FLORIDA.FOR.MY.MASTER'S.DEGREE! I am so very excited about this.......and I am thankful beyond words! I got in......I cannot believe it. I am officially a GATOR!
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
I posted this a few weeks ago, a day or so before graduation day! I still cannot believe it, I have graduated! I have a college degree, well actually I have two of them, AA and a BS! And now, I am on my way to the University of Florida for my Master's degree! I have done this only with the help of a powerful God, a God who loves us no matter what and one who is always there when we call on Him! Thank you Lord for a wonderful, blessed life!
"Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention"..... I have repeated this to myself many, many times over the past few years and this Saturday my family and I will celebrate the end of a journey and the fulfillment of a dream that I have had for a very long time. A journey that when I started, I wasn't entirely sure how it would all "work out". But I felt lead to do it and I knew that if I was indeed "lead to do it" then the One who was leading was going to take care of the "gaps" in "my" plan that I felt were there. And He did, as He always has. He took care of it all! And I realized along the way, that it was NEVER my plan, it was His! He took care of everything and it all worked out more perfectly than I could have ever imagined. (Funny how that happens when we let go and let God)......Thank you to all of my family and friends who supported me, encouraged me and helped me through the challenging times. The times (and there were many) when I felt that the only "plan" I had at the moment was how to get through the next 15 minutes or the next 2 days. The end result, the "prize" if you will, seemed so very far away but I knew that if He had lead me to it, He would lead me through it, so I kept going. And on Saturday I will graduate with my B.S. Degree. I could not be more grateful and blessed!! I am very thankful for a husband who encouraged and supported me, I could not have done it without him and I am very proud and thankful to call him my partner in life! I am also very thankful for a daughter who was very understanding when I had to spend EVERY Saturday, all day on Saturday in the library studying because I was still working full-time and Saturday was the only day I could get my schoolwork finished. She was a constant support as well and I am very thankful for a daughter who is so understanding and loving! I am thankful too for my Dad who was a constant encourager as well. And my Mom and Billy who encouraged me too!
So, as I close, I want to give God all the glory for the dream that He indeed helped me to fulfill with His divine intervention! It has been a long road and I am finished (for now anyway)........it has been a wonderful, stressful, crazy, happy ride and I am very thankful for the journey!
"Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention"..... I have repeated this to myself many, many times over the past few years and this Saturday my family and I will celebrate the end of a journey and the fulfillment of a dream that I have had for a very long time. A journey that when I started, I wasn't entirely sure how it would all "work out". But I felt lead to do it and I knew that if I was indeed "lead to do it" then the One who was leading was going to take care of the "gaps" in "my" plan that I felt were there. And He did, as He always has. He took care of it all! And I realized along the way, that it was NEVER my plan, it was His! He took care of everything and it all worked out more perfectly than I could have ever imagined. (Funny how that happens when we let go and let God)......Thank you to all of my family and friends who supported me, encouraged me and helped me through the challenging times. The times (and there were many) when I felt that the only "plan" I had at the moment was how to get through the next 15 minutes or the next 2 days. The end result, the "prize" if you will, seemed so very far away but I knew that if He had lead me to it, He would lead me through it, so I kept going. And on Saturday I will graduate with my B.S. Degree. I could not be more grateful and blessed!! I am very thankful for a husband who encouraged and supported me, I could not have done it without him and I am very proud and thankful to call him my partner in life! I am also very thankful for a daughter who was very understanding when I had to spend EVERY Saturday, all day on Saturday in the library studying because I was still working full-time and Saturday was the only day I could get my schoolwork finished. She was a constant support as well and I am very thankful for a daughter who is so understanding and loving! I am thankful too for my Dad who was a constant encourager as well. And my Mom and Billy who encouraged me too!
So, as I close, I want to give God all the glory for the dream that He indeed helped me to fulfill with His divine intervention! It has been a long road and I am finished (for now anyway)........it has been a wonderful, stressful, crazy, happy ride and I am very thankful for the journey!
This is what has kept me away so long.......
