The time is drawing near....

I can't believe Summer is over. Where did it go, what did we do? It all seems a blur. Tuesday both of the girls start school. They will both be going to school 5 days a week. Rose will go all day, Bella will be going a half day. They are excited, I'm not sure if I am.

With them starting school it means that pretty soon I will be starting school only a few weeks later. I'm excited yet slightly nervous. Last week I attended our two full day orientation to prepare us and inform us more about the remaining of our time in Nursing school. You know like how difficult it is going to be, how demanding it will be, how you won't see your family very much. I'm praying I find the strength to get through the next 50 weeks.

Mark is still unemployed. That, I think make it more difficult on me. He says that I should be relieved since I don't have to worry about childcare and such, but it makes for quite a stressful time. One good thing is that he had a job interview today, which went fairly well in his favor. We keep praying!

Thats about it happening lately, I'm sure you will here from me sooner than later - since I will be needing to vent a little more often!

....Rain....

Singing in the rain, just singing in the rain - what a a glorious feeling - I'm happy again!

Last night, I attended a Moody Blues concert with family members. As I was sitting, in the rain, in the torential downpour of rain, I realized that I am blessed beyond all measures to have this family to enjoy these moments with. It wasn't what we expected or wanted, but boy did we make the best of it.

Food, Fun, Concert, Rain and Singing make a blissful event!

Watching the free light show (lightening) was another highlight of the evening! To see the beauty we are given up CLOSE was amazing!

What a great ending to a weekend! I can't wait for the family reunion, only a few more weeks!

(oh sorry, no pictures - my camera doesn't like water ;)

Happy Happy Joy Joy!

A little someone reminded me I should update this more often. Sorry I hang around facebook so often, I forget about this little area!

Much has happened since I last posted. Mia's Birthday, My Birthday, Mark's layoff from his job, but most of all the best thing that I could have possibly asked for was my letter to.......








Congratulate me on my acceptance into Nursing School!! If there was anything that I needed right now in my life it was that letter. For two L O N G years I have been wishing to hear what I heard in that letter! I finished all my pre-requisites with a GPA of 3.98! That I think amazes me the most. I have found something that I not only enjoy, but something that I am absolutely good at! I am still tutoring through the college, and have been working towards my certificate in that as well. BUSY BUSY

Things are all coming together, now if only the rest of my life would.

More to come later!

Kindergarten Graduation!

I'm a bit behind, but things have been crazy!

Last week, Rose graduated from Kindergarten. It's crazy this year flew by. It seems as though just yesterday I was walking her to her first day of school!


That was the beginning of the school year!

Now....







What a change!!

* She has made wonderful new friends, and yet through her again so have I. * She has learned so much, just in one short year - its unbelievable, and yet through her again so have I. * She has developed a personality, not always one I like - but one that is HER, and yet through her again so have I - lol. * She is blossoming!

Yet even through these accomplishments I still look at her and see my "baby" Rose. The baby that clung to me and needed me for everything. The child who loved my peanut butter and jellies (now SHE needs to make them). The little girl who wanted me to play with her at all times (now all SHE wants is her friends). I don't think I will ever look at her any differently, even as she matures.

It's what makes me a Mom. It's what reminds me of where we have been and where we will go! It's what keep me from insanely crying, wondering why she must grow up!

Rose, I am so proud of you for what you have accomplished this year. You are everything I could have ever asked for!

You will always be my lil' TOAD!

Moving on up...

Lately, I have felt a feeling of change in my life.

"Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better."

What is changing, well lets see...what isn't ;)

I don't have connections with my friends that I once had, nor do I feel the need to keep those said connections.

I feel disconnected from my overall health.

I've made some new friends, that I am completely thankful for. They understand me, and that means a lot.

My views on whats important have really become apparant.

Appreciation has become my new best friend!

Sure some are not so good, but right now I think the good changes are outweighing the bad changes. I knew this would happen when I went back to school. Priorities change, people change, you change. I keep telling myself it will be all worth it when it is over. Perhaps after repeating it enough, I will believe it whole-heartedly.

