How Do You Measure Success?

Three of my former High School classmates are receiving their post graduate accreditation's this spring. One neuro-biologist, one lawyer, and one PHD in American History. While I am so happy for them I am also... jealous.

I can't help but look back on the last ten years and see my two blaring Fails: my first attempt at college, and my first marriage.

So to pull myself out of this gloomy slump I am reminding myself that there is someone who wants me to be miserable like unto himself. Like the veggie tales say, "Our God is a God of second chances." I am getting a second chance at college, and a second chance at marriage.

I need to measure my success daily by noticing my wins like:

-A scantron returned with 101% written on the top
-A little boy who actually ate his veggies with out complaining
-Laundry that was only on the couch long enough to get folded and was put right away
-Bills paid and in the mail on time
-A kiss from a loyal husband that gives me butterflies
-A choice to order water instead of a Soda
-Taking a minute to read a conference talk before reading my text book
-Flowers on my pea plants
-Smiles on my children's faces
-Giving an oral report and being the only student that didn't read from her notes
-A simple "to do" list full of check marks
.... and many more

OK, I feel better now. These are some of the ways I measure success.

Plus, give me ten more years and I will be done with graduate school, still married, and soon to send my first son out on a Mission. Just wait and see :)

Sorry GrAnny

My mom made this quilt for Lil' Sis. GrAnny liked it so much that she said if Lil' Sis didn't want it she wanted it back. Lil' Sis was here yesterday and as soon as I showed it to her she did this:


Sorry GrAnny. I don't think your getting it back.



This little girl LOVES her new blankie.

It was actually Big Brother's birthday yesterday and he got an awesome bike. We went outside to watch him ride it. After a while I noticed that Lil' Sis wasn't with us. So I went in the house and surprise... she was having more blankie time.

I watched her very carefully straighten the whole thing out. Pulling ever so gently at each corner until there were no wrinkles and it was absolutely smooth. Then she laid on it for a minute. Then she gathered her stuffed animal friends on it for a picnic. All too soon it was time to go back to her mom's house and she had to say goodbye to the quilt. I have a feeling I know what she is going to do first thing she steps foot in this house again.... GET HER BLANKIE.

The Line

I'm going to tell this story by answering the five "w's".

1. What? Certified Nursing Assistant training course.

It is required before I apply to the Nursing program that I become certified as a CNA. My plan has been to take care of this requirement this summer by taking a class at the hospital. I wanted to get into the class room based course that started in the beginning of July. I spent a lot of time working on my application packet for this course which included getting my personal immunizations updated and having documentation about such, taking a reading comprehension exam on campus, becoming professionally trained in CPR, and passing a TB test. Not to mention saving up the CASH!!! The class cost $750.

I heard that the class filled up fast so I made sure I was ready to turn my application in the first day they were accepting them. I had no idea. I marched myself down there after my classes were over at 1:00 in the afternoon only to find out the class was already full.

WHHHHHAAAAATTTTT!

Apparently people were lined up the night before at 11:00 p.m. to turn in their apps.

My only option at this point was to wait three weeks and apply for the on-line course. The only one left this summer. Which happens to cost $300 more than the in class version of the course.

2. When? 8:30 p.m.

I knew I was going to have to camp out all night. The more I thought about it, the more worried I got, so I decided to go down there and set up "camp" as soon as I got out of scouts that night. Guess what? I was not the first one there. Not even the second. At 8:30 p.m. the day before they were accepting applications I was already #4 in line.

3. Who? Fellow Med. students

We were all either pre-med, or pre-nursing and for the most part went to the same school. We got to know each other very well that night.

4. Where? In a parking lot at the Hospital

I sat in my camp chair with gloves, a hat, two coats, and my down blanket and I still got cold. Good thing it wasn't raining.

5. Why?

Now THAT is the question. The only answer I have is that I must want to be a nurse really bad. It is amazing what kind of hoops you can make a student jump through in order meet your requirements.

Chivalry will not die...

...as long as mommies teach it to their boys.

I have been trying to teach the boys to open doors for me. I want them to be the type of men who do that sort of thing, so I'm training them. One day there will be a girl or two who will thank me. One problem... how does one teach three stinky, gross, rough, and self absorbed little boys to be gentlemen?

I explained to them that I have been opening doors, and buckling their car seats/seat belts for the past eight years and now that they are old enough it's time to return the favor. They are actually excited about the idea and want to do it, which is a nice surprise.

It hasn't been easy though.

The first problem was the fighting over who gets to open my door. So I have to break up that fight.

Then there is the car door getting closed on my foot... OUCH...

AND, they think that if they open the door at the store and run through it fast enough that I have time to make it too, it counts as "getting the door" for me.

This is not going to be easy. But I am the princess of this casa, and there are enough boys around here that I should never have to open a door for myself again.

... one day

.... it will be nice.

What happens when

a little boy who loves to read is given the next book in a series that he loves when he gets home from school? He begins reading RIGHT AWAY (doesn't even take off his coat), and you don't see him for the rest of the evening.

It is so fun to watch him discover the Harry Potter books. I was at Goodwill today and they have the hard backs for only $5 a book. He had only read the first two... but give him a couple days and number three will be under his belt too.

I was considering re-reading the series myself but that will not be necessary. No matter how many times we tell him to quit, and that it's annoying, The Brain reads out loud... and with a British accent (she says as she roles her eyes).

Brave

I was playing with my webcam. I mess up a lot, but I had fun. Hope you like it. Um, you're gonna want to scroll down and turn off the music player first.