between him and another candidate.

The interview today was a telephone interview and it seemed to go well also. The man said they would be setting up face to face interviews next week. Let's hope he gets a call for a face to face!

Please continue to pray that the Lord's will will be done in this situation. Thanks for your prayers and thoughts so far; they have meant a lot!

Also continue to pray for my friend Blake. He started chemotherapy yesterday and will continue to remain in the hospital for the rest of the week. Pray that the Lord would give him strength and healing.

Please pray..

My childhood friend Blake has been diagnosed with testicular cancer this week and is currently receiving treatment at Duke Hospital. Would you please pray for him? Pray that the Lord would heal him and that all the spots where the cancer has spread will be killed with the chemo therapy. Pray also for his family esp. for his new wife, that the Lord would give them strength, wisdom, and patience. Blake is a believer and was in high spirits when I visited him today but cancer is always scary.

Also Jeremy has a job interview tomorrow (Wednesday) morning at 10:30 and another interview on Thursday at 10. Both interviews are local. Pray that the Lord would give him clarity of speech and a peace during both. Pray that the Lord's will will be done in this situation.

P.S. Keep reading...I've added a couple of posts below.

Williamsburg

To celebrate Jeremy and Brandon's graduation, the Piner family took a mini-vacation this weekend to Williamsburg, VA. Growing up we never wanted to take educational trips, but now as grown-ups we actually want to go and learn.



Saturday and Sunday we toured Colonial Williamsburg, observing all the old homes, shops, and streets. Monday we toured the Hampton Harbor on a beautiful harbor tour. We took tons of pictures but to save time and space...I'll only include the highlight reel for now. Look for an album later.

While there we got to have lunch with some of our dear seminary friends who have moved away. Lauren, Jeff, and Aiden met us for lunch at the Cracker Barrell and we got to catch up with them. It was so good see them and hang out!

Graduation

Jeremy is officially a seminary graduate!! The last 3 1/2 years came to fruitation as Jeremy walked across the stage and received his master's degree. Sadly he walked way too fast and most of our pictures came out blurry.

Allison's having a baby!

Yesterday Hannah, one of my college roommates, and I traveled to Rocky Mount to attend Allison's baby shower. Allison and I have been friends since junior high and now she's having a little girl! Ramsey Tate will be here hopefully in 18 days so we wanted to see her and her cute belly before the big day. Congrats Allison...you look great!

I've been tagged again...

Since two friends tagged me I thought I should probably do it...

5 Things under 5 dollars that I could not live without

1. Supreme combo with french fries and iced tea from Bojangles
2. A Frosty from Wendys
3. A Uniball Pen (it seems like I always need one during the day)
4. A ponytail holder
5. Soap

5 Favorite Movies

1. Grease
2. Dirty Dancing
3. Pretty Woman
4. Sweet Home Alabama
5. The Notebook

5 Baby Names that I love (all boys b/c that is what is on my brain and in my belly right now)

1. Oliver
2. Owen
3. Quentin
4. Dean
5. Gavin

5 Songs I could listen to over and over

1. Come Thou Fount
2. Our Song by Taylor Swift
3. Friends in Low Places by Garth Brooks
4. Barbque Stain on my white Tshirt by Tim McGraw
5. Sweet Home Alabama

5 people who have influenced me in a positive way

1. Mom & Dad
2. Jeremy
3. Brandon
4. Beth Moore
5. My Seminary ladies

5 things that are always in my purse

1. cell phone
2. wallet
3. hair brush
4. pen
5. IPod

5 moments that have changed my life forever

1. Getting suspended from school
2. The Day I accepted Christ
3. My 2 summers at Camp Willow Run
4. July 10, 2004-- my wedding day
5. The day we found out we were pregnant

5 obsessions I have now

1. Finding the coolest baby products for our son
2. French fries
3. Hot dogs (ok I'm pregnant and have weird cravings)
4. Dancing with the Stars
5. White Grape Juice

5 places I like to go

1. Hawaii
2. England
3. Ireland
4. Australia
5. Italy

5 kitchen appliances I couldn't do without

1. microwave
2. toaster
3. coffee maker
4. sandwich maker (I make tons of grilled cheeses in this)
5. dishwasher (I have not had this for 3 years now and it's not fun)

Ok I'm not going to tag anybody... :P

We're Survivors

For the past 5 weeks we have been preparing for our end of grade tests. In order to make it a little more fun, the third grade team has a Survivor competition. The children compete in 5 different events, all including review questions and allow them to practice their test taking strategies. The kids have enjoyed the competition and it has been a nice change of pace for the teachers. We wrapped up competition this week since next week is testing week. Though we didn't win overall, we put up a good fight! Here is a picture of my class below with our green shirts and flag. We were the green frogs!

