A late wedding gift.

My friend and bridesmaid, Katie Decker, gave Dave and I our wedding gift recently. I was puzzeled when she asked for an engagement picture a few weeks ago, saying she needed it for a project. I was so pleasently suprised to receive this from her the other weekend.





The likeness is really incredible, though a little hard to tell from my shaky handed photo. I guess that just means that each of you will have to come view it in person!

Katie is a wonderful artist in many ways. While growing up in Abilene, she sold some of her sketches to add campaigns and did portraits for gifts like this for many people. I am so excited to have such a personalized gift from such a dear friend. I can't wait to go have it framed and hung in our room for us to enjoy. My parents have pictures like this...gifts that they were given from artistic friends of theirs many years ago. They still have them...some even are still on display. I hope that this will be something my children will look at for many years as it is hung proudly in our home...a symbol of friendship and love.

Back by popular demand

Our apologies for the long delay in updates. My new busy schedule has left me neglecting many priorities in my life these past few weeks. I exercised this morning for the first time in two weeks, I am behind on correspondence with some of my dearest friends (a few who read this blog) and I finally was able to give my apartment a good cleaning this weekend, with the hubby alongside to help. My task tonight is to call a few people and catch up on my way to class and on my way home.

Things are going well in the Norvell household. Dave is doing well with his new students. His big challenge is Cameron, his autistic student. I am impressed at his patient attitude with him, and his dedication to help him succeed. I pray for Cameron every morning...that the Lord would help him control his little body and to fight against the urges he feels to "act out". While Cameron isn't a trouble maker, he sometimes takes all of Dave's attention to control, causing him to neglect the other students. This week Dave brought his old MP3 player to school loaded with classical music. It is supposed to help him calm down when he gets anxious and act out. One of Dave's other trouble makers was discovered to be attending school illegally. He was enrolled in GCISD, but had no evidence of residence within the boundaries. I don't think DAve was too upset when he didn't come back to school last week.

My job is going splendidly, and I just love it! I love traveling to sweet West Texas and visiting school that are so excited to see a textbook consultant all the way out there. They love me when I get there, and sometimes it is hard to leave. I had one of my first big presentations out in Comanche ISD last week, and did pretty good. Always room for improvement.

School is going well too. My confidence has been attacked a few times thinking that there is no way I can handle what they are asking me to do. I feel a little out of the practice of "school" and some of the things I am doing are hard to grasp, but I am not afraid to ask questions. This semester will be good in getting me used to school again. Pray for me during the month of October....It is the big month for due dates.

All in all, we are happy and healthy and loving life at the moment. I promise to keep you updated more often. Have a great week!