If you are reading this, then please say a prayer for our family....actually, say more than one prayer as we are in one of the toughest battles of our lives, a war that has been waged against the success and well being of Joseph.
If you are my friend on Facebook or have read this blog, you already know how proud I am of Joseph for getting accepted and going to school at the University of TN. He hoped so much to be able to go to school here, and God gave him that desire. Joseph wanted to get into their architecture and interior design program, and guess what? God did not let him down.
However, the enemy of our souls waged a war against Joseph. He convinced Joseph through someone that he trusts that he needs to be out from under my "control." That there are "better" things for him in SC where he has freedom to come and go, freedom to make his own decisions...sort of sounds like the serpent in the Garden of Eden, doesn't it?
Scott and me had a long conversation with Joseph's dad yesterday, and if what he says is true, he is on our side. I pray today for Joseph to have ears to hear and eyes to see the truth through the deception that is blinding him. For him to be able to discern what is the good and acceptable word of God from the lies that the enemy if filling his head with. That like Elisha's servant, the Lord will open his eyes to see the army that God has placed around him to deliver him rather than allow him to become captive (2 King 6).
This is a battle where the armor of God needs to be worn proudly and boldly, it is a battle that I don't want to fight, a battle that I didn't see coming. God has given Joseph the desires of his heart, it breaks my heart to see the enemy try to snatch those desires and close the doors God has opened.
Please pray, and pray hard, my friends. This battle is not against the person who is influencing Joseph, it is against the principalities, powers, and darkness of the rulers of this age, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places that have said Joseph belongs to them. But, I say Joseph belongs to Jehovah, he belongs to El Shadday, God Almighty, Who knows the plans He has for Joseph and has set those plans in motion.
Saturday, April 08, 2017
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Winter Jam 2017
My kids talk me into everything, even when I don't have time to be talked into something. Sunday was no exception because their favorite rap guy, Andy Mineo, was going to be at Winter Jam. So, with them and a friend in tow, Scott and me fought the crowd and joined the thousands at a Christian music concert that at times I thought I might be too old for (LOL).
In addition to Andy Mineo and several other groups we Tenth Avenue North. I do really like this band and know most of their songs, but what blessed me most was Zachary's reaction to one of their songs. They have a song called Torn. Zach liked this song when it first came out, but I have yet to determine why. It is a song about being worn out from the struggles of life, and calls on God to give hope. Anyway, they played this song. During this song Zach stood to his feet with his hand lifted high in worship- it was the sweetest thing that I have ever seen, especially, since he was sitting in the middle of a group of middle school boys and he didn't care that he was the only one standing.
When we were getting in the car after the concert Zach brought up that song, and proceeded to tell me that he cried when they sang it because it moved his heart. I told him how proud I was that he was worshiping. Then I wondered what it is about that song that speaks to him. He's 12, he really hasn't had a trial to endure or experienced just how hard life can be sometimes. Could it be that the Lord is speaking to him now to prepare him for what he may face in the future? Or, is there a hurt in his heart that I don't see, but the Lord know is there?
Either way, and no matter what, I know that the Lord speaks to him, and it is my prayer that he will continue to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit his whole life.
In addition to Andy Mineo and several other groups we Tenth Avenue North. I do really like this band and know most of their songs, but what blessed me most was Zachary's reaction to one of their songs. They have a song called Torn. Zach liked this song when it first came out, but I have yet to determine why. It is a song about being worn out from the struggles of life, and calls on God to give hope. Anyway, they played this song. During this song Zach stood to his feet with his hand lifted high in worship- it was the sweetest thing that I have ever seen, especially, since he was sitting in the middle of a group of middle school boys and he didn't care that he was the only one standing.
When we were getting in the car after the concert Zach brought up that song, and proceeded to tell me that he cried when they sang it because it moved his heart. I told him how proud I was that he was worshiping. Then I wondered what it is about that song that speaks to him. He's 12, he really hasn't had a trial to endure or experienced just how hard life can be sometimes. Could it be that the Lord is speaking to him now to prepare him for what he may face in the future? Or, is there a hurt in his heart that I don't see, but the Lord know is there?