19 weeks

Today marks the 19th week of my pregnancy. Some of my friends have asked for a side view belly shot. While I'm not a huge fan of profile shots, I realize that it's the only way to see how I'm growing. Boy am I growing! My appetite has increased this week and I've got to be really careful not to gain too much weight.

In other news, Jeremy had a job interview on Tuesday afternoon. He should find out by the end of the week if he has a call back. The job is for an art firm here in Raleigh and would be a really great opportunity for him. Please pray that the Lord's will be done in this situation. Graduation is next FRIDAY!!!

BP graduates from college and we celebrate moms

BP, my younger brother, is an official college graduate! This weekend we traveled to Boone to see him graduate. While we were very happy for him, it was a long ceremony and we were glad when it was over. We celebrated afterwards with some awesome italian food, his favorite.

Today we celebrated our moms and for once they were both in the same town. We ate breakfast with my parents, grandma, aunt and uncle; my brother was our pancake chef while Dad could some amazing sausage. We then helped pack BP up so he could move to Charlotte. Then we ate lunch with the Cox clan.

Jeremy was super sweet and blessed me with a gift on my "first" Mother's Day. I have been eyeing this amazing baby carrier, a Baby Ergo, and it was wrapped up all pretty for me this weekend. Though I am with child, I do not really feel like a mom or like I should even be celebrated today. Everyone kept telling me "Happy Mother's Day" but it seemed so odd. Maybe next year it will seem more appropriate as our little boy will hopefully be in our arms. :)

See the post below if you haven't already.....

The wait is over...

and we couldn't be more excited!! After sitting Indian-style for the first part of the ultrasound, our little one finally opened his legs to reveal that he is a boy! Seeing how just about everyone we know is having a boy, we weren't really surprised but were still excited. Everything is going well and he looked great! He's measuring a little bigger than he should for his due date but we are still looking at 10/9/08 as his birthday.

Our families are excited as well and of course added their opinions about what we should name him. We have a few we are throwing around but nothing official. We'll let you know when we do.

(Lindsey, I know you made this for Kari but it was too cute not to borrow! I didn't steal her sign just your picture. :) )

Anxiously..

waiting on Friday! Friday is finally the big day in which we will find out the gender of baby Cox and I can't wait!! I'm hoping that he/she is turned the right way and we can see "everything" clearly. Many have their predictions but what is yours? Take the poll over to the right if you haven't before.

Friday is extra fun because we are going to register after our doctor's visit then head to Boone. It's a big weekend full of celebrations! Brandon graduates from college and we'll celebrate our mothers as well as our niece's and Jesse (J's oldest brother)'s birthday. Hopefully the next few school days will go quickly.

Speaking of school, the next 24 days can't go by fast enough. The children are getting Spring fever and we're trying to prepare for end of grade testing. Pray that we make it through. :)

Hope everyone else is doing well. :)

Let the Festivities Begin..

This summer Jeremy and I have a total of 7 weddings to attend. Wow that's a lot! One of them is for my childhood neighbor/playmate. Amy (pictured above) will marry Kyle the 3rd weekend in June but in the mean time, we had a fun party to celebrate. My parents (also picture above) threw a cookout/barbque shower this past weekend along with 2 other couples. The barbque was in our backyard and it was catered by Smithfield's (YUM!). We had a great time and we look forward to the main event in June.

This week I officially had to start wearing maternity clothes. I debuted them at the party and Amy thought it was so cute. I think she is just as excited as we are. For some reason it doesn't excite me; I guess it's because none of my current clothes fit and I get so frustrated every morning. I also wonder if I should be wearing maternity clothes yet; I'm just afraid of getting too big too early.

(B, I stole this picture off your facebook page b/c I didn't have one of the two of you. Hope that was ok!)

Other fun news this week, my lovely maid of honor and college best friend Brycha got engaged! We evidentally are more alike than we think as we both fell in love with a dark haired boy named Jeremy. I'm super excited for B though and look forward to calling her Dr. Smart (for real, Jeremy's last name is Smart). :) They are planning a late Oct/early Nov. wedding so we now have 8 weddings in 2008!