Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Holiday Rush

Humm the holidays are here. It feels like Christmas because we have snow on the ground and the temperature is hoovering in the mid teens most of the time. I love winter when it is snowy and the temps are in the high 30's to mid 40's. Snowman building weather is great out. But we always seem to have the snow and the cold COLD temperatures.

So getting ready for the holidays. Humm I have done most of my shopping already this year or at least have a list of what I am getting people. I just need to make the road trip out of town to buy stuff. The kids are pretty much taken care of. Sam is done and under the tree. The tree is up and decorated. I really struggle to get the holiday spirit. I think it comes from being raised with the belief that Christmas is wrong. Now as an adult, it seems like such a political holiday that I really struggle to just keep it about family and celebrating the birth of Jesus. I don't like getting all wrapped in the buying of gifts and the holiday about money and giving the perfect gift. To me the perfect gift would be an evening at home with my family playing board games and snacking. Just spending time together hanging out. I try to make the holidays about my family time.

Lately we have really been into hanging out. A couple weeks ago I put down a big piece of cardboard on the living room floor and started a jigsaw puzzle. It didn't take long for all 5 of us to gather around and spend time putting it together. Now we have had a different puzzle on the board all the time. We also got out the old backgammon game. Sam and I use to play it a lot when we were dating back 20 years ago. But lately we have all been having fun just sitting on the floor playing games together. Now that is the perfect holiday season.

Hope everyone has a great Holiday Season. Megan has been invited to play in the Junior Masters Cup Tennis tournament. They invite 8 girls in the 18 year old division to come to Kalispell and play in the tournament. It is such a great opportunity that we felt we couldn't pass it up. So we will be leaving for Kalispell on the 26th and returning home very late Sunday night the 30th.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Brrrrr.... Winter is on it's way!!

Boy fall is long gone and the cold days of winter are upon us here in Montana. I am not sure I am ready for the days when it is dark when I leave work and the COLD. Brrrrrr.

In other news. I have been really busy working on crafts for the craft show. Just getting different things ready is taking forever. I am sure this will be our last year of doing the craft show. This year has been a lot of work.

Megan did really good at the State A cross country meet last weekend. She placed 38th out of 142 girls. I was really proud of her, but she was a little disappointed in her time as it wasn't her seasons best.

If you are a baseball fan like I am, it is GO ROCKIES!!!!! I was really rooting for the Red Soxs to beat the Cleaveland Indians, but I would love to see the ROCKIES win the world series this year.

Amanda moved back home today. It will take some getting use to since she was so eager to move out at 18 and not have to follow our rules. Now she is 20 and willing to follow the rules to save some money! Well off to watch the end of the game and than head to bed.

So what do you think of the new blog banner? I have been playing around and working on it.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Thursday wanderings!

Well it is Thursday, October 18th. My youngest daughter turned 18 yesterday!! I am still finding it hard to believe that she is 18 years old. It seems like just not that long ago I was the one that was 18 years old. I was foot loose and fancy free back than enjoying life. Boy would it slap in the face really fast and wake me up that foot loose and fancy free isn't something that lasts very long. But a good life it has been never the less!! We had cake and had fun last night. She is so much fun to be around because she is so out going. Her big excitment was that she went and bought lottery tickets. In the scratch tickets she was excited because she spent $4 and won $2 back. There is that right of passage in turning 18. I have to say she has been such a great kid! I would have thought she would have been the one that would have given me so much trouble as a teenager. She didn't at all. She followed the rules and never has really been one to want to go out and do the whole party hang out with her friends. She would rather have her friends over to the house and that is fine with me!!

So today Megan is off to the State Cross Country meet in Helena!! They are leaving this afternoon for the 8 hour bus ride up there! She made cupcakes for everyone on the bus to celebrate her birthday!!
Good luck MEGAN!!!

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Family and Religion

Wow my family is nuts or at least half of them are. Well my mom finally did it, she tore our family apart totally. My mother became a Jehovah's Witness shortly after I was born. I had known the JW religion my whole life. As I was growing up in a home that was very dysfunctional. My father had two children prior to meeting my mother than he began having an affair with my mother who also had a son from a previous relationship. When they were married I was the oldest, than had two younger sisters. We never got to see my dad's oldest children until I was in high school. Anyway the family was very dysfunctional with my dad drinking all the time, my mother was always spending and fighting with my dad. I grew up thinking we were a very poor family (didn't qualify for free lunch at school because my parents made too much, but we didn't get lunch at all.) I actually had friends whose parents would pack me a lunch when I was in middle school and send it with their daughter.

