Life with the Bonsteads

Well Hello Friends! It has been a long time since I've updated this thing.  Here is an overview on the last 6 months or so.

Well I have almost made it through my first semester teaching 1st grade, and teaching in BISD. I'm LOVING Tyler! I have a fantastic group of kids this year! They've completely stolen my heart (kind of like my kids from my first year in Rogers). They are witty, cute and keep me laughing.  I have made some great new friends and feel very much at home at Tyler.  I am so thankful for my two years at Rogers, but I'm glad to be able to call Belton home again.

Halloween! Eric and I had a blast kicking off the Fall season with carving our pumpkins. We had a little party with some friends from small group to carve some pumpkins, but both of those turned out awful. Eric was trying to do a unique monster with teeth showing all the way around, and I tried using a picture of an owl.... both  were thrown away soon after carving. These were out second tries and I think they turned out much better. Eric's is on the left and mine is on the right. :) I never grew up carving pumpkins and I am so glad Eric has introduced me to this fun tradition. I can't wait to continue it with our future family.

 Gus is now a big boy! He turned two the beginning of November. Now, since he was adopted, we don't know his actual birthday. But we decided since our anniversary is in the middle of November we would celebrate his birthday early in the month. I think he had a good day. Eric came home at lunch and let him run around, we went for a walk, he got a new toy and soft dog food that day. :) He is still such a joy in our lives! It sounds so silly, but I didn't know you could become this attached to an animal. (and I grew up with pets) I will say, I think we need to put him on a diet.... three people have told us lately "wow, looks like he's gotten bigger." When we adopted him he was 6 months old, and 50 pounds. They told us he was done growing. HA! He is now two years old and almost 80 pounds! I guess there was more basset in him then we thought. He is our sweet, cuddly, mischievous little boy and I am so thankful we found him!

Our two year anniversary! It has been two amazing, wonderful years since I married my best friend. The time has flown by, but at the same time, this feels so natural and comfortable that it seems like it's been this way forever.  The Lord has blessed me so abundantly with this man. Eric has taught me so much; he has led me, comforted me, and laughed (alot) with me. I am so amazed that the Lord has allowed me to be apart of something so beautiful like marriage.  I look forward to the many years to come with this incredible man! (ok, sorry for the mushiness) For our anniversary we decided to take a cruise to Progresso and Cozumel Mexico. Above is a picture of us after snorkeling. It was our favorite experience the whole trip!   The water was so beautiful and we pretty much had the beach to ourselves. 

We had lots of time to relax and enjoy each other and the beautiful views. It was so nice not having to count 16 children wherever I went, rushing to get something done, or Eric worrying about overstocks and emails. We really were able just to spend time together. :)

On the day that we went to Progresso, I had a mini emotional overload. We had been told that Progresso was kind of yucky and that the good water, beaches and actives would be in Cozumel. That Progesso was just a place to buy cheap trinkets and maybe get a cheap massage. Well as soon as we got off the bus that took us into town we were bombarded with people trying to sell things. We tried to walk through all the booths (politely saying no thank you) to get to the beach to layout and read a bit before going back to the ship, but we just couldn't get away from the people. It broke my heart to see and think about how these people live and what they have to do to make a living. I told Eric that we are so blessed to get to decide what we want to do with our lives, what job we want.  I just think that being a salesman would be so hard, because I just don't have that personality. But these people don't get to pick, they do this to bring home money to feed their families. It broke my heart to see these young kids and old men walking around and asking, in broken English, for you to buy something. I know that I'm probably reading too much into this, but I just felt like a spoiled American amongst all these people. My heart hurt. How many times do I complain about not having this, or not having that and we are so incredible blessed! The Lord used this trip to remind me that there are others outside my little comfort zone... we all need that kick in the butt every once in awhile. I was thankful to have my best friend there with me to talk about it with.

Merry Christmas! Well not yet... but our house is ready! This last weekend was Thanksgiving. I started putting up the Christmas stuff the weekend before, but Eric talked me into waiting for the tree until after Thanksgiving. I'm so glad, cause it was so much fun putting it up together. Thanksgiving was great! We had lunch with Eric's side. It was my first time to contribute. I made broccoli and rice casserole, sweet potato casserole, and green bean casserole. All of the recipes were from my mom and they were so yummy. I love cooking!  I cannot wait till we have a big enough place and table to host both sides of the family. :) After we had a yummy lunch in Belton, we headed to Temple and met my folks for dessert at Grandma's house. We laughed and talked and visited. I forget how much I miss my folks. We are a bit dysfunctional and don't always agree on things, but we are family and I am so thankful to have them in my life and for the time we can spend together.  After dessert, we went back to Belton to watch the Aggie game with his folks and brother and sister-in-law. We took the pup and he had a blast showing off. :) We are so blessed to have such wonderful families. It just makes my heart smile to think about it! The Friday after thanksgiving Eric and I did a few black Friday deals, then came home to put up the tree and start the Christmas season. It was so great going through our ornaments together and talking about traditions. Of course our little furry child was there to help us. (we are hoping he doesn't eat the popcorn off the tree this year... so far, so good)

One of our black Friday deals was a new fire pit. We knew we wanted one for when we move into the new house, but when we saw this one for a great price, we just couldn't pass it up. Then once we had it, we couldn't just leave it in the box. So we invited some of our friends from small group and their kids to come over and make s'mores last night. It was so much fun! I can't tell you how much the Lord has blessed us with these couples! 8 months ago I was miserable. I was so happy with Eric but I was lonely... I needed girl companionship. We needed couples that we were both close to. The Lord opened the door to this small group and now we have a wonderful group of people to call friends. They have come into our lives and now I can't imagine it with out them!  We share trials, and celebrations together, we pray for each other, grow in the Lord together and just hang out and have fun.  I am so very thankful that we met these people!

Well that's pretty much an overview of the last 6 months. I always say that I hope to write sooner than I do. So I will try, but if I don't get to this for another 6 months I'm sorry. I hope everyone out there had a wonderful Thanksgiving break! :) May you continue to count the Lord's blessings in your lives! I know we are!

Love,
The Bonsteads :)