This is my last semester of my Graduate program. Lord willing, i will graduate at the end of April, 2012 with my Masters Degree in Instructional Technology from the University of South Florida. My studying has paid off and unless I TANK this semester, I will graduate with a 4.0 GPA and as a member of Phi Kappa Phi honor society.

I'm so ready to be done.

I just finished my Spring semester with 2 A's. My GPA is a 4.0. (I'm making up for my 2 years at FC when I didn't really care about grades and didn't study...at all). I was also just inducted into Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society. Yay!

I just started my new job at Medco Health Systems. 3 days of orientation and then I'm going to be working from my home office. I guess it would be a good idea to get my home office set up properly now. It gives me a great excuse to go to Ikea and shop for some office furniture.

Jessica just went to NYC and stayed with Jessica Gill for a week. She had a wonderful time, met lots of new Christian friends. I was so proud of her, when Jessica had to work, she got a map and a Metro card and ventured out on her own to see the city. She is so much braver than I was at her age. She starts school in June. Taking 9 hours at Hillsborough Community College.

We're busy here planning for VBS already. It is going to be extraordinary. Our theme is a "High Seas Adventure...Exploring the Mighty Love of God." We are already building curriculum, collecting supplies for crafts, building sets and sewing costumes. VBS is such a long, hard week, but so worth it when you see the expression on the kids' faces; and even more so when after several months, they still remember the lessons.

I haven't posted on Pleo for sooooo long. so busy with other things. I keep up on happenings by reading posts, but never seem to post myself. So much has happened this year and I have been blessed sooo much.

I am in my third semester of Graduate School. If I keep this pace, I will graduate with my Masters in Education in the Spring of 2012. My cognate is Instructional Technology. I so love this program. It is right in my "sweet spot." I am learning to design online training (which is kind of what I do anyway, so I figured I should learn HOW to do it correctly). LOL. I have learned so many applications and my skills have grown immensely.

When I started back to school, my main intent was to equip myself with the skills and "clout" to be a value to a design team. My "dream" was to acquire a position where I could work from home. I have found that as I get older, living with Crohn's Disease gets more intense and a myriad of "new and exciting" symptoms crop up on an every day basis. I'm not complaining, mind you. After reading all about the disease and knowing others who suffer with it, I realize I am VERY lucky and continue to function quite well (even though there are days when I want to stay in bed, head covered). But being the "big picture planner" that I am (thanks, Dad) I must prepare for the day when I still need an income but am not physically able to drive into an office each day. I am amazed each and every day how God answers prayers. A friend recommended me for a position with a Fortune Top 50 company as an Instructional Designer...A WORK AT HOME POSITION!!!!! I applied, interviewed and just received an offer yesterday! If everything goes as planned, I should begin on May 9th. God is Good!

The biggest change in my life this year has been growth in my family. No, Dad and Midge didn't have a child! (tee hee) I am now blessed to have a "niece" living in my home. She is a lovely young lady who because of her strength and character, survived a VERY unfortunate childhood...one of 12 children (all different fathers), taken from their drug addicted mother, raised (and I use that term lightly) by a very controlling and abusive Grandmother (need I go on???). She has lived here since January and since that time, I have seen her blossom into such a wonderful young Christian lady. When she first came to live with me, I could see she had so many hurdles to overcome just to learn how to "live on her own"). She questioned her faith (and quite frankly, if I had been through half what she had, I don't know if I would believe in a benevolent God either), self esteem issues, no "life skills", etc. (you get the picture). After 3 months, she is now working at McDonalds 21 hours a week, registered for 9 hours at Hillsborough Community College, has a checking account AND a savings account, is saving to buy a car, just making such GOOD every day decisions. oh yea, now she WANTS to go to services!!!!!!! (praise God, she used to go because she HAD to) I cannot express how proud I am of her. Each and every I see growth in little areas.

I am amazed every day what God can do with a piece of clay!

The surprising twist to this story is how it is affecting ME! I was never blessed with children, however, I am known as "Aunt Cindy" to about 5,465 kids (well, some are now adults, but who's counting)...so I never got to experience those all so important "firsts" that mothers experience with their children. Well, so far, I've gotten to provide her with her "first" birthday party, pedicure, Broadway Show (Mamma Mia!) and tomorrow morning, she will get her first Easter Basket. When she first moved in, I just figured it would be like so many others who have "rented" rooms in my house (some for summers between college, some while building or buying their first homes, etc). I am simply amazed (and a little overwhelmed) with the maternal feelings I have for her. It feels like she's been here forever and she just BELONGS here! I know that my job is to prepare her to venture out and live on her own...well, in my head I do...and one day, she will be ready to take that step. When that day comes, I know that God will give me the strength to let her go, just as my parents did me. Until then, however, I am going to enjoy EVERY single day I have with her and hopefully guide her in her pursuit to become independent.

Well, that's what's new with me. Please keep us in your prayers...that she will continue to grow, both in the Lord and in life, and that I will wisely guide her in her journey.

Blessings!

School starts tomorrow. I'm taking 2 classes...Problems in Instructional Design for Computers and Digital Video. Two great classes but heavy project loads. I'm looking forward to getting back into the swing of things though...

We get 4 weeks off between semesters. At the beginning of the 4 weeks, I always think it will fly by...by the end, I'm ready to get going again.

Hope everyone had happy holidays.

both finals were tonight. I don't think I aced them, but I remembered lots more than I thought. His verbiage was a little odd, so some were confusing. The first exam in Web Programming was pretty easy. I did enough scripting programs and project work to warrant an A if I get at least a C on the exam so I should be good to go. The second exam in Computer Hardware for Education was surprisingly easy for the first 6 (front and back) pages...then I came to a screeching halt and ran, smack dab, into the essay questions. Yikes. I think I did ok, but may get only partial credit for some of those. I'm hoping to get a B in that class.

I can't believe how incredibly tired I am. I haven't decorated for Christmas yet, which, if you know me, is SO unlike me. Daddy called and wants me to spend Christmas with him and Midge instead of them coming over to my place. He was really trying to sell me on the idea. It took about 3 minutes before I could interupt and say. ABSOLUTELY! no cooking, no cleaning, just SLEEP!.

I'm off school until January 11th. I take one of my foundational classes, Problems in Instructional Design for Computers and an elective, Digital Video. Should be an interesting, but VERY BUSY semester.

thanks for all your well wishes for my exams. now....to sleep, I say!