Florida, Here We Come!

So we're off to Florida for a wonderful week of relaxation with my family. We're driving to Austin tonight and flying from there so that Brandon's sister can keep Bailey for the week. We're excited not to have to worry about the pup for a while. We go to the same place south of Tampa every year, and I love every minute of it. Brandon loves it because there's a mile-long pier out into the ocean that he can fish from while I lay out on the beach. It's so relaxing and fun to be with my family and just enjoy being with them. We just play on the beach, watch movies, eat good food, and catch up on sleep the whole time. Every night we take long walks on the beach and even have crab-finding contests. Oh I can't wait!

Two years ago TODAY (May 29, 2007) was the day that Brandon proposed to me on the beach there. It's a very special place to me. I was dying to be engaged and Brandon had just got his job in Dallas. I had become convinced that it was just never going to happen and we'd never get married, mostly because every member of my family is a mean, dirty liar. But he absolutely blew me away. I was totally shocked. His sweet family even came down to surprise me and stayed for the first couple days. His dad even videoed the whole thing, which is also so surprising that Brandon asked him to do that. I'm just so glad he did, and now you can enjoy it for yourself...



Oh and I finally figured out how to do a collage picture thing for my blog! It's my first, but it'll have to do for now. More updates after our week at the beach!!!

Blog Makeover

So I'm having blogging issues. I'm just not good at this. I see all my friends and their cute little blogs with their creative layouts. Well, I can't figure it out for the life of me. I found this background which I thought was kinda cute, but it just doesn't look like I want it to. I want a really cute picture/name collage thing but I don't get how to do it! Help! How do yall make it so stinkin cute?? Maybe I'll just get Brandon to help me figure out something. But I'd love some advice from some of you experts out there. Ugh.

Jon and Kate

I just can't even handle it. Everyone's talking about how their marriage isn't going to make it. If you've seen the show, it's easy to see that Kate is obviously not the easiest woman to live with. But I can't imagine that her nagging personality just all of a sudden showed up because of having two sets of multiples. I have to think that Jon knew the woman he was marrying- it's clear that she's always been a little controlling. But it must be so difficult to really focus on a marriage when you really only have time to worry about your 8 children. Managing that household must be just about impossible. But they've always seemed to deal with the cameras and, really, ignore the fame to some degree.

I guess all the cameras finally got to them. Stupid paparazzi caught him out at some bar, and the marriage came crashing down. Whether he cheated or not, he has officially apologized for making some stupid decisions and he knows he was wrong. But it seems like Kate might not be able to get past it all. Of course, I can't even imagine how humiliated she must feel. But I just pray that they both somehow find it in themselves to be the one to give in and get determined to make the marriage work. Kate seemed so sad and defeated in this first episode, which is not at all like Kate. And Jon seemed so upset- angry with the paparazzi for ruining his life, but also so sad that he screwed up so bad. I love that they both focused on their kids as their first priority in all this. They both expressed that those kids are of utmost importance to them, so maybe they'll find a way to work out their problems for the kids' sake. Those kids seem so oblivious to it all, even at their birthday party when their parents were obviously avoiding each other. It was so terribly awkward.

I hate that they're having to work through all their problems in front of the whole world. It's just heartbreaking. I just pray that their faith and their kids will help them find a way to get through this. They even renewed their vows to show their children how important that is to them. Watching the season premiere on Monday night was just absolutely heart-wrenching. Kate mentioned how they always thought they'd overcome all those divorce statistics (which are especially bad for parents of multiples), but now she's not sure she can say that anymore. Oh I hope she can find it in her heart to forgive him and work through it. I hope they are willing to give up all the fame and fortune, whatever it takes, to resolve all their issues. I believe they can absolutely make it through this, but it might take some drastic measures to survive it all.

It just shows how delicate marriages are. I'm no expert on marriage, but I know that a relationship has to be focused on and requires constant work to keep it healthy. I feel so blessed to have husband who I know cares about our marriage as much as I do. And I am so grateful for good, open communication. I think all of us should use this as a little reminder to give special attention to the relationships that are important to us. We should constantly be praying for our own marriages and the marriages of those we love. Any number of problems, small or large, can absolutely destroy a happy marriage. Luckily, God is bigger and He will continue to bless us if we look to Him for guidance.

