It's been a while

I know it has been a while since I have posted an update and I apologize for that. I have had lots going on, but I guess when a reader of my blog sent me an email saying I need to update, I had better listen. (Thanks Kara)

I will start with the school aspect. I have now attended 2 online chats and feel that I do a lot of homework. I actually am trying to stay as far ahead as possible. I have a paper done that is not due until next Sunday because everything that needed to be included in the paper, we have already read or discussed in chats. I feel that as long as I can stay ahead, I can continue to juggle my responsibilities. This week, I start another class (college writing) so I will have 2 going on for a few weeks. I have also registered for 2 more, so once I complete those, I will have the credits needed to start my cohort in September. I ask for your prayers that I do not freak out because I feel overwhelmed. I think everything will be ok, I just may have to cut out my tv time and reading for fun time. I got my grades back on my first 2 papers, and received a perfect 50 points out of 50 possible. At times I feel I can conquer the school world, but at times I feel scared and confused because I don't understand something and I say I am going to drop out. I am probably driving Erin nuts with my Jeckyl and Hyde talk about it, but I am glad she is here to help, even if she won't do it for me.

That's the school update. My mom was here for the board meeting and spent a week here visiting her friends and family. We took a day and did a lot of work in the bathroom of building number 3. It had a lot of mold on the walls and in the closets. We killed all the mold with bleach, and scrubbed it off, hung some mold/moisture resistant drywall, and painted it yellow. The actual color name is called blonde beauty, so at times I can be heard saying that there is a blonde beauty in my bathroom. ;).

We plan to put some new tile on the floor as well over the next couple weeks. My mom also loves my dogs. While she was here, they were spoiled with 2 or 3 biscuits every day, a couple walks, and lots of love and affection. They also got to be a part of the $1.00 scoop night at Baskin Robbings. We went there to enjoy the deal, and mom thought the dogs would like a frozen yogurt, so she bought a scoop for each and brought it home for them to enjoy.

We also did some roof work on a shed, and she did some relaxing and spent time with her mission family, and of course helped me understand my school.

I am still caught up on my reading of the bible in a year, and you also may remember that I am also reading the commentaries of each day's reading, so I guess you could say I am reading it twice. Some days are more difficult than others, mostly due to the content of the reading, but I am staying strong. No matter how busy I may get, I will for sure set aside this time to read His word, and should I get behind in the commentaries, I will not fall behind in the reading.

Some upcoming events include more schooling (please pray that I can find grants, scholarships, and funds to continue to pay for it), working with groups, homework, office stuff, and on March 18th, it will be one year since I quit smoking and maybe I can find a company that would like to give me health insurance for a price I can afford. Please also pray that I can find insurance, as it is a concern to me and something I think about every day. This year is the year of the mission building, and we are focusing our efforts to replace roofs, and floors as needed. Paint buildings and do all of the little maintenance items that are needed to keep this place in shape for the future. Please continue to pray for Juarez and that the government's pledge of help will make an impact, all of us at the mission, and those in Haiti and Chile as they rebuild from the devastating earthquakes. Blessing on your week.

One down, A LOT to go

Well, it has started. Last night I attended my first online class through Concordia University in St. Paul Minnesota. You may have read in a previous blog that I was going to be attending school and about my plans. If you need to refresh your memory, just scroll down a few posts and you can get caught up.

The class is called Communication Fundamentals and we meet in a 45 minute "weekly chat" where we can have questions answered about the assignments and talk about the class in general. The meat of the classwork is held in discussion boards. It looks like each week, we do 2-3 posts about our own lives and thoughts, and then we also are encouraged to reply to posts of our other classmates. It looks like there are 13 other students in this class, and all but one of them is older, like me and are changing careers or just looking to finish their education.

I got all my homework done for the week last night, but I was nervous. I am sure if I was a little more patient, I would get it, but I didn't understand something and got worried, because this is supposed to be the easy classes. Luckily my mom and Erin were able to help me figure it out, and the professor even commented that I had a great explanation. (that one I did on my own without any help :).

So, I ask that you continue to pray for me as I continue to follow this path I felt called to, and I will continue to post updates as I go. For now it is just communication fundamentals, and then on March 4th I start college writing as well.