I'm missing people, my Dad, being one of them. (Hi Dad!) I wish there was a way for us to spend some time together, soon - I hope! Perhaps if I get accepted to Nursing school, I can splurge and come and visit with you!

I'm burning out of school. Perhaps its the uncertainity and knowing that after all of this hard work, I may not get into my program. That really changes your perspective, believe me. However, I am still moving on.

I'm embracing this change, taking it and moving on up!

For up is the only way to go!!

Risen!

I hope you all had a most enjoyable Easter. We enjoyed a dinner/day with family! What more could you ask for?


I need to post this, I love this story of Rose.


P.S. If you think taking pictures of 1 or 2 children is hard, try 3! Next to impossible, almost!!

While at the hospital on Saturday visiting my husbands grandmother, a nurse started talking with Rose about what happens Sunday (Easter). Nurse asked Rose, "Who comes tomorrow?" Rose thought for a quick moment and said, "Jesus". The nurse looked up at me with a startled eye. I smiled. She then proceeded to ask Rose, "Well, what is so special about tomorrow?" I know the Nurse was looking for the usual Easter Bunny, or Easter Basket reply, however Rose proceeded to state, "Jesus lives!". The look on the nurses face was pure joy in my heart. Hallelujah!

It's begun!

The craziness, the monotony, the impatience! School started last week. Nursing Pharmacology and The Human Body: Human Body Holistics. One seems harder then the other, I will let you ponder on that one.

With school, comes tutoring. I'm becoming less and less fond of the idea of spending my precious time doing this "chore". I won't even comment anymore on this! The words aren't nice.

I took my first big test on Tuesday! Wow, it was intense. I will get my results in three weeks, it seems like an eternity of waiting, though! Next big one is in May.

Last week, was a week filled with emotions. My daughter lost her Kindergarten teacher. The reasons are clear, but with privacy matters at hand, we were not told the truth. I was devistated, hurt, words cannot speak my emotions last week. Rose was the same, she seems to be handling it better now, but still the same she misses her teacher!!

This week is Spring Break for the girls, but not for Mommy. Hopefully I can fit some fun things into the schedule for them to do. They deserve it! They have been so supportive and well behaved through my whole schooling adventure (well pretty much ;)

Wanna hear a funny: When I leave the house - all the girls (including Mia) say All A's Mom - no B's. My response is yeah, because B's are a BUMMER! I love them so - they keep me going....

Sunday is Easter, we have plans to have lunch/dinner with family. Thats the best part!

Notice!

Yes, I am pouting. I'm just not right, I tell ya! However much I pray, however much I think positive, the pouting just doesn't go away!

Things are crazy here, emotionally - physically, just plain crazy! The stress is taking its toll on me, but yet there is nothing that I can do to change it. It's out of my control, I know that much, but still how do you let it go.

Mark's hours were reduced at work. That probably plays the biggest part right now. The uncertainty of layoff, the what ifs are almost enough to drive a person to drink. Yeah I know, its not a layoff, but that is a pay reduction we just can't afford right now.

Finals week were last week. Sure I finished the semester with another 4.0, but I wasn't even really too excited about that. I'm getting burnt out, and it probably stems from the fact that my big Nursing Entrance Test is coming up and I am SCARED. This is the make or breaking point. This determines if I have just wasted $13,000 or not. Also, the stress from the above paragraph, who knows if I will continue. Right now our family's finances are most important and if I have to go back to work full time, I will.

Mark's Grandma was taken into the hospital this past week. Things were shaky and things still are. She has recovered from her surgery (which they still don't know the actual cause of illness), but this has left her just a little confused. I am hoping that this wears off soon.

I don't know why, but my life seems a mess right now. I'm ready for a change. I'm putting in my two week notice, if things don't change, well.....I don't know.....maybe I will just QUIT! Leaving and going to, hmmmmm, I don't know somewhere far and exotic sounds just about perfect to me right now! My very own deserted island!

Happy 6th Birthday, Rose Marie!

Today, was Rose's 6th Birthday! Wow these years are flying!

