2018- A Year in Review
Multiple people have asked me why I haven't written a blogpost lately. Well, it seems I mostly write when the bottom falls out of our lives. Fortunately, I am happy to report that all is going well in the Jackson house. Since it is the end of a year and the beginning of a new one, I figured I would do a year in review.
In January we went on a cruise with three other couples and had a blast. We were supposed to actually go on this cruise in 2017, but Harvey messed that up. We went to Cozumel, Jamaica, and Grand Cayman. It was so good to get away with our friends and relax with them.
In February we celebrated Rowan's first birthday. It was a great day with a lot of our friends and family there to celebrate. Rowan had a little cold, and was pretty confused most of the time as to what was going on, as evidenced by the face she is making while we sang to her.
March 7, 2018 we officially adopted Rowan into our family. It was such an exciting and emotional day. Our lawyer told us multiple times to invite all our friends and family... so we did. When we were coming in the courtroom, our lawyer was holding the door and kept asking "are y'all all here with the Jacksons?" Apparently we brought the record number of people...oops!
Also in March, my sweet friend Casey was diagnosed with leukemia. We met when we both started teaching at Clear Brook in 2012. We became quick friends and have stayed that way despite me leaving CBHS. Kyle just performed her wedding ceremony in October, and her and her husband Mike were looking forward to an amazing life together. Honestly, I took her diagnosis pretty tough. Because we have so much in common, I kept comparing us. Casey was such an inspiration to watch throughout her journey. She was always so positive despite the situation. In April, we were able to go to a blood drive at Clear Brook in her honor. I am so happy to report that Casey had a successful bone marrow transplant from her brother and she is doing great.
In May I was sworn in as a CASA for Galveston County. CASA stands for court appointed special advocate, and my job is to testify to the court as to what I think is in the best interest of the foster child(ren) I am assigned to. While it has been tough, I have definitely enjoyed getting to know my child and it has been an honor to be his voice. Orphan care is something I will always be passionate about, and I am so happy to be able to be a CASA.
Also in May, our best friend Justin was diagnosed with rectal cancer. Coincidentally, I was out to lunch with Casey when Justin's wife, Tammy, called to tell me. Justin and Tammy are our closest friends and their kids are like our own. Like Casey's diagnosis, this was a really hard pill to swallow. We were able to walk through the early steps with them, and we are grateful for their honesty and transparency with us. Justin and Tammy have been so strong throughout this and we are thankful for their friendship. We were invited to be there when Justin rang the bell to signify being done with chemo and radiation before his surgery. We are lucky to be friends with these guys.
June started off strong with summer youth ministry duties such as graduation parties and ceremonies, hosting counselors for Camp in the City, and a mission trip. Navigating youth ministry with Rowan is way different than when we didn't have children. It was a hard thing to stop going on every mission trip and being at every event because she needed to get to bed. We are still learning how to do it all, but loving every moment (and so are our students).
July saw youth camp and a bunch of sunny days by the pool with our family and friends.
In August we put our rent house on the market. Oh yeah, did I mention we have a rent house? October of 2017 we bought a house that had been flooded with four feet of water from Harvey. When we bought it, it had been completely gutted, so we were starting with a completely blank slate. We tried to do as much of the work as we could ourselves (and with the help of friends and lots of students) and hired out the rest. We finished in under a year, which was better than I thought. We have a renter in there now, and I'm pretty proud of us!
In September Rowan started pre-school at our church and had the cutest first day of school in the history of ever. I also turned the big 3-0, and we took a trip to New York to celebrate. We did all my favorite things like going on a pizza tour, watching five hours of Harry Potter, seeing Hamilton, and getting to be in Jimmy Fallon's audience. Kyle was super sweet in making this trip all about what I wanted to do, even though he has come around to liking a lot of the same things as me.