So my dysfunctional family was being raised as Jehovah's Witnesses. My mom's son was always in trouble. He was into drugs and drinking and would steal all the time. We were always in trouble for things he did. To make the family dynamics worse because he was not my dad's son he was very hard on him. Which made it worse because my mother gave him everything he wanted to make up for it. I never got a long with my mother, truly couldn't stand her from almost as long as I could remember. She was so mean to me (I think because my dad and I spent so much time together). Anyway I remember my mom telling me and my younger sister that if we were baptised than she would buy us each a car. So we both got baptised, only to my surprise I never got a car from my mom. But low and behold my sister did. That was when I was 15. When I was 16, I got in a major fight with my mom and she slapped me and I slapped her. That was the end for me. I left home and moved in with a friend and her family. (they were not JW's.) Needless to say I was disfellowshipped when I was 17 years old. I never really had a relationship with my mother again for a couple years. She was mad that I was living on my own, working evenings and going to high school during the day. I was determined to graduate high school. My mother was not really involved in my life at the time.

I had my daughter Amanda and ended my relationship with her father only to meet Sam that fall when Amanda was 3 months old. Amanda and I moved to live with Sam and we were married and had a daughter. My mother and father didn't come to my wedding even though I had it outside in a park so they couldn't use the excuse it was in a church. My mother didn't know her two granddaughters. She had seen Amanda a little bit before we moved, but hadn't seen Megan at all. It wasn't until I was pregnant with Jerad that I began speaking to my mother again. I had always talked to my dad off and on, but it was difficult to talk to me without having to deal with my mom afterward. So my sisters and mom came to visit shortly after Jerad was born. My mom and I never had a close relationship, but she made it clear during my children's young lives that my sisters children were her favorites. She would always try to push her religion on them. She because very upset when myself and my children were baptised in the catholic church and I was confirmed.

We talk periodically during the years. It wasn't until the separation of my parents that the trouble really began. My mom had called my husband up and asked him to write her statements falsifying information for her divorce saying my dad had given him things that were worth month and she was entitled to half that money. My husband told her where to go and she let loose on him about choosing sides. Needless to say my husband didn't care if she ever came to our house again. We still had contact off and on during the years since.

Now it has been 25 years since I have been disfellowshiped, I have had contact with my mom and my sisters. They have come to visit and my two girls both had flown up to spend the summers with them. Than boom all heck breaks loose the other day. My sister has been in Montana for about 3 weeks now with her kids. They haven't called or anything to come visit or have us drive up to see them. Well on Sunday my mom calls to say they won't be coming to see me at all because I am disfellowshipped and they can't speak to me anymore. So I let her have it. I am so sick of her games. But than she hangs up the phone and calls my oldest daughter and asks her if she wants to get together with them. She doens't call my other children at all. She tells my oldest not to tell me or her siblings about seeing them. What a crock of crap to try to cause trouble in my family like that. I explained to my oldest daughter what my mom had said to me. Needless to say my daughter was pissed because she has been hurt by my mom over the last 20 years. So she calls them back to tell them they won't be seeing her. Than my mom has the nerve to call me up and tell me I am making her grandchildren hate her and that she has a right to see them if she wants.

I just unloaded on her and told her that she will probably never see them again because it was her choice. I told her and my children that their relationship was up to them and I wouldn't stand in the way if they wanted to see their grandma. Needless to say my mother also called my brother and told him that he can't contact me anymore or my mother wounldn't speak to him. Gee he left the church way before me and did way worse things, but because he wasn't baptised it was okay!! That religion is such a cult.

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Going digital baby


Okay I am really interested in the hybrid scrapbooking but figured I would try to make an all digital layout. So tonight I was playing around with some free kits on line and just getting in some practice. So here it is my first ever fully digital layout.

Friday, August 24, 2007

THey are off and running



Well the kids started school this past week on Wednesday. It was kind of a weird day for me. Megan started her senior year. It really didn't bother me when Amanda was in her senior year, but with Meg's maybe it is that she is my youngest daughter, but it really bothered me to think I would only have one child left at home next year at this time. Jerad is a sophmore this year.

