I try to help make things easier for my husband. We are a team. In his last year of the Master's program at CU I researched potential PhD schools. I made charts and gave him a list of 20 possible choices. I showed him how they stacked up in necessary areas, the cost, funding, etc. I am now making charts and tables again for potential jobs next year.
The way it works is similar to applying to grad schools. The applications are due in the fall. They don't go over them (for the most part) until January or February. Then you start hearing back and getting interviews for a job that won't even begin until the end of the summer.
I am learning all sorts of interesting language. I am quite impressed with my husband's experience and expertise. I can now navigate most university/college websites and find what I need. Yep, I am gaining new talents. Our potential schools are at 18 now and will hopefully get larger. They include places in Alaska, Ohio, Nebraska, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Utah, Texas, and Hawaii (BYU). It has been a lot of work and he hasn't applied to a single one yet. He is just getting everything ready. Plus, every school is different. One wants this, another wants that. One wants a video of him teaching for 15 minutes and a few want a statement of Christian faith.
Now, Andy is getting worried. How can he do it all? Write the dissertation, get everything out for the jobs, magnify his calling and be there for his family. He is worried he won't finish by the spring. He will. I know he will. We may be here another year with him working adjuct all over the place, but he will finish and we follow the Lord's will.
I am done. Over 12 years of struggling. Worrying about what to buy and what not to. Worrying because another sock was worn through. A sock! I am a worrier, yes, but I would like slightly different material. I know that things will not necessarily be better money wise, but at least my husband will not be working 80 hours a week for practically nothing...oh wait, maybe he will.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
A real service project
I am trying hard not to be judgmental and gossipy. I really am. I have tried to let this one go, but I am having a hard time with it. Since, it is venting, feel free to skip this post.
Yesterday our young women watched several children at the church for 7 hours. We were asked by another ward so their ward members (including youth) could do temple work all day. While hesitant; 7 hours is a long time; we agreed to it.
For a couple of weeks we have been in communication with the ward and this week we got a head count with the ages of the children, 7 kids between the ages of 2-9. Very doable. Imagine our surprise when 3 children show up that were not signed up. Imagine our further surprise that one was a 10 month old. The mother left no instruction, no bottle, nothing, just a pb&j sandwich and a granola bar. (Seriously, who does that?) I am in awe that there was no, "She likes..."or "When she gets upset..." or "To put her to sleep..." or "She is weaned..." It was a hard day with the poor baby. She didn't seem to know how to eat much. She didn't take a bottle, really. She slept for about 1/2 an hour but was exhausted and starving by the end. I was putting away our art supplies when the mom came, luckily. I was not happy. (Not to mention the laws surrounding infant care. They are very strict and we would have said no had we known any child under the age of 18 months was coming. You know me and following rules.)
Top all this off with the young women I had "helping" me. They sat at the table by themselves and drew pictures for an hour, then left. I just thought, "And that is why I have never asked you, and probably never will ask you, to watch my children." I feel like I should have an activity on how to babysit now. What seemed like common sense to me is apparently not. My own children were amazing helpers, even the younger two. I was very impressed and feel so blessed to have them.
Venting done. By doing what we did, we enabled 35 youth to do baptisms, over 40 adults to attend and do work and several unendowed adults stand in the presence of the temple and learn more about it. Keeping it in perspective helps.
Yesterday our young women watched several children at the church for 7 hours. We were asked by another ward so their ward members (including youth) could do temple work all day. While hesitant; 7 hours is a long time; we agreed to it.
For a couple of weeks we have been in communication with the ward and this week we got a head count with the ages of the children, 7 kids between the ages of 2-9. Very doable. Imagine our surprise when 3 children show up that were not signed up. Imagine our further surprise that one was a 10 month old. The mother left no instruction, no bottle, nothing, just a pb&j sandwich and a granola bar. (Seriously, who does that?) I am in awe that there was no, "She likes..."or "When she gets upset..." or "To put her to sleep..." or "She is weaned..." It was a hard day with the poor baby. She didn't seem to know how to eat much. She didn't take a bottle, really. She slept for about 1/2 an hour but was exhausted and starving by the end. I was putting away our art supplies when the mom came, luckily. I was not happy. (Not to mention the laws surrounding infant care. They are very strict and we would have said no had we known any child under the age of 18 months was coming. You know me and following rules.)
Top all this off with the young women I had "helping" me. They sat at the table by themselves and drew pictures for an hour, then left. I just thought, "And that is why I have never asked you, and probably never will ask you, to watch my children." I feel like I should have an activity on how to babysit now. What seemed like common sense to me is apparently not. My own children were amazing helpers, even the younger two. I was very impressed and feel so blessed to have them.
Venting done. By doing what we did, we enabled 35 youth to do baptisms, over 40 adults to attend and do work and several unendowed adults stand in the presence of the temple and learn more about it. Keeping it in perspective helps.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
How do you know?
****Warning**** You may want to make sure your children aren't reading over your shoulder.
Yesterday my friend told me that she had to have a hard talk with her girls (ages 8 & 7). I immediately thought of the birds and the bees, but it was about Santa Claus. She said they straight out asked her and she couldn't deny it. She was distraught and we chatted a bit. Marcus asked once. (I have mentioned that before on my other blog.) I didn't think much about it until this morning. Apparently one of her daughters told Anneke, but she didn't come to me. I am not sure how to proceed.