Either way, and no matter what, I know that the Lord speaks to him, and it is my prayer that he will continue to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit his whole life.
Monday, January 23, 2017
What Are You Afraid Of?
All I keep hearing about the recent election is that people are afraid. But what are they afraid of? Are they afraid that the liberal agenda cannot dictate the will of the "people" anymore? Because the will of the people voted in an unconventional candidate with a no-holds-barred pointedness in hopes that he will bring the change we have been waiting on for 8 years now. Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to start a political debate, or spout my own political jargon to make people angry or isolate friends, but I am saying that perhaps a different perspective is in order. As a (probably somewhat moderate) conservative, these are my thoughts on a few of the political "fears" presented:
1- Should we be more afraid of our daughters (I don't have any of my own, but there are plenty in my family) not having a right to say what happens to their bodies- i.e. have the right to have an abortion if they want one no matter what stage of pregnancy they are in, or of them not being truthfully educated about the fact that an abortion at any term kills an unborn baby, and has serious emotional consequences that she will have to deal with for the rest of her life? Now, I am not naive enough to think that if abortions become illegal that they will stop- they will not. And, once a Pandora's box like abortion has been opened, can we really close it back up? What should happen is policies and procedures be reformed and there be some limitations on when and how they can be performed. Women should be presented with ALL options, and not just abortion when they enter Planned Parenthood establishments or crisis pregnancy centers, the process of abortion and exactly what the procedure entails should be presented to them. The question that puzzles me the most in this debate is, "how can we allow women to abort babies, but prosecute offenders when they attack a woman and kill her unborn baby?" Is it a baby or not? Does "it" have rights or not? Because abortion says that the fetus does not, unless it is killed by someone other than it's mother- just something to think about....
2- Health Care. I am not at all opposed to everyone having access to affordable health care. But the key here is affordable. Why pay $300-$400 per month for insurance coverage that has such a high deductible that you will never meet it, and therefore never reap the benefits of the policy? I realize that there are those with serious medical conditions that benefit from this, but what about those that do not? Most people that I know without insurance have opted to pay the penalty at the end of the year rather than buy a policy. This puts a greater burden on the tax payers, insurance companies, and medical facilities. I am not an expert here, but I have enough friends in insurance, medical professions, and who are opting not to buy policies on the exchange because of the expense to know Obamacare has not worked. Wouldn't it be better to work together to find a solution to this rather than being afraid that something might be taken away from you?
3- The solution to immigration is not to build walls or close borders, but to make sure that the process of legal immigration is followed. If people from other countries want to come here, let them, but make sure that they are following the rules, obtaining the proper paperwork, and working toward citizenship if they want to live here permanently. And, we shouldn't change our values, beliefs, traditions because people from other countries do not agree. Why has the voice of foreigners become louder than the voice of Americans? If you want to live here, live here legally. If you want benefits, a job, the right to vote, obtain it legally. There should be parameters in place that keep illegal immigrants from obtaining government welfare, jobs, and the right to vote. Protect American citizens and those immigrants who have followed the rules to live in this great country.
4- LGBT (and I think they have added a Q in there somewhere)- a touchy subject, I know, and one that will probably not win me friends or the ability to influence people (LOL- but, seriously). I have a lot of questions concerning whether people are born gay, or choose that lifestyle. I am willing to admit that I do not have an answer for that, and cannot tell you that the things that you feel are not real- I hope when I get to heaven the Lord will have a big book with the answers to life's unanswered questions. This is what I do know, I know what the Bible says about homosexuality as well as other "sins." I do not struggle or desire that lifestyle but there are plenty of other things listed under the category of sin that I have had to ask forgiveness for- it is not my place to judge you, but I do not have to agree with you. You might not agree with all of the choices that I make, that's what makes us different, unique, and makes the world less boring. My convictions and beliefs would not allow me to vote for same-sex marriage, but that does not mean that I hate you. Obviously, the government has validated this form of marriage- is there really a reason to undo it, or try to stuff it back in the "closet?" What I would like to see is this: the same rules apply to you that apply to every other American and marriage. In order to have the same benefits that heterosexual couples share, get married. Benefits should not be made available for domestic partners who are not married- what is good for one side, is good for the other. If you are female, use the female restroom. Is it not my right to use a women's restroom without men being present? Don't call me a bigot, a hater, intolerant, or give me any of the other labels the LGBT community enlists because I do not agree with you. I am not those things-
I realize that I have not addressed many things, and of the things that I have addressed, I have not covered every element. I think we, as Americans, should have a concern for our country, but not live in fear. I believe that we can accomplish more together than we can by fighting with each other and calling each other names. The majority of the American people voted for change because they do not want to be governed by the far left agenda. I do not believe the extreme right is the answer either. Somewhere in the middle lies the answers and the change that our country wants and needs. No matter what political party you side with, be open-minded to hear what the other sides have to say, and willing to compromise for the good of the whole rather than the agendas of a few. If you are an evangelical Christian, don't depend on the government to legislate your values and beliefs- that is not their job. Pray, don't judge, pray, stand up for what you believe in with love, pray- and do not be afraid.
