Hello Friends,

As of April 28th, we'll be 2 months away from the wedding:):):):):):)

I'm so excited, but I'm so ready for it to be here.  The next big step is addressing invitations.  Other than that, nothing really going on right now, except.....

Showers!!!!!!!!!!!!  We had one shower in January for the wedding party.  It was thrown here in Miami and it was just a chance for all the bridesmaids and their spouses/significant others to meet all the groomsmen and their spouses/significant others.  It was so much fun.  We got a few presents and everyone seemed to really get along.  However, now is really where all the showers start.

We have one Sunday, April 20th at Terry Black's:)  I'm so excited and we've already got one present sent to us in the mail.  Thank you so much Sharon Arnold for our dishes:):):)  We then have one Sunday, April 27th here in Miami at Nick's mom's friend Nancy's house.  We're excited about that too.  Then, at the beginning of May, Nick's church is throwing us one and in the middle of May, my school is throwing us one.  It's going to be nuts, but so much fun.  When we got our dishes yesterday, I already don't have enough room for everything, so we're going to have a major garage sale before the wedding!  No room to put anything!!!!

In my work life....I don't know if many of you know, but I have a degree in Marketing.  I worked in the business world for a little over a year in Arkansas, but when I moved to Miami, there were no business opportunities available.  I took a job as a Teacher Aid at an elementary school to hold me over, and I loved it.  I absolutely love the lower grades (2nd and down).  They are so much fun.  The more I thought about and the more I prayed about it, it felt this was what God wanted me to do.  Not be an aid, but to be an actual teacher.  I started looking into it and it was very easy.  It's called Alternative Certification.  You must have a Bachelor's degree and 2 yrs experience in your field and you can apply and pay a little money and become approved to be in the program.  I did that, so then I had to take 2 tests.  The Oklahoma General Education test and the Oklahoma Subject Area test in my subject, which is business.  I passed them with flying colors!  My next step is to get fingerprints, write and essay on why I want to be a teacher, and go to an interview.  I got all of it done, but my interview.  It's today at 3p!  Please say a little prayer for me.  If my interview goes well today and they approve me, I will be certified to be a Business teacher.  I don't want to be a Business teacher, so I will add the Early Childhood certification by taking that test this Saturday, April 19th.  I'll find out at the end of May if I pass the test, then I'll be ready to teach PK-3rd by June:):):)  This means so many changes in our lives. 

Nick doesn't necessarily want to live in Miami any longer b/c he's lived here his whole life, so he's been applying for jobs elsewhere, i.e. Tulsa area and Northwest Arkansas.  There is an Assistant Baseball opening at Rogers, AR.  There are History positions open in Sprindale, AR, and there are also many Kindergarten positions open in Springdale.  We're really looking for Northwest Arkansas, but we'll see wherever the Lord takes us.  We'll be so busy after we get back from the honeymoon.  We'll hopefully know something about jobs and begin the process of house-hunting in that area.  It's going to be so exciting and I'm so blessed to have a future-husband to be next to me through all of it. 

The Maxsons are going through changes and couldn't be more excited and scared!  Please pray that the rest of my Alternative Certification process goes well and please pray that we'll find the right spot to begin our married life:)

Okay, so I have so much to tell about since Thanksgiving.  That was a crazy holiday!  We had three big dinners.  Thursday morning was spent at Nick's mom's house.  She makes this amazing dish called curried corn and it's the best thing ever!  Nick and Josh hate it, but everyone else loves it:)  Here's a picture of Nick, his sister Megan, his step-brother Derek, Jovie, and I!

Thursday evening, we headed for the LGFWB.  The Kern side had our Thanksgiving at the church gym because there was about 35 of us altogether!!  We had a lot of fun.  Nick and Uncle Les battled it out in Ping Pong and the rest of us played cards and enjoyed each other's company.  Here's a pic of Cassie, my cousin Rachel Kincaid on my dad's side, and me.

After Thanksgiving, I celebrated a birthday.  As you know, Nick took me to the Garth Brooks concert on my birthday and Cassie took me to the Hanson concert.  They were both so much fun.  My mom got me all new ornaments for my tree:)  I got big silver balls, silver reindeer, and words...Joy, Noel, and Hope.  They're so pretty.  Nick took me out to dinner on my actual birthday and he had gotten me an ornament that said Joy, too.  Isn't that funny?  They both know me so well:)  He also got me the Garth Brooks Ultimate Hits cd, the Hairspray DVD, and some clothes.  I had a great birthday. 

The first Sunday in December, Nick and I got to do something very rare.  We got to go see "It's a Wonderful Life" at the old Coleman Theatre in Miami.  This theatre was built in the 20s, but in the last 10 years, they've renovated it so it looks just like it did then!  It was so fun.  I hope we can make it a tradition:)

Here's the entrance and the stage:)  They had a big scene and there were a lot of people there to enjoy this great Christmas classic.

As you can see, the end of November was a busy month:)  I'll post pictures of my tree, update you all on registering, and post pictures of our Christmas tomorrow.  Didn't want to make this post too long;)

Hi friends!

It's been awhile since I posted.  I'm making my manicotti tonight, but since tomorrow begins Fall Break, I'll be away from a computer for a few days.  I'll post my dinner Monday. 

Yes, that's right, I get a Fall Break!  I so missed out on this last year working 8a-5p every day of the year!  What a wonderful part of working in the school system.  Not only do I get the same schedule as my future husband, but I'll have the same schedule as my future kids!  Also, no matter where we move, I'll almost be guaranteed a job.  They usually always find jobs for coaches' wives. 

This Fall Break Nick and I will be in Tulsa and Pryor the whole time!  Since we get to see his parents every week, go to church with them, eat with them, etc. we're spending the entire time with my parents and family in Pryor.  I cannot wait.  Tomorrow, I'm getting a long-awaited hair cut.  I haven't cut or even trimmed my hair since April and it needs it so bad.  It also needs coloring.  The girl that's doing it is Nick's friend's girlfriend.  I think she's going to be doing our hair for the wedding, so it'll be fun.  Then we're going to the Pryor football game.  I go to a Pryor football game every year and I haven't been to one this season so it'll be fun.  Plus, it's also time for me to see my girls from P-town.  Thursday will be fun, but what I'm really excited for is Friday....WEDDING DRESS SHOPPING!!!!  Mom, Cassie, and I will head to T-town and I'll get to be a princess for the day.  I cannot wait.  I'm sure, knowing my mom, that I won't buy one on Friday and I'll have to look a ton of other places first and I'll have to try on about a million, but I don't care.  It's going to be so much fun.  That day, Nick will play golf or something and then Saturday Nick, David Parker, Bruce Wood, and Uncle Les are playing golf.  Isn't that a funny combination?  Nick had asked Tim and Uncle Les to play Friday, but neither of them could, so he's going to play in a scramble with the aforementioned men.  I'm excited to hear stories!  Because Nick doesn't know David Parker or Bruce Wood at all!!!

Well, wish me luck on my manicotti tonight and I'll be sure to post pictures of it and the new hairdo on Monday!  Have a lovely weekend everyone:)