Checking In

I'm realizing it's been since before Christmas anything was posted. This means either we're just that boring or just that busy. Honestly? A little bit of both. I worked at Macy's as much as I could over Christmas break and completed a couple 'projects' I had on my list. Of course not coming near to even half of my list but hey, some things were done at least. I admit I'm most proud of our sub-basement. I spent 4 hours putting up shelves, going through our boxes and big plastic storage containers to see what I could get rid of and consolidate. At the end of it all I think I got rid of a couple boxes, consolidated a couple more, and got rid of some stuff that I'm embarrassed I even kept all this time! I am my mother's daughter unfortunately-an eternal pack-rat! Definitely going to have to work on that one... In any case, after some drama, I got enrolled in both my classes/labs. I'm in Anatomy and Physiology (separate and both with labs) so I'm tucked away on campus Tues-Thurs evenings. This is when the fact that Jon works such random hours and so often closes helps so we don't really 'miss' each other more because we wouldn't have seen each other anyway! The down side is when I AM home I have to study - something on which I have to really pick up my discipline again and FAST! I have a lot to keep track of and study for and prep for... As my prof suggested, it's better to hit the ground running hard now and be able to relax toward the end than the opposite and be under pressure at the end because we didn't do well in the beginning! He's pretty nice though and since I have him for both of my classes that's a good thing! I'm definitely going to learn a lot and am kicking myself for not just staying with this school and going to another one at all - Live and learn, hindsight is 20/20 blah blah :o)

The rest of life is pretty much the same. I got older this month (yay) but had a great time celebrating with Jon and then some friends the next day. That definitely made it better! Meanwhile we are both still waiting to hear from our respective 'futures'-at least people have stopped asking every week at church... I know they mean well but goodness, believe me you'll know when we do! ;-) I am grateful that we have so many people behind us supporting and rooting for us. Life would be SO much harder without our amazing friends and family! I hope everyone reading this is doing well and staying warm in this mid-west freeze we can't seem to fully get out of! haha

Perspectives

The other day on the radio there was a give-away to a single mom in KC. Thousands had written letters in nominating either a friend or themselves. All the letters were read and this mom was chosen - They called her, read her letter over the air, and announced her prizes. The thought of this in itself tugs at the heart strings with the reminder of how many kids are in broken homes and how many parents are trying to do Christmas by themselves. The details of this woman's story, however, is really what got me. She has 5 kids, no father but biologically, she was working 2 jobs but lost one of them. She and her family had been hopeless for a year and she'd finally saved up enough to get a small trailer for them. Her mini-van was on its very very last leg and she was afraid she wouldn't be able to get to a second job. She'd gotten each of her children one Christmas present, $10 or less, and when she tried explaining to her daughters that it wouldn't be like other Christmases, one told her 'It's ok Mommy' - She thought for sure Santa Claus would come through for them. This mom won a new mini-van filled with toys, a $100 gift card to a local grocery store and a weekend stay at this great resort we have for kids-It's like 80 degrees in there all year round with a water-park inside haha It seems 'Santa Claus' came through.

I was on my way to work when I heard this story and got to thinking... We all know factually that there are so many families less fortunate than we are but do we really know? We live comfortably in our safe zone of 'knowledge' without really handling the issue at all. There are military families who have been separated for nearly every major holiday in the past 5 years. There are families who are literally living pay check to pay check with near bare shelves in-between. There are little kids who are asking Santa for food and a job for daddy. We're preoccupied with paying for our taxes and other bills but bottom line we don't have to be afraid we're going to lose our house, we don't have to decide to not eat so our kids can, and we have a warm dry place to sleep, to live. It is far too easy to forget the blessings we have each day and how much we have to be thankful for - This may sound like more of a Thanksgiving post but I think the Christmas season may bring the thankful spirit out more, maybe that's just me. I think it's really just another reminder of how we forget what this season is supposed to focus on-Jesus came from the highest place, becoming one of us, just another lowly human being, raised in a meager home, spending his days serving others, eating and staying with those viewed as the lowest on the totem pole. I think we often view those less fortunate as being below us somehow, whether a conscious thought or not, all the while celebrating the birth of our Savior who lived his life among those less fortunate. A bit of irony in my opinion.

I think many of us have these little 'revelations' at holiday time - If only we'd have these revelations on a consistent basis throughout the year. How much of a difference would the right perspective make on a year-round-basis?

Reason for the Season?

We all know Christmas has become a commercialized, excuse for a party and eating more food, and the opportunity for kids and grown-ups alike to get all their 'wants' on sale. As you grow up the excitement of presents on that morning fades a bit and we develop new perspectives. Don't get me wrong, presents are always exciting, especially when they're what you actually wanted. However is this really the goal for the day? In a conversation regarding Christmas plans with someone the other day, it was mentioned part of her family would be having Christmas dinner 2 weeks early. During the conversation, though, she remarked that she didn't know what the point was in getting together anyway because no one buys presents anymore, at least not for anyone but the youngest child in the family... So there's no point in getting together if there's no presents? That made me so sad. I admit as a kid the presents were always pretty cool and my parents were great in what they provided my brother and myself. A few specific presents stick out in my mind as being 'super cool' but what do I remember most? I remember reading the Christmas story every year and as I got older it was my turn to try to pronounce all those hard names myself. haha I remember time with my parents and brother eating breakfast and watching the parade. And I remember being SO excited to go to my god-parents for dinner.