And, while I'm on this soap box, our kids need to be taught that in real life not everyone gets a trophy, and things don't always go our way- if I were throwing temper tantrums like some of these protestors my Momma would whip my behind, no matter how old I was!
2 Timothy 1:7 - The Lord has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
1- Should we be more afraid of our daughters (I don't have any of my own, but there are plenty in my family) not having a right to say what happens to their bodies- i.e. have the right to have an abortion if they want one no matter what stage of pregnancy they are in, or of them not being truthfully educated about the fact that an abortion at any term kills an unborn baby, and has serious emotional consequences that she will have to deal with for the rest of her life? Now, I am not naive enough to think that if abortions become illegal that they will stop- they will not. And, once a Pandora's box like abortion has been opened, can we really close it back up? What should happen is policies and procedures be reformed and there be some limitations on when and how they can be performed. Women should be presented with ALL options, and not just abortion when they enter Planned Parenthood establishments or crisis pregnancy centers, the process of abortion and exactly what the procedure entails should be presented to them. The question that puzzles me the most in this debate is, "how can we allow women to abort babies, but prosecute offenders when they attack a woman and kill her unborn baby?" Is it a baby or not? Does "it" have rights or not? Because abortion says that the fetus does not, unless it is killed by someone other than it's mother- just something to think about....
2- Health Care. I am not at all opposed to everyone having access to affordable health care. But the key here is affordable. Why pay $300-$400 per month for insurance coverage that has such a high deductible that you will never meet it, and therefore never reap the benefits of the policy? I realize that there are those with serious medical conditions that benefit from this, but what about those that do not? Most people that I know without insurance have opted to pay the penalty at the end of the year rather than buy a policy. This puts a greater burden on the tax payers, insurance companies, and medical facilities. I am not an expert here, but I have enough friends in insurance, medical professions, and who are opting not to buy policies on the exchange because of the expense to know Obamacare has not worked. Wouldn't it be better to work together to find a solution to this rather than being afraid that something might be taken away from you?
3- The solution to immigration is not to build walls or close borders, but to make sure that the process of legal immigration is followed. If people from other countries want to come here, let them, but make sure that they are following the rules, obtaining the proper paperwork, and working toward citizenship if they want to live here permanently. And, we shouldn't change our values, beliefs, traditions because people from other countries do not agree. Why has the voice of foreigners become louder than the voice of Americans? If you want to live here, live here legally. If you want benefits, a job, the right to vote, obtain it legally. There should be parameters in place that keep illegal immigrants from obtaining government welfare, jobs, and the right to vote. Protect American citizens and those immigrants who have followed the rules to live in this great country.
