In The Home Stretch

Wow, I can not believe that it is Thanksgiving Break already.  It seems like this semester flew by soo fast.  I am grateful for a couple of days to sit and relax, and just enjoy some me time.  I have not had an official day off since Labor Day so I am enjoying a couple of days without any cares.
I am so glad that this semester is coming to a close.  I am also glad that I have done pretty good in my classes.  I expect to get all A's and B's.  I think that is pretty good for my first semester back in school for quite some time.  I have to say it took some getting used to and at times I was a little stressed by all of the work.  But now I feel like I have adjusted to it and am back in the swing of studying. 
So, I have not had a lot of time to update this blog for obvious reasons but I just wanted to write a short blog and fill everyone in on how the first semester went.  I am looking forward to Christmas break.  I may even be taking a trip to Frakenmuth for Christmas with my parents, and to Caro, Mi to see my sister and brother in law.  Then Winter semester starts.  That's a little exciting too because my best friend starts at Grand Valley this winter so he will be at the same school, which, I think will be pretty cool! 
The most awesome part of fall semester is that I am probably going to get a B in Algebra.  I am not that great at math so this really makes me happy.  Especially since I flat out failed the first test in this class.  I would say that I really turned things around in this class.  Now I just hope that I do just as well next semester in Statistics.  From what I have heard Statistics is supposed to be easier than Algebra.  One can hope!
So I will end with this.  None of this would have been possible without the help of my savior and friend Jesus.  I prayed before each and every test for a good grade, and I believe that he helped me through each one.  I am learning in this experience that I need to walk closer to him everyday, and to lean more heavily on him.  Without him I am not capable of success, but with him I am capable of anything.  This is a truth that I grasp at deeper levels all the time. 

My First Month

So far everything has been going pretty good with school. Though I have got to say most days I am tired!!! This is definetly a different life that I am living now. I have gone from just working a part time job, to always going every moment of the day, from 7 am to 10pm and then going to bed and starting over the next day. My last true day off from both work and school, where I did not have to attend class or go to my job, was 16 days ago. I did take a partial day off yesterday to go to the mall, (I needed to do that for my sanity), but then last evening I had to study, study, study.
I have had a lot of positive experiences also in the last 16 days. I found a new group to join on campus called the Sisters of Strength, which is a womens faith group. They meet weekly for bible study, extra fun stuff like spa nights, and some community outreach projects. I really enjoyed meeting the girls in this group and I think this is going to be an awesome opportunity to meet people and make new freinds. I am also happy with myself because in new situations like these I tend towards shyness and I have done the opposite since moving to Allendale. I have pushed myself to meet new people and try new things. I found an awesome womens Alcoholics Anonyous meeting on campus that I love. I have been meeting new people and I am so proud that I have pushed my self beyond my comfort levels.
This 4th week of school happens to be test week and it seems like I am getting the first test in most of my classes. Yippeeee! (ummm not) With two behind me and one two go I am mostly optimistic. I did fairly well on my Developmental Psychology exam. I got a B which at first I was dissapointed with. Then I found out the next day that I ranked at the high end of the class, when I attended class. So I quess I will be ok with getting a B. I feel as though I am going to have to surrender some of my perfectionism fast because I have a feeling I am going to be seeing a lot of B's. Something tells me that this is just a tad bit harder than Muskegon Community College was. So I quess I am going to have to learn how to accept what I can achieve as apposed to what I think I should have achieved.

So that pretty much sums up my first month on campus. I will continue to keep everyone posted on my college experience!

My First 2 Weeks At GVSU!!!

