One Science Course Finished, One to Go

Finals were yesterday and the grades should be posted sometime today. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for an A, but after yesterday's test...I might receive a B if I make less than a 73. I'm not sure what the Professor was attempting with this test, the way she worded a lot of the questions made it very difficult for everyone. I just took my time and eliminated the wrong answers and when it came to those questions I would call a "trick question", I just read carefully and then, if all else failed, quessed. I hate to just quess at a question, but it's better to take a chance than to leave one blank.

I'll check my grade later this afternoon, but in the meantime, I have a birthday cake to make for my granddaughter. She turned two on Wed. but the family party is on Sat.

Time to get my four mile walk in before I start baking and cleaning the house.

And the Grade is...

an A! Okay, I couldn't wait until this afternoon to check on my grade. Now I can finish my chores and cake decorating.

4th of July and Four Days Off

The original schedule for this semester included going to class today and then having tomorrow off for the 4th. However, my professor decided that we would have the day off to allow everyone, including her own family, a four day weekend. We'll make up for the time on Wed. and Thur. by having two full days instead of the half days that were scheduled. No one complained about the change of plans. I am taking advantage of the extra time off by getting lots of chores finished at a leisurely pace.

We have our lab test on Wed. and our lecture finals on Thur. The professor is planning on covering two chapters on Wed. so they will be added to the test. I have read both chapters and started studying the material I have with high hopes that I will make an A in this class. I didn't think there was any way for me to get an A with the two B's and two A's I have so far. I don't usually add up my scores to see what kind of grade I will get, but I did for this class. When I added up everything I have made so far and then allowing for a low A on the rest of my test scores, I actually have a possibility to make an A. I'm not stressing over any of this, especially when I reflect on the fact that this is an accelerated class with a lab... but, I still want an A.

I have a goal of getting my associates degree with a summa cum laude recognition; however, magna cum laude or cum laude are all recognized as outstanding accomplishments and I will be satisfied with any one of them. I understand the drive behind this goal, part of it is for my own satisfaction and part of it is to be a contradictory witness to the negative input my parents impressed upon us as kids. It took the first year of college to erase all of the old messages they put into my head (not good enough, not smart enough, not worth enough, etc.) and the next year to rebuild positive, validated messages. I have finally come to embrace the fact that God has equipped me with so much more than I ever thought possible and I want to use what He has given to me to bring glory to His name. So, while I work hard at my studies and in my service to Him, it really is all for Him. Christ is my fortress, my foundation, my strength, my peace, my countenence, and my everything. Without Him in my life, I would be lost.

Each step along this journey takes me further from the abuses I was subjected to as a child, with many of the effects carrying over into my adulthood. I thank God often for my husband who has supported me through these growing years, who supports me through my college trials and who continues to allow me to grow and heal at the pace I need.

The destination is my goal, but the journey is where I am learning and enjoying the life God has created for me.

THEA Scores

Just a quick posting to let you all know that I passed all three areas on the THEA testing. I will now be able to jump right in and take all of the classes required for my teaching degree. By the way, I hate math word problems, but I made 100’s on all of the areas that included word problems. I’m happy with the test results, especially my math scores, but they will not influence me to change my degree plan to include more math.

I took my second test in biology today, covering five chapters. At this point in the semester, I can say that I’m not having fun in the course. There is too much information and not enough time to get it all in, at least not in a way to be able to enjoy the learning process. Right now, I’m just trying to retain enough information to pass the course. On a positive note for this class, I finished writing my research paper that is due next week. Just two more weeks and then I’ll have three days off before Environmental biology begins for another five week science course. Remind me not to take a science class during a summer semester…oh wait; these are the only science classes I have to take. What was I thinking of when I started my college career as a biology major?

Testing

When it comes to taking a test, I do not experience anxiety, not even with finals. However, what I have come to realize about particular tests, the THEA for example, is the fear of failure. I have all kinds of what-ifs going through my mind, what if I fail, especially now after two years of college? I am not sure what exactly is going on inside my head, but when I sat down to take the test, the fear simply went away. Besides, if I did fail any or even all of the test, I would have the rest of this year to retake it as many times necessary.