4- LGBT (and I think they have added a Q in there somewhere)- a touchy subject, I know, and one that will probably not win me friends or the ability to influence people (LOL- but, seriously). I have a lot of questions concerning whether people are born gay, or choose that lifestyle. I am willing to admit that I do not have an answer for that, and cannot tell you that the things that you feel are not real- I hope when I get to heaven the Lord will have a big book with the answers to life's unanswered questions. This is what I do know, I know what the Bible says about homosexuality as well as other "sins." I do not struggle or desire that lifestyle but there are plenty of other things listed under the category of sin that I have had to ask forgiveness for- it is not my place to judge you, but I do not have to agree with you. You might not agree with all of the choices that I make, that's what makes us different, unique, and makes the world less boring. My convictions and beliefs would not allow me to vote for same-sex marriage, but that does not mean that I hate you. Obviously, the government has validated this form of marriage- is there really a reason to undo it, or try to stuff it back in the "closet?" What I would like to see is this: the same rules apply to you that apply to every other American and marriage. In order to have the same benefits that heterosexual couples share, get married. Benefits should not be made available for domestic partners who are not married- what is good for one side, is good for the other. If you are female, use the female restroom. Is it not my right to use a women's restroom without men being present? Don't call me a bigot, a hater, intolerant, or give me any of the other labels the LGBT community enlists because I do not agree with you. I am not those things-
I realize that I have not addressed many things, and of the things that I have addressed, I have not covered every element. I think we, as Americans, should have a concern for our country, but not live in fear. I believe that we can accomplish more together than we can by fighting with each other and calling each other names. The majority of the American people voted for change because they do not want to be governed by the far left agenda. I do not believe the extreme right is the answer either. Somewhere in the middle lies the answers and the change that our country wants and needs. No matter what political party you side with, be open-minded to hear what the other sides have to say, and willing to compromise for the good of the whole rather than the agendas of a few. If you are an evangelical Christian, don't depend on the government to legislate your values and beliefs- that is not their job. Pray, don't judge, pray, stand up for what you believe in with love, pray- and do not be afraid.
And, while I'm on this soap box, our kids need to be taught that in real life not everyone gets a trophy, and things don't always go our way- if I were throwing temper tantrums like some of these protestors my Momma would whip my behind, no matter how old I was!
2 Timothy 1:7 - The Lord has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Monday, January 02, 2017
2017 - Bring on the New Year
So, I was looking over my blog this morning, and saw that I only posted twice in 2016. WOW- I need to make a resolution to blog more in 2017, but I am afraid that I might not keep it :).
2016 went out (for me) without a bang. As a matter-of-fact, I was in bed and sound asleep long before the ball dropped. I hope that that quite rest is how 2017 will be, or at least there will be more of it in 2017 than there was in 2016. This is what we dealt with last year:
We sold our house in a week, moved into a very small apartment and almost killed each other (ask the neighbors we had at the apartment -LOL), built a new house, played soccer, played basketball, drove my mother-in-law to countless doctor appointments and treatments as she battled lung cancer, sent Joseph off to college, played more basketball and soccer, managed to keep our jobs going, and the kids fed, hung out with friends, made family come and visit us (if you know my mom tell her, "yes she is going to TN every 5 minutes"), and I finished my first year as a PhD student.
When I look at that list, I wonder how we ever made it, then I remember that the Lord is faithful. He gives us just what we need for each day. Not what we needed yesterday, not what we will need tomorrow, but exactly the amount of strength, knowledge, and grace that we will need in the moments we face in the present. Every day is a new day, a chance to start over and follow through on what did not get accomplished yesterday.
So, in 2017, the only resolution that I have is to remember what the Lord brought us through (the good and the bad), and look to Him to sustain us through whatever this new year brings.
2 Corinthians 12: 9, "And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Have a blessed New Year- my thoughts and prayers are with you, and hopefully, I will make more than two posts this year!
2016 went out (for me) without a bang. As a matter-of-fact, I was in bed and sound asleep long before the ball dropped. I hope that that quite rest is how 2017 will be, or at least there will be more of it in 2017 than there was in 2016. This is what we dealt with last year:
We sold our house in a week, moved into a very small apartment and almost killed each other (ask the neighbors we had at the apartment -LOL), built a new house, played soccer, played basketball, drove my mother-in-law to countless doctor appointments and treatments as she battled lung cancer, sent Joseph off to college, played more basketball and soccer, managed to keep our jobs going, and the kids fed, hung out with friends, made family come and visit us (if you know my mom tell her, "yes she is going to TN every 5 minutes"), and I finished my first year as a PhD student.
