Happy Birthday Pudds!

Today my baby turned 10. When I asked her about it she said she didn’t feel like it. Said she felt like she was still 9. We just left having dinner (she wanted to go to Chili’s) and presented her with her cell phone. She’s really excited. Learning how to text and enter phone numbers. She’s in the back seat of the car now texting and giggling with her older sister.

The only downfall about her birthday is that every year she’s sick. But my baby is alive and that’s a true blessing. It’s moments like these that make me so happy to be a mother. I love my kids so much.

I had to explain to her though that during the school week, it’s an emergency only phone – no texting & chit-chatting. But on the weekend she can have free reign. This is just one more thing that can be taken away when she’s punished.

Since we’re almost home, I’m going to end this. When I get home I’ve gotta get more homework done.

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Back To School!

Okay, so today was my return day. Today is the day that I drove down to campus to register for classes, get my syllabus, meet the instructors and pick up my books. It was cold out. No, it was FREEZING out today and I definitely do not miss walking around on a campus in the winter.

One thing that was a little bit of a stress reliever was that I sat down with my academic advisor and mapped out the rest of the classes that I have left to take so that I can make my goal of graduating in 2012. It is doable but that means starting in August, I’ll have to take at least 4 classes each semester and next summer I’ll have to take a class in the summer. I really don’t see too much where that’ll be a problem as long as life is going well. Who am I fooling? There’s alwasys something thrown in the path to get things going in a direction you hadn’t planned for. But, that’s still okay. I will press my way through for sure. `

So, this semester I’m taking Twentieth Century World History, Advanced  Creative Writing and Introduction to Mathematics Modeling. The thing that’s different with this semester compared to all the others is that I will have to read a chapter a week and turn in an assignmet every week for History. For Math Modeling, it’s basically the same thing. An exercise or a project is due every week. Also, for history, if you’re late for a due date, then you lose 1 letter grade. All my other classes previous to this semester, I could work at my own pace but that won’t be the case this semester. I’ll really need to be very disciplined to get everything done when it’s supposed to be done.

The fun thing about this semester is my Advanced Creative Writing class. Assignment #1: Make a list of 10 authors that I like and write a couple of sentences of why I like them. Assignmet #2: pick one of these authors, read one of their novels and submit a 3-4 page analysis of their work. Assignment #3: do the same as assignemtn #2 for another author.

How fun is that? I actually get to read books that I like for class. It also gives me a reason to buy at least two more books. Yay!!

Today was a long day and I’m exhausted. I’m going to do some more reading on a book I have to review “Big Girls Do Cry” by Carl Weber until I fall asleep.

Tomorrow is a big day. I have a 5 hour workshop for the newsletter ministry at the church and then I have to take some teens to the mall for their “social” time. Hate that I’ll be missing the first volleyball game for Pudds and Pumpkins tomorrow but I’ll definitely be there for the rest of them.

Going to be a busy semester but I’ll make it through. Until next time, God Bless!

Busy, Busy, Busy Bee

That’s me. The busy little bee. I have so much going on that I can’t figure out how I have time to do it all. Well, actually, there is a lot that doesn’t get done. Like my house for instance. I hate that it’s not cleaned the way I’d like it to be but there’s so little time to do everything. And I can’t be on the go 24/7. When would I ever get any rest?

Got the girls volleyball game schedule yesterday. Pudds has 7 games and Pumpkins has 6 games starting Jan. 30 and ending Feb. 23. Mixed in to that is still practice for both of them. Now I have to figure out which games to attend because on any one day, they both can have a game, close to the same time but in two different locations on opposite sides of the city. I’ll have to plan it out with them so that they are well aware of what’s going on in advance.

School is getting ready to start back up. Actually in only 5 more days. Last week I was excited and couldn’t wait. Now that it’s getting so close, I wish I had a couple of more weeks off. But, think of it this way: 16 weeks of school and then I’ll have 12 weeks off. That will be NICE!!!!!  Can’t believe that I’ve been in school for 2 years now (4 semesters). This will be semester #5. I want to graduate in 2012 so I need to map out the rest of my classes so that I can make sure that that happens.

Work. Man, I don’t even want to get started with work. It’s been crazy. I’ve been so busy. There is so much going on and so much to do. Not enough time to do it and definitely not enough help to get it done. I think if I had a part-time person who knew how to do some of this work and was reliable it would help out a lot. I have to try and not let work get the best of me though. When it does, I’m too tired to do any of the other million things I have to do. My school works gets behind, the house work gets behind, I don’t spend as much time with my kids and I don’t get any exercise done at all. So this semester, I’m determined to take a lunch every day even if it’s only for 1/2 hour. I need to make myself take a break.

