How much more can happen in one week?

This week has been one of the biggest roller coaster rides I have been on for a while. Monday evening, I went to visitation for Betty Bohannon. Betty had been the first person hired to help me with my LIHEAP jobs so I could also take over the IT position. She always loved coming to work and was a stickler for accuracy, which was exactly what I wanted if I couldn't check the apps myself. She moved over to the other office and helped them after she got sick, it was easier for her to be off when she needed to over there. I will miss her though. She was one special lady.  She was also the cousin to my very first BFF, Valerie Tharp Mansfield. I was hoping to see Valerie at the visitation but she had went to Florida on a college visit for her daughter. Then, this morning, Valerie had posted on FB that her mom passed away Thursday morning. What a shock. Her mom, Gayle, was a jewel. I spent a lot of time at her house growing up and of course, when Valerie and I took swimming lessons, our mom's would take turns taking us, as well as with various other things we wanted to do until we were old enough to drive, so I have another visitation to go tomorrow, this one will be a hard one.

Also, during the course of this week, Robert dropped band. His band teacher has never treated him well as far as I am concerned.He tried everything to make it work, including signing up for a private lesson with her. It was at one of those lessons that she told him he sucked at so many things. Had he still been in high school, I would have been all over it, but he has to fight his own battles. The only kicker is band had paid scholarships for him to go to school this year. He came home that night and asked me to figure out how much he would have to save each paycheck to not be in band next year. I had explained, he was stuck there for this year. Well, he had an auto project he was working on Tuesday that had to get done, no choice, he texted her and told her he would be late, three or four texts later, she insinuated that she was pulling his scholarship money. He called me panicked. So, by the time it was all over, the Dean had read the texts that she had sent to him and decided he could drop band and keep the money. That was all he had wanted.  He needed to concentrate on his major and this gives him the ability to do so. He also was not going to be able to graduate on time because he didn't have the credit hours to get all of his GE requirements in,now he does. So all in all, it is a good thing.

This is Andrew's last Saturday at home, I am trying so hard to get motivated and it just isn't happening. It's cold outside on top of everything else. We take the dogs to the groomers this afternoon so I have got to at least get a grocery list made as well as my April Menus. I feel like I am constantly about 3 weeks behind right now!

Good Books

Just finished a trilogy of books by Lynette Eason. Really enjoyed all three of them, in fact, I was really sad when I finished the third one (and wishing another sister would show up--all three of our heroines are sisters and very much in all three books--well Kit isn't in book one, but you will have to find out why on your own).

Little known fact about me. Back when I was 22 and 23, I caught shoplifters for Walmart. My mentor was Mike Gordon, who was Navy intelligence before he came back to central Illinois. I seriously thought about going back to school for Criminal Justice and heading in that direction. After I was beaten up with the shoplifting job, I started working out and running, partly because I didn't want to be that vulnerable again and part of it was because I was looking in that direction and knew I would have to be in shape.....then Andrew walked into my life and my goals changed. I still really enjoy reading about women in law enforcement and the first one really stole my heart because she was a computer forensic specialist. My boss at work thinks I am a real life Garcia from Criminal Minds--I wish, but it is flattering nonetheless. Anyway, if you want some good Christian Suspense/ Romance, here they are.

Safely Through Another Week

So I now I have that hymn in my head. If you stopped by Friday, you saw a post that no longer exists. I was having a major pity party for myself and am over it, so I decided to delete the post. Stewing over things doesn't change it, change does. So, it's time for me to do some adjusting. I'm up for it and have already started.

Last week started my new classes, I only have two students, but they are both very excited and I think this class may end up being one of my best. One of my students is very young and has a lifetime full of opportunity ahead of her. She seems very excited over every little things we do. It is refreshing to see that. My other student reminds me so much of me when I was ready to go back to working away from home.

I have spent a lot of time thinking this week about where I've been, where I am at and where I am heading with my job this week. I have done some reevaluating and after a talk with my boss, who straight out asked me if I regretted my decisions, I came to the conclusion that I knew I would. I love what I am doing, where I am at, and where I am headed.

One of things I figured out when I hadn't been working for ERBA very long is that I wanted the chance to do more than push a pencil. When my phone is ringing off the hook and it is a combination of clients, the girls in the field offices and people from the state and they are all looking to me for answers, I think I can say I am accomplishing my goals.

That's a good feeling. .... I had wrote a bunch more, but apparently there was a glitch and it went away and wasn't saved yet in autosave so I think that's all I have for today.

Made a stuffed crust pizza to have after church tonight for supper, loving my hair that Andrew permed last night and getting ready for another crazy busy week....yep, life is good.

