Thursday, April 28, 2011

Last Day

Yesterday was my last day of class.  I don't give finals because I want my students to be studying for Old Testament, Biology, College Algebra - you know, harder classes.

This semester I had 3 classes.  One was my normal Orientation - in class with students who were in their first semester. 

Then, I had a class of returning students who were RETAKING ORIENTATION.  Some of these failed my class in the fall, others had failed with different instructors. The problem was not the strenuous academic expectations.  The problem was laziness, irresponsibility, and other poor choices.   Nonetheless, I did not want to see them in class every week.  The "retakers" did an independent study where they did their own research and applied it to methods from our text book.  I met with them 5 times throughout the semester to review their research and answer questions.    Ya'll only 7 out of 13 are going to make it out of this class.  What would you do if your kid failed orientation twice?!  Do you like the fact that your tax money is supplying grants and loans to these students who obviously need to rethink College at this time in their lives?! 

I've been wanting to say this for years:  If you make anything other than an A or B in a college orientation class, get out!  Get a job!  Join the military!  Do something else!  Maybe in a few years you will be ready for College!  Bless. Your. Heart

My third class was Study Skills.  This class had 3 students who were required to RETAKE STUDY SKILLS.  I did this class online.  Pretty sure only 2/3 will be moving on.  See my bolded thoughts above.

Anyway, yesterday 8 of my students came in to turn in their independent study project.  Only 7 however, actually had done the work.  The other one just came to tell me he didn't do it and had already planned on failing the class.  I was irritated because I was exhausted.  2 nights of storms +Family and friends suffering tornado damage +Husband being gone = me wanting to call stupid people names.  Working at a college is such a treat!

When I got home I decided to document the day.  We have some mad self-timer skills!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Easter Weekend

Good Friday,,,

She did this right before the realtor came over...


 I really appreciated it.


Then, we took a few pictures before heading to church...





Saturday...

We went to Arkadelphia to work on my Nanny's yard (her Christmas present).,,

Cole was on Langley duty...


 After lunch she fell in the mud...
 After a quick bath she was back to open an Easter basket...



 I. love. this.
 Then, we headed to Magnet for dinner and an egg hunt...



We had an exhaustingly great Saturday with family!

Sunday...

After a nap she checked out her Easter basket...


 But did NOT want her picture taken.


Sunday, April 24, 2011

Easter Preview From My Phone

We had a great day!  This morning was hectic making muffins for sunday school, getting Josh there in time to pray at the end of the early service,  and keeping the bed babies in the nursery.  This is "mommy's snuggle bunny" waiting on her breakfast.


And, here she is at lunch (mexican food) after a fun-filled morning with the other toddlers.  Yes, we moved her up a class and I think she had a blast!  Funny story:  the toddler room is right next door to the bed babies where Josh and I were.  There is a door connecting the two rooms that we keep shut.  All of the sudden the door from the toddler side flies open and my daughter busts through!  She didn't know what she was doing, and we were all kind of stunned, but it was hilarious! 


She looked so sweet in her Easter dress!  I actually ordered this dress (it's monogrammed with an L) on ebay before she was born...I could cry!


Friday, April 22, 2011

Pig Tails

It was all kinds of drama getting these pig tails in...and they lasted all of 2 minutes before she pulled them out.  I think she's tender headed. 


 They were so cute!  I wish I could do her hair every day without hurting her.  We'll stick with the little bow on top for now - until the mullet is to much for me to handle :-)


Thursday, April 21, 2011

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Monday, April 18, 2011

Blue and White

Williams Baptist College Eagles.  New team.  Same colors.  Good thing because all of my clothes seem to be blue, white, or black.  Besides for my t-shirt collection, my wardrobe should still be relevant after this move :-)

Today has been long, sometimes difficult, and at times good!  Gosh, I love our CBC players.  It will be so hard for Josh to leave those guys, but their words today - their loyalty and gratitude - were a blessing. 

We have an appointment with the realtor.  We worked with her when we bought this house a few years ago.  I told her where we lived today and she said "oh yeah, the basketball coach!"  We had a good chat because she apparently lived in Wynne for awhile.

Also today, I took Langley with me to get my oil changed and she provided me with a very humbling parenting moment.  She was perfectly fine cruising around the otherwise empty waiting area, but then she decided to sit/lay down/eat puffs off the floor.  No. Way.  As I went to pick her up, she threw herself back and slammed her head into the concrete floor.  Sweet.  Needless to say the next 15 minutes were a treat.  Those mechanics were ready for us to leave!  They could her her whining and crying outside.  Sheesh!

We are winding down here - phones turned OFF for the night.  If I had to hear the Bull's theme song (Josh's ring tone) one more time I might scream!

A Post from Sunday

I love our church.  It will be so hard to say goodbye to our friends and people who have been our Conway family.  Church was so good today.  I thought I might cry, but I didn't.  Again, I have such a peace. 

Langley is so loved at church.  I will miss so much about Conway's First Baptist, but I have already been praying that we will find a new church home (fast!) where we can get connected, glorify God, love others and be loved on by our brothers and sisters in Christ.  A church that will disciple us and have a passion for showing and sharing God's love.

Tomorrow (Monday) will be hard.  Josh is dreading telling the team.  He loves them, they are our family as well.  I am ready for that to be over with.  We will also tell our bosses at CBC which is never fun, but again, I am ready to "let the cat out of the bag."  Maybe this will all seem real then.  Reality will sink in when we call the realtor and start making the first of millions of decisions and start the good bye process.

A sad good bye that will lead us into this awesome new chapter at Williams!

A Post from Saturday

Josh has accepted the head men's basketball position at Williams Baptist College.  NorthEAST Arkansas.  This will be an adventure!
Josh and I went to campus on Wednesday for an all day interview.  Despite being exhausted, we were confident this was the place God wanted us.  For months, I have been seeking and praying about what God had in store for us.  As Josh told several people through the interview process he was looking at 3 things:  1)  We honestly want to be where the Lord wants us.  Wherever it is.  We know that we will be fine as long as we are in His will.  2)  What is best for our family.  Josh wants Langley and I to feel comfortable, safe, and happy.  Also, we need a situation that would be financially stable.  3)  A job that would be a smart career move.  Josh has many professional goals and we feel like this is a step in the right direction.

I am so excited.  If you know me, you know that I am fighting feelings of fear of the unknown and being overwhelmed by the millions of important decisions that have to be made in the next few weeks.  But, I am so overwhelmed by PEACE, and that is only a gift from God.

Telling our friends and family and CBC will be a mixture of emotions.  I've already told Josh to be prepared for me to cry a lot in the next few weeks.  But, I am so thankful that God has blessed us so richly during our time in Conway that it will be hard to leave. 

All of this makes this experience even more ironic. 

God is so good and so faithful!

Memaw's Party

Today is my Memaw's 80th birthday!  We celebrated Saturday with a surprise party.  I was so sick that I forgot my camera, but I had to have at least a few pictures from the event...excuse the phone quality.

It was great to see family I rarely get to see!  Langley loves Tracy!!