Well, I have officially graduated! The event occurred on Saturday, May 4th at 11 am in the morning. It was a great day, one filled with anticipation, excitement and joy! Thank you my sweet friend, Stephanie, for coming, I am so blessed to call you friend. I am so thankful that Josie and Kent could come celebrate with us as well, I love you guys! Thank you also to my family who came to celebrate with us. I am so very grateful for Dr. Janice Jacob too, she was a constant support, a wonderful mentor and a fabulous professor! I am so very blessed to have had her as an educator, supporter and mentor throughout my B.S. program! Thank you Lord for allowing me to finish!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
I think these were good enough to share.....
As I was wondering around the blogosphere recently, I came across some quotes by Mark Twain. These are a few that I like, enough to share!
"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too can become great"....Mark Twain
"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous he will not bite you. This is the principle difference between a dog and a man."....Mark Twain
And lastly, this one is my favorite....
Until next time......;-)
"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too can become great"....Mark Twain
"If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything".....Mark Twain.
"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous he will not bite you. This is the principle difference between a dog and a man."....Mark Twain
And lastly, this one is my favorite....
"Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." .....Mark Twain
Until next time......;-)
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Soccer Camp ~ June 2011
The British arrived again this year for Soccer Camp...Actually, Coach Joe was from Ireland....but he was great just the same. Sutherlyn had another wonderful week of soccer with him and the other children that were there. It was a fun week for all!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
WE DID IT!
Well, it is official! I ran a 15K on Saturday, March 12, 2011......For those of you who are nonrunners that is 9.3 miles! And I did it without stopping, not once! I ran the whole time...no walking. Not even up the bridge.....The Hart Bridge that is! This is how the locals describe the bridge: "THE GREEN MONSTER"!
For my 40th year on this planet I decided that I should do something out...of..the..ordinary...for...me! Turning 40 will do that for ya! Anyway......I decided back in December that as I approached another milestone in my life, I would do something different. SO, I returned to running. Although this time I had a whole new outlook on it. I have had some major accomplishments this past year, I returned to and finished school with my AA degree, graduating with that in December. I felt it only appropriate to mark the occassion of my approaching 40th Birthday with something else that would be a first for me.....running farther than I ever thought I could! So, I did. I started the week leading up to Christmas. (I know, bad timing huh?) But I thought that it would be good for me to be disciplined through the holidays...and I was.
Shortly after I started running I decided that I was going to look at it through a different set of eyes; deciding that I needed to view my journey as one of "how far can I go?"...rather than one of "how fast can I get to the point at which I can stop!" And, after all I'd finally finished something that had taken a very long time to do, my AA degree with my sights now set on my BS degree! I'll digress here for a moment and say.....I did this, even though I had to get through one last math class(which is not my thing and my last Algebra class was nearly 10 years ago)! Even though I had to suffer through two Anatomy and Physiology Classes with a professer who is himself an MD! (An Attorney, and a Medical Examiner AND Retired Navy Officer after 36 years! - C.A.N. Y.O.U. ...S.A.Y....O.V.E.R...A.C.H.I.E.V.E.R?!) Anyway, I do digress! I mention these things to say this, there were many times throughout this past year that the ugly head of "self-doubt" reared itself. I thought as I studied every single bone in the human body and had to remember it all on a test without any MATCHING sections that I could not do it....I should just quit! Afterall, why in the heck was I trying to finish my AA at my age!? What did it matter anyway?!