I guess the biggest reason I was not looking forward to taking the THEA, was knowing that the scores will go into my school records. It does not seem logical to care about this, not with a 4.0 GPA, but for some reason I just did not want to take this test. I did have to talk myself into going and not excuse myself to wait until my scheduled appointment on the 23rd. I got there early and signed in for stand-by status, which was not necessary, as there were at least six people who did not show up. The test started at 9am and it took me the allotted five hours.

Now I am wondering what all the fuss was about (talking about myself), it was not difficult. The math portion surprised me; there were only 3 problems I wasn’t sure about. I ended up plugging in the possible answers and working them out to come up with what I hope is the correct answer. I worked through every problem (almost 200) before I started writing my essay. Let me say first off, I am used to writing on a computer. I had even asked if I would be able to write the essay with a pen, but no, the whole test had to be completed with a #2 pencil. I managed to get two full single-spaced pages finished, but not to my satisfaction. I could have used another 30 minutes to get it finished. However, I am not going to stress over this part of the test, I know I can write good essays.

I did find out that it does not take three weeks for the results; it should only take 10 days. It will be interesting to see what the results are, especially in comparison to my scores from two years ago. I took the COMPASS test, which is taken on a computer with immediate test scores. If I were to compare the two tests, I would conclude that the COMPASS is more difficult than the THEA. The first test allows you to miss only a few problems before it concludes that portion of the test. You might know how to work all of the geometry section, but if you missed the allotted number in the algebra section before you got to geometry, you do not have a chance to earn those points. The THEA provides approximately 66 questions/problems per section. Answering all of them increases the opportunity to earn a higher score, especially considering only 35 randomly selected questions/problems are counted.

My typical weekend chores are completed and I started reading in my Biology book to get ahead start for the first day of the first five week summer semester. This will be a course with lots of reading and memorization, but I really enjoy my science courses…after I separate my beliefs from what the books say about evolution. I may not be able to post much during these five weeks, but I will let you know if I passed the THEA with the scores I need to get into the teaching program.

Have a great summer! Hasta luego.

Last Week Before I Return to School

This is my last week of freedom before I start summer classes. I have been starting my day with a four-mile walk and before I return home I watch the sun come up. This is my favorite time to meditate on the Lord, thanking Him for a beautiful day before I bring my prayer request to Him.

Projects Finished:
I finished sewing several outfits for my granddaughter and DIL last week. Over the weekend, I put in a flagstone path in the back yard in preparations for the next stage of my big-picture landscaping plans. This area in the yard will include a larger pond and a potting shed. The area is shaded except for the path where the flagstones went in. Grass would not grow there, too much sun for the fescue and not enough for the Bermuda. My only other choice was to put in St. Augustine, but that would have to be removed later on as part of my plan. So, I decided to go ahead and put in the flagstone to take care of the bare strip that turns into a muddy mess when it rains. With my plans drawn up and the first step laid, I wanted to start digging up the pond. However, the calendar flashed in my mind’s eye reminding me that I only have this week left before I return to classes, I restrained myself and will wait for another long break before I attempt putting in a pond. As for the potting shed, I have the plans drawn for it, but this is a honey-do project. I can help, but I don’t have the knowledge to build a shed especially one with running water and electricity.

Last Chance to Study:
I have been reviewing my math with great hope and lots of prayer that I will do well on the THEA test (a specific score is required for the teaching program). I go up to the College tomorrow to put my name on the waiting list, maybe I’ll get to take it then. This is my preference since I’ll be in the midst of my Biology class later in the month. My back up plan is a scheduled appointment to take the test on June 23. I have taken 9 semester hours of developmental algebra plus 3 hrs of college algebra, earning an A for all these hours of math. Mixed in with the hours of algebra, I tutored other students for two semesters. However, I still do not feel comfortable with math and really do not feel ready to take this test. I have said that I like algebra…that was until yesterday when I started working on word problems. I hate word problems, I know they will not go away, but I still hate them! I’m definitely not going to add math to my degree plan, not when I get a headache and feel irritable after I have worked on it for a few hours.