We went in and got his schedule all arranged and changed around because he can't participate in PE for the first quarter due to his broken humerous (upper arm) and he couldn't do his weights class till at least January, so he just dropped that. He is a little bummed watchiing all his classmates go off to football practice and games this year, but he is resolved to just keep working and safe up money so he can have fun next year!!

Well Megan has her first cross country meet of the season tomorrow morning here at home. I get to help be a timer!! I am looking forward to watching her, amazing how much she loves her sports!

Monday, August 13, 2007

Beartooth Highway


Oh I love it every year when we get in the car and take our weekend drive up over the Beartooth Highway between Red Lodge and Cooke City, Montana. It is always my favorite way into Yellowstone Park because it is the most BEAUTIFUL place in the world. There is nothing better than the drive up the switchbacks of the mountain and crossing over the top and than winding down the other side. I love stopping to look at all the beautiful scenery along the way and the low valleys filled with ice cold water from the moutain snow. We were all disappointed because there was no snow low enough to get to this year for a snowball fight. Last year it was perfect to have a snowball fight. It is amazing how hot (about 90 degrees) it is at the bottom of the hill and by the time you get to the top we are all grabing sweatshirts and blankets to cover up our legs because it is probably in the low 40's up on top.

What a great weekend to just be with nature.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Busy, Busy, Busy

Boy it seems like summer is suppose to be a time of fun and relaxation. At my house lately it seems like it is just busy all the time. This week we drove over to Bismarck and spent the night. Nothing like a great fix at Hobby Lobby. I don't get often, but I sure do some damage when I am there.

I was excited because I also purchased our backpacks for Megan and my trip to Europe next summer. When we started planning this trip to Europe I thought I would just fill my suitcase, plan our all the things we wanted to see and do. The further we got in to the planning the more I started realizing what all it would mean. The last couple weeks I was pretty freaked out realizing that we had to pack all our luggage with us through the streets and on the trains to all the different locations. So I bought our backpacks yesterday that hold 3100 cu inches so we are pretty set there, we will have to pack pretty conservative, but I think it will be okay.

I am still pretty freaked about the language, but I have been working on my books and cd's and I have our travel translations books so I am hoping there will be some great English speaking individuals that will take pitty on us if we really are in a bind.

This weekend we are off to Billings to the Chris Daughtry concert and just having a little fun. I can't wait, it will be great. I also get to hit Michaels!!!!! Till next week.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Thankful

I turned 40 last week and while the age part doesn't bother me, the things it represents bother me more. It it a mark in life, halfway. I would like to think I have accomplished so much in my lifetime. I know I have achieved way more than I ever thought I would in life. I would have never guessed I would be 40 years old, have a masters degree (heck when I graduated from high school even going to college was unthinkable.) I have been married for 18 years to the most wonderful man. I am truly so thankful for him each and every day. Don't get me wrong we have our differences, but every day he does the littlest things that me make love him more each day. We have three great children, they will always be children to me even though they think they are adults. I have experienced life, and truly feel like I have been blessed.

Turning 40 got me to thinking of things I still want to do in life. I want to travel more, explore more, and appreciate life in general more. My daughter and I are planning a trip to Europe next summer for 2 weeks when she graduates from high school. We are both looking forward to it, I actually thought in the beginning that 2 weeks would be so long to be away from home, but as we plan I am thinking we are not going to have near enough time to enjoy the things we both want to see. I never thought my husband would ever travel out of the USA, because he just doesn't like traveling long distances. But the more we plan the more he is realizing the things he is missing out on. He even mentioned he would love to do some traveling to German and Italy with me for our 20th anniversary in a couple years. I can't wait.

Life is good.

Monday, June 18, 2007

The tennis star

Megan and I went to Billings, Montana last weekend so she could play in a tennis tournament. She entered into the 18 year old girls singles and the Women's open catagories. She worked her but off and came out the champion in both events. She was so great. She played some of the best matches ever. I was really impressed with her. I loved just getting to spend three days, sitting in a lawn chair under a shade tree watching her play and reading my book. Just a great weekend. The end of this month we are off to Cody Wyoming so she can play in another tournament.