Then I decided that if I quit, I would just be doing what had gotten me in the same place where I sat; 20+ years out of high school and stilling trying to finish what I'd started way back then...SO I preserved....moved forward. Pushed my way through and guess what!? Not only did I make an A in both of my A&P classes but my grades were so good in A&P I that I was exempt from the final, and in A&P II I got an A as well...I did have to take the oral final with my teacher but got an A on that one too! Then it was on to Math...one last hurdle! There were times during that summer semester as well where the ugly head of fear and doubt reared itself.....BUT I preserved and on December 14, 2010 I earned my AA degree with a 3.87 GPA! (I had a 4.0 until my B in math...but what the heck, I finished) I was so excited and proud.....but I do have to stop here and say that without God and leaning on HIM as I worked to juggle a full-time job (as a supervisor with a large medical practice), full-time school, Coordinator of our nursery department at our church (which has a membership of over 600 total church members, not nursery members, but just the same, our church is pretty big for our little town) , and being a full-time Mom and Wife.....I could not have done any of this without the LORD! So as I moved toward 40 I thought that another milestone would be appropriate! So, I started running in December with a new outlook on it....and then this past Saturday, I ran the GATE RIVER RUN (Saturday, 3/12/2011!) I finished in just under 2 hours; 1:58:57 to be exact and I could not have felt better! I certainly was not the fastest but I kept reminding myself, "the tortoise beat the hare, afterall"...and all that really mattered was that I never gave up! It was an exhilarating day and an event of a lifetime! I was nervous going into it and wanted to be sure that I could do it without stopping, NO WALKING, I wanted to RUN the whole time.....
As I began to think about the event, pray about it and train for it, I knew, that IF I set my mind to do it, I COULD! I also thought of one of my favorite verses....Phillipians 4:13.....truth is, with Him all things are possible!
Of course there was a lot of praying throughout the run, prayer that I would not have to stop, prayer that I wouldn't twist my ankle; or because of all that water-drinking, prayer that I would NOT have to go the bathroom! Wouldn't that just be my luck, finally, a milestone day in my life and I have to stop because I have to use the port-a-pot! That would have been A.W.F.U.L! Anyway, thankfully, God was there with me the whole way, He pushed me onward and even at the bottom of the GREEN MONSTER - HE WAS THERE! We made it and I am so very thankful that He cares about even the small stuff...being able to say that I completed the Gate River Run with my Lord and Savior matters even to HIM.....THANK YOU LORD that I did it with you....To quote Jill, my friend and running extraordinaire....."There is no better running partner" and she is right! He is there each time I put on my running shoes....I have learned to rely on Him for many things throughout my life.....and I am thankful that each and every time I call on Him, He shows up! Even to run with me........
Thank you Lord for another year of life....my 40th year and thank you for always being there when I call YOU! You are an AWESOME GOD!
Till next time.......
Here is picture of the occassion...OH and I almost forgot...MAL ran with me the whole way too....He's not too bad a running partner either!! (Mal is actually the "runner" in this family but he stayed with me the whole time even though my miles are 11-12 minute ones and his are usually 8 minute ones...he slowed down to hang with me and I appreciate that more than words can say). Our GOD is awesome and I am thankful for a wonderful husband who ain't too bad either.....
It was a fabulous day! One I will NEVER forget!
This was taken after the run...I was still standing....I was grateful!
For my 40th year on this planet I decided that I should do something out...of..the..ordinary...for...me! Turning 40 will do that for ya! Anyway......I decided back in December that as I approached another milestone in my life, I would do something different. SO, I returned to running. Although this time I had a whole new outlook on it. I have had some major accomplishments this past year, I returned to and finished school with my AA degree, graduating with that in December. I felt it only appropriate to mark the occassion of my approaching 40th Birthday with something else that would be a first for me.....running farther than I ever thought I could! So, I did. I started the week leading up to Christmas. (I know, bad timing huh?) But I thought that it would be good for me to be disciplined through the holidays...and I was.
Shortly after I started running I decided that I was going to look at it through a different set of eyes; deciding that I needed to view my journey as one of "how far can I go?"...rather than one of "how fast can I get to the point at which I can stop!" And, after all I'd finally finished something that had taken a very long time to do, my AA degree with my sights now set on my BS degree! I'll digress here for a moment and say.....I did this, even though I had to get through one last math class(which is not my thing and my last Algebra class was nearly 10 years ago)! Even though I had to suffer through two Anatomy and Physiology Classes with a professer who is himself an MD! (An Attorney, and a Medical Examiner AND Retired Navy Officer after 36 years! - C.A.N. Y.O.U. ...S.A.Y....O.V.E.R...A.C.H.I.E.V.E.R?!) Anyway, I do digress! I mention these things to say this, there were many times throughout this past year that the ugly head of "self-doubt" reared itself. I thought as I studied every single bone in the human body and had to remember it all on a test without any MATCHING sections that I could not do it....I should just quit! Afterall, why in the heck was I trying to finish my AA at my age!? What did it matter anyway?!