When I look at that list, I wonder how we ever made it, then I remember that the Lord is faithful. He gives us just what we need for each day. Not what we needed yesterday, not what we will need tomorrow, but exactly the amount of strength, knowledge, and grace that we will need in the moments we face in the present. Every day is a new day, a chance to start over and follow through on what did not get accomplished yesterday.
So, in 2017, the only resolution that I have is to remember what the Lord brought us through (the good and the bad), and look to Him to sustain us through whatever this new year brings.
2 Corinthians 12: 9, "And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Have a blessed New Year- my thoughts and prayers are with you, and hopefully, I will make more than two posts this year!
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Sending Joseph to College
JoJo, Josephine, Josephino, Josepfanie, Jofess....no matter what we called him (and he is such a good sport about the deformities that we give to his name) Joseph holds a place tightly in our hearts, and moving him to college was no easy feat for this helicopter Momma (this title is a story for another day).
I think in the back of my mind the fact that Knoxville is just 45 minutes away buffered the reality that Joseph was about to move out. Well, that and that we hardly saw him anyway because (and I am sure most of you with teenage sons know what I'm talking about) the last place that a teenage boy wants to be is home. But, at the end of the day he still came home. He still called to tell me where he was and what he was doing. He called to tell me if he was staying at a friend's house or what time he would be home. I knew his schedule, knew the proximity of his location, and most of the time what he was doing. Now, I don't have a clue. This is worrisome for moms, or at least for this mom. (The joke at our house now is that I am not mourning Joseph being gone, but rather the loss of control - all my boys know me too well- haha).
It's not just that I don't know what he's doing or who he's hanging out with anymore, but also the worry about whether or not he will make the same mistakes that I made. I went off to college once, but was too immature to handle the responsibility. I don't need to elaborate on the repercussions of my bad choices during that time, or the regrets that I have that can never be changed....but, they ring in my mind....they cause me to wonder what choices he will make. Then I remember to think on those things which are true, which are lovely, which are of good report (Philippians 4:8)....the good choices that Joseph has already made (that are the complete opposite of choices I made at his age).
He has held a job (at times he had 3 jobs) since he was 14, and made a good reputation for himself as a hard worker, and a respectful young man. Since he worked in jobs related to hospitality I know who he worked for and others that he came in contact with. Not one person ever said anything negative to me about him, but rather gushed over what a great young man he is and how much they loved working with him.
His friend's parents have sent me messages telling me what a great young man he became and how they are both impressed with and proud of him. I haven't met one person who doesn't like him or have something nice to say about him. He has never been one to conform to what everyone else was doing, and he has moved away from close, long-term friendships when those friends started making poor choices. He is confident, smart (he took 8 college classes his senior year of high school), and far more mature than I was at his age.
He has been at UT for two weeks now (and I have finally stopped crying :)), started classes, and pledged a fraternity. I am worried, afraid, excited, and hopeful for him. I pray for him daily and miss him like crazy, but I firmly believe God has ordained this time for him. God will continue to direct his path...I trust that the Lord will continue the good work He began in Joseph, and He will see it to completion (Philippians 1:6).
And, like any good mom (and wife of a Vol4Life) I will wear the appropriate color of orange, yell, "Go Vols," and attend every event that Joseph will let me attend at Rocky Top.
I think in the back of my mind the fact that Knoxville is just 45 minutes away buffered the reality that Joseph was about to move out. Well, that and that we hardly saw him anyway because (and I am sure most of you with teenage sons know what I'm talking about) the last place that a teenage boy wants to be is home. But, at the end of the day he still came home. He still called to tell me where he was and what he was doing. He called to tell me if he was staying at a friend's house or what time he would be home. I knew his schedule, knew the proximity of his location, and most of the time what he was doing. Now, I don't have a clue. This is worrisome for moms, or at least for this mom. (The joke at our house now is that I am not mourning Joseph being gone, but rather the loss of control - all my boys know me too well- haha).
It's not just that I don't know what he's doing or who he's hanging out with anymore, but also the worry about whether or not he will make the same mistakes that I made. I went off to college once, but was too immature to handle the responsibility. I don't need to elaborate on the repercussions of my bad choices during that time, or the regrets that I have that can never be changed....but, they ring in my mind....they cause me to wonder what choices he will make. Then I remember to think on those things which are true, which are lovely, which are of good report (Philippians 4:8)....the good choices that Joseph has already made (that are the complete opposite of choices I made at his age).
