Validation

Spring, why have you betrayed me? What are these white flakes doing here? Why do I have to wear my down, puffy coat and gloves and scarf? What happened to the birds and the flowers and the sun? What kind of a friend are you?

I registered for Spring Quarter classes online today. It's nice to register early, because I can make sure I get the classes I want. I'm going to be taking three classes again: Biology 101 (with lab), Intro to Computer Systems and Math 121 (Pre-Calculus). It took me forever to figure out what times I wanted to take these classes, because I try to work it so things can continue to go smoothly with the fam. Joe and I figured things out, and I think it's going to be OK. Now I'm going to start the used textbook hunt. I try to look online, including the used student bookstore on my college website. I've been able to get some good deals, even selling books for a profit! Some of my books I will probably keep for Amanda who is probably going to be going there next year for the Running Start program! Wouldn't that be funny if we took a class together? :) She might not think so, come to think of it. How uncool, Mom......

I got my math test back yesterday, and I got a 98!! This is exciting for me since my brain just didn't seem to be working when I took this test. I was the last one to finish it, so I felt really insecure about it. But, a 98!!! Then, I got my Chemistry test back yesterday, too. I got a 92!! It was tough, too! I'm so shocked at myself sometimes. It seems so unreal for ME, the girl who struggled and struggled with math and chemistry in high school, to be getting A's in COLLEGE. It's gratifying, don't get me wrong. It's just WEIRD..... THREE MORE WEEKS OF WINTER QUARTER TO GO!!!

In one of my first posts, I mentioned that I experienced church burnout. It's been a painful, eye-opening and humbling experience. It has also changed me for the better (that is even still developing). My goal in talking about it is to learn about it myself, and to help others learn about it and prevent it. The phrase "burned out" is so often used, some don't realize that it's an actual condition. It's been my experience that burnout is something not often talked about in that sense. There are many different arenas to experience burnout in, such as work or even mothering. I happened to experience church burnout. I have seen, in various churches we've attended over our many moves, a small handful of people doing most of the work. I've seen people, myself included, overextending themselves at the expense of their families and health. I guess I have a passion about it now, and want to help others. I have found several articles that I have enjoyed, an...

Whew!! I just had five junior highers, plus a junior high leader in my house for a crafty night of journal making! Melanie is in a "Cadre" group (small group) at our church, and she wanted to host a night where the girls could hang out. Their leader is a really fun, spunky, almost-21-year-old whom all the girls connect with and love. Anyway, I digress....OK. The journals! Melanie and I made up some packets with precut cardstock papers with matching scrapbook paper, so the girls wouldn't have to do much prep. We made a sample journal, and each girl made basically the same style with different papers. Some got creative with paper punches, too. Then the journal itself tied closed with a ribbon. Here is Melanie's cute monogram journal: The journal is made from a composition book, that Melanie covered with paper, and punched out flowers that she layered at the bottom right hand corner......

To read this post, you have to imagine me doing a victory dance. I'm gOOOood. Oh yeahhhhh. I'm gOOOood. Oh yeahhhhhhhh....I think I nailed my Chem test today, nailed a math quiz and I just got my ENG 101 essay back: 150 out of 150!! Oh yeah - I'm good - oh yeah - let's partay - like it's your birthay-oh yeahhhhh...

When I walk to class in the mornings, I'm surrounded by woodsy-ness. It's really beautiful. Look what I saw today: This is a woodpecker called the Northern Flicker. They're twice the size of a robin, so they're really big. I've had some in my yard before. They like to hang on the bird feeder similarly to the way they are hanging on this tree. It's super funny. Today I saw three of them flying and land on the side of a tree exactly like the picture. Their coloring is super cool, with those red cheeks, and semi-circle chest. These are the things that make me happy. This reminds me that I need to go get some bird feed - I just love to sit and watch them!

Ben and I were getting ready this morning, and he was reading the shampoo bottle. Then he informed me that when an "s" is on a word, its called a "pearl." I had no idea what he was talking about, so I said, "Hm!" Then, it dawned on me. I said, "do you mean "plural?" He said "Yeah, p-pur-pl-ur-al." :)

School's going good! Don't get me wrong, it's tough at times. Now that I am about half-way through Winter Quarter, I'm really feeling it. Miraculously, I'm maintaining A's in all of my classes at this point. Don't know if it will stay that way, but it amazes me. Once again, how I am succeeding in math is a surprise. I have to work WAY harder in this math class, because the teacher isn't the best. I am spending a lot of time reading and re-reading the text, to try and CRAM it in my brain so it sticks. My English 101 class is on-line. I still am not sure if I like this method of taking a class. There's just SO much reading, since you can't hear lectures, etc. I'm doing awesome in it, though. I'm waiting on a grade from my last essay, and then I just have one more to write and I'm done with the class!! My last essay is supposed to be a "proposal," where I define a problem and a solution. Here's what I'm go...

