Seasons are a Changin'

We got our first real taste of fall last weekend, and although I miss Florida to pieces, I do NOT miss the humidity and the summer heat that tends to last well past the summer months.  I am welcoming the amazing fall weather with open arms and some yummy new recipes (they'll be in the next post which will hopefully be done tonight too).  The only bad thing...now that fall is officially here, I am now even more anxious for Christmas (84 days)!

I thought I'd update you on a few of the happenings in the VDS household.  I feel like so much has happened over the past few months that I'm not even sure where I should start.  Lets see...

I passed my boards, 

I started work a week later.  

I'm in a great outpatient orthopedic clinic. I love my patients and my coworkers. I'm still getting used to the working world, but it keeps getting better every week.

Nathan and I bought our first car...

We planned on driving both of our cars until the wheels fell off, and unfortunately, Nathan's wheel did.  So we traded in the good ol' blazer, and got a Hyundai Elantra!  My sweet, sweet husband is driving my old Jetta (that has no a/c...another good reason it's starting to get cooler), and I get to ride around in style in the new car.  It was our first big purchase together and it was a little intimidating!  I think it's the first time either one of truly felt like an adult...that feeling didn't last long though ;)

We discovered that Brinkley LOVES the water and launching into the water after tennis balls (even off of diving boards).  Atlanta has made the Brink into a wild man!

We found out WE'RE GOING TO BE AN AUNT AND UNCLE!!!  

My sweet sister and brother-in-law are going to have a little McNugget!  We are so excited to meet Emory McKnight in March...and we're placing bets on whether or not she/he will come out with spirit fingers.

Nathan got switched to day shift...praise Jesus!  

He was on the 3-11pm shift, meaning that we literally did not see each other or talk to each other during the weeks (except for Wednesday mornings when I got to go into work late).  It was definitely a challenge to find ways to communicate and not exactly how we pictured spending the first few months of married life.  Through those tough few months, we became aware of just how God was so good and faithful to us (like always)...He provided us with some truly wonderful weekends...which we desperately needed!  Now that Nathan is back on day shifts, we are so excited to finally get to share life together during the week too!

Nathan is starting to apply to Seminary for Biblical Studies!

He has felt God calling him back to teaching, despite his protesting for the past 2 years.  Nathan doesn't want this next generation to grow up without knowing God, and is being called to teach the Bible (most likely in a school, but we really don't know).  I am beyond thankful that God has given me such a great leader as a husband...Lord knows I need it!  He has the most beautiful and honest heart that I just adore like crazy!

and we just ran our first race together...

We ran the Tower of Terror 10 Miler at Disney's Hollywood Studios.  It was a super humid night (hints why I didn't post any gross after race pics) which made it much tougher than thought, but we beat our target time (by a whopping 11 seconds) so we were happy! Now I'm just working on trying to convince Nathan to run the 2014 Disney Marathon with me : )

I'm sure I'm leaving something out, but I think that a pretty good summary of our latest adventures.  Stay tuned for a broccoli and cheese soup and a drinkable pumpkin pie recipe!