Addendum: I wrote the above message yesterday, but the computer rebooted before I saved it and I thought I lost the whole message. Anyway, I was able to recover the message and will post it all with today's addendum.

Studying too Much!
You know you have been studying too much when you lose track of time…even days. I went to bed last night thinking it was Thursday. I woke up this morning and prayed about my upcoming test, which I thought was today, and then I got ready and left home at 8 am. I got to school and went to sign in, but the assistant seemed confused before she realized the test is on Friday. I responded with, “This is Friday, isn’t it?” I must have sounded convincing, she asked another woman what day this was. The positive side to this is that I have had all day today to study some more, adding to the "too much."

I’ve been at it since 9:00 am, took a one-hour lunch and nap break before I hit the books again. I decided to take another break after noticing the numbers all running together, an indication that my eyes are getting tired from looking at my books and all of those numbers. The good news: I’m getting it today and even enjoy working on the math section. It has helped to remember the advice I gave to the students I tutored, “it is all about the attitude.” Okay, so maybe I should try to be friends with math. Or, maybe I’ll just keep the positive attitude and settle for being acquainted with math, friends after all, would mean spending more time working problems and I just don’t want that kind of relationship.

Please keep me in your prayers for tomorrow's test, all five hours worth while sitting in refrigerator like temperatures. It takes about three weeks for the test results and I'll be sure to post whether or not I passed with the scores I need.

Galvanized tubs make a great wadding pool

This is what Kayleigh did to keep herself entertained while I worked in the yard today. We didn't have her bathing suit and super absorbent diapers soak up several inches of water making it very difficult to walk. We're in the back yard and none of the neighbors are home during the day, so off went the clothes. She played hard and when it came time for her nap, it didn't take long before she was asleep. As much as I love being in school, I love days like this when I can spend it outside with my granddaughter as we enjoy the beauty of nature.

Childhood Discoveries in a Watering Can

I bought Kayleigh a child sized watering can that allows her to help in the gardens. She loves being outside and is learning about plants and bugs and butterflys and just about anything I am willing to teach her. I didn't capture the shot of her experiment with the watering can full of water and a patch of dirt. I watched her pour a small amount onto a small patch of exposed dirt in the butterfly garden. Kayleigh watched what happend when she poured water onto the dirt, she poured a little more and then on the third pouring she decided to mix it with her finger. She looked up at me and smiled and I could tell what was coming but decided to let her continue to experiment. Yes, you guessed it, dirt and water looks a lot like chocolate pudding and before I could say anything her finger covered in mud was in her mouth. I calmly said "yuck", and she came to me to get help to wash out the not so tasty mud-pudding. That was two weeks ago and she hasn't tried it again. I wonder what new experience she'll discover this weekend.

Grades are in for This Semester

Our grades were supposed to be posted online by Saturday, but I think someone forgot to turn on the link until Monday. I wasn’t anxious about my grades…well, maybe for my Spanish grade. I averaged the grades from three tests (92), didn’t figure in the lab grade, homework or quizzes and worked really hard on everything during the whole semester. I haven’t had Spanish before and even though I have lived in states where large populations speak it, I never really heard the language. It took about one week before I experienced an interesting revelation…I was actually hearing the language as if my ears or brain were able to identify and comprehend it for the first time. I really want to become fluent, especially since I plan on getting a minor in Spanish. Anyway, I did think the final test might be the determining factor for me getting a high B or low A. I don’t know my actual score on the finals, but I got an A for the class and that is what I worked for. So, I have maintained my 4.0 GPA.

I’m going to put my Spanish course into the same category of time consuming, brain cell draining status as College Algebra. I dedicate the appropriate time for studying in all of my classes, but thus far, these two courses have required the most time. Call me determined, but I was not about to back down to either challenge. This summer’s line-up is two Science classes (five weeks each). I have a feeling that Spanish and Algebra may not be the only two courses in this category.