I was walking to my math class this morning, and I heard the happy sound of birds chirping. I also saw some type of bulb flowers poking their green leaves up through the soil. The gardeners were even out raking and fluffing the grounds....I felt like I got a little glimpse of Spring, and I started dreaming about the plants and flowers I want to plant in my own yard....Anyway, the thought of Spring brings a sort of relief to my soul, reminding me of how LONG it's been since I've seen pretty flowers and SUNSHINE.......It's times like these that I sure miss San Diego, and long for those relaxing days, reading in the sun during the girls' naptime....But, nothing beats the Spring around here. I can't wait to see my orange and pink Helianthemum and my vanilla-scented Irises and oooh-my hydrangeas! And who doesn't love this (minus the snow in the foreground):

I got inspired making Valentine's cards, so I thought it might be fun to share some of my other favorite cards I've made in the past. Since I rarely make the same card twice, I always scan my cards to enjoy after I've given them away.....They truly are my works of art. Sometimes I labor over a card for over an hour or more....Here's some of my favs.... This was fun stamping with white pigment ink on hot pink paper, then adding fuzzy yarn Some of my cards have no stamping at all, like this one. I used a simple flower with a brad center and a ribbon. I just loved the paper. I can't resist cool paper..... This one is a little square card (the bottom edge wasn't scanned completely). The little girl is peeking through a circle window. I colored the images with a blender pen from Stampin' Up and ink from the stamp pads. This one has all the cool embellishments I like to use: tags, brads, cording, metal edged tags, etc. I love this stamp of my favorite flower. ...

Happy Valentine's Day!! I would like to know how you celebrate Valentine's Day with your significant other or family! Leave me a comment, OK? Joe and I went out to dinner at McCormick and Schmick's on Sunday night, since he works today. We each had some delicious salmon....MMMMMmmmm.... Today, my honey surprised me with a pedicure spa treatment gift card at Gene Juarez, along with a lovely letter on pink paper (I had to growl a little that he used my Stampin' Up paper, but oh well, it was pink and matched everything else) :) He also gave my favorite - dark chocolate. He even got me flowers and balloons! Isn't he so nice? Of course, he told me we weren't doing gifts for each other this year (I should have remembered after almost 17 years of marriage, that he really doesn't mean that)......I made him an awesome card and gave him some chocolates (doesn't quite compare to the gifts he gave me......) I got each of my kids a little somethin'-somethin' ...

This past Saturday was the performance of Ben's play, "The Jungle Book." It was a cute show with catchy songs and great costumes. Ben played one of the monkeys who caused trouble for the main character, Mowgli. The monkeys sang two songs: "Monkey See, Monkey Do" and "Get Up And Dance." We were so proud of Ben and how well he performed. He worked so hard!! The poor guy was so tired after the two performances. Here's some pics! Ben the monkey!! Can you find Ben? Grammie, Ben, Mom and Amanda Goofy pose

The following is another article from Smoldering Wick Ministries at www.smolderingwickministries.org , by Kim Wenzel. This applies to any type of church leader, not just pastors....I hope you find it informative.... Stress, then Burnout It seems to me so many in the church do not understand spiritual burnout. The helping professions have always had a higher burnout rate than many other types of careers. Social workers, counselors, therapists, psychologists, and other social reform positions have scored high in burnout in the past several decades. It the past 20 years burnout and rising drug and alcohol abuse has skyrocketed in doctors, lawyers and members of the clergy. This disturbing trend also includes suicide. In fact, I am writing this article just two weeks after the suicide of one of Colorado Springs' most loved pediatricians. A man who gave so much to the community, he had nothing left. Some doctors claim stress contributes to 90% of all diseases. Even if this figure is ex...

Today, Ben auditioned for a play at his school, put on by the Missoula Childrens' Theater. Two traveling directors come to their school, hold auditions, and perform a play all in a week's time! It's pretty awesome. Anyway, about half the kids who audition get a part. Amanda and Melanie each participated in these plays during the years they attended the school, and got parts every year. So, this year it was Ben's turn!! Joe took Ben to the audition, since I had a class. On the way there, Joe told Ben to "break a leg!" Ben asked what that meant, so Joe explained that this is what theater people say to each other. When they arrived at the school, and were getting out of the car, Ben said "Well, I'm gonna go punch my leg!" Joe just about died laughing, it was so cute.... The good news is: Ben got a part!! He is going to be a monkey in the play "The Jungle Book." You sure "punched a leg, Ben!" :)

Joe and I went to church last night and heard a great message on Acts 5. For the next several weeks, our pastor will be speaking on "Fundamentals to Go Deep," and this week he talked about deception. He had some very cool points that stuck out for me. 1. If we cover ourselves, God will expose us. If we expose ourselves, God will cover us. *I so appreciated this point, because I've often thought that I respect and trust people more when they are transparent and reveal their weaknesses, faults, and mistakes - when they are up front and say "I messed up. I'm sorry." It's when people try to cover things up to try to protect their reputation, or control what people think of them, that is something I don't respect. For myself, I hope to be that transparent. I think I would rather tell on myself, and have God and others forgive me, than have God expose me!! Yikes. Our pastor said to "get your junk in the light," sighting Hebrews 4:12, 1...

What a day yesterday!! It was my turn to drive for the youth symphony carpool. I had to have Amanda and her friend down to rehearsal before 9:00 AM, then hang out until 1:30 when they finished. After that, I took the girls up to Federal Way for a solo/ensemble contest. This contest is BIG in the high school music world, and precedes state competitions. (It's something to put in her portfolio for college, too). Students can choose to play solos or ensembles in front of an adjudicator for scoring. The scoring is on a 1, 2, 3 scale (with plusses and minuses), with 3 being the bottom. Amanda has been preparing her piece for several months, and we hired accompaniment. She played "Concerto in A Minor," by Carl K. Goldmark. Amanda played EXCEPTIONALLY well, as did her friend. She received a 1 minus!!!!! GREAT JOB AMANDA!! Here she is at the contest.....

His last weekend as Chief! Cute girls! The gang