Then I decided that if I quit, I would just be doing what had gotten me in the same place where I sat; 20+ years out of high school and stilling trying to finish what I'd started way back then...SO I preserved....moved forward. Pushed my way through and guess what!? Not only did I make an A in both of my A&P classes but my grades were so good in A&P I that I was exempt from the final, and in A&P II I got an A as well...I did have to take the oral final with my teacher but got an A on that one too! Then it was on to Math...one last hurdle! There were times during that summer semester as well where the ugly head of fear and doubt reared itself.....BUT I preserved and on December 14, 2010 I earned my AA degree with a 3.87 GPA! (I had a 4.0 until my B in math...but what the heck, I finished) I was so excited and proud.....but I do have to stop here and say that without God and leaning on HIM as I worked to juggle a full-time job (as a supervisor with a large medical practice), full-time school, Coordinator of our nursery department at our church (which has a membership of over 600 total church members, not nursery members, but just the same, our church is pretty big for our little town) , and being a full-time Mom and Wife.....I could not have done any of this without the LORD! So as I moved toward 40 I thought that another milestone would be appropriate! So, I started running in December with a new outlook on it....and then this past Saturday, I ran the GATE RIVER RUN (Saturday, 3/12/2011!) I finished in just under 2 hours; 1:58:57 to be exact and I could not have felt better! I certainly was not the fastest but I kept reminding myself, "the tortoise beat the hare, afterall"...and all that really mattered was that I never gave up! It was an exhilarating day and an event of a lifetime! I was nervous going into it and wanted to be sure that I could do it without stopping, NO WALKING, I wanted to RUN the whole time.....
As I began to think about the event, pray about it and train for it, I knew, that IF I set my mind to do it, I COULD! I also thought of one of my favorite verses....Phillipians 4:13.....truth is, with Him all things are possible!
Of course there was a lot of praying throughout the run, prayer that I would not have to stop, prayer that I wouldn't twist my ankle; or because of all that water-drinking, prayer that I would NOT have to go the bathroom! Wouldn't that just be my luck, finally, a milestone day in my life and I have to stop because I have to use the port-a-pot! That would have been A.W.F.U.L! Anyway, thankfully, God was there with me the whole way, He pushed me onward and even at the bottom of the GREEN MONSTER - HE WAS THERE! We made it and I am so very thankful that He cares about even the small stuff...being able to say that I completed the Gate River Run with my Lord and Savior matters even to HIM.....THANK YOU LORD that I did it with you....To quote Jill, my friend and running extraordinaire....."There is no better running partner" and she is right! He is there each time I put on my running shoes....I have learned to rely on Him for many things throughout my life.....and I am thankful that each and every time I call on Him, He shows up! Even to run with me........
Thank you Lord for another year of life....my 40th year and thank you for always being there when I call YOU! You are an AWESOME GOD!
Till next time.......
Here is picture of the occassion...OH and I almost forgot...MAL ran with me the whole way too....He's not too bad a running partner either!! (Mal is actually the "runner" in this family but he stayed with me the whole time even though my miles are 11-12 minute ones and his are usually 8 minute ones...he slowed down to hang with me and I appreciate that more than words can say). Our GOD is awesome and I am thankful for a wonderful husband who ain't too bad either.....
It was a fabulous day! One I will NEVER forget!
This was taken after the run...I was still standing....I was grateful!
Monday, November 29, 2010
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas........
Don't look at my "Christmas chaos" on the table....it is now decorated for the Christmas holiday.....
Here......