I have faithfully stepped up my exercise routine and walk or bike four miles per day, five of the six days since my last day of school. I also added two days of lifting weights and added a couple new exercise DVD’s to my collection in case of rain. I feel better and have more energy when I exercise everyday. I’ve been able to sleep in for an extra 15 min. and still hit the road by 6am. I have to walk early here in Texas or it will be too hot, besides I tend to tan quickly and I don’t want to prematurely age my skin. This schedule allows me plenty of time to get lots accomplished with some room to relax and read for fun.

Now, to get started on the pile of maternity outfits for my DIL, Michelle who is due in August, a few sun dresses with hats for my only granddaughter and a throw for my study (in anticipation of those long winter days curled up in the chair reading, reading, reading.

End of the Semester…

and only one more summer semester here at the community college before I shift gears and transfer to the University. I have two finals this week and tutor each day until 1 p.m. but after Thursday it’ll be me time for three weeks. I’m ready for the break before my summer classes start. I can’t really count the four days between summer I and summer II, but then I’ll have almost three weeks off before the fall semester. Seems that I have been in school forever; but it hasn’t been that long. I started in Jan. of ’04 and will get my Associates degree in Dec. ’06. This isn’t too bad when I think about the 12hrs of developmental classes I took to refresh my algebra skills.

I’m making a list of projects I want to get accomplish during my breaks. One project will get passed on to someone else, I don’t do the finishing on quilts and I have one I pieced together for my granddaughter. There are a few sewing projects on my list, but mostly I’m going to take the time to work in my gardens. I haven’t spent much time on them for the past two years, just maintained the basic upkeep, but I really want to have a kitchen garden again. The other thing I need to do is get back into my exercise routine. I’ve neglected to exercise on a regular basis this semester due to my schedule and all of the sitting is beginning to take its toll on my backside. I enjoy 8 am classes, but it’s too dark to walk at 5am and by the time I come home around 2pm, I don’t want to get all hot and sweaty. I prefer to exercise early in the morning and then get ready for the day. So, I made sure to schedule my summer classes for a little later in the morning to allow me time to walk first thing and still have time to get ready for school. I love to exercise and I know this is something I’m going to work into my daily schedule no matter how busy I am.

I’ll write more later after this week if finished and I can think about other things.

Scholarship News

I just received word that the original two-year transfer student scholarship I received is now a Phi Theta Kappa scholarship. The money is the same, but this one is renewable for three years (technically, this means more money). Originally, I thought I would get my bachelors degree and then work on my masters while I was teaching. However, with this change in my scholarship, it may help influence my decision to just stay in school and get my masters degree.

Some money is better than no money at all, but it sure would have been exciting if this last letter announced a full ride to finish my degree. Of course, there still is that possibility for additional scholarship money once I have enrolled.

There are only five more weeks in this semester. It is hard to believe that I have two remaining classes to take this summer and then…I transfer to TWU. I have orientation in June and will then be able to sign up for my fall schedule. When I think about taking a full 12 hours (or more) per semester, I begin to feel a little anxious. I have been taking up to 10 hours per semester in addition to tutoring 12 hours per week. When I remind myself of this, I know I can take more classes and do well in them. It really is a good thing that I am too busy to spend much time on thinking outside of doing my schoolwork and keeping up with everyday stuff.

The Living Room:

After much research, looking at Home interior magazines, model homes and watching the trends on HGTV, I finally decided after almost 10 years to paint the fireplace. I painted the lower half (with the idea we could cover it with the whole mantel and front piece if we didn't like it); however, Mike and I loved the look. We then decided that the built in bookshelf needed to be painted also. The end result of this project created a more cohesive look for this wall that is broken up with too many elements.

Spring Break 2006

What is spring break suppose to be like?

Before the kids grew up and moved out to start their own families: Spring break was a great time to slow down and smell the roses. We didn’t have to get up really early to fix breakfast or rush around making sure their homework and lunches were in their backpacks before they were off to school. We stayed in our pj’s long after breakfast was over. There were trips to the zoo, the park, and a couple of times we even managed to go to San Antonio to Sea World, the Alamo and other typical places of interest. This was the week everyone stayed up a little later, and then regretted the morning school started back up. Spring break was a time to relax…that was then.