So Excited

Today is one of those favorites for me. Our Employment Resource Lab classes start again tonight. I have honestly lost track of how many classes I have taught. Every set is different but every one has been meaningful. I am so excited about this one because I have revamped the curriculum and it is spot on. This is more than just a computer class, it is also a class on job search and interview skills. I have had so many of my students call and say they got their job because they were prepared for the questions and I have had A LOT of them go back to school after taking this class. I have one who very recently brought me in not one but TWO degrees from one of our local junior colleges. She was 55 when she took my class, recently widowed and raising a grandchild.  She has a job now and has been told they see her advancing, most of all, she is happy (and she can run laps around me when it comes to Microsoft Office Access-she loves it!).  I have another one of my seniors (I do classes just for low-income seniors in coordination with Experience Works too). Anyway, I have another one who had never hardly touched a computer when she came in....she knows her way around quite well now and loves being able to keep up with her family on facebook. So, you can see why today excites me!

I have also been working with the programmers and state level LIHEAP coordinators to help get ready for PIPP recertification. It is a great honor to me that they want my input. I am also very, very happy that they are trying to get something computerized that by all thoughts we would have to do by hand. It's too much to explain in a blog but we have almost 800 clients on this program and the system side of it is far from perfect. We have to do the program because it is a state law, regardless of how well the computer system works. I believe PIPP is going better than I even imagined and it is such a big help for the ones that are on it and using it correctly.

Andrew and Robert are doing well. Andrew is wanting to go back to work but hasn't been released yet, finding things to do around here is a bit of a challenge but we are getting there. I have stopped straightening up the kitchen of a morning, which is hard for me but gives him something to do.

Robert gets out of school May 11th. It is hard to believe he is almost half way through to being a mechanic. I shouldn't say that, he IS a mechanic. He has that natural ability and is going to do great.

My friend Patty, whom I spoke of last week did not get the greatest news in Houston. The tumor has grown. Fortunately the doctor has a new plan of action. You can read all about it here: Patty's Journey of Faith. The main thing to remember is she has laid this on the Lord, much better than I have to tell you the truth. We had a revival once where the preacher said we are guilty of playing tug-o-war with God; handing our problems over to Him and then taking them back. I do that with very few people, unfortunately Patty is one of them and I find her telling me to get it right.

My UC is doing excellent right now. I am on my very last week of prednisone. I haven't been off of it more than a couple weeks since last May. I have to admit, I am noticing the energy drain but tanking up on B-12 to help combat it. This is the farthest down I have made it without side effects though. I may be on my way.

So, as one of my friends stated on Facebook this morning, actually a quote from Dr. Suess: Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So...get on your way!

I absolutely love my mountains. God has given me such a much bigger and exciting life than I could have ever dreamed or imagine.

Happy, Happy Tuesday!!

Ready for the Ride

Vacation is officially over and in a few hours  I will be back at my post. I think I have said it before, I am addicted to my job, which I don't believe is a bad thing. I have kept an eye on my emails this time and pretty well know what I have going as soon as I get back to work. Today will truly be a day of catching up. Our PIPP clients will need to be priority one as I will need to get letters out to the ones who haven't gotten their payment made yet this billing cycle. The LIHEAP RA apps will come next. These were apps that were done last week but they still need one more going over before they are filled and before the money gets paid. Of course, life goes on this week so there will be RA apps to physically do as well-- I just check them to make sure our verifiers in the field have all the information correct and then I say it's okay to pay this before it goes to my boss who takes the next step. These are our clients who are getting ready to be disconnected, or have ran low or out of propane. It is considered an emergency and the apps need completed within 48 hours. Per my emails, I have a conference call tomorrow at 11:00, I don't know why we have to have conference calls that go through lunch, but oh well. Also tomorrow, I have a family friend coming to job shadow. I am looking very forward to this, any chance to get to share with others what we really do is a great day. So many people think we are a handout to lazy people who don't want to work. Seriously, this is wrong. We have so many clients who are trying hard to make ends meet and with the economy, it just isn't happening.
Next Tuesday night, I get to start computer classes again too. This makes me very happy as well. I love teaching it and it sounds like we have some really excited students as well.

Vacation was good, getting to see Andrew's grandma and cleaning our bedroom was the two main priorities and they are both done. I don't mind taking a few days to spring clean any other rooms, but my bedroom, I wanted done before I went to bed, just because I want the non-cluttered peaceful place. I don't do well with clutter. I also started on a craft project for the back bath, hope to have it finished tonight or tomorrow as well as getting to work on a vest I have cut out for Robert.

Oh yes, life is good.

I do have a request. My friend Patty, who I have said before, is a big part of why I get to do what I do, is heading to Houston tomorrow for a PET Scan and to see what her cancer is up to. We are praying that 1) The tumor has shrunk. 2) The cancer has not spread; and 3) The doctors there will have a plan of action if the tumor has not shrunk enough--this will probably be in the form of radiation. She is very nervous and though she is trusting in the Lord for His will to be done, she could really use som extra support so any chance you have to pray about this today, I would greatly appreciate.

Thanks!

1 minute cake--no kidding

While visiting Andrew's Grandma, she shared a recipe with me that is unbelievable!

Start with 1 Angel Food cake mix and 1 other cake mix, any flavor-- I chose Devil's food.

 Mix the two mixes together in a gallon ziplock bag.

