Bye-bye College!

I'm done with college...nuff said! :D

Excitingness of the Week :)

Howdy! I am really excited about two things this week.

First: I am studying for my last test. And at the last minute (late last week), I found out that I can change the type of test I'm taking. I am no longer taking the TECEP test that Thomas Edison offers, but instead I am taking a DANTES. Now there are several good things about the switch. DANTES tests are generally easier, you get an instantaneous score rather than having to wait approximately 5 weeks, the breakdown of what the test is about is much more comprehensible, and there is a practice test! All of which are awesome advantages! Generally, I would say that DANTES cost a lot less ($80 versus $249), but that is the only catch to this. I had already paid for the TECEP ($249) and cannot be refunded. But I think that is a loss that I'm okay with. I feel so much better about potentially being able to pass the DANTES that I don't really care about the cost at this point. Monday marks the day I meet this last challenge.

Second: We get to go hear the baby's heartbeat on Friday! How amazing is that? Already the first trimester is almost complete. On the 11th, I will move into the second third. :) I am so thankful that I haven't hardly been nauseous in the last month. And I've been having quite a bit more energy. Gradually, I'm getting things cleaned up around here.

Well, that's all the updates for now!

Hello Again!

It's been ages since I've written a post! The last few months have been filled with some normal life and some unexpected life!

Since October, Rob's been hunting off and on. He went out Friday for a last hunt before all seasons come to an end. Ron Ingram shot a pheasant, but Rob also had a bead on it so Ron generously let Rob take it home. So, we'll be having pheasant one of these nights!

Phoenix has continued to grow in size and....well, I was going to say maturity. But that might be a little too strong of a word! He's an adorable four-and-a-half-month-old puppy. We are loving having him around. Rob has been taking him out in the middle of nowhere and letting him run free. He loves using that nose of his (Phoenix, that is!).

The biggest news, which you all surely know by now, is that Rob and I are expecting!! Yes, a little one will be joining our family this August. My life has changed so much between the constant baby thoughts and the morning sickness symptoms. But the sickness is getting better and I am just so excited about the wee one inside of me! All ready, 9 1/2 weeks have come and gone. Just about a fourth of the way there!

Well, that should catch you up a bit. Oh, wait. I'm still working on school. I wasn't able to pass my second to last test. So, I am getting ready to take that one again. The test should be coming in in two weeks and I hope to be ready to challenge and defeat it by then! Oh, to be done with school!

Okay, now I think you are alllll caught up. Maybe this will help me get back into blogging again!

Test Time!

I'm off to take my Marketing Communications test in a little less than an hour! I'm excited and nervous. I've been studying hard and don't feel like I can cram any more in this brain. So hopefully the already-crammed info is enough!

On another note, my dad's cousins, Jim and Carol Noble, are in town. They are staying at my parents' house for a few days. Hopefully tomorrow evening they, along with my family, will make it up this way and we will all have a BBQ at our house! The deciding factor on our end is how much school I can get done today once I get back from my test. I have an assignment due tomorrow and I haven't started on it yet. But it's not huge--just a discussion thread I need to post. I haven't read any of the material yet. Yikes!

Rob is heading over to Richard Scott this weekend! They are going to do guys things like paintball, shooting guns, fireworks and who knows what else! I opted to stay home because I need to catch my breath after many hard weeks of school. I don't like being away from Rob. But I think this is the best decision for this weekend. The Carlsons are having their regular 4th of July shindig so I might make it over that-a-way if I can get a ride--a little too far to walk!

Learn Something New Every Day

I learned a nice little lesson yesterday. Check the test description before taking the test! I was all prepared to take the Marketing Communications test this morning. Since it is so similar to the Advertising test I took on Friday (and used the same textbook), I assumed the test format would be the same. Bad assumption! There will be some essay questions and the examples were not topics I knew. So, back to studying! I'm hoping I can take the test before it has to be shipped back. But no matter what, I'll get it done sometime!

Monday's Adventures

I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with what Monday brings. I start both my tutoring and my class with Thomas Edison. Both sound a little daunting. The class is Managerial Communications. And it looks like a lot of work. Besides, I'm trying to study for my Advertising TECEP test (one where I just study and take the final). So, I'd better give myself a pep talk! I can do it--I think!

The tutoring I actually really look forward to. I've been watching all the monthly tutor meetings that were recorded from October to May, trying to catch up on all the things that have changed since I had to quit. Boy, it's a lot of info to take in.

So, I found out that two of my students are actually girls! I just wasn't sure because I wasn't familiar with their names. That should be fun--I haven't taught any girls yet.

Rob, Joseph, and a friend, Richard Scott, are out shooting guns this afternoon. I think Richard just went and bought a handgun so they all had to go try it out!

Well, please pray for me this week! I really want to get off to a good start in the tutoring job and in my class. Somehow, it all just seems...well, like I said before, overwhelming. But if I can take each day in stride and not focus on the unknowns, I think I'll make it!

Weekly news

Well, I've neglected my blog for the last week! Let's see if I can summarize the few events:

1. A week ago today, Ethan and Rachel graduated! I am waiting to get some pictures from my mom so that I can document the day. My camera batteries quit on me before I could take any pictures. Anyway, they are all done and heading to South Africa today on a mission/site-seeing trip. The trip is through a school program called May Serve. How exciting!

2. This is the even that I REALLY want to get pictures from. Last Sunday my dad played an Alumni baseball game with other George Foxers!! It was awesome to see him play! He played short stop and one inning he got to pitch! It was a blast to watch. His class was '76 and the next oldest player was class of '88. :) I was super proud of him.

3. Rob got sick again on Monday--kind of a flu thing this time. So, he was in bed a lot of Monday and all of Tuesday. It's been a rough stretch for both of us. But I think we're over the hump, so to speak.

4. I took a test on Thursday. It was Money & Banking. I've been studying on it off and on the last 6 weeks or so. With getting sick and all, I had to take quite a few breaks. The passage rate for that class is only 13% of the students that take it, so I was a little worried. But I passed it! Now only 5 classes to go!

5. Today we are going to a funeral. Rob's uncle Bill Hartley passed away last week after a long bout of sickness. I pray his family is comforted by the Holy Spirit through this very hard time.

6. Tomorrow is Mother's Day!!! We are actually going to celebrate with Colleen tonight and then with my mom tomorrow! Lots of fun!

Well, I think that pretty much catches you up with my life right now. Just little things here and there.