WOW...I can't believe so much time has passed since I last blogged. I used to be so dedicated to my journaling, and then life caught up with me. Where, oh where do I begin? Think I'll borrow a line from Julie Andrews and start at the very beginning, a very good place to start.
I went back to college in August...after a 12 year lapse. Most people complete high school and college before starting a family. I did the high school and college route, and then took a different path of marriage and family. Looking back, I think my directions gave me a deeper purpose in my drive to finish my degree.
I'm non-stop from dawn till WAY after dusk...and then I'm burning the midnight oil trying to keep an A average. I have classes two days a week, and meet with a study group one day a week. These classes last seven weeks, with a final on the eighth, then I put those books away and get ready for the next round. I'll take four classes in one semester. It's EXHAUSTING trying to juggle the family, big school, little school, Church, etc., but I'm bound and determined to get my teaching degree. HOPEFULLY, come fall 2011 I will be the master of my own classroom...we shall see.
The family has been a TREMENDOUS help. Meg is now in charge of the laundry, Drew is in charge of sweeping, and Matt does what can keep Matt's attention (usually picking up things off the floor), with Brian and the kiddos pitching in for supper. Actually, the kids rotate planning the meals for a week. They have to plan everything. And we have to eat what they plan. We've had some creative meals and they've enjoyed this.
I am now on my Christmas break from big school. One of my favorite memories of college will be that I was fortunate to be a part of their Singing Christmas Tree. That took place last Friday and Saturday night. Let me set the stage for you...around 90 of us students and faculty members gathered Friday night in the gym to warm up. The tree was right next to the building so they had all the lights off for us to make our grand entrance. As we were practicing, the director warned us that there was something coming down, they felt it was rain, and if that was the case, be prepared to quickly pass back the row of lights that we were to hold during the ceremony. We were a little bummed but agreed that this plan was better than being electricuted! The choir was lined up, candles were passed out (so that we could walk throught the dark night to the tree), the silent procession made their way outside, we blew out the candles and placed them in the trash cans located by the tree, climbed to our spots, the strings of lights were passed down, the director gave her cue, the giant spot lights were turned on, and a collective gasp was heard. IT WAS SNOWING! Not just little bits and pieces, mind you, but think, brilliant, showers of blessings were flowing from the Heavens! HOW MAGICAL! I will always remember that special moment when I glimpsed snow. Truly a blessing!
Another break from my schools so it's time to blog! Our family was blessed to take a vacation to New Orleans over Spring Break. I wanted to take the kids for several reasons: get away, hang out with the family, and have the kids see a different way of life outside of themselves and their normal environment. It worked. We had the best time! Brian and I tried to show the kids how fortunate we are, and how less fortunate others are, without losing the innocence of the kids. Crazy, I know, but I was amazed at how quick they were to pick out someone who needs Jesus. 
We played and walked and laughed and walked and shopped and walked and looked and walked and ate and walked. Yep, we walked all over the big easy. We stayed in a hotel in the French Quarter whose pool was broken but had arranged for their guests to use another hotels pool two blocks away...so the kids walked through the French Quarter in swim suits and towels (and coverups of course) for two blocks to the pool a few times. We got quite a few looks but it was neat.