OK, so I just finished my second week at Grand Valley State University and I am in full swing of studying and doing homework.  I have very little time for anything else, but I really am not complaining because this is really where I want to be and I am willing to put forth the effort to get what I want.  One thing that is a little exciting for me so far is that I am actually doing a little better than I thought that I was going to be doing in Algebra.  I have around a 90 percent so far between the first set of homework and quizzes.  Yay!  That was after hours of effort but at least I am getting it.  I am not good at math so I would be happy with a passing grade. 
So far I have not met a lot of people but this coming up Wednesday I will be going to my first meeting of Sisters of Strength which is a small faith based group for women.  I am hoping that will help me meet new women on campus.  I feel like some of the difficulty is my age.  I am 32 in a 20 yr old's world.  12 yrs can make a huge difference in this stage of life and maybe they feel like I can not relate to them.  I don't know but I am sure I will find my niche.  It will just take time.
I really love the campus.  I still have not run out of new things to explore.  There is so much stuff to occupy my free time with on campus from movies, all you can eat buffets, pool tables, play stations, nature trails, little gardens to sit in, and so much more.
All in all I am very happy with my college experience so far and I think this next 3 years will hold a lot of wonderful memories!

Moving Fun! So Much to be Done!

Ok its only a week before the big move and my life is officially in boxes.  I am gearing up to move to go to school.  I can't believe I start in a month.  Today my best freind and I went to where I will be living and just looked around the town so that he could get a better idea of where I will be and what we can do.  It was so much fun to show him my new life and to have him take an interest in it!  I feel blessed.
So now with the 32nd birthday just a few days away, moving 1 week away and Unity Music Festival 2 weeks away I have so much to look forward to.  Can't wait for the coming days!

The Plate Is Finished

The cupcake plate that I did on Mother's day is finished.  It took some time to post it but here it is.

It has been a while since I have been on here.  I have been really busy getting everything ready to start school fall semester at Grand Valley State University.  I got an apartment closer to the college in Allendale, Mi.  I am moving into my new apartment on August 1st.  So, there's a lot that I have to do between now and then.  I have to pack all of my stuff and get all of my stuff moved there.  I have to have everything transferred to Allendale.  This is such an exciting move.  I am so grateful to God every day for all of these blessings.  I will keep everyone updated.

Orientation and A New Apartment

Today was my orientation at Grand Valley State University.  It went very well.  I got my first two semesters classes sorted out and registered today and I am really happy with the classes that I choose.  I am also really happy with the advisor that the college placed me with.  She is very helpful, knowledgeable, and sweet and I believe that she will be able to point me in the right directions as far as my education is concerned.
After orientation my mother and I looked at apartments because I really want to move to Allendale.  This will make it much easier for me to get to classes if I do not have to drive so far.  Also, it will save on a lot of gas.  We went to a few places and then this apartment just literally fell into my hands and it is a dream.  It is the right price.  I don't have to have roommates.  I can have cats.  Its super close to the school, so close in fact,  that I could ride a bike if I had to or wanted to.  It has laundry facilities.  And the land lady seems extremely nice and very aware of who she rents to.  So I have decided to take this apartment and am putting the down payment down.  So its official I am moving to Allendale the first week of August.
I just can't believe how easy this process has been.  Everything is just falling into my hands and it is like God is kicking all the doors wide open.  I guess this was meant to be!  I am so thankful that I have this opportunity and I am so excited to start this new chapter in my life.

Mothers Day at the Express Yourself Art Barn

On Mothers Day my mom and grandma and I went to the Express Yourself Art Barn in Douglas, Mi.  My mother and I have been here one other time and really love this place.  There is so much that you can do here.  You can paint ceramics, do wood projects, jewelry beading, glass work, and Mosaic tiles and much more.  We always do the ceramics but next time I go there I might try something new.  The prices are very reasonable and it is a cozy and creative environment.  My mom and dad and I are going to revisit next Sunday.  Here are some pictures from this adventure.

Grandma and mom woring on thier projects

Me doing my cupcake plate!

Grandma in the ceramics room

Mom at the barn entrance

Grandma and I sitting in the garden area

Funny Joke

Here is a very funny joke that I thought would make some people laugh.  I got it off the internet, however I do not know who wrote it so I can not credit anyone for this.  Just know I did not write this but I think it is hilarious.  So here it is:

 

The Love Story of Ralph and Edna

 

"Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

Ralph and Edna were both patients in a mental hospital. One day while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool. Ralph suddenly jumped into the deep end.
He sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed there.