Put 3 level tablespoons of mix in a small dessert bowl. I think my Longaberger ones are 6 oz.

Add 2 tablespoons of water

stir just until mixed.

Microwave for 1 minute--my microwave is a 1200W and 1 minute was perfect.

It's not beautiful but I tipped it out on a plate:



You could top it with ice cream, or whipped cream, or fruit.  These two mixes yielded 75 TBSP, so it works out to 132 calories for this cake.  It is not overly sweet, but still sweet enough to satisfy a sweet tooth.

I also made a "double" in a Longaberger mug. I used 6TBSP mix, 4TBSP water and still microwaved 1 minute.....

Robert took his out and topped it with strawberry syrup.

Great time away

We left Monday morning for a short trip to Brookfield MO to visit Andrew's Grandma Virginia. I am on vacation, Andrew on leave and Robert, spring break and didn't have to work until Wednesday. I saw an opportunity and we took it. So glad we did. We had a really nice visit, took a nice scenic drive to a little Amish town and just enjoyed getting to see Grandma. We made it home around 10:00 last night. The weather made the trip all the better.....it was a gorgeous time to be travelling.

Race Day!

We were trying to remember yesterday how many Grand Prix races we have had. Somewhere around 10 or 11. We decided when we started doing this that anytime we ended the day without tears, injury or someone going away mad, it was a good day. We have only had one time in all these years that I felt like it was less than wonderful, yesterday was not it. I believe we had a great race day and some very fun times.

 It is amazing each year to see the kids creativity

Robert and Andrew taking care of the track

 All the clubbers that participated

and all the adults and high schoolers that participated.

Back to "The Good Ole Days"

For 6 years, from the time Robert started Jr. High until he graduated, I doubt if there were ever 3 nights in a row that I was home. I read a fiction chick lit book that the lead character had the misinformed notion that there was love, family and career--choose two, but don't ever believe you could have all three because something would have to be sacraficed. I feel I proved that wrong, in a big way.  I would manage to make it home from a successful day of work, fix a good meal, get to a parent meeting, and come home and snuggle up with my husband. It was great. People at work would shake their heads and say I needed to slow down. I personally knew the day was coming all too soon that I would slow down; not by choice but because my one and only grew up. I have had many, many nights free since May and I don't regret those either. In fact, looking at what is coming up, I am wondering to myself just how I pulled it off--I get an answer loud and clear though, the Lord knew this was something I wanted and He let me have it. I am so very, very thankful to Him for giving me the strength and stamina to do everything I wanted to.

Now, I get to relive those days. It actually started yesterday. Tuesday was our last night home for over a week and I chose to have us get out of the house and go out for supper. Oh well, just added to the old times thing. But last night was AWANA, I didn't come home from work, just went and did a few things at church, went to my moms for supper and then went in for AWANA. Robert's last ballgame to play at was last night so I had to do all his stuff at AWANA. It isn't hard, just makes me nervous. So I got home for the day at 8:30 last night.

I have several projects going on at work right now, I am getting ready for Computer classes we may or may not have, depending on the interest. Our Weatherization guys have their conference next week and I am working with them on two powerpoint presentations. I thought I had them almost done and yesterday we reworked both of them. Finishing the changes on one is my first project this morning. I have also been asked to work with one other lady in the state and work on training videos and a user manual for the program we started last fall. I am extremely honored by this. Then there is just the day-in, day-out part of my job that goes on. I am leaving at noon tomorrow for a weeks vacation, so I have tons of getting ready to be gone too.

Tonight we need to get everything gathered up and ready for our AWANA Grand Prix. Andrew and I have always ran this day. It is a car race like the Scouts Pinewood Derby. In fact, our first track came from the Scout Pack that Andrew and I were involved with. The race is Saturday and with Andrew being on a weight limit, we have to try to work around him. 

Tomorrow, I am taking off at noon and Andrew has a doctor's appointment at 1:50, the followup to his surgery. He hasn't been released to drive yet. Tomorrow evening is Robert's band and jazz band concert at 7:30.

Saturday is Grand Prix day, Pits open at 10:30, which is when people will start bringing thier cars in to weigh and see if they are good to go. The race actually starts at 1:00, it will be a busy, busy day and then Robert has a repeat of the concert from Friday night. This could possably be his last concert because he is thinking very strongly about not doing band next year.

Sunday, things slow back down a bit, we have church that morning and evening and need to pack for a couple days away in between.  Monday morning, we drop Robert's car off at the body shop and head for Brookfield MO to see Andrew's grandma for a couple of days. Mom will be here taking care of our very spoiled animals.

We should be home late Tuesday night and I have already made plans to turn the alarm off Wednesday morning. The guys make fun of me because as hard as I will try, I will be wide awake by 6 AM, which is still "sleeping in" compared to the 4:10 that I normally get up to.

I got new bedding and curtains for our bedroom so the rest of my vacation is going to be tearing that room apart, cleaning and putting it back together. "Spring Cleaning" at its finest.

Okay, so now that I am tired just reading this, it's time to get ready for work.

Happy Thursday!