Go Rangers!

We got to go to the Rangers game yesterday with our friends James and Holly who had extra tickets for the big Memorial Day game. In addition to a little sunburn, we had a really good time seeing them again. Unfortunately, the Rangers did not play such a great game. The Yankees killed us 11-1. It was ugly. Very disappointing. But at least we had a fun afternoon with our friends!

In other news, our option period on the house ends tomorrow, so it looks like it's going to happen! I'll give more updates on that with pictures and everything soon. We're just trying to make sure that everything is going to work out. Fingers crossed!

Puppy Party

This week Bailey had the pleasure of having her cousin Baxter stay with us all week while Kim and Philip are on vacation. I've taken them to the Dog Park like every day this week so they can get all of their energy out. They are having a BLAST. Of course, playing hard means being just absolutely exhausted.



They go in rounds- they play like crazy until they both crash or need a water break. So funny. But it was definitely chaotic in this little apartment. Next week, we'll do a little switcheroo so Bailey will stay with them while we're in Florida. I can't WAIT to go to Florida. It's our annual trip with my family, and it's always one of my favorite weeks of the year. It's going to be a perfectly relaxing week, and I am counting down the minutes until we get there. This week we've got a lot of packing and house stuff to be worrying about. I'm so ready to leave on Friday and see my family!!! No work, no dog, no responsibilities. Just laying out, playing around, and maybe a little fishing for Brandon.

This weekend we got to have a lot of fun hanging out with friends from church. Friday night we got slaughtered in softball, but I actually hit a ball further than I have in years. And this weekend Brandon learned to put up sheet rock for the kitchen ceiling while I painted some trim at our friends Jon and Bobbi's new house. There's a lot going on in our lives at the moment, but we're enjoying it all one day at a time. We are so blessed with such wonderful friends and family who are so supportive in this crazy time in life. Hope everyone gets to sleep in tomorrow!!

Sara Craddock, M.S. CF-SLP!!!

Finally, I can officially say that I have my Master's degree in Communication Disorders, and shall henceforth be referred to as Mrs. Sara Craddock, M.S. CF-SLP. Wow. While I really never could have guessed that I would be an alumni of UT Dallas, I am so grateful for my time there. It's been two really great years learning to do what I really love. Leaving ACU was so unsure. Leaving a familiar town with all my friends where Brandon and I had grown so comfortable. Not going to Nashville to be close to family, but moving to Dallas with no friends or knowledge of what life would be like. I was so ready to be engaged (shoutout, Jess) but would be living with family friends I'd never met. And I had no idea what to expect out of Grad school. But things turned out to be better than I ever could have imagined.

UT Dallas was really the perfect place for me. I got to go to classes with the friends I knew from ACU, and we got so much closer. I had such good experiences though, learning how to best help individuals with communication disorders. My first semester, I adored the little toddler who I motivated to communicate with me. I also worked in a public school and in a private practice with supervisors who were such great mentors. Some of the best experiences were at Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation and a swallowing clinic last semester, where I learned how to work with adults and with babies who had trouble swallowing. My very favorite was my internship at the hospital. I had great supervisors who gave me enough responsibility to really help some patients. I realized very quickly that it was my passion, and I'm so excited about my upcoming job where I will work to patients with similar needs. It's weird to think that I'm done with school forever. Something like 20 years of schooling and it's finally over. I'm so excited that I'll never ever ever have to take a test or write a paper again. I am so lucky to have had such great teachers and experiences in my life. But I finally feel like an adult, even though I know the new job will take some getting used to.

My sister, Jessi's graduation from nursing school was on Friday. I was sad I didn't get to be there to see her graduate. My dad just barely got to make it to Dallas on Friday night in time to see me graduate early Saturday morning. I was so glad he came. My parents have always been such advocates for a good education, and I'm so lucky that I'll get to work doing something I'm passionate about. Here are som pictures from this weekend...


See, there I am!


Walking across the stage!!


How I survived Grad School: Brianne, Cortney, and Becca.


My wonderful hubby. Look at that smile-- he's a little excited to about to have a second income in the family :)


My sweet Dad- Thanks for coming all the way to Dallas!