He has held a job (at times he had 3 jobs) since he was 14, and made a good reputation for himself as a hard worker, and a respectful young man. Since he worked in jobs related to hospitality I know who he worked for and others that he came in contact with. Not one person ever said anything negative to me about him, but rather gushed over what a great young man he is and how much they loved working with him.
His friend's parents have sent me messages telling me what a great young man he became and how they are both impressed with and proud of him. I haven't met one person who doesn't like him or have something nice to say about him. He has never been one to conform to what everyone else was doing, and he has moved away from close, long-term friendships when those friends started making poor choices. He is confident, smart (he took 8 college classes his senior year of high school), and far more mature than I was at his age.
He has been at UT for two weeks now (and I have finally stopped crying :)), started classes, and pledged a fraternity. I am worried, afraid, excited, and hopeful for him. I pray for him daily and miss him like crazy, but I firmly believe God has ordained this time for him. God will continue to direct his path...I trust that the Lord will continue the good work He began in Joseph, and He will see it to completion (Philippians 1:6).
And, like any good mom (and wife of a Vol4Life) I will wear the appropriate color of orange, yell, "Go Vols," and attend every event that Joseph will let me attend at Rocky Top.
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Dichotomy
Dichotomy - isn't that a fun word to say? It means a division that presents two opposing views. Up until a few years ago, I had never heard the word, much less knew what it meant (thus the outcome of being a perpetual student, I learn something new everyday).
Right now now I have a dichotomy of sorts when it comes to my career. Do I stay in hospitality and accept opportunities that are being placed before me, or do I make an exit strategy that involves me changing careers mid-life? Sort of (well, not really sort of but exactly) starting over. Trading the experience and tenure of the last 22 years for the uncertainty of being the "new kid on the block" who has a lot to learn.
The Clash song "Should I stay or should I go?" comes to mind (my husband might be proud that I knew the group, but don't be too impressed, I Googled it). Where would I go to, you might be asking, and the answer is the world of academia. While there are no opportunities any where close to tapping on my door (much less knocking), I am hoping that (if I can persevere) my PhD will provide those. But, the completion of that is still a few years off, so, I am still left to ponder the question of should I accept opportunities of advancement in my current career?
This is all really just food for thought because I know that in time (have I mentioned that I am not a very patient person?) the right choice will be made clear to me. There is always a lesson in the challenges, decisions, dichotomies of life...my lesson is this-
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path" - Proverbs 3:5-6.
Right now now I have a dichotomy of sorts when it comes to my career. Do I stay in hospitality and accept opportunities that are being placed before me, or do I make an exit strategy that involves me changing careers mid-life? Sort of (well, not really sort of but exactly) starting over. Trading the experience and tenure of the last 22 years for the uncertainty of being the "new kid on the block" who has a lot to learn.
The Clash song "Should I stay or should I go?" comes to mind (my husband might be proud that I knew the group, but don't be too impressed, I Googled it). Where would I go to, you might be asking, and the answer is the world of academia. While there are no opportunities any where close to tapping on my door (much less knocking), I am hoping that (if I can persevere) my PhD will provide those. But, the completion of that is still a few years off, so, I am still left to ponder the question of should I accept opportunities of advancement in my current career?
This is all really just food for thought because I know that in time (have I mentioned that I am not a very patient person?) the right choice will be made clear to me. There is always a lesson in the challenges, decisions, dichotomies of life...my lesson is this-
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path" - Proverbs 3:5-6.
Monday, January 25, 2016
A Lot Can Happen in Three Weeks
Three weeks ago our pastor challenged everyone to a 21 day fast. Facebook was one of the things that I gave up during that time. This was a challenge, and I missed Facebook interactions. So, I tried to keep a mental list of events that took place during the last three weeks- I know everyone was chomping at the bit to know what was going on in my life- like you didn't have anything better to do- hahaha :)
The biggest event was the celebration of Zach's 11th birthday. I can't believe the little boy that rocked my world (and continues to make it very interesting) is on his way to adolescence (cringe....I am not ready for teenage years)! Those of you who know Zach know that he is a bundle of energy that never stops, and at times sends me as close as possible to a nervous breakdown as I could get without going over the edge...I can't imagine life without him. He is loud, rambunctious, and often times difficult...but, has a heart so tender and sweet that it will bring you to tears when he shows it. So, Happy Birthday (again) to Zachary James!