Friday we celebrated her birthday at school with all of her classmates and brought in mini blueberry muffins with a cream cheese frosting and blueberries on top. Yum Yum! It was wonderful to share in her day at school. Songs and wishes from all her teachers and friends made the day even more special!

On Friday evening she lost her first tooth. She couldn't of been more excited. She wants another one to come out, already. The tooth fairy brought her and very special "chapter" book and of course some money! I wonder if that is why she wants another one to fall out!

I'm speechless right now, probably because of the montage I just made....here you tell me what you think!!

I really need to start slowing down and smelling the coffee, I feel like I may start missing some thing....

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Friends!

Last week, I had the pleasure of chaperoning Rose's Kindergarten class to the Detroit Opera House to see "If you give a Pig a Pancake". There was a total of fifty 5 and 6 year old on one bus! What an interesting journey. Who would have thought singing Jingle Bells in February would be so much fun!!

I was placed with 6 girls, of course, 6 of Rose's closest girlfriends! What a riot. The girls were great together; holding hands, hugging, laughing - just being generally concerned about each other (including me) while we were out.

I seriously considered changing my major. Elementary education was calling my name that day.

All in all this has been the day I have been looking forward to for many years now. What a joy! I can't wait to do it again!

Oh, and If you get a chance to see the performance of "If you give a Pig a Pancake" - do it! It was wonderful!

Happy 4th Birthday, Bella Grace!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The Nerve of some PEOPLE!

Seriously, if I wasn't just a down right honest to goodness good person, I would have to be laying down some smack just about now! It's a long story, I don't even want to make it a short story.

It hurts, but what gives. We have tried to work things out before (NO - not Mark and I, this has to do with others), but things always continue festering.

People are just bothering me lately! I am so thankful for MY family. They are what FAMILY is supposed to be. We HELP each other, we genuinely CARE for each other, we SUPPORT each other. It's a normal thing, or at least I thought.

I can imagine life without this stress. Free from being someone who they want you to be, Free from caring about what they think, Free from it all. It would be a great feeling, if things weren't so complicated!

Anyway, this weekend....

Aside from working, which it seemed I did all weekend, was pretty uneventful. Well Friday, was an interesting day for Rose, she had to move her disciplinary clip to yellow, because a boy wrote on her, so she in turn wrote on him. After a discussion with her she knows what the proper way of handling this situation would have been. Cheryl (her teacher) was kind enough to call me on my cell phone before I went to pick up Rose so I had a heads up. So that set up her weekend for disappointment. No lunch with the teacher and a yellow mark on her calendar = makes for a sad Rose!

Mark and his Uncle Keith hung out on Friday night. They sat around drinking Beer and eating Venison Sausage (YUCK!). They even got the girls eating it!!! He wanted to come and meet the dog (which he tried to buy from us) and he really likes to hang out with the girls. So they did that as I WORKED!

Saturday I WORKED, again, and then we had a special event. Mark's grandfather turned 80 years young! I can only seriously hope I live that long. We had dinner with him amongst others on Saturday. My parents stopped by and wished his day good, as well. (Oh and for those of you who were worried, we are all "squared" away on the money aspect $50.00 has been paid to the appropriate person). lol

Sunday means church, grocery shopping and Superbowl all wrapped into one busy day.

All the while, I was trying to study for a HUGE Microbiology exam I have tonight! Goodness.....it can't get any better!

Meet Zeus!

The newest addition to our family! She is 15 weeks and an absolute doll! We picked her up on Friday night, had two accidents in the house and since then has been perfect! No chewing, No accidents, just cool:calm:and collective!

Her sister, Athena, was adopted by Mark's sister Stephanie. After two nights of not being with her sister, Zeus and Athena finally met again on Sunday! They were so happy to see each other.

Yes, we know Zeus is a male name, but I figured since Mark is out-numbered in this household we might as well change it up a bit. So maybe she will be Zeusette - but we will call her Zeus! The girls really liked Jules, but I think Zeus has a firmer tone (not that this one has the makings of a guard dog, though ;)



She is a lab/rott mix - she looks more Rottweiler to me. Her tale is docked, and she soooo reminds me of my Gunther! The girls are adjusting well to living with a dog. I can't believe how much they have stepped up, I am sure this will die down soon, but right now they are loving the extra duties.



