Where have I been?

It's true, I haven't been around on my blog much lately but there is a good reason. I have been writing, taking test and studying. My goal was to knock out as many courses as I could this term, and I have been working really hard to reach that goal. So far in just under 2 months I have managed to complete 4 courses and I have my test scheduled for my 5th! I am so thrilled, and I'm hoping I can keep up this pace and knock several more out before the end of my term in March. I finally grabbed one of my teaching courses and I'm finding it all very exciting. I have one more general course and then from here on out it's all teaching courses.

One Year Reflection

Wow, it has been just over a year ago that I started my journey at WGU Indiana. Looking back I know I made the right choice, and I am thrilled to be continuing my journey to teaching.

I have learned a great number of things while attending WGU, but I believe the greatest thing of all is what I learned about myself. I have discovered my strengths, my weaknesses, my fears, hopes and dreams. WGU has been the proverbial light bulb moment for me. It has been the light of my ah ha moment. So many things have become clear in the light of education. I now know I want more, but most importantly I have learned that more is possible. I have come to realize that dreams are what you make of them. They can be thoughts of things you wish for, or things you reach for and attain.

My dreams encompass a great number of things. Above all is the dream of a better future. So that is what I am doing, I am creating a better future for myself and my family. WGU Indiana has given me the opportunity to no longer wish for it, but to achieve it. I have worked hard, and every step I have taken has been done with determination and with a goal insight. Someday I will reach that goal and take that walk for a diploma I have yearned for, for so long. I think the most amazing thing is once I have reach that goal, I will be able to help build a foundation for children to grow their educational goals. I believe if I can help build a strong enough foundation for my future students, someday they will take that same walk I will to receive their college diploma, and in turn they will be creating a better future for themselves and quite possibly the world we live in as a whole.

WGU Indiana Mixer

I attended the WGU Indiana mixer tonight, and as always it was a pleasure! I love meeting the other students and of course meeting all the WGU staff and also Chancellor Barber. I truly believe that WGU cares about its students, and I am proud to be attending such a wonderful University!

My Children

I figured it was about time to introduce my children. My husband and I have been married 22 years and are the proud parents of 4 beautiful, amazing children. My children are my motivation and the driving force that keeps me going.

My youngest is a rambunctiousness, energetic son who will soon be 4 years old. His whole world revolves around Thomas the Train and Lighting McQueen. 

My eldest daughter is 18 and is an aspiring actress who some day hopes to work on stage. Currently she is attending college in New York. 

Next in age is my 13 year old who loves cheer-leading and dreams of becoming a supreme court justice someday, that or a congresswoman or senator. She loves politics as you can see by her choices :). 

Last but not least is my 5 year old daughter. She dreams of becoming a princess who lives in fairy castle. Her interest include tinker bell, flying ponies and rainbows.

College in The Big Apple

My daughter is going to college! Wow, where does the time go. It seems like in only a blink of an eye she went from being a new born to a beautiful young lady.

I must admit I have been pretty much checked out when it comes to my school work. I haven't completed much, and I am trying to get back on track. It's pretty hard to see and write when your eyes are all puffy from crying. Yes I am one of those criers, happy, sad, excited, scared, you name it and I will cry if I experience it. I have experienced so many emotions these last couple of weeks, to the point I didn't even know it was possible to experience them all at once.

The biggest major emotion I have right now is the feeling of being proud! I am so proud of my daughter. She has a dream and has taken flight to catch it. I wish, pray and hope with all my heart that she hunts down that dream, grabs it, holds it and makes it come true. Not many people at the young age of 18 would attempt to do the things that she has done. She signed up for school, booked a flight and left with just the money she had in her pocket. We are hoping soon she will be able to find a permanent place to live, so any and all prayers sent her way for finding some housing, would be very much appreciated by me and my family.

My daughter has always been been a go getter, and no one has ever been able to tell her that something isn't possible. She always jumps in with both feet first and figures everything will work out some how. I admire her courage, and as her mother of course I always worry, but I know in the end it will all work out.

The picture above is her is in New York City! I can't help but notice the smile on her face, and her arms open wide to all the possibilities that life has to offer.I do believe she will take NY and the world by storm. God Bless my girl, and may all her dreams come true!

