Ady started school on August 12th. She is at a private, Christian school, Metro Christian Academy. We have been in prayer for the past 5 years (since Ady was in the womb) about this decision, and have been on numerous waiting lists at various schools to keep our options open. We have been committed to Christian education since we had Adyson, but never imagined Metro would be an option for obvious financial and logistical reasons. I am so grateful to our parents for instilling in both of us the importance of choosing the right school. It took some convincing for me (a public school grad), but the best witness of what this school is doing, is seeing first-hand the successes of it's graduates (Dave and his classmates).

God has provided for our family! I can't even explain the satisfaction and sheer excitement our family has experienced by having this dream fulfilled. Since Dave graduated from Metro in 2003, we have stayed involved by supporting their athletics, capital campaigns, and alumni events. We knew it would be a stretch, and as one of the youngest (and largest for our age) families there, it was our hope that our children would be able to experience the community and "home away from home" that we have felt there. We have great comfort in knowing that is right where we are supposed to be. The sacrifice is worth every penny.

#1 Last July, I randomly took a part time management position at Starbucks after reconnecting with an old friend from high school who managed a local store. The only opening they had for me at the time was at 71st and Riverside (this could not have been further from our home, but was just blocks from Dave's office). For months Dave worked 7 AM- 4 PM, would meet me at Starbucks, we would trade cars, I would go to work, and he would take the kids home. It sucked!

#2 I am the only person I know that was an "outside hire" to a management position. Starbucks promotes within. This set the groundwork for the provision for Metro. In addition to Dave getting several promotions at Superior.

#3 In January 2010, we put our house on the market. Because we had only been there 18 months and financed in our closing costs, we had little equity. It was not an option for us to pay a Realtor. My best friend's dad, Robert Lumsden (the most amazing Realtor ever!) listed our house for next to nothing. This was a HUGE leap of faith for several reasons: we had very little savings to put towards our next house, we had no idea where we were going to move if our house sold, we were expecting our 3rd child in March, etc.

#4 We strongly considered building. We searched and searched, but our options for lots were not great. We wanted to build a 1 1/2 story, 4 bed, 2 1/2 bath. We debated leaving the upstairs unfinished until Dave's next bonus. We made several offers on other homes, all which fell through for one reason or another. We were frustrated to say the least. Our house FINALLY sold after having 3 different contracts on it. We had 1 week to find a house in order to prevent a gap between closings. It took us 2 weeks. We were certain we would be homeless for a short time and have to stay with family.

#5 We put a contract on our new house in mid-April. The builder agreed to pay ALL closing costs and pre-paids. The house was a new construction built in 2007, but rented for a short time.

#6 On May 28th we had simultaneous closes. Because of the first time homeowners tax credit, our closing on the first house was pushed back to the day before the closing on our new house. PERFECT TIMING! And we made about 3 times what we expected to on the sale of our old house.

#7 Our new house is in a neighborhood we never knew existed. Located on the west side of the Arkansas River, Tulsa City, but Jenks Schools. I stuck my nose up when the Realtor told me where it was located. Really? You want to show me a house in West Tulsa? I did not like the sound of that at all... It's tucked away in a small secluded area between 2 golf courses. Our home backs up to the 9th tee of Old Page. It's beautiful, peaceful, quiet, and we have wonderful neighbors. It's a 1 1/2 story 4 bed, 3 bath with an upstairs playroom.

I can not even imagine making the 30 mile (one-way) drive in from Coweta to Metro every morning and afternoon. I can not imagine the additional cost in gas. Satan tried to detour us a number of times. We had a host of attacks on our finances, illness (almost losing our sweet baby boy Hunter), and other setbacks along the home buying/selling path. We held steadfast that we were fulfilling the plan He had for us. We let nothing get in our way, and constantly stood our ground against the Enemy. I can not imagine us anywhere else. Isn't God great?