What is spring break like now?

Spring break is another expression for “back-braking-muscle-aching” work around the house. This is a time to squeeze in all of those unfinished projects that didn’t get finished the last time I was off from school. Spring break this year meant removing the carpet, the pad, and all of the baseboards; clean up from that mess to prepare for laying wood floors. Mike and I work really well together; he does the measuring, cutting, and the heavy work. I do the planning (design and time schedule/craking the whip), the detail jobs, the painting, and when necessary…help solve problems we encountered. We both ended up with sore muscles in places we forgot muscles existed. Mike took hot showers at the end of the day; I sat in the Jacuzzi with the hottest water I could stand and the valves opened wide to help beat away the soreness. I’m not a bath kind of person, which gives a hint as to how sore I was. I turned it into a spa-like occasion by lighting every candle on the ledge of the Jacuzzi and turning off the lights. If I weren’t so exhausted, I would have turned on some relaxation music…but, I was just too tired to listen to anything. After four long days of working we both said we needed to go back to school/work just to get a break and relax.

Now that it is all finished and we no longer groan when we move, we can sit back and fully appreciate the hard work of laying floors. Every room looks great!

Transferring to TWU

It’s official, I will be transferring to TWU in the fall. I applied for scholarships and received notice for one of them last week. This two-year scholarship will pay a little more than half of my tuition. I am hoping to receive notice for another scholarship from Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society I joined after my first semester. If I receive this one, it will cover the remainder of my tuition, pay for my books, gas, and parking fees and I may have something left over for lunch money. So, if you were to ask me if it was worth the time and effort I put into my studies, I’d have to say “Yes, finally my 4.0 GPA is paying off!”

Part of me is excited about transferring and the other part of me is hesitant to leave the comfort zone of the community college. I have had a wonderful experience these past two years meeting new friends and professors. This has been a period of growth, both spiritually and academically. I pray that I have planted many seeds of faith along the way and watered a few seeds. I’ll have to trust that others will come along to nurture the remainder. This is my mission field and I have enjoyed every moment of my time here.

Spring break starts next week. I’m looking forward to some time off, only I never really take time off from my studies. I plan to write my final paper for American Literature during the break. I’ve been working on it for the past few weeks and feel ready to take the time to focus on completing the paper. I really like this class, the student’s level of participation make it one of my most exciting classes thus far. It also helps to have a great professor to lead and prompt the discussions. This is my fourth semester with this professor and I’ll miss him the most. He pushed me to find my potential in all things related to Literature and consequently, influenced my decision to major in English.

So far, this is one of most enjoyable semesters even though I spend many hours reading, writing, and studying (especially my Spanish). I may even find more time to blog. Until then, hasta luego.

A Budding Artist

Spring is here early this year and it was a nice morning to get outside and enjoy it. Kayleigh is growing up so quickly, her vocabulary included. I’m glad she likes to be outside with me. I decided it was time to introduce her to sidewalk chalk. I showed her what to do with them and she understood the concept as “colors.” I drew yellow bananas, pink strawberries, and purple grapes. Kayleigh copied in an abstract way, but we knew what they were.

Mike and I quickly used our phone cameras and captured the artist in progress with her first masterpiece. Pollock may have left cigarette butts and pieces of his sandwiches in his art…but Kayleigh put herself onto her artwork, which means her art got all over her. Thankfully, her mama doesn’t mind when she gets dirty or in this case, chalky.

Christmas 2005
I just received the photos I took around Christmas- time and have to share a few. This is Kayleigh, our granddaughter (18 months today) who is such a blessing to us. Isn't she beautiful?

Do you want to know the secret to getting her hair into pigtails? I sit her on the bathroom counter and give her a toothbrush (with fruit flavored toothpaste) and let her brush her teeth while I quickly brush her hair and get bands around two pigtails. We all think it makes her look older than she really is, but none of us can resist how adorable she looks in them.

Kayleigh loves to read books, how could she not. It seems that everyone around her is reading a book, either to her or for themselves. She'll be one very well read child.