Edna promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and pulled him out. When the Head Nurse Director became aware of Edna's heroic act she immediately ordered her to be discharged from the hospital, as she now considered her to be mentally stable.

When she went to tell Edna the news she said, 'Edna, I have good news and bad news. The good news is you're being discharged, since you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping in and saving the life of the person you love. I have concluded that your act displays sound mindedness.

The bad news is, Ralph hung himself in the bathroom with his bathrobe belt right after you saved him. I am so sorry, but he's dead.'

Edna replied, 'He didn't hang himself, I put him there to dry. How soon can I go home?'"

An Awesome Website on Forgiveness

http://wgvulove.blogspot.com/p/about-this-project.html

The above link is an awesome web site on forgiveness.  This I think will prove helpful in learning to forgive.  I found this link at Jumping Java along with a card that had 9 steps to forgiveness.  I will put the 9 steps here on my blog.  These steps come directly from the above link.  This is by Dr Fred Luskin.

1. Know exactly how you feel about what happened and be able to articulate what about the situation is not OK. Then, tell a trusted couple of people about your experience.
2. Make a commitment to yourself to do what you have to do to feel better. Forgiveness is for you and not for anyone else.
3. Forgiveness does not necessarily mean reconciliation with the person that hurt you, or condoning of their action. What you are after is to find peace. Forgiveness can be defined as the “peace and understanding that come from blaming that which has hurt you less, taking the life experience less personally, and changing your grievance story.”
4. Get the right perspective on what is happening. Recognize that your primary distress is coming from the hurt feelings, thoughts and physical upset you are suffering now, not what offended you or hurt you two minutes – or ten years – ago. Forgiveness helps to heal those hurt feelings.
5. At the moment you feel upset practice a simple stress management technique to soothe your body’s flight or fight response.
6. Give up expecting things from other people, or your life, that they do not choose to give you. Recognize the “unenforceable rules” you have for your health or how you or other people must behave. Remind yourself that you can hope for health, love, peace and prosperity and work hard to get them.
7. Put your energy into looking for another way to get your positive goals met than through the experience that has hurt you. Instead of mentally replaying your hurt seek out new ways to get what you want.
8. Remember that a life well lived is your best revenge. Instead of focusing on your wounded feelings, and thereby giving the person who caused you pain power over you, learn to look for the love, beauty and kindness around you. Forgiveness is about personal power.
9. Amend your grievance story to remind you of the heroic choice to forgive.

By Dr Fred Luskin

This above mentioned website is awesome if anyone wants to check it out!

Bin Laden, Dead!

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies
hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction....The chain reaction
of evil--hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars--must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of
annihilation.

Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength To Love, 1963

I am grateful that Osama Bin Laden has been brought to justice and that we have one less terrorist in the world.  However, I am pretty alarmed at the rejoicing and celebrating in his death.  Even if he was our enemy, he is still a human being that has been killed.  I do not believe that we should let our hate bring us to celebration in any lost life, even Bin Laden's.  Remember that it is this kind of hate that caused the 9-11 attacks.  This is the same kind of hate that caused so many innocent lives to come to an end. 
Also, when hate brings us to a point where we celebrate the death of our enemies we are not obeying God.  God wants us to forgive our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.  He did not say to hate our enemies and celebrate their death.  This is what the word of God has to say about loving our enemies.

You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, and hate your enemy,’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:38-48).

If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. (NLT, Matthew 6:14-15)

I know it seems unjust and not right to say we should forgive a person that has caused so much harm, but isn't that exactly what Jesus calls those who belong to him to do.  We are supposed to take our cross up and follow Jesus.  In order to follow Jesus we must have the same kind of forgiveness that Jesus had when he called out from the cross,  "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34).   Lastly I will add that this kind of forgiveness is not cheap.  It is not to say that what happened was right, but that we will not return evil with evil.  This is not cheap grace, after all don't forget that it cost Jesus his life. 
Osama Bin Laden definitely had to die, but we do not have to celebrate over it.