Fun stuff: I’ve been engrossed in Café World on Facebook for about two weeks now. I don’t even know what got me started but I’m hooked. I’ve gotten Pumpkins hooked on it too. Now Pudds wants to get a facebook page so that she can play. We’ll have to see about that.

I asked Pudds last night what she wanted for her 10th birthday which is next week. She said a cell phone. I love it when I get them something that they want. Already ordered the cell phone and should be in any day now. She has no clue and I’m sure she’ll cry like she did when she got her video recorder and her laptop. My children are so spoiled. They have more as children than I ever had. And I’m not just talking material things. They have much love from their mother and father. They have much time with they mother and their father. That’s a lot more than I can say for my childhood.

Oh well, need to get back to work. Have a lot of projects to complete by Wednesday. I’m taking a “me day” on Thursday. If I’m not going to lunch with a friend, then I’m going to treat myself to a movie and lunch. Can’t wait!!

CHANGE

It’s 2010 and there will be a lot of changes this year. Is change good or bad? That’s all in the eye of the beholder. Take for instance, I’m making changes to the way we go about keeping our house clean. To be honest, in the past, it’s been mostly me doing the cleaning. I’m talking about the real cleaning. The down and dirty cleaning. The kids have mostly just been straightening. But they are about to be 10 and 14 so I think it’s about time that they know how to do the down and dirty cleaning. And there will be a strict punishment if the cleaning is not kept up. If I see anything out of place, that’s it – they are getting it. For me, this change is good. For the kids, not so much. But there comes a point in time when you get tired of the mess and if the old way isn’t working, then it’s time to make a change.

Something else that’s definitely different is that I just ordered Pudds a cell phone. She’ll be 10 in 2 weeks and next school year she will definitely need one because her sister will be in high school. She will be having to walk after school by herself and will need a phone for communication with me and in case of an emergency. Her sister will probably get upset because she didn’t get a phone until she was 12 but things change. Situations change. If she starts having an attitude about it, I’ll take her phone from her. Heck, I didn’t get my first cell phone until I was 20 years old. And I had to get it myself. My mommy and daddy didn’t get me anything. These kids now a days are so spoiled (so blessed) and they just don’t realize it.

There’s also going to be less tv watching, less game playing, less phone texting and less computer time. And yes, that goes for mommy too. This is the first week of their 3^rd quarter and they were both close (2 B’s away) from getting straight A’s. So, if we make some changes, maybe they’ll get straight A’s the next two quarters. We can strive for it at least. Also, I start back to school on 1/29 and I really want to stay on track this semester. Every semester I get better at staying on track and getting everything done but it never fails that by the end, I’m still hustling trying to get a lot of work done and I get stressed. I really want to save myself from that. Semester ends 5/14 and I’ll have a whole 3 months off. I haven’t that since I went back in 4/08. It will be so nice but I won’t know what to do with myself. It’ll be a great time to get a lot of stuff done around the house, spend time with the kids since they’ll be out for summer break and do a lot of reading.

 Another change that is really good is that hubby has started school. I never thought he would but he put that foot on out there and stepped. I’m proud of him though. He got an A+ on his first assignment in History. I’m taking history this semester, he might have to help me. LOL!

Looking forward to my furlough. To help with budget, our company has made everyone take a mandatory week furlough. I’m not complaining about it because I still have a job. But not getting paid that week will really make the budget go crazy. And this is the 2^nd/3^rd year without a raise. That hurts too when the price of everything else around us is continually going up. But like I said before, I have a job. I’m a lot better off than a lot of other people who are also struggling. So thank you God!!!!

Well, time to get ready for bible study. Won’t be able to make a lot of them because this is volleyball season for the girls. So whenever at all possible, I’m going to go. Get some word from the Lord on how to live an impactful life.

Surprise!!

When the kids and I got home on Friday hubby had a surprise for us. He got them both a new laptop. EACH!! They were so excited. Pudds almost started crying. She’s been doing that a lot lately. She actually did cry at Christmas when she got her camcorder.

Do they deserve it? I guess. They are pretty good girls. They still do the kid things that all kids do so you can’t fault them for that. It’s a part of the growing process. Will they be able to keep them? Now that’s another story. I’m sure over the next couple of months, they’ll get taken away a couple of times. It’s just one more thing for us to take away from them for not behaving or for having bad grades. While I’m talking about grades, they come out either this week or next week. Pumpkins says that she’ll have straight A’s. We’ll have to see about that.

Oh, I told you about the girls’ surprise but I didn’t tell you about mine. I got a Zune. Didn’t know what that was at first but my teen had to break it down to me and tell me it’s the next best thing after the iPod Touch. What do you know? Are you serious? Cool. I actually love it too. I have some more music to add to it and I need to take some videos with Pudds camcorder so that I can upload it to my Zune. I wish there were more apps that were available for it. Maybe it’s too new to have too many apps. Oh yeah, and it’s Microsoft based so that’s decent. I’ll have to get on line and see if I can find some more apps.