As her vocabulary has grown, she now enjoys reading to others and it's really cute to listen to her. Here she is reading to her Abba (Mike). She especially loves books with animals, The dog says "woof-woof" and the kitty cat says, "meow." She has a whole repertoire of animal sounds and is working on identifing body parts. All of this, plus she uses sign-language for her many wants and needs. Her favorite and most used sign is for more, which can also mean, want.

Kayleigh kept her great-Grandpa entertained on Christmas day as she read a book to him about Momo (Elmo). Grandpa was pretty impressed and proved you're never too old (he's 90) to learn something new, he didn't know who Elmo was until Kayleigh pointed him out.

As you can tell by reading this posting, we all think Kayleigh is pretty special. On occasion I just have to brag a bit about her. Besides, when I'm not in school, the only real thing of importance to blog about has to be about my granddaughter.

Two weeks to go…

Before I return to school for the spring semester. As of yesterday, I now have three of my four books needed for the new semester. This means I was able to get started on my reading. I like having a jump-start on the reading, as it is part of my time management skills. The biggest benefit is that it provides the time to learn something while I am in class rather than sitting there like a sponge that is just absorbing information.

The class I most look forward to is my American Literature class, especially after the semester break I had between literature classes. I was describing to Mike why I love literature and it has to do with the whole picture that evolves around literature, not just the authors and their writings. Literature is one of the means that puts history down on paper for others, like me, to read and relive the ideas of each era. However, I do not read only for the literal meaning of the words, I also read for the moral, allegorical, and anagogical meanings. I did not realize that I read this way, otherwise known as exegesis, until I started talking to one of the English Professors at school this past semester. It seems that I am always analyzing everything, which is what makes literature so interesting. There are more ways to read one piece of prose and this keeps it from ever becoming boring.

My Spanish class may be a challenge for me and I want to do well with it. Mike transferred a CD series onto my MP3 player. This allows me to listen and practice Spanish during the hour I walk each morning. I put the CD’s in my car to provide more opportunities to listen and practice. Since I need 18 hours of Spanish to earn a minor, more exposure to it will help me become more proficient. I have a feeling that once I become fluent in Spanish, I will want to learn another language as my passion for language is growing. It makes sense to learn Spanish while living in Texas, but I think there is a bigger purpose for learning multiple languages. What that bigger purpose is I do not know just yet. However, I want a certification for ESL (English as Second Language) and perhaps that is why I have been able to learn a few expressions in other languages so easily. Only God knows the bigger picture right now and all I can do is take the steps in the direction I feel led to go in.

The other class I have is History 1302 and I have started reading it. I like history, but it is harder to read without getting drowsy. I decided the best way to get through it is to set a timer and read as much as I can within an hour before I get up and tackle laundry or something that will keep me awake.

During these first two weeks off, I have accomplished everything on my first list and have started checking off projects from my second list. I may actually get to finish Kayleigh’s quilt before I return to school. This will be timely since she will be moving into a regular bed this year in time for the arrival of her new sibling. Michelle and Justin are expecting a new addition to their family sometime in August. I am always amazed by how much I get finished during my time off from school, but I look forward to my return.

Hope everyone is off to a blessed New Year, Hasta luego!

Christmas Break 2005

The last day for classes was on Wednesday 14th and I actually had to take two mandatory finals even though I had an A in both classes. The way I look at finals is with an attitude that it is just another test, cumulative maybe, but just another test. Grades were finally posted on Friday and I still have a 4.0 GPA. I am praying this will help me with scholarship money after I transfer to University. With one more year at the Community College (25 hrs) before I graduate with my Associate of Art’s degree, I finally finished filling out my application to transfer. I was putting it off until after I finished College Algebra, with my fingers crossed for an A. I did not want algebra spoiling my GPA on my transcripts and should not have worried about the grade. Anyway, I now have to start thinking about preparations for transferring, writing a few essays for scholarships, and whatever else I will need to do before I actually move to the next leg of this journey.