The GORGEOUS flowers Brandon's parents sent me. So pretty!

Of course it rained all weekend. But I guess that's good luck for me. It rained at ACU graduation and the morning of our wedding, so it just somehow felt right. But maybe it'll get sunny this week. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Almost there...

Whoa, only 3 Days until I graduate!!!

This Saturday I'm going to GRADUATE!!!! I can't believe this time is finally here. Hallelujah!!
All of my SLP friends at ACU graduated this past Saturday. I can't believe it's the end of such a big chapter in our lives. Congratulations girls!!!

Last night I went out with the girls (Cortney, Becca, and Brianne) for our big graduation celebration dinner. I just feel so blessed to have had them with me these past two years. We've gotten so close, and I can't believe it's now about time to go out into the real world!!! Becca actually just got engaged, so she has a wedding to be planning this summer. So exciting! Here's a picture of the four of us the night she got engaged and another one we took last night when we all went to dinner.



Love you girls!!!



So last Friday we had a big 'Check Out Meeting' for those of us graduating to get started on our licensing paperwork. I never knew there was such a mess of paperwork to do. And then I'll have to fill out more forms after my CFY and then renew everything every year. Whoa. But I know it's going to be worth it. Soon I'll be a licensed CFY/SLP and then in 9 short months I'll be an actual licensed Speech Pathologist with my C's (Certificate of Clinical Competence) and I'll sign my name with M.S. CCC/SLP at the end. I'm pretty excited.

On Saturday, Brandon and I spent the day doing some house hunting. We've been thinking about it for a long time, and we've decided to buy if we can get into something we love. Which actually we did...So we might actually be purchasing our first home. But more on all that soon.

Until then, I'm pretty addicted to HGTV while Brandon is pretty addicted to thinking about house stuff. And we're soaking up these possible last days of apartment living- no yardwork, no surprises, no storage, no long commute, and no cabinet space. Homebuying- yikes.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day Mom!!! I've been bummed that I didn't get to be with my mom today. After all, I do have the best mother ever. Being far away was sad- I wish I could have been there to cook lunch for her. She really has always had that natural mommy ability, and me and my sisters had the best childhood. She taught us to cook, to be independent, to use our manners, and do super fun things like painting rocks. She's always been the perfect example of a Christian wife and mom, and I hope to be the same to my future family. She always put us first, and I continue to realize all the sacrifices she has made so that we can have such a great life. We're much more similar that either of us probably care to admit, but I really admire her strength and her passion for people. More than anything, my mom has a passion for God and for people in need. She has a brilliant mind and uses it to help anyone she can, whether doing medical missions in Guatemala or researching Diabetes for children at Vanderbilt. She has welcomed Brandon into our family with open arms, and I still cry when I think of the sweet things she said at our wedding about him being the son she always wanted. Mom, thanks for always being there. We love you!



I also must just say how wonderful my mother-in-law is. Ever since Brandon and I have been married, we've become very close. Besides raising the perfect son, she is such a good person to talk to. We have frequent conversations and get along so well. I just feel so lucky to get along with her. She is so friendly, sarcastic, and really nurturing. She always finds a way to show us that she'll take care of us. She's always been the perfect mom to Brandon, and she taught her great work-ethic. I love that we share such similar taste and she's great to go shopping with. I'm lucky to have such great in-laws that I know I'll never have any problems getting along with. Brandon's mom is such a funny and creative mom, and she really takes care of her family. Thanks for always being such a good mom to Brandon, and now to me. We love you!



I would talk about our sweet grandmothers, but then this would go on forever. We are truly blessed with the best family in the world, and that is largely because of our grandmothers. They've all lived such wonderful lives that glorify God, and they continue to show us their wonderful sweet spirits. Love you Granny and Memommy, Mema and Granny!!

Hope everyone had a very Happy Mother's Day!