Okay, that’s all I really wanted to talk about today. So I’m signing off.

God Bless

It’s a New Year – 2010

It’s a new year and with that comes a re-evaluation of our lives. One of the biggest things people talk about at the beginning of a new year is losing weight. Well, I’ve been on that journey since May 2009. I started out at 209 lbs and am now down to 185 lbs. That’s a loss of 24 lbs. My goal is to be down another 35 lbs. by May 1, 2010.

Wow! Looking at my goal in writing let’s me know that I’ve got to get to work. That’s 8.75 lbs per month that I’ve got to lose to meet my goal. This journey has not been easy and the rest won’t be any easier. If anything, it’s going to be harder but I know that I can do it. I’m only 33 years old and I need to be a lot healthier. Not just for me but for my family as well.

Other changes we’re making is making sure we carve out time everyday and spend it with God. It’s important that we focus on him and keep our focus on him. Everything we do and everything we have is only possible because of God. He’s our everything and it’s important that we remember that. The girls and I will have bible study time together 3 times a week. It’ll be the first thing we do when we walk through the door in the evening before we start on homework and before I start on dinner.

Pastor has been talking about how important it is that we have a vision. So I’m going to be writing out my vision for this year. Praying to God to show me what that vision is. Asking him what it is he’d have for me to accomplish this year.

Hubby will be starting school this month. He’s been nervous about it. He hasn’t attended college since the fall semester of 1995. I’ve been doing my best to encourage him and to let him know that he’s doing the right thing. Even though he’s nervous about it, I think he’s also a little excited about it. But I don’t think he’d admit to it.

Well, it’s time for bed. I’m going to have an extremely BUSY month at work since the end of the calendar year has passed. Gotta get my sleep so I can have strength and power to make it through the day.

May God keep you and bless you until the next time, (you know it’ll be in a couple of months-lol),

Queenie

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What’s going on?

I’m so glad. I’m off until Monday morning. It’s the holiday season and everything is so great. The only thing missing is hubby. But only one more day without him and then he’ll be here.

He’s out there working hard. But I know he wishes he was at home with us. The girls and I are just chilling. Watching movies and just lying around.

I just found out that I won another book from the Early Reviewers list. I’ve won one every month since September but still haven’t received any of them yet. I’ve started to read a book that I wouldn’t ordinarily pick up to read.

It’s called Finding My Way and it’s by Lisa Dumas Harris. I’m trying to figure out what the book is supposed to be about. I’m not quite sure yet. I’ll have to post a review on Library Thing after I’ve read it. I hope it turns out to be some point to the whole thing.

The girls baked yesterday. Pumpkins made chocolate chip cookies (from scratch) and Pudds made magic square bars. The bars are really sweet and everyone absolutely loves them. Maybe I’ll post the recipe so that it’ll always be here – especially for my girls.

I’m supposed to be making an apple pie and russian tea cakes tomorrow. We were supposed to go see Alvin & the Chipmunks The Squeakuel tomorrow but they aren’t showing an early show so we won’t be going. I’m el cheapo. I don’t want to pay more than $5 to see a movie. Instead, we’ll stay in and watch The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency disc 3 (episodes 7-9).  Then we’ll watch Miracle on 34th Street and just chill.

They have reading to do and hopefully they’ll be smart about it and get as much done tomorrow as possible. Because after Christmas, they’ll be so involved in their gifts that they won’t even be thinking about reading. But if they don’t reach their goal before they go back to school, they are in so much trouble.

Okay, that’s enough for now, I’ll probably visit again tomorrow.

I’m really looking forward to waking up Christmas morning and being with my family.

I Keep Forgetting

I get so mad at myself for not keeping up with posting to my site. But the truth of the matter is I really don’t have an excuse. Especially since I can post from anywhere simply by using my phone. That’s how I’m doing this post because I remembered that I could do this.

So today when I was downtown chaperoning 9-year-olds to see A Christmas Carol play at the Repritory Theater, I could have been getting the experience down right there in it all. Oh well, it’s going to have to be a matter of me doing it so that I get used to doing it.

Okay, I REALLY need to go and get some homework done tonight.

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Doing the Happy Dance

Four of the books I ordered last Friday came in today. I was really shocked to see them waiting for me when I got home. They were actually scheduled to be delivered on Saturday. And then another book that was supposedly shipped out early and was supposed to arrive on Friday hasn’t even arrived yet. I’m hoping the post office didn’t deliver it to the wrong address liked they’ve done so often lately.

Books that just came in

I can’t read the books that I’ve recieved. Now I really need to hurry up and get my school work completed for the semester so that I can get to reading.