Sam is on vacation for the next 18 days and really looking forward to having so much time off work. I am still going to work, but take off a couple days when we go to Cody.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Great News -- prayer's answered



Well today marks one month since my son broke his humerous just below his shoulder sliding into home plate during his baseball game. He got to experience a lot of firsts that day. His first real ride in an ambulance (don't think he want's to experience that again, it wasn't as great as they make it look in the movies.) His first real extensive broken bone and his first major injury that required extensive time in the ER. Well Monday was the magical day because we had another doctor appoinment. The great news was there is new bone growth and his arm is healing on his own so there will not be any surgery. When he first broke it and we went to the orthopedic surgeon there were 2 options: 1) do surgery right away, setting the break and putting in rods and plates to hold the bone or 2) just wait it out and see if the bone moves into place setting itself with gravity and new bone will begin to grow healing the break (if after a month they would do the surgery than if this didn't happen.) He said there was about a 20% chance he wouldn't need to do surgery but once he did the surgery his arm would forever be weak and many of the activities he enjoys such as baseball and football would be out. Well we figured since he was only 14 and that he had his whole life ahead of him, we would go with option 2 and pray like crazy that he doesn't need the surgery. Well Monday those prayers were answered. The bone is healing all on his own.... no surgery!! Jerad will still be in his cast for another 8 weeks and than begin physical therapy to regain some strength and motion he has lost with his arm tied to his body but all is good.

I worked on a couple layouts last night for a word challenge "go" and "stop". Tomorrow Megan and I are off for a tennis tournament in Billings!!

Friday, June 01, 2007

Happy June


Boy does it feel like June weather, it is cloudy and rainy here again today. I love the smell of rain, but don't so much like when it comes and stays for a week. It is great though because we are actually at about normal percipitation for the year right now which hasn't happened in years. Maybe not near as many forest fires this year.

Glad things for the day:
It is FRIDAY!
I have a crop tonight (love some time with friends).
Mike has a race this weekend over in Dickinson!!
Hubby changed the water in the Hot Tub last night so it is clean and smells so good!!
A weekend of scrapbooking planned!!
And my kit from Scrap in Style will hopefully be here!!

The window is one I altered to hang on my wall. I love it!! I got a bunch of old windows when they remodeled the fair grounds and wasn't sure what to to with them, I just knew I would use them for the craft show this fall. Anyway this is what I came up with. I made it so I can insert new pictures into the layouts. I am also making layouts in the christmas theme so that I can put them in during the holiday season with pictures of past holidays.

Happy Friday, all.

Saturday, May 26, 2007

State Tennis


Wow I have to say I was really impressed at the State Tennis meet this week. Megan lost her first match and than won her second, but lost out on the third round. It was amazing how hard those kids played. They gave it their all. I am so proud of her for even making it to state.

Today we were working on some senior pictures today. Here is one of my favorites from today.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Happy Thursday

I just stopped in at work to catch up on a few things before heading off to see my daughter at the State Tennis meet. Jerad is sporting a new (holy cow 268.00) piece of plastic on his arm. I had to laugh because the cast sounds so funny "functioning humerous". I had to laugh at him yesterday when the doctor was talking to him and he pipes up and tells the doctor he doesn't know why anyone would name the bone the humerous because there is nothing funny about it. That is so my wise son, who questions everything.

I am so glad that he got the new cast and things are good. I am a little leary about changing the cast because it has a cloth compression sleeve that goes under the plastic that has to be changed every couple of days. So basically hubby and I have to take the cast off change the sleeve while holding his arm where it broke with out moving it. I am such a worrier that the thought of being the one responsible for moving his arm scares me to death. I told him I hope it doesn't start stinking for about a week, so I have some time to get my nerve up to change it.

Off to watch tennis today!! Hope everyone is having a great day.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

State Qualifiers in Tennis


Well here they are, our small town State Tennis Qualifiers. Left to Right
Justin Duke and Addie Lordemann, Assistant coaches, Rich Lindgren, DCHS tennis coach
Bethany Orcutt and Ashlea Duke (2nd place doubles), Mariah Linn (2nd place singles), Alex Tsomaya (3rd place singles), Blake Anderson (4th place singles), and Megan Geiger (4th place singles).