My Granny

I had a really good talk with my Granny last night. It was one of those talks I've been needing. She's really been on my mind a lot recently because her health hasn't been great these past few weeks. But she's doing much better and she just sounded so good and happy on the phone. She was so encouraging and supportive as I updated her on my life and all the big decisions we've been making. I guess it was something I just needed to hear because sometimes I get homesick being so far away from our families. Granny was just so encouraging about that, and it made me very emotional. It was really good to put that into perspective that my family is always there for me, but that Brandon is more than that. He's my home. What a blessing. She started telling me about her and my Gramps- how they were all each other needed. She told me about how they always said they could live in a shack and deal with anything in life as long as they had each other. They had such a good and healthy marriage and I always love hearing her talk about it. She always compliments Brandon and what a good husband I have, and I quite agree. I feel so blessed to have a husband who I know is always right beside me, no matter where God takes us in life. Thanks for making me cry, Granny.

We are so blessed. God has led us to exactly the right place.
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."
Proverbs 19:21

Ok enough of my emotional rambling. That's all for now.
Except here's a funny YouTube video of a Little Girl Saying the Lord's Prayer my Granny told me about.

Employment!!!

BEWARE OF EXTRA LONG POST

Yes, it's true. I got a job! An actual, adult, full-time, real world, get-up-early-every-morning and actually receive compensation for my work kind of job!!! But before I tell all about it, I want to give some explanation about the crazy journey that has led me here. So here goes...

After graduating from ACU, Brandon and I made the difficult decision to move to Dallas. It was just the perfect situation for us at the time. UT Dallas had a great program for me, and Brandon found a wonderful job. And we could still be kinda close to some of our ACU friends. It ended up being so good for us. I lived with the Codara's until Brandon and I got married, which ended up being such a blessing. I had great grad school friends who I could not have survived without, and Brandon and I became members at Prestoncrest Church of Christ. We prayed for some couple friends, and through our church group we have met some of the best friends we could have ever asked for.

But the 'plan' was always to go back to Nashville. We always just assumed that we'd move back as soon as we could. But my graduation kept getting closer and closer and we got more and more used to the idea of staying here. Brandon is loving his job. The economy is so bad right now, and jobs in Nashville are very hard to find. But most of all, we love the people that God has put in our lives here.

After lots of job searching in Nashville and Dallas, everything fell into place. I knew I wanted to do speech therapy for adults. In a hospital, rehab facility, private practice, skilled nursing facility, whatever. Since being in grad school, that's just really where my heart has been. I love helping adults regain the skills they need to communicate and swallow effectively. Often the speech pathologist is the only one who has time to just sit and talk with someone in those settings, and sometimes being the one who will listen to them is actually a really important part of the job. I know that I want how much I've appreciated the kind faces who have treated my grandparents with respect when they're in the hospital or rehab facility. I so look forward to being that person that patients can talk to.

So anyways, after several interviews that didn't really excite me, I was shocked to get a phone call about a place I hadn't even heard of before. I met someone from the company at the TSHA conference in April, when I really hadn't even started searching yet. We set up an interview and kept hearing really good things about the facility. After the interview, I was really excited about it. But I was really afraid that I wouldn't get it and I'd have to settle for job that I could just make it through my first year (My first year is considered a CFY- Clinical Fellowship Year- where we are supervised by an experienced SLP. After that first year- or technically, 9 months- I'll get my certification.)

It's called Treemont Healthcare and Rehab Center, near the Tollway and 635. It's also a nursing home with assisted living, but I'll be working in the Healthcare Center, which is technically considered a skilled nursing facility. I'll work primarily with patients who have come from the hospital, but still need skilled care and rehab care before going home. Of course, there will also be some that stay there more long term. But the patients just seem happy. Everyone seems nice and you don't get that nursing home feel when you walk in the door. I had been really questioning whether I would want to work in a skilled nursing setting because I don't want to come home every day being depressed and emotional because of my job. This one was not like that. So, after thinking it over and talking to Brandon, my parents, and some great supervisors, I accepted the job! And I am really excited about having a good supervisor and being in a place I can really enjoy.

After I graduate, I'll have at least a month off before I start while all the licensure paperwork gets processed. We're going on family vacation the first week in June, then I'll start later that month. I just feel like God totally led me to the right place. I was really feeling so uneasy and unsure about where I'd end up. It's been such a journey, but I feel a real peace about staying in Dallas and working at Treemont. I am excited about this new start, and I am very ready to have a relaxing month before real life and early mornings begin.



And we're excited to still call Dallas our home.
Sorry I went on for so long, but thaaaat's all, folks!
Sara