I think there are always more thing we can do in order to not lose sight of the 'true reason for the season' (a saying which itself is over-used) and these are very personal choices. I do feel as though I grew up with the perspective of Christmas being a time to be thankful, joyful, and celebrate with family the blessings of our Lord and take a sometimes too rare opportunity to fellowship with other believers. As an adult I am trying to re-evaluate and determine which of these perspectives may not be in the right direction or what area I may need to add more focus in order to ensure I myself do not get lost in what becomes holiday chaos. I'll let you know how that goes...

Life is a Blur

The semester is nearing an end and I still have a presentation and 2 or 3 tests left in my micro class, 2 assignments and 2 major tests in patho left to survive. I know I will - mostly because I have no other choice ha I am ready for a break though. I started working at Macy's seasonally for some extra money for those lovely end of the year tax bills. Fortunately it's very close to our house so I don't spend a lot of extra time driving like my husband has to spend driving to Independence. I'm gradually getting some look into his world of retail and I honestly don't know how he's done it for 3 years! I highly doubt I would have lasted that long. Not that's bad but I just don't see doing it full time for so long. My 2ish days a week are just fine with me! :o) Things have finally picked up at work for Jon though which is such a blessing. He'll be working mostly 6 days a week now as they've entered the 'fourth quater' with holidays and such. Sales have been so much more profitable lately and I suppose it's perfect timing - we got our tax bill last night so we have approxmately 6 weeks to pay down a large bill without incuring late fees and such. I know God will provide - we just have to maintain discipline to not buy all the things we see along the way haha It's so hard to believe the holidays are upon us...

$$ saver

I heard an interview with one of the creator's of this site the other day on the way to work. 2 friends who are wives and mothers trying to find ways to cut their budgets in today's economy. Ironically they actually started this process before everything went down the tubes. They are bringing their 1-2 years of research to a public website to help others. Lots of suggestions and links to coupons and such to help. I haven't explored the site fully but what I've read and seen I think it will be pretty nifty - especially for those with kids!

http://www.becentsable.net/

So so busy...

I think I will be glad when October is over - Last week was missions conference week at church and while it is an amazing opportunity to connect with our missionaries and very inspiring, it's very tiring! Either at church or at school every night last week, including the weekend. This week I have 2 tests, a cold, and Trunk or Treat on Friday (but set up Thursday) and since I helped plan Friday nights festivities I have to be there with bells on haha I do get to dress up as Glenda the Good Witch from the Wizard of Oz, so that's a bonus :o)

This weekend I MUST catch up-on life! Laundry, at the very least... Study for my midterm and another micro test... I have orientation and training next week for the 2nd job I'm taking on - Macy's for seasonal hours- and would prefer to be a little ahead of my game before those hours begin. I am praying they will work with me on hours until my school is over - Just because the store will be open until midnight in the week doesn't mean I can be there that late! Oh, and a local out-door shopping district will be open at MIDNIGHT on Black Friday - Midnight! Because 4 am wasn't early enough?! What is wrong with people? I'm definitely not looking forward to working Black Friday as I know I will have to but Jon will be too so at least he won't be enjoying a day off either haha On the plus side, after putting some away for our taxes at the end of the year I can use my bonus towards getting some furniture for the house at a good discount! Yay! :o) - That is, if I survive long enough LOL

1 step forward, 2 steps back

Good news first: Jon got a letter from the KCPD advising he is in the eligibility pool for the next academy class! They are not yet sure of the date (so it probably won't be November, awww) but they'll call him when they secure a date and go from there. Very exciting!

Bad news: I 'just so happen' to go to a Pampered Chef party today hosted by my first college roommate. Well it's been a very long time since we all truly caught up and she, our other roommate and her best friend, and I were talking and I mentioned where I was looking at going for the program. It took about half a second for them to tell me not to go there! Well I had forgotten they are admission reps for another career college in the area and they know lot more about stuff like this than I do. For instance, accredidation - apparently the school I was looking at is not accredited itself which means even if the program is, I won't be able to take those classes and move up in degrees (BSN, NP) without repeating classes. It makes sense that an accreditted school won't take courses from a non-accreditted school but I had no idea the school itself wasn't accredited!

So long story kinda short, my 'plan B' is now no longer a plan at all. Now I have to contact them Monday and cancel all the appointments I had lined up though at least now I don't have to worry about making up graduation/high school documents to prove myself to corporate (which was a big flag in itself). The silver lining to this, though, is the school my friends are reps for is actually opening their own BSN program in the spring and since I have connections I will know immediately when enrollment starts! I am determined for this to work somehow, somewhere. I know I'm supposed to be a nurse and apparently I'm going to appreciate my journey there greatly being as I'm having so many bumps along the way.

*sigh*