One More Step Closer

I did it! I passed my course on the U.S. Constitution and I am one happy camper. Now I’m preparing to start my next term on October 1^st! Wow, I cannot believe it’s been almost a year since I started WGU. Looking back I am still confident that I made the right decision. WGU is helping me make my dream come true! You can’t get any better than that!

I'm Still Chugging Alone

I'm still chugging along! My hope of adding another course this term is becoming a reality. I take my test on the U.S. Constitution next week. Wish me luck!

I have to say that I've enjoyed this course, and learned a lot too. It is incredible when you think how our founding fathers created and established our country. Many years ago I had the pleasure of visiting Washington D.C. and it was truly a dream come true for me. I did the whole tourist thing and strolled through the White House, sat on the front porch of General Washington's home, viewed the Declaration of Independence and was humbled by rows and rows of stone in Arlington National Cemetery. It was all so amazing to me, and someday I hope to take my children there.

I was raised by the God, Country and Apple Pie mentality. My father fought with the 1st Calvary in Korea at Pork Chop Hill and my brother served in the Navy and in the National Guard in Iraq. In addition, my other brother served in the army and my own husband served in the Marine Corps for 10 years. Coming from a family with such a military history has always taught me to respect and appreciate the men and women who keep us free. Studying how our country came to be was more of a pleasure than a homework assignment for me. I thought I knew a lot already, but I learned so much more this term.

Open up and say Ahhhh

Wow, I knew school would be a challenge but I never thought my health would be one of the foremost ones that I would have to face while juggling school. So far I have managed a surgery last term, and one this term with several bouts of colitis during both terms.

I am recovering well from hernia surgery. Unfortunately a couple of days post op I suffered a severe colitis attack, that sent me crawling to the emergency room. Now bear in mind I have had 4 children. Three of those children were regular births without a drop of pain medicine. But this colitis attack was worse than any labor pains I have ever experienced. It was for lack of a better word, awful. I hope to never experience that much pain in my life again.

I guess in a way all my health issues have taught me a valuable lesson. I need to take care of myself first if I want to finish school. I need to keep myself healthy, take time out for me, and not stress the small stuff.

All Stitched UP

Well its finished. The surgery on my umbilical hernia is complete, ouch btw, and I stitched up the loose ends on my final task in speech, and hence completed all my open courses! I raced the clock this morning before surgery to complete everything and I won! When I arrived home this afternoon I managed to sit upright long enough to see "task complete". It made my post surgical nap on the couch that much more pleasurable. I might be down for the moment, but I'm not out for the count.

Surgery Scheduled

All I could think was omg, not another surgery. Last term in October I had to have my gallbladder removed. Now this term I have to have an umbilical hernia repair. I am scheduled for surgery this coming Tuesday and not really looking forward to it. I hate having surgery! Hopefully recovery will be quick and I can get back on track with my studies.

Once I turn in my speech I will have completed 5 classes. I'm thinking I might be able to squeeze in one more before the end of September. Sometimes I get a little discouraged that I'm not flying through the courses, but I do realize I am doing my best and all I can do is keep chucking along. Every class is one step forward toward my goal, so I will get there, just maybe not as fast as I had hoped.

Where there is a will, there is a way!

Getting through school is not an easy task, and when you add 4 kids, housework, dinner, laundry and everything else it can become a bit tougher. I do believe however in the old adage, "Where there is a will, there is a way". It never has rang so true as the day I started WGU. Achieving your goals I believe aren't always suppose to be easy. It takes work, drive, and a will to want it bad enough. These aren't bad things, in fact they are the motivating source that creates achievers. Sure sometimes no matter how hard we try we still end up landing face down in the dirt once in awhile. But I guarantee you that it is the hard working achiever that stands up, dust themselves off and tackles that mountain once more. Eventually they will reach the top, and their goals will be realized. Everything you go through to reach that zenith are like stepping stones. Stepping stones teach us lessons, humble us and make us real as human beings. The next time you hit that bump in the road or crash to the ground, get up, dust yourself off and climb that mountain again. In the end when you reach the top, you can look down and see the journey you have taken. Be proud and know all those steps are now behind you, and you took each one of them with the will to achieve, and you did it!

'Another One Bites the Dust'

Yes ! Another math course bites the dust. One more step toward earning my degree, and I'm loving it!