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In October I was busy teaching at two community colleges. Back in March I applied to teach a class at College of the Mainland for students trying to get their GED. I never heard anything, but a week and a half before school started in August the math department head called and offered me a different job that I didn't even apply for. I accepted the job and texted my friend who taught at San Jac. I told her that I was just teaching one class at night, and she said her department head would give me some classes if I wanted. Um, ok. So, I ended up teaching two classes for the fall- one at San Jac Central in Pasadena, and one at COM. In the spring I am just going to teach at COM, and I have really enjoyed it. The classes that I teach are for students who didn't test into college algebra, so they are in these developmental classes to help prepare them. I was also able to attend a conference for foster and adoptive moms. It was a refreshing and relaxing weekend with like-minded people.
November took us to San Antonio and we got to see one of our students graduate from boot camp. This was such a cool experience. Also, we have a zoo membership, so we took advantage of the cooler weather a few times. Rowan was a big fan of the "choo choo" and let everyone know what noise a train makes...the whole time we were on it.
December brought us Rowan's first Christmas that she could kind of understand presents. She still wasn't as excited as her cousins, but she did love the new toys. She is growing up way too quickly and I am not okay with it.
People have also asked what our next steps with fostering are. In February we are renewing our license, but not re-opening our home. We are staying current because we will definitely take any of Rowan's siblings if they are born. However, we cannot foster while I am a CASA, so we aren't opening our home again for at least a few months (but maybe more). It is all kind of up in the air timing-wise, but we aren't ruling anything out.
Happy 2019!
In January we went on a cruise with three other couples and had a blast. We were supposed to actually go on this cruise in 2017, but Harvey messed that up. We went to Cozumel, Jamaica, and Grand Cayman. It was so good to get away with our friends and relax with them.
Also in March, my sweet friend Casey was diagnosed with leukemia. We met when we both started teaching at Clear Brook in 2012. We became quick friends and have stayed that way despite me leaving CBHS. Kyle just performed her wedding ceremony in October, and her and her husband Mike were looking forward to an amazing life together. Honestly, I took her diagnosis pretty tough. Because we have so much in common, I kept comparing us. Casey was such an inspiration to watch throughout her journey. She was always so positive despite the situation. In April, we were able to go to a blood drive at Clear Brook in her honor. I am so happy to report that Casey had a successful bone marrow transplant from her brother and she is doing great.
In May I was sworn in as a CASA for Galveston County. CASA stands for court appointed special advocate, and my job is to testify to the court as to what I think is in the best interest of the foster child(ren) I am assigned to. While it has been tough, I have definitely enjoyed getting to know my child and it has been an honor to be his voice. Orphan care is something I will always be passionate about, and I am so happy to be able to be a CASA.
June started off strong with summer youth ministry duties such as graduation parties and ceremonies, hosting counselors for Camp in the City, and a mission trip. Navigating youth ministry with Rowan is way different than when we didn't have children. It was a hard thing to stop going on every mission trip and being at every event because she needed to get to bed. We are still learning how to do it all, but loving every moment (and so are our students).
In September Rowan started pre-school at our church and had the cutest first day of school in the history of ever. I also turned the big 3-0, and we took a trip to New York to celebrate. We did all my favorite things like going on a pizza tour, watching five hours of Harry Potter, seeing Hamilton, and getting to be in Jimmy Fallon's audience. Kyle was super sweet in making this trip all about what I wanted to do, even though he has come around to liking a lot of the same things as me.
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November took us to San Antonio and we got to see one of our students graduate from boot camp. This was such a cool experience. Also, we have a zoo membership, so we took advantage of the cooler weather a few times. Rowan was a big fan of the "choo choo" and let everyone know what noise a train makes...the whole time we were on it.
December brought us Rowan's first Christmas that she could kind of understand presents. She still wasn't as excited as her cousins, but she did love the new toys. She is growing up way too quickly and I am not okay with it.
People have also asked what our next steps with fostering are. In February we are renewing our license, but not re-opening our home. We are staying current because we will definitely take any of Rowan's siblings if they are born. However, we cannot foster while I am a CASA, so we aren't opening our home again for at least a few months (but maybe more). It is all kind of up in the air timing-wise, but we aren't ruling anything out.
Happy 2019!
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