I also just found out that I am the recipient of another free book from LibraryThing.com. I love that site. I can keep an online catalog of all my books and I can recieve new books to add to my collection.

I have been chosen to receive a free book in the last three months to review. These are books that haven’t come out yet and the publishers give away free books to get early reviews. These are the ones I’ve won so far through this program:

March 2008 – One in a Million by Kimberla Lawson Roby
September 2009 – A Change Had To Come by Gwynne Forster
October 2009 – Goodness and Mercy by Vanessa David Griggs
November 2009 – Big Girls Do Cry by Carl Weber

Actually, these need to be the first ones I read (whenever I receive them) so that I can go ahead and get the reviews completed and posted to my profile. But I don’t think that would be a problem because I only sign up to recieve the books that I would actually read. I don’t choose books that I know I have no interest in.

Well, that’s enough about books tonight. I just get so excited thinking about reading for pleasure and not having to do it for a class.

Until next time,
Peace and Blessings

A Great Holiday

This turned out to be a great holiday. There were no big problems. No big disagreements. Everyone got along well. It was very peaceful and really stress free. I’m so thankful to God for bringing about so much peace in my life. We spent Thanksgiving Day at my parents house and then at my in-laws. It was a really good time and there was really great food. I hate that I missed seeing 2 of my sisters and 2 nephews and 2 nieces but hopefully I’ll get to see them for Christmas.

Friday we had breakfast and lunch at our house for my in-laws. It went very well. I think everyone had a good time and great food. We watched some movies, laughed and even napped.

Saturday morning was family day. We went to see A Christmas Carol in 3-D. Had never seen a movie in 3-D at a movie theater before and it was a cool experience. I hate that it cost an additional $3 because the movie was 3-D but that was okay. The movie itself was kind of boring and I was dozing off through most of it. I guess once you’ve seen one A Christmas Carol re-make, you’ve seen them all. Will be going with the 3rd-4th-5th graders on Tuesday to see A Christmal Carol at the IRT. I don’t ever remember going to the IRT before but the little one insisted that I chaperone so I’m going. Hopefully I’ll be able to stay awake.

The rest of the day, after the movie, I’ve been working on Calc 2. This is my last chapter and there are 9 sections in this chapter. I’ve only gotten through 4 sections and the 4th section I don’t understand.

I’ve had so much problems getting tutoring for this class. I didn’t realize that getting a distance Math degree would be so difficult. I think if I was doing something else there wouldn’t be such a big problem but it’s kind of hard to teach yourself Math. If I could teach myself Math, I would have done it a long time ago and not paid so much to go to school. I could have tested out of a lot of these courses. I’ll be bugging my instructor next week again trying to get some tutoring done. It’ll have to be over the phone. Although I’d rather for it to be face to face or via web cam, I’ll take it any way I can right about now.

The writing class is going well. I’ve just got to do my short story/1st chapter and then 2 more reading assignments. Actually 1 1/2 reading assignments. I’ve done most of one, just need to do dialogue exercise.

Geometry is difficult but I think that’s only because I don’t know how the instructor wants me to answer the exercises. And when I ask, she gives such vague answers in her email. I really need to talk to her via phone but she’s not letting me know when a good time to call her would be.

Tomorrow, the kids plan on putting up the christmas tree. I ordered some more candles (Ginger Pumpkin, Pepperment Bark, Homemade Cookies, Apple Orchard). Going to have the house smelling real good for this holiday season. I’m so looking forward to now up until Christmas. I’m in a baking mood and want the house smelling good will all kinds of yummys. Not sure yet what all I’ll be making. My brother wants me to make him a pecan pie. I’d love to find a good recipe for chess pie but I guess I’ll settle for buttermilk pie since hubby likes that just as much.

I also ordered myself some books:
Secrets and Lies – Rhonda McKnight
The Ideal Wife – Jacquelin Thomas
Double Crossed – Darrien Lee
A Deep Dark Secret – Kimberla Lawson Roby
Forsaken – Vanessa Miller

I can’t wait to read them. I’m going to try and get them all read during my semester break. It’s supposed to start Dec 15th but they are allowing us a 3-week extension if we need it because of book and financial aid delays at the beginning of this semester. I’d really like to be done by Dec 15th instead of Jan 4th so I’m really going to be shooting for it. I want my 4-weeks in between semesters to recooperate and to enjoy some leisurly reading.

I tried to do NaNoWrimo this year but it didn’t work. I just had too much school work to do that I really couldn’t fit in leisure writing time. But I was able to get 5000 words down this year which is a huge step from last year. Last year I didn’t even log on to the website for the entire month. So mabye next year, I’ll be able to crank out more words. Every semester I get better at handling the work load.

Well, break time is over so I’d better get back to this Calc 2 stuff.

Until next time,
God Bless