in case you didn't know....

...school is different in the 21st century than it was in the 20th century when I was as student the first time.

*Students bring laptops to class

*There is a Starbucks in almost every building (thank you, JESUS!)

*In some classes, students have to buy books as well as an access code for the website related to a particular class

*Professors actually post their lecture notes or power points onto the website so the students can print them out. This is so cool for the students (ahem, me) who try to write down everything they say, then miss out on the really important stuff because they are trying to remember what the prof just said because they couldn't write and listen at the same time!

*My first homework assignment had to be completed and submitted online. I hope I did it right and it's not lingering somewhere in the air between my computer and the school.

Overall, I think the first week of class went pretty well. Although, it was pretty light because labs don't start until next week. It was just lectures this week.

I think I pulled a muscle, though. I had all the books for my Monday classes in my shoulder book bag and carried the bag to all my classes on one shoulder. Then I alternated the shoulder bag and backpack the rest of the week. But every time I breath I have a sharp pain from my shoulder to my rib cage. The book bag is the only thing I can think of that would have caused it. It was pretty heavy.

Well, anyway, that's the week in review for this ol' school girl.

Go Mavs! :)

Change...

...has come.

It is strange reading the last few posts I wrote MONTHS ago. The things we've experienced recently make it seem like a year ago as opposed to just 4 months. I think things will get back into more of a routine now, so I will try my hand at blogging again...that is, if anyone is still out there...

In June, Dan's mom was admitted into a hospice program. She was in end stage liver failure and was experiencing hallucinations and deminsia. She fought a valiant fight, but lost the battle July 3rd. If you ever met Wanda, you know how sweet of a lady she was. However, the last week of her life was very troublesome. The doctors and nurses kept telling us that it was the disease talking and not her, but it was hard hearing some of the things she said or yelled. Some of it was spiritual, too. She had exceptional nurses at the Odyssey House hospice facility. The chaplain there is a friend of ours, Jeff Strickland. He is the youth pastor at the AG church in Colleyville. We could not have asked for better people to help us through that difficult time.

Wanda chose to be cremated, so we had a waiting time before we could have her services for everything to be ready. Her service was scheduled for July 18th in Lubbock. The day before the service, Dan's cousin's wife, 4 year old son, and 8 month old daughter were involved in a tragic car accident that took the life of the mom and son. The daughter was taken to Cook's Children's Hospital where she stayed for some time. She is home now. She suffered several broken bones throughout her body, as well as a skull fracture. Rusty (dad) is doing as well as possible, moving forward after this tragedy, being a single dad to Piper.

Five days later, a student at youth camp suffered an asthma attack in the middle of the night and, despite the efforts of his counselor, all of the camp medical staff, paramedics, and hospital staff, lost his life. A terrible, terrible night for Dustin's family and friends and unprecedented for North Texas Youth Ministries. Everyone who experienced that night are forever changed.

Everything this summer happened so quickly. Dan went from one tragic thing to the next without time to process it all. Things are slowing down now, so I'm sure he will start to decompress and deal with things instead of pushing it down in order to go on to the next pressing thing. Please pray for him as he goes through this time.

As far as work, goes...
THURSDAY WAS MY LAST DAY AS STORE TEAM LEADER!!!!
I will continue to work part time at the Arlington store, though. My time at the Lake Worth store is over, but while I was there, I was able to flush out all the problem people that were there when I arrived. As of now, there are only two people that were there when I came. Those two are people that are willing and able to do the job that is required of them. The rest of the staff that is currently there are people that I have hired who will do well for the company. Good people are in place, and sales are up, so I left it in better condition than it was when I got there. Mission accomplished.

And the reason why I left and going part time....
I START SCHOOL FULL TIME TOMORROW!!!!
I was able to get financial aid that paid for the whole year, books and everything! I am excited and scared and nervous and every other emotion that happens when you go back to school after 15 years! It's been a long time coming. Pray for me!

Well, I think I've covered all the bases. I think that is enough change for a while!

I miss my blogging friends. I know a lot of you are on Facebook, and that is more "convenient", but I've been missing all the details!

I wish everyone a good day tomorrow!