I am not mad or even sad. I am just curious. My oldest daughter has an interesting personality. She will believe if she wants and you can't change her mind, or she will go along with something because she has no strong feelings in either direction. Plus, she will not hesitate to be that no-it-all and tell everyone, either. (I really wish that people could let others believe what they want. Especially lately people really harsh about what others believe. But, I digress...)
I don't want this to happen. Part of the magic of Christmas will be lost. I don't want my child to be the one ruining other children's dreams. (Marcus and Anneke tell others the ending to books. *Gasp* I know, we are working on it.)
I was never told. I was afraid to ask and just kept on until just one day...I knew. I want that to be the way with my children, but in reality, probably not. So, how do you know? In my family growing up "If you don't believe, you don't receive" was the motto.
This is kind of rambling, I am trying to sort out my thoughts.
Yesterday my friend told me that she had to have a hard talk with her girls (ages 8 & 7). I immediately thought of the birds and the bees, but it was about Santa Claus. She said they straight out asked her and she couldn't deny it. She was distraught and we chatted a bit. Marcus asked once. (I have mentioned that before on my other blog.) I didn't think much about it until this morning. Apparently one of her daughters told Anneke, but she didn't come to me. I am not sure how to proceed.
I am not mad or even sad. I am just curious. My oldest daughter has an interesting personality. She will believe if she wants and you can't change her mind, or she will go along with something because she has no strong feelings in either direction. Plus, she will not hesitate to be that no-it-all and tell everyone, either. (I really wish that people could let others believe what they want. Especially lately people really harsh about what others believe. But, I digress...)
I don't want this to happen. Part of the magic of Christmas will be lost. I don't want my child to be the one ruining other children's dreams. (Marcus and Anneke tell others the ending to books. *Gasp* I know, we are working on it.)
I was never told. I was afraid to ask and just kept on until just one day...I knew. I want that to be the way with my children, but in reality, probably not. So, how do you know? In my family growing up "If you don't believe, you don't receive" was the motto.
This is kind of rambling, I am trying to sort out my thoughts.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Journals
When I was pregnant with each one of my children I started writing in a journal to them. I would frequently update and record events. However, I have done horribly since Luke was born. In fact, the last entry in any of their journals is 2 weeks after Mallory was born! I was horrified and have been trying to do better. As I tried to hit all the high points for the last (almost) 2 years I went back and read a few entries.
I was, of course, the best at keeping up to date on Marcus's. Once a week I wrote. Being my oldest child, I have kind of put his early years in this glowing, happy place in my mind. After yesterday I am so grateful he was my first, I could not have handled him otherwise. He had tantrums practically daily where he would be so out of control he could not calm down. He would bloody himself while he flailed around. Somehow, I blocked this out. I do remember being on campus at SUU and we were killing time until my class. We were playing and I made Marcus mad. He threw a fit right there and I couldn't get him to stop. I almost literally dragged him to the child care center with tears running down my cheeks. The director looked at me and said, "You can bring him here anytime you need a break." That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Eventually Marcus grew out of the tantrums...sort of. He still gets so worked up he can't calm himself down, but at least he doesn't bloody himself up.
So, rose colored glasses have come off and I have seen the light. I am scared to go back and read Anneke's journal.
I was, of course, the best at keeping up to date on Marcus's. Once a week I wrote. Being my oldest child, I have kind of put his early years in this glowing, happy place in my mind. After yesterday I am so grateful he was my first, I could not have handled him otherwise. He had tantrums practically daily where he would be so out of control he could not calm down. He would bloody himself while he flailed around. Somehow, I blocked this out. I do remember being on campus at SUU and we were killing time until my class. We were playing and I made Marcus mad. He threw a fit right there and I couldn't get him to stop. I almost literally dragged him to the child care center with tears running down my cheeks. The director looked at me and said, "You can bring him here anytime you need a break." That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Eventually Marcus grew out of the tantrums...sort of. He still gets so worked up he can't calm himself down, but at least he doesn't bloody himself up.
So, rose colored glasses have come off and I have seen the light. I am scared to go back and read Anneke's journal.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Look Up
I wanted to share this with you guys. Hope it has an impact on someone.
THE BUZZARD:
If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and
is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its
THE BUZZARD:
If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and
is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its
ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is
that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a
run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit,
it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner
for life in a small jail with no top.
THE BAT:
The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable
nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level
place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it
can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully,
until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can
throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like
a flash.
THE BUMBLEBEE:
A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there
until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the
means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find
some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will
seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys
itself.
PEOPLE:
In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the
bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and
frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look
up! That's the answer, the escape route and the solution
to any problem! Just look up.
Sorrow looks back,
Worry looks around,
But faith looks up!
that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a
run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit,
it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner
for life in a small jail with no top.
THE BAT:
The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable
nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level
place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it
can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully,
until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can
throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like
a flash.
THE BUMBLEBEE:
A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there
until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the
means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find
some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will
seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys
itself.
PEOPLE:
In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the
bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and
frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look
up! That's the answer, the escape route and the solution
to any problem! Just look up.
Sorrow looks back,
Worry looks around,
But faith looks up!
I read this and immediately thought of this talk from General Conference, "It is Better to Look Up".
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/it-is-better-to-look-up?lang=eng&query=look+up
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Daughter of God week - Day 7
This is the last day of letters for Daughter of God week. This letter is from our stake young women leaders.
Cover -
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)