I have never been so proud of my daughter to watch her struggle in 90 plus degree weather with exhaustion because her match was already going on 3 1/2 hours to take state qualifing position. There were 16 people in her group and to come out in one of the top 4 spots is truly amazing, especially for a Junior in high school.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Random Thoughts

I am really starting to get nervous about tomorrow. My worry is that Jerad will have to have surgery to place the rods and pins in his upper arm where he broke it. I worry the bone hasn't moved into position on it's own over the last week and half and that he will need the surgery. I worry that they will try to set it tomorrow and he will be in pain. I just worry what tomorrow will bring for him.

Last night I started working on some "layouts" to hang on the window of the tennis bus taking the state qualifiers to their tennis meet. I just took a 12x12 sheet of paper that has a ball going over the tennis net. I put everyone's name at the top in large letters and than on the white top of the net, I am putting the words Red Devil Tennis. I am hoping to have a picture of each of the state qualifiers to add to the layout when I tape them up on the bus windows. Than when they take them home they can hang them up there.

Monday, May 21, 2007

Blue

Took this from my friend Becca's blog post. It was amazing how accurate this is to how I truly am.
BLUE

You give your love and friendship unconditionally. You enjoy long, thoughtful conversations rich in philosophy and spirituality. You are very loyal and intuitive.

Find out your color at QuizMeme.com!



Happy Monday all, I am feeling very grateful today. It is a cloudy rainy day here but that is a great thing. We need the rain and I am loving being inside. It will make me appreciate the sun later this week when I can be outside enjoying it. I just am so thankful today for all the things I have in my life and how greatful I am to be able to enjoy them. Guess in a strange way I am just really appreciating everything that is right in my life today!! Hope you all have a great Monday!

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Lego Land




Just working on some layouts today. Here is one I did of Jerad and Freddie-Leigh at the Mall of America!

Friday, May 18, 2007

Going to State Baby

I am so excited right now. My daughter, Megan, is going to State Tennis next weekend. She is a junior and this will be her first year at state!! I am not sure if she is going in ranked 3rd or 4th in the division in singles yet because she still has another match, but she is so going!!

She just played the marathon match of her life. She took the court at 11:15 and finished her last set at 3:00. 3 hours and 45 minuted in 90 plus weather. It was the most awesome match of the whole year!! She won the first set in a tie-breaker, lost the 2nd set in a tie-breaker and won the third set in a tie-breaker. My daughter was so excited, but I was so disappointed in the other girl because she threw her rachet down and walked off the court, not shaking hands or anything. Megan gathered her stuff and went to shake hands with the girl, but she wouldn't shake her hand. Megan is a true sportsman, she does get down on herself, but she gives it 100% to everything she does. I am so proud of her.

Friday!!

I love the fact that it is Friday today. I am feeling much better about my son. He doesn't seem to be in as much pain. I found away to wash around his cast yesterday and got him some spray on deoderant and he felt like a new man last night. He really is improving slowly but surely. Yesterday afternoon we went to clean out his gym locker and also his school locker as he hasn't been to school all week. Hopefully he can go back next Monday and Tuesday for a couple hours each day. The hard thing is when he takes his pain medication it just seems to knock him out totally for a couple hours.

Okay it is Friday and this is going to be an upbeat post. Exciting news this week, is that on my 40th birthday I will be in Chicago at CHA!! Oh my gosh I am so excited about this because it will be my first time at CHA. What a way to celebrate turning 40, with my best friend and the two other wonderful people that have given me great teaching opportunitiies at the LSS. I can't wait. The other great thing about going to CHA is that my wonderful husband is also so excited for me to go. He totally understands me wanting to go and how much it means for me to get to go!!

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Helpless

That one simple word, HELPLESS, so describes how I am feeling right now. I woke up this morning and took one look at Jerad and just started crying. I feel so helpless because he is just so exhausted from having to spend every moment sitting up in a chair. He is still in considerable pain. He is so strong and tough and so for him to even rub his arm lets me know just how much pain he is in. He doesn't like being out of it on the pain medication or the way it makes him want to sleep all the time.

I just feel so helpless in trying to make him comfortable right now. I just want to call the doctor and say we can't wait another week for his arm to position itself on it's own. I am trying hard to have faith in the doctor, but honestly I have never hear of someone breaking their humerous and than the doctor just saying we will leave it for 10 days to see if it moves it sets its self in position because of gravity. I just don't feeling like I am not able to help him in anyway.