The trees are UP and the house is decorated (well, for the most part)!! Yes, not only was I early this year on the holiday cheer, but we have TWO trees decorated in our house! More on the second one later.....for now, Merry Christmas!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY
Happy Veteran's Day to all who serve; who currently are serving and have served in the past. May we all remember that FREEDOM IS NOT FREE! It has been bought and paid for ~ the cost, the ultimate price. Least we never take it for granted!
I know this saying is well-used and well-known, but I love it just the same....
"If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English, THANK A VET!"
Thank you Veterans......
Go out, enjoy the day, and when you see a serviceman or women, TELL THEM THANK YOU!
They will appreciate it!
"Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you; Jesus Christ and the American GI; one for your soul and the other for your Freedom"
I know this saying is well-used and well-known, but I love it just the same....
"If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English, THANK A VET!"
Thank you Veterans......
Go out, enjoy the day, and when you see a serviceman or women, TELL THEM THANK YOU!
They will appreciate it!
"Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you; Jesus Christ and the American GI; one for your soul and the other for your Freedom"
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Very sad day.........
Goodbye my sweet, lovable companion ~ Things will never be the same around here without you! I love you.........
Today is a very sad day here at "little oak" ~ Our beloved dog, Tag passed away this morning. I have known that this day would come and, honestly, I have dreaded it! Tag came into our lives when he was just 8 weeks old, the cutest little puppy I'd ever seen.....he was our "child" before we had Sutherlyn. When she came into our lives, he loved her so. The day we brought her home from the hospital Tag went to his "toy" basket and brought all of his toys to her room and laid them, one by one, at the foot of her changing table. Then he sat down, looked up at me and began to wag his tail! He was a great dog! A dog that I could have only dreamed of having. He never, ever was ugly or mean to Sutherlyn, even when she was a baby, a new little one in his home, he always loved her. And she loved him, so much so that her very first word was "Tag"! She is not currently here, she is away this week at horse camp but I know when she returns her heart will be broken, as is mine today. Our beloved Tag was 12 years old on Monday, July 19th. Today, he is gone. We will miss him terribly. My heart is breaking for him at this moment. However, I know that this is a part of life and he was just a dog ~ Oh but to us, he was so very much more, he was our Tag and we loved him very much! He was the best dog I could have ever asked for! Thank you Lord for allowing me to spend the last 12 years with him, my life is much better because I loved him and he loved us!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Making a house a home........
The new bird house.......
For about three years now this little bluebird has made her spring nest at our house. First she started in a birdhouse that was never intended to actually be a bird house! That one was moved from the front porch to atop the post that is currently in the ground just off of our front porch. The kitty cat got ahold of the old house one time and broke all of the baby bird eggs! Wasn't a pretty sight.....anyway, I digress. This is the new and improved, made for the weather birdhouse that I purchased for our little bluebird family this year at the Spring Garden Show......I was worried that she may not make a new nest in it ~ since it was different I was concerned that maybe she would be more concerned with where her other house and nest went....so we put it up on the post and we waited. They arrived just as they have for the last three years, around the middle of March. They started flying around our porch in search of their house, they investigated the new house but didn't seem particularly interested in it......Moma bird tried to make a nest in a cute little rabbit pitcher I had out for decoration on a table on the front porch. I quickly took it out of the picture as the kitty cat would have been very glad to see them in there, boy could she have gotten to that nest easily! So, after I moved that pitcher, I was again worried that Moma bird was upset. She flew away for a day or so and I didn't see her. Then, one morning, she re-appeared, Daddy in tow. She feverishly began to haul anything that she could pick up into the new house!
I thought you might enjoy a few pics so here they are......making their little house a home! We can't wait for the baby birds to hatch out once she finishes with the preparation and actually lays the eggs. That should be soon....it is so nice early in the mornings to sit and watch her as the dawn breaks on another of God's wonderful days. We watch her fly out and fly back with breakfast and we can hear the baby birds inside each time she comes back to feed them. Such an amazing thing to watch.
Till next time........