I did not plan on decorating my house or setting up the Christmas tree this year. This was a long semester and I was simply too exhausted to think about the time involved with dragging everything out and putting it up and then turning around in a couple of weeks and taking it all back down. However, we took Kayleigh to Six Flags Holiday in the Park last Friday and that revived my spirits and got me into the mood. So, I got the house ready for Christmas on Saturday and am glad I did, it looks great. I am used to making the most of my time because of my school schedule and am amazed by how much I get done while I am home during a break. I ended up baking holiday goodies and after covering the dining room table and filling up every Christmas platter and container, I had to call Mike to see if he would like to take a huge tray of assorted goodies into work. He sent a message today saying that everyone enjoyed the platter and asked for the recipes.

Between baking and cleaning, I have been sewing. My creative side finds itself on the back burner during the semesters I am in a math class. When I finally finish the class, I am overwhelmed with creative ideas and tend to go on overdrive with inspiration to create or decorate. Since I am not limited to sewing or baking, I have to force myself to go slowly, finish one idea at a time before I move on to another. The balance to all of the creativity going on is the need to organize, simplify, and clean. I think another word for this is, control. Yes, I still have control issues, but they are issues about me and not an issue of controlling others. In the middle of everything, I will have to force myself to rest and relax before I start the next semester.

It is good to have four weeks off between semesters this year. Thank you once again for your prayers; they make a difference as I continue to press on in my pursuit of education. I know that I found myself repeating, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” especially during this semester with college algebra. I am looking forward to what next year brings. Mike and I go camping during the New Year holiday as part of our spiritual retreat. I like to seek the Lord and listen to His message as He speaks to my spirit concerning the New Year. Hope everyone enjoys celebrating Christmas this year and looks forward to a blessed New Year.

Thanksgiving Day 2005

I had class everyday this week with a test on Monday and Tuesday. I now have two days off plus the weekend. You would think I was looking forward to four days with no school, but I have to study for a huge algebra test on Monday and write a paper that is due on Wednesday. Mike and I were sick most of last week and consequently we did not get much accomplished. I am tired this semester and am looking forward to the end of it, especially algebra. With my brother coming for four days, I decided last week that I was not going to host or cook a huge Thanksgiving meal. I love having my family gathered around the table; however, I have cooked the meal with all of the trimmings almost every time for twenty-eight years. The family will get together tomorrow evening after my brother’s plane gets in and we will have homemade turkey and noodles, but that is a doable task…tomorrow, not today.

In the past I would have felt guilty for not hosting the dinner, but being in school year round has changed some of my priorities and cooking big meals moved down several notches. The way I see it, this is a season, and it will not last for many more years. It amazes me every time I do something different from the norm, I realize the sun continues to set in the west and rise in the east. The other thing I noticed is how much pressure is lifted from me shoulders, I can breathe normally, and I get through my day without feeling stressed.

My house is spic and span clean, I did a couple loads of clothes, clipped the dog’s nails and got Mike to bathe him, made cookies, pralines, and put a turkey in the oven. Now, I can focus on doing my algebra review and hope that I retain this chapter on logarithms.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Thanksgiving Day filled with love and taking time out for relaxation.

Leaves Are Not as Messy...

As sand and pea-gravel, but Kayleigh seems to prefer them over leaves. Maybe she just needed someone to share the experience with her. Here you can see Kayleigh smiling after I sat in the pile of leaves and proceeded to tickle her with a leaf.

Friday and Saturday mornings are our time with Kayleigh. We love the overnight visit and Saturday morning tradition of pancakes, or waffles, or french toast, it does not make much difference to Kayleigh, she just loves to eat a big breakfast. Mike and I usually bike her home in what is referred to as her princess carriage (bike trailer for two). This has been the routine since the beginning of summer and we all love it.

Leaves are Falling

This past Saturday was a great “let’s make a memory” photo opportunity with a big pile of freshly fallen leaves and our granddaughter, Kayleigh. However, as you can see the “this is yucky” look on her face, Kayleigh did not think too much about sitting in the leaves. No matter, I managed to capture a fall scene that keeps my cell phone’s wallpaper updated as the seasons change.