I know the poor kid hates that he is soon to be 15 years old and having to ask his mom to help him with everything. I just wish there was more I could do for him.

Okay pitty party over for me today. I think I need to go shopping and get him something cool to entertain himself with.

Monday, May 14, 2007

The Orthopedic Surgeons visit

I was able to get Jerad into the orthopedic surgeon this morning in Dickinson. Nothing like calling in and them giving me 1 1/2 to drive over there. We made it just in time. Anyway the doctor decided to wait and see. So he left Jerads arm in the splint half wrap thing it is currently in till next Wednesday. Than he will see if the bone has aligned itself back into position, or if he needs to go in and set it. If he sets it he will also put in rods, a plate and some pins at that time. If it is in position, he will wait another three weeks to see if the bone begins to grow and heal itself, if not he will go in and do surgery than with the pins, plate and rods. The doctor said that where it broke is difficult to heal and that is his worry now. But like he said it isn't going to matter if we wait the 4 weeks to see if it does it on its own. He is probably out of sports and everything for about a year.

Jerad is really bummed because he was really looking forward to drivers ed this year. Now he can't take driver's ed till next year when they offer it again. What a bummer. Good news no school this week and only 1/2 days next week if he feels up to it.

Megan is going into tennis divisionals this week. I am really hoping she makes it to state this year. So Thursday and Friday, we are off to divisionals.

What a day!

Yesterday was Mother's Day. I blogged about how great it was and everything, well than it happened. Jerad had a basball game at 3:15 against AIM. They were up 8 to 1 bottom of the 7th. Jerad stole home and came sliding into the plate face down. I knew the way he laid there that something was terribly wrong. He didn't even move or try to get up. Thank god there was an EMT there watching his newphew. He got the ambulance called right away and we got Jerad's head propped up out of the dirt. Jerad said he knew it was bad when he went to grab his upper arm and thought he was touching it but his fingers were still about 6 inches from his arm. The ambulance came and they got him rolled over onto a back board and loaded up. Oh man every little bump was so painful for him on that short ride to the hospital. It was so rough ridding for me, it was the first time I saw an ambulance go supper slow to the hospital because he litterally screamed after every bump jarred his arm which was tapped to his body at that point.

At the hospital they druged him up and took x-rays. Turned out he broke his humerous (the upper bone between the shoulder and elbow. The PA on staff called around to different towns that have orthopedic surgeons and they decided that setting it was not an emergency because he could move his thumb which meant his nerves were still in tack. Since none of the orthopedic surgeons would do surgery that night to set it into place (gotta love doctors that don't want to fix people on Sunday evenings, god forbid they might miss desperate housewives). Well the PA sedated him and moved his arm around to splint it and tape it to his body really good so it wouldn't move. Than sent us home with some major pain pills. With orders to call the doctors offices right away in the morning to schedule an appointment to get the arm casted hopefully today or tomorrow. What a joke having to schedule your appointments to get your broken arm set and casted after and emergency. Nothing like living in rural America. So now here I sit waiting till 8 or 9 when the doctor's offices open to see if I can get him in today than we will head off to wherever.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Mother's Day

Wow it is such a beautiful day out. Happy Mother's Day to all you mother's. My day is already great just because it is a Sunday, I am off work, there is a nascar race today, and my son has a baseball game, oh and one last thing, the sun in out and it is so warm and sunny for a early May day!!

My 20 layouts class went really well last night and than afterwards we discussed going to Chicago for CHA the end of July!! Wow, I am just in awe, that will be so awesome!!!

Friday, May 11, 2007

20 layouts in a day class



I am teaching this at my LSS tomorrow. I am really excited about this class. I have enjoyed putting it together.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Crunch time

Well tomorrow morning I am off to Fargo to sit for the CRC exam. (certified Rehabilitation Counselor) I am very nervous about the exam. I don't do well with tests and the panic is already setting in. I have studied non-stop for the last 2.5 months and figure I have a good understanding on everything. The funny thing is there are two ladies that are in my university classes and the one admitted last night she studied for the first time for the test for .5 hour. OMG .5 hour of studying??? I have studied at least 1 to 2 hours most days for this dang test. I wish I really had her self-confidence about passing. I don't want to be negative, but I am prepared to take it again in the fall if I absolutely have to. I just feel like I have not worked in the field directly like others have and while everything I have learned has been mostly book learning along with the little bit of time I have spent in my practicum and internship, it doesn't make up for the hands on knowledge of someone that has held a rehabilitation counselor job for several years before taking the test.