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Castaway Cay...Disney's Private Island in the Bahamas...That is the "Flying Dutchman" from the Pirates of the Carribbean movie....have I mentioned that Sutherlyn loves that movie?! It is her favorite .....on the top of the list of her most favorite movies of all time! Go figure? Capt Jack Sparrow is her favorite pirate (as if she knows any other pirates?!) So you can imagine her surprise when he was there, waiting for her!
Onboard ship......
Nobody does it like Disney!
Are we going on a Disney Cruise?! Yes......Yipeeeeeeee.........
The "sail-away" party on deck as we were leaving Port Canaveral.
The "traffic" cop in Nassau. They don't have "traffic" lights, they have these!
The "sail-away" party on deck as we were leaving Port Canaveral.
Our Stateroom...we had an oceanview window...it is huge!
I don't know what it is about us....maybe we look "special" ~ I have no idea, but once again one of the Disney "cast members" walked up to us on the first night of the cruise, we were attending the "Golden Mickeys" ~ and he asked Sutherlyn, "How would you like to be part of the "special" show tonight? The 7 dwarfs are missing, we left them onshore in Port Canaveral, they missed the ship. We need some children to fill-in for them. How would you like to come up on stage and help us out by being a "dwarf" for our production tonight?" What is it with us? Seriously, it is always fun but we are always picked out of a huge crowd to take part in the "special" events (while down at Fort Wilderness a few years ago, we were picked out to go back and have "special" time with Chip and Dale....while at Disney that same year we were picked out of a large crowd of people standing in line for a ride to be given the "special" treatment...they gave us fast passes to all of the rides that day, the Disney Dream Pass, we didn't have to wait in line for anything the rest of the day and then this, on the cruise.....we were excited to say the least. So, the above picture is Sutherlyn as a "dwarf"....she is right in the middle with the purple hat on, right beside the black and white striped shirt kid.
Coming into port in Nassau.....Bahamas.
The "traffic" cop in Nassau. They don't have "traffic" lights, they have these!
More of everything.....
This is the restaurant in the Hotel....this is part of the downstairs that has been renovated by Joe...the current owner. Based on what he did down there, I can't wait to see the upstairs! He did a great job and was very true to the character of the hotel while adding sophisticated touches throughout. It is beautiful!
This is Clinton Anderson and one of his horses, Diez.....I had the camera on "action" so it was taking pictures one right after the other, in sequential frames, it caught this, the horse was licking and chewing (something all of you horse entheusiast know is a good thing) however, when I looked back at the pictures, based on the way the camera was working, it looks like he is sticking out his tongue! I thought this was funny...
Here is the picture of Clinton coming to the side of the arena to answer Sutherlyn's question. He came over to the side because he said that "he couldn't understand her accent and needed to come nearer to her to hear her better" - lol - He is from Australia ~ who do you think has an accent? She is on the right side of the picture, in the red jacket, just a row in front of the red blanket there.
This is the main stairwell in the Hotel....it was beautiful too....Don't like the carpet, hopefully Joe will pull that up too.
This is the view across the street ~ this is what you see when you are standing/sitting at the Hotel. It looks like a postcard to me. This is Wartrace.....it is a small town, a very small town!
Monday, February 1, 2010
The Hotel - from our Tennessee vacation in November.....for Stephanie (again!)
The front view of the hotel....
This is a link to an article done in the paper about the hotel and its new owner...great story!
The Walking Horse Hotel - circa 1917 ~ This place was right up my alley! The last picture here is our room....the hallway was long and wide and the floor creaks when you walk on it!!! (Stephanie, I wish you'd been there, you would love it!)
Someone came in a number of years ago (the previous owners) and "updated" things (ugh), the red carpet is going as soon as the new owner begins his upstairs renovations...should be some time this month. He is going to send me new pics once he has completed some of it. My pictures here really do not do this place justice, it really was very cool! The halls are adorned with some pictures of the Grand Champion Tennessee Walking horses in the early 1900's. The first and most famous, Stolling Jim, is pictured below. He's also buried behind the hotel.
I'll post a few more of these later.....these are to hold Stephanie over for a bit!
This is a link to an article done in the paper about the hotel and its new owner...great story!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)