She is adjusting well to our routines, dropping off Rose : picking up Rose and whines whenever I leave! Ahhhhhh... Oh well I am sure you will be hearing more stories from this one. Just hopefully not like the stories from Ellisa and her blue painted Dog!

Puppy Thoughts

Oh goodness, good golly - guess what is one our mind! Yep, that's right PUPPY! After nearly two years after the loss of our Duke and Gunther - we miss that companionship! We have outweighed the pros and cons. We know what to expect, for goodness sake we have owned dogs basically the whole time of Mark and I's courtship!

It's funny, you don't want dogs when you have them, but then when you don't have them you just know something is missing. It's hard to explain, but certainly a feeling we are experiencing.

Today, we went and looked at what could be our future dog. A little girl, Rottweiler. She is soooo precious! The girls fell in love with her and she fell in love with the girls. She looks EXACTLY like the one above. We almost I mean *almost* bought her! We have an appointment to look at another dog this week, though. We wanted to keep both options open.

This is our other choice! Precious, I tell ya!


I can't believe we are actually debating this, but the girls are just soooooo convincing of why they want a dog and all the things they will do just so they can have a dog (yeah, roll eyes here). But you know, who can say no to their cute begging faces!!








Yeah I know - Call me CRAZY!!

Stop the Train!

The time has come! Yes, the potty training has begun! Mia decided this morning that she did not want a diaper on. She walked around for a bit here and there and came up to me saying PeePee. I told her to get her Potty Chair and sit down. So what did she do? She got her potty chair and stood on it and made PeePee. Granted some got on the chair, some got in the pot of the chair, and some got on her leg; but she gets the idea!!!! No miracles are expected here, but its a step!

Now she is telling me Poop. Girl slow down! This train is moving too fast.

This just perhaps may be (and probably is) my last baby! What will I do without any baby diapers to change :( I'm already getting sad thinking about it.

Oh Mia - I love you!!

Christmas and New Years - all rolled into one!

Or at least that is what the Holiday time felt like. It flew by, and now I am kinda sad it is over. My house looked like a department store - clothes, games, toys - all over the place! The girls received a Wii this year! They were so excited! Their favorite game thus far is Disney Enchanted Journey Princess game. They each came home with about 5 outfits, Games, Color Wonders, Disney princess figurines, baby dolls, a doll house and too much more to list.

This year, I think you all may know the song that goes, "and Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again" - its a Christmas song, well it brought a whole new meaning in my life. Rose could not stop asking when she was going back to school. I believe we heard it every day. Now I know why they included it in the song!!

During the holiday break; Mark and I took the girls and his Mom to the Detroit Historical Society and the Detroit Institute of Arts. It was a great trip. I didn't know Rose had such a deep appreciation for Christian Art. She dragged me to all of the Christian Art and talked to me about each one. They had an eye spy game there, that kept her quite busy as well. A must do for the older ones! I hope to go again, but just with her and I.

On New Years Eve, I volunteered to spent overnight as a hostess at McRest at our church. It was a great evening filled with wonderful conversation and a renewed spirit. I would suggest it to everyone.

Monday was the start of school. As I was dropping Rose off at school, I mentioned to her that I would miss her. She looked at me and said "Mom, you had plenty of time with me, Ms. Shrader (her teacher)has not spent any time with me for more than 10 days now!" I couldn't stop laughing! Although I know this is what she wanted, I still miss her more than ever during the day. We had some great times together during our weeks off.

Next week, its back to school for me, as well. Algebra and Microbiology here I come. I have my calendar situated and ready and my book bag packed! Can you tell I have missed school as well. I'm ready to get on with it already.

I hope you all had a great Holiday and have a prosperous New Year!



As a new introduction has come into my life now says - Peace is mine in 2009! (I'll blog more on this later).