Grrrrr I am so nervous and scared about the test. I leave tomorrow, get to Fargo, figure out where the test is given at than find a hotel. I am going to be studying all evening. Than when I get home on Sundy, I turn around and leave for Helena for trainings at work till Wednesday night. I do have to say the pressure of knowing that this test will be totally off my shoulders for the next couple months till I find out if I pass or not will feel so great!! I just don't know what I am going to do with all my time, I have been in college non-stop for the last three years. I have a list a mile long of things that need to be done, starting with my house. It has had the very basics in cleaning the last three years that it is screaming for a deep cleaning and paint job.

Well I am off, I will post again when I get back from Helena.

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Holy Cow it has been awhile

Wow it has been awhile since my last post. I have been one busy person this spring. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I am planning to break through the end of this month. I am finishing up my Master's degree this semester. I thought this would be an easy semster because I just had to work on my internship and one Psychology class I am taking for my counselors license in Montana. Low and behold, I didn't realize how much time I would spend studying for my exams. I take my comprehensive exam for the college next week on Friday the 13th. That exam I am not so worried about as I am the CRC (certified Rehabilitation Counselor) exam I travel to Fargo, ND and take on the 28th of this month. That exam I am worried about because of several reasons. One being that it is 300 questions, and you must get at least an 80% to pass and get your license, and two because if I don't pass it, I will have to fork out another $385 and take it again next fall in November. I am spending ever spare moement studying right now.

Boy do I have plans once I am done with everything at the end of this month. I plan on really cleaning and painting my house. The last three years have been so hard on my poor house. My family has really picked up the slack and done some major cleaning, but not the deep cleaning it really needs. I am also planning to spend a lot of my free time scrapbooking and working on some projects. I will be teaching a 20 layouts in a day class on May 12 and need to be working on that. I am looking forward to having so much free time. Okay back to the books for now.

Saturday, January 27, 2007

 
Just another one from today showing Amanda (my now 20 year old wearing her floating arm bands around the house wondering when she can go swimming.
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Just 2!!!

 

Jsut 2 layouts a day. That is my goal. Here is one from yesterday. I figure I should be taking the time to scan and post them.
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I amm taking a class at Big Picture Scrapbooking from Heidi Swapp. We had to come up with a goal. This year I have several goals. To finish school (graduate in May), pass my CRC exam in April (hummm maybe that means I need to study, (Certified Rehabilitation Counselor exam)), and my biggest goal is to scrapbook 2 layouts a day. This has been an eye opening experience for me because I thought I would be down in my room for hours each night working on it. This goal has actually set me free from so much. I use to spend hours finding paper, embellishments, pictures, basically everything I needed to do the layout, than I would spend even more hours trying to figure it out to get it just right. God forbid I attach anything till I was 100% sure that was how I wanted the layout. I am free now. I am not even really thinking about it. I am grabbing paper (even using up tons of those scraps in the pile) and embellishments and attaching them. I just started building on the layout as I go instead of moving it all around. I figure once it is down, I will have to make it work. Layouts seriously use to take me 2 to 3 hours to get done. Now I might spend 1/2 an hour on one max. I am getting 3 to 4 done in the evenings now. I am loving it. At this rate I will be done with all 40 years of pictures I have sitting in boxes by the end of the year. It just feels so good to know that I have already done a full album this year and starting a new one. Here are my two from yesterday, I figured to stick to my goal maybe I should be scanning and posting them.

Sunday, January 21, 2007

 
Just trying to empty out some old photo albums. I really want to get some of these old photos scrapped and journaled about. Here is a really oldie. The girls playing in the balls at McDonalds in December 1991. These pictures crack me up because Ashly now has a son this age, and Amanda is going to be 20 soon. Ohhh I feel so old.
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Sunday, January 07, 2007

Mini Album #1


Tuesday night I am teaching make and takes at a local LSS in my area. Every week it is hard to come up with ideas for new things to teach. This month I am focusing on a different mini album each week. At the make and take they just get to assemble the basic album, not decorate it. They are sent a list of supplies and can bring them to stay and decorate their albums. This is the one I am doing this week. I love spending time with the different people that come on Tuesday nights.