Next Semester

I decided to take my math test next semester after all. I figured it would give me a little more time to study, and feel more confident come test time. It was a bit of a disappointment, but life will go on. My new semester starts April 1st. I suppose in some odd way that is fitting. The last semester started the day before my 42nd birthday, and now my new semester is beginning on April Fools Day. I really hope there is no hidden message in that. Hopefully it is not fate telling me how old and crazy I am.

The second time around

My father once told me, "I passed Algebra with straight A's, the second time around." That sentence definitely spoke to me today!

I have been battling my Mathematics course for awhile now. Working through the homework and test sections I have felt a bit out of sync. Now I took a math course last year and breezed right through it, this time though it has felt like running up a hill on a treadmill. Well today that all changed. While I worked through the course for a second time to review, the proverbial light bulb kicked on. Geometry, algebra, functions and more all lit up like a neon sign in Vegas. There was no mistaking the formulas for me today. It all fell into place, and I understood it all. I am so happy, and hoping that tomorrow the light continues to shine bright. I just might make the final test after all this month! Thanks Dad for reminding me that sometimes it takes a second look for things to make sense, and to get it right.

The Beat Goes On

Yes the beat goes on! I was sitting here today thinking about my math course, and this song came to mind. See, I really wanted to add another notch to my "education belt" this month, but I am not sure if that is going to happen. I may be ready to test this semester, and then there is a strong possibility that I will not be able to. While I have met 100% of my goal this term, I wanted that extra boost of one more course down. In a moment I began to realize that "The Beat Goes On." If I finish this course before this term great, if I do not, well then I take it next term. My education beat will keep going, nothing lost. I will just take the test a few days later than I wanted, and I will be a beat ahead next term.

Priority

If I have learned anything about going back to school, it is the meaning of the word priority. Who ever said you can have it all, lied. The truth is you have to give up somethings, add things you don't want to, and figure out what is really important to you.

Housework was a huge priority for me. I ALWAYS keep my house neat, clean and kept. Well guess what, when you have 2 toddlers, 2 older kids, and throw homework into the mess, things change. It came down to, do homework and study, or clean the house spotless. Reluctantly I had to let the house go a little. Things get messy now and stays that way until I can get to it. . So now hit and miss the house is clean. I started thinking about it. What will a clean house give me verses an education. Clean won't pay the bills, and there is no degree for excellent house maid.

Another area had to be prioritized too. Me, what do I want out of my free time. Well to be honest I am a facebook addict. Yes it is true, I want the biggest best farm on farmville, lol . Guess what, that was the next thing that had to be almost cut out of my free time. I found that I don't need fictitious crops to keep me sane. I need me time. Now I take more quiet time for myself. I do things that help me relax and don't require much effort. Since I am always busy with something, and have all kinds of tasks to complete, farming crops were more of a chore. Goodness knows I don't need anymore chores. It is much better to take a long hot bubble bath, or go out to dinner with friends. Those things refresh me and allow me to have more energy to tackle the tough stuff.

Priority, the biggest best word that should be part of everyone's vocabulary, especially if you have mounds of things to accomplish.

ARghhhh

My last task needs revised. I made a stupid mistake and I have to fix it, and rewrite a couple parts of it. After crying for awhile, I realize it isn't as bad as I think. Several parts were marked excellent, a few good, and just a couple marked revise, it could have been worse.

Tick Tock

Ugh.. I turned in my ppt presentation and holding my breath that it is accepted. I can hardly wait, because this was my last task for the course. I really really want to be finished with it. I must say I like to read, but I dislike Literature. All the analysis drive me crazy! Waiting for grading is the hardest part.

Quiet PLEASE

Ugh... What I wouldn't do for just a little peace and quiet. I love my family desperately, but boy can they be a noisy bunch! My biggest battle with school is not the work, in reality it is finding a patch of quiet time to do the work. For anyone saying they don't think they can get through school because of kids, work or etc.. trust me, if I can do it, you can too. I sneak a bit of time here and there. Most of the time I write papers in between taking kids to the potty, fixing snacks, mediating arguments and helping take care of my mom. I don't sleep much anymore, which is apparent by the bags under my eyes, and the house is a mess, but it is all worth it. Someday I will look back at all I have accomplished, and I will be proud. Some day I am going to be a teacher!