Classes & Such

We are officially both starting classes today! Jon is taking an online course, Intro to Criminal Justice, which should be interesting at least. I'm taking my LAST pre-req, YAY! Praying the prof is nice and the teaching style accommodates my learning style! If nothing else at least for now I'm able to hit up the tutors during the day if I have problems grasping certain things. There's a LOT to consume in 8 weeks!

God-willing I'll be starting a full-time program in July but there is a lot that has to happen between now and then. God brought me through to getting into this class I so desperately need so I have faith He will either get me in that program or open another door that I can't see right now. Meanwhile, I'm working my Arbonne business and am in qualification for District Manager which is exciting! If I can't get an outside job if I can bring $ in with this it would be fabulous!

I hope everyone has a wonderful summer!

Vacation to CO, 2009

We got to go back to CO to see my family and a few friends for a few short days last week. We drove out and got there in time to see my parents for a late lunch then headed to the hotel. We laid pretty low that first night which was fun. The next day we hit the outlet stores in Castle Rock (there was a pair of shoes Jon could not find in his size in all of Colorado Springs lol). Yay Castle Rock had the shoes! We came back to the Springs and checked out the Ghost Town Mueseum then met my parents for dinner.


Dad and Jon went to Bible study and I got some mom and me time :o)

The next day was a full day - We headed up to Estes Park (this is turning into a tradition of sorts).



We had lunch, stopped at a store that had nothing but Nebraska Husker wear (Jon's a big fan) and replaced Jon's baseball hat and got me a fleece in support of 'his' team haha We had lunch and got some pies to take to a dinner that night. From Estes we headed back through the Springs to Pueblo to have dinner with my god-sister and her family. We hadn't been down to their house yet and with 4 kids it's hard for them to meet us in the Springs in the middle of the week. It was so great to see their home and hangout with the kiddos! The following day I got to see 2 of my best friends and their baby boys while Dad and Jon went to the shooting range and to see 'Wolverine' (yay male bonding!). Tara and I decided to culture her baby boy Ian (ok so he's 1-year-old now but still a baby right?) We headed to the Pioneer Museum and got some cute pics.

We capped off that night with a dinner out at Salt Grass with my parents which was really nice. I don't think we were able to spend that much time with my parents last year and we got some nice quality time in which was great.

We ended the week hanging out with my nephews and my brother and sister-in-law. Then it was time to pack up and drive straight through Kansas home.




We got home in time for Jon to have enough daylight to mow the lawn haha I went and picked up Layla from our pastor's house, ordered some pizza and we watched a movie - Nice end to a short vacation!

It's always hard to go back to CO because there is just never enough time to see everyone I want to see - I hope I can go back soon, even just for a couple of days, and see some more friends but that remains to be seen. Just know that if you're reading this and I didn't see you it's not because you weren't on my mind - I just couldn't get to everyone and see my family too! :0)

Bugs

I just have to say that I'm really glad my dog is here to kill bugs when Jon isn't. Yes I'm 'that' girl who hates to kill bugs, particularly when they can start flying away as I try to do so. However, if it flies my dog will hunt it and eat it - not only hilarious to watch but I'm certainly glad she does!

Complete Randomness *think think* *think think*

So I found this on a friend's blog and couldn't help but take the quiz myself...

What Internal Organ Are You?

You Are The Brain

You're the type of person who's always on, always churning. You are alert and quick to react. You like to stay busy. You are responsible but also demanding. You take up a lot of energy. You are someone of deep mystery. There's a lot below the surface that's hard to figure out.

Wow. The brain is kinda huge. Lotta responsibility... Good thing I work well under pressure! :0)

Tough Decisions

We all come to a crossroads in life when we have to make a tough decision. These are often decisions we don't want to make which I suppose is what makes them tough! This semester has not been very successful for me which is disheartening as it was to be my last semester of pre-reqs. So many things have gone wrong and there have been a lot of difficulties in a variety of areas. I have decided to withdraw from my two courses this term. It is mathematically impossible to get the grade I need to have with what is left in this term. Jon and I decided it is foolish to continue the rest of the semester with the stress level I've been carrying when I won't end up with the grade necessary. I will go today and officially withdraw at the school and pursue enrolling in courses for the summer term and getting in touch and following up with other programs.

