1 down, and who knows how many to go!

Well, I have officially finished my first class at Harding. I ended up with a 96%!!! I am in the middle of my PE class (Ha! I still smile every time I think about it). Today, I signed up for another class at NWACC. This spring, I will be taking SPANISH!! Yikes! I took it for 2 years in High School, but we all know how long ago that was :).

Today has been a really rough day! Work stuff... It's along story that I won't bore you with. Anyway, I guess that's about it. I'll write again soon.

It's almost over!

Well, this week will be my last class for Business Leadership. I have really enjoyed this class. I think I'm going to pull an A!!! A little drama...I was working on my last Powerpoint presentation and all of a sudden my screen goes black! I'm thinking-Oh crap! What now? Well, I shut it off and restarted it...NOTHING!!! I called my friend Brian. He said to bring it over. He dumped everything on his hard drive so that I didn't lose anything. After church today, I had to go shopping for a new computer. It's not exactly what I wanted to do, but I didn't have a choice! My sweet brother-in-law, Andy, went with me and then came over and took everything off my old computer and put it on my new one. I worked really hard and got my presentation done. Now, I just have to write a 5 page paper. (Ha!...just!!!)

P.E.- It still cracks me up that I am 33 years old and have to take a PE class! I am going to World's Gym 3 times a week and have to fill out a card on what I did and have someone sign it. I AM SOOOO SORE!!! I was doing so good working out at the beginning of the year with my mom and then when I started my job at Wal-Mart, I got out of the habit. I wish I wouldn't have stopped. I am paying for it now! :)

Last thing tonight... Please pray for my friend Shannon and her husband, Michael. They have tried for years to have a baby and they are in the process of adopting a precious little girl! It sounds like she could come anytime! They have faced so much heartache over the past few years. It's such an answer to pray that this baby is almost here. Please pray for peace, a healthy baby and birth mother, and joy for them that they have never imagined.

God bless you all and have a great week! I'll let you know my final grade after next weekend!

2 more weeks!!

I can't believe I only have two weeks left of my first class. I have managed to keep an A in the class. I did my first presentation last week and of course, my jump drive decided not to work! Man, that threw me for a loop! I made it through though and got a 49 out of 50 on it! Two more presentations and a 5 page paper to write. Next 6 weeks I am doing an on-line class. I also start my Kinesiology class at NWACC. I know, can you believe it- P.E! It only lasts 8 weeks. I'm pretty nervous about the on-line class. I've never done one before. I just keep thinking-I can do anything for 6 weeks.

Work is going pretty well. I am actually hoping to get a promotion. I have applied for 2 other positions in our department, so say a prayer for me. I really love working in the Ethics office. I work with a lot of really great people!

Lexi has been on break. She loves this part of year-round school! She's stayed with my parents, Dustin's parents, and even went to work with Dustin. She goes back on Monday the 27th. Have I mentioned how grateful I am to have family around? What a Godsend!

95%!!!

Well, it's been about 13 years since I've had to take a "real" test that I get a grade on. I must say I am pretty proud. I scored a 95% on my first test in Business Leadership! 1 down, 3 to go! My first presentation is in 2 weeks- I'm a little worried. It's not the talking part, it's building a good PowerPoint presentation. I've never had to do this before! I know that sounds crazy in this day and time, but I just haven't been put in a place where I have needed to do it.

This week, I am meeting with an advisor at NWACC to help me figure out when I need to take the rest of my classes. I have about 18 hours I will have to take from there. Six of those hours are Global Literacy. I know, you are probably thinking,"What is that"? Well, in a nutshell- I am going to have to take SPANISH!!! Can you learn a foreign language at my age? Ha! Well, I guess we will see. One of my bosses from work wants to take it with me and so does another guy I work with. I think that will make it fun! So, starting next semester, I will be going to class more than one night a week. And so the journey continues...

My Beautiful Baby Girl

Here is Lexi's 8 year old picture. Isn't she gorgeous? I know- she doesn't look 8, does she? She is an all around kind of girl! She loves to ride motorcycles and she also loves to play dress up.

Lexi is in the 3rd grade at Elm Tree Elementary. She really enjoys school. Her teacher is fantastic! I must say- 3rd grade is HARD compared to the other grades. I hear that from here on, it only gets harder. Lexi is a great student, though. She was chosen this year to be an ambassador at her school. This means when new students come in, she befriends them, shows them the ropes, and helps them out. She is such a mother hen anyway, so this is the perfect job for her!

I survived! (I think)

This past Thursday was my first class. After a full day of panic attacks, (HA HA!) I got there and things weren't too bad. I think I'm really going to enjoy the discussions in class. I have 3 presentations to make, a take home test every week, and several chapters to read. The book is not very interesting to read, but it is interesting to discuss. There are only 15 in the class- I really like that part! I think these 6 weeks are going to go by fast and then it will be on to the next class. Keep me in your prayers- this is going to be quite a journey! Thanks!

What a week!

This week has already been rough. As most of my blog readers know (all 5 or 6 of you), a wonderful man from our church was killed this weekend in an auto accident. I attended the visitation last night and I have never seen anything like it! I really believe there were over 1,000 people who attended his visitation. We stood in a line for literally 3 hours to be able to give our condolences to the family. For those of you that don't know the Carter/Howell family, they are the type of people who have made a tremendous impact on thousands of people! Malcolm Howell was such a down to earth, gentle, sweet man who has a wonderful wife and 2 beautiful daughters! Please pray for these families as they grieve and try to heal.

Well, this Saturday will be the 9 year anniversary of our son, Braeden's death. I can't believe it's been 9 years! Being at the visitation last night flooded so many memories and feelings! When I hugged the family, I was so overwhelmed with sadness, I couldn't control the tears. They actually told me how hard it must be for me to be there. Wow! How do I respond? I just hugged them and told them I would always be here if they needed to talk.

Some days I ask all the "what if's". I still want to know why I lost my baby boy. Why did Stephanie, Katherine, and Emma lose such a wonderful husband and father? I am baffled at why we as Christians go through so many horrible things in our lives. My friend Shannon and her husband, Michael, have been through so many heartaches in trying to have children, and now trying to adopt. Satan is so prevalent in this world! I have some other friends who are dealing with their teenage daughter who is severely depressed and often suicidal. What did we all do? We are good people- we don't deserve this! I am reminded daily of all my christian friends who have dealt with insurmountable heartache. Cancer, death, finances, children- is there no limit to what Satan won't hit us with?

I'm sorry for rambling. Please pray for our family, for the Howell's and Carter's, the Holman's, the Thompson's, the Lindsley's- I could go on and on. Satan wants us to believe that there is no God, or that He has abandoned us, or maybe that God is punishing us.

One more week until school. Yikes!