Our saddest event during the last three weeks was the loss of our beloved pet, Patches. She was about as agreeable as a rabid bobcat (haha), but we managed to get along for about 13 years (as long as we knew where we stood- she was in charge). Patches came into our family as a 6-week old kitten when Joseph was around 4/5. She had been with us through many moves, and even though she wasn't a touchy-feely kind of cat, we liked having her around. During week two she started acting funny, and by that Saturday she could not stand up on here own. So Scott and me loaded her up and took her to the UT Vet Emergency Room on a Saturday night where we spent close to $500 only to say good-bye to her. I didn't think that I even liked her that much (it was her sole desire to see how early in the morning she could make me get up to let her either out or into the garage), but I could not turn off the tears as we made the choice to let her go. Turned out she had an aggressive form of lymphoma that we couldn't have dine anything about had we had unlimited resources to try to cure her. RIP Patches - I hope animals are in heaven :)
The last biggest event that I will mention is that I started my PhD classes. WOW- can it be that they are as difficult yet not as bad as I thought all at once???? I love the interaction with my classmates (although I feel very intimidated at times- they are SOOO smart), but find it hard to keep up with all of the reading....good thing I love to read, and leadership is a passion of mine. Johnson University has really impressed me with the quality of the program, and how genuine the staff is. While I loved some of the work that I did at Liberty (and was thankful for the opportunity to complete my MA with them), sometimes the atmosphere was stifling, with a small amount of pretension. The atmosphere at Johnson has been completely different, and I am really looking forward to what I am going to learn on this journey.
That's all for now- but stay tuned :)
The biggest event was the celebration of Zach's 11th birthday. I can't believe the little boy that rocked my world (and continues to make it very interesting) is on his way to adolescence (cringe....I am not ready for teenage years)! Those of you who know Zach know that he is a bundle of energy that never stops, and at times sends me as close as possible to a nervous breakdown as I could get without going over the edge...I can't imagine life without him. He is loud, rambunctious, and often times difficult...but, has a heart so tender and sweet that it will bring you to tears when he shows it. So, Happy Birthday (again) to Zachary James!
Our saddest event during the last three weeks was the loss of our beloved pet, Patches. She was about as agreeable as a rabid bobcat (haha), but we managed to get along for about 13 years (as long as we knew where we stood- she was in charge). Patches came into our family as a 6-week old kitten when Joseph was around 4/5. She had been with us through many moves, and even though she wasn't a touchy-feely kind of cat, we liked having her around. During week two she started acting funny, and by that Saturday she could not stand up on here own. So Scott and me loaded her up and took her to the UT Vet Emergency Room on a Saturday night where we spent close to $500 only to say good-bye to her. I didn't think that I even liked her that much (it was her sole desire to see how early in the morning she could make me get up to let her either out or into the garage), but I could not turn off the tears as we made the choice to let her go. Turned out she had an aggressive form of lymphoma that we couldn't have dine anything about had we had unlimited resources to try to cure her. RIP Patches - I hope animals are in heaven :)
The last biggest event that I will mention is that I started my PhD classes. WOW- can it be that they are as difficult yet not as bad as I thought all at once???? I love the interaction with my classmates (although I feel very intimidated at times- they are SOOO smart), but find it hard to keep up with all of the reading....good thing I love to read, and leadership is a passion of mine. Johnson University has really impressed me with the quality of the program, and how genuine the staff is. While I loved some of the work that I did at Liberty (and was thankful for the opportunity to complete my MA with them), sometimes the atmosphere was stifling, with a small amount of pretension. The atmosphere at Johnson has been completely different, and I am really looking forward to what I am going to learn on this journey.
That's all for now- but stay tuned :)
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