All of this has been a slow learning process in accepting something other than what our plans are, trusting that there is a greater plan than our own and how important it is to get out of our own way so God's plan can take shape without our making things so much more difficult! It's still so hard for me to gauge the right road for either of us at this time. As our pastor stated a few weeks ago, however, there is a reason we are giving a lamp to light our path. We're only meant to see one step at a time. Our foolish human nature tries so hard to run through that path but all we end up doing is stumbling along and running into things that we could have otherwise avoided if we'd just been taking it one step at a time. The place I sometimes wish we were in life is exactly where many of my dear friends are, which I admit makes it a bit more difficult to still be here! I'm well aware that everything happens in its own time and God has a reason for not giving us what we want when we want it (usally because we're being foolish lol). If I'm not meant to start a program this year I have to accept that and trust there is a reason not yet seen.

Right now, today, I am going to use the extra time I will have not studying or going to class in the most productive ways I can (or at least I will make a valliant effort!) and perhaps get some projects accomplished here at home, provide my husband more home-cooked meals, and take the time to dig my heels in and launch my Arbonne business. Who knows what the future may hold? I want to make the absolute best of what we have been giving in this moment. Isn't that all any of us can do? Make every moment count and count our blessings in every moment.

Epilepsy (and me!) Needs Your Help

Please see my personal page

http://giving.epilepsyfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk/walk?px=1145662&pg=personal&fr_id=1840

Life Happens and Then We Pray

Another update so soon?! Could it be?! Yes, it can and it is. However the reason I am able to update this quickly is not a happy one. Americo, the company where I've worked for 3 years laid off 25% of its work force Friday, including myself. It all came very suddenly and as quite a shock. Needless to say Friday was a really bad day for everyone, not just those who were let go but those who remained as well. What has been neat is the outpouring of support and friendships that have popped up via Facebook after everything happened Friday. I had no idea how many people I worked with were on and many who had just been let go it seemed heard it was the place to be to keep in touch and many have since joined just this weekend. Including many management levels which is simply amusing to me :0) I've tried to use it as a way to witness even if it is only in how I respond to those expressing their sympathies and the question of 'are you ok?' God gave me a great amount of peace on Friday. Yes I had my moments of tears but they were more so due to shock and the simple loss of a place I went for nearly 3 years and all the friendships it held. We have amazing friends who will help support us as they can. Really we are so blessed in all this. So many of the people who were let go have families to support and major bills to pay. Many held the insurance for their entire family. Some have babies on the way. Us? We have a puppy, who while eats her fair share, is not nearly as costly to feed or maintain as a child. We are blessed to not have house or car payments. We have some debt to take care of but that's our main hindrance if you will. We do not have to worry about our house being forclosed or collection agencies coming to get us. We watch the news and all these families have been suffering so much around this country for months. First we were grateful we were both working. Now, while we're down to one income at the moment, Jon got me transfered to his insurance so we're covered there, Americo gave me a reasonable severance so we can wait a few weeks to panic, Jon's business has been doing well so we have a little extra cushion there as well. Plus, my 'seasonal job' at Macy's hasn't cut me loose yet and due to God's intervention I never got around to telling them I couldn't continue to work due to my class load being so heavy. Now I still have hours there and can request to pick up more in the coming weeks. I have the utmost confidence that God has a great job lined up for me, I just have to knock on a few doors until one opens. Please pray for continued peace, persistance on my part as I 'pound the pavement', that Jon's business would stay busy, and that in all this I will be able to focus on my school work as it is going to be an extremelly challenging semester. Love you all and appreciate your support and prayers. If you hear of any job opportunities please let me know! :0)