Fiesta

My car finally got here!  It was rather late - it was supposed to be where by May...it's the end of June.  Nevertheless, it's awesome!

Saying goodbye to the Sunfire

Yay!  Welcome, Lola!

I made it!

I made it through my first summer school session.  Let's take a moment to soak it in....ahhhh!  So nice!  I ended up with a straight up A for social media which is pretty sweet.  I took my introduction to graduate studied in communication (really long name) final on Thursday.  Some people aren't taking it til tomorrow, so I haven't found out my grade yet.  I studied more for that test than I have for any other test before.  I start two online classes on Tuesday, but don't let the word "start" lead you astray as it did me.  I actually have assignments due in both classes on Tuesday.  So I spent a decent chunk of the weekend doing my assignments.  I am finished with two classes and have nine to go.  That doesn't sound so bad, does it?

I think I can I think I can I think I can

In five days I will be finished with my first semester of grad school.  Crazy!  Just to give you a picture of what my life has looked like the past two weeks and what it will look like for the next week I decided to break down my weekly time commitments:
23 hours babysitting
29 hours in class
12 hours driving to and from class
20 hours studying
TOTAL: 84 hours of "stuff" each week.  That's more than two full-time jobs.  Now I know why I've been running on empty.  When I showed Robert my calculations he said, "That's why you freak out."  He knows me too well.  I am so stinking pumped to only have class in person six times from June 28-August 5.  The rest will be online.  I'll save 12 hours a week by not driving to and from class.  I'll also only spend 3 hours a week in "virtual class" instead of 29 hours a week in real class.  It's going to be amazing.  Then when I have class three days a week in the fall it'll feel like a cake walk.  Plus I'll only be babysitting 19 hours a week then instead of 23.  Talking this out with you helps me a lot.
My last day of class is Sunday.  How lame is it that I have class from 9am-6pm on Father's Day?  Here's hoping for an early out.
Robert's birthday is Wednesday.  The big 2-1!  He's going home for the weekend to go to a Cardinals game.  Good present, Ray and Serina!  We're celebrating Tuesday with a lunch party.  I'm so thankful for my handsome, smart, funny, caring, ambitious man.  He's such as blessing in my life.
I'm getting so antsy about my car.  If you'll recall, it was supposed to be here around May 20, then it got changed to July 4, then June 13, then June 15, then June 16.  It's June 17, and it isn't here.  Hello!?!
I had a group presentation for class on Thursday.  We made a guide to WordPress and presented it to Sister Victoria at McAuley Counseling.  I think it went well!  Today I had an individual presentation for Alpha House.  It feels good to be finished with that!  At this time tomorrow I will have finished my first 3 hours of graduate work.  30 to go!  By Thursday I'll have 6 hours done, 27 to go.  By August 5 I'll have 12 done, 21 to go.  That's right.  In 6 weeks I'll be over 1/3 of the way finished.  Crazy!

Robert singing at the First Friday Art Walk to raise money for his mission trip to South Africa.  He still needs about $500.  Let me know if you're interested in supporting his trip financially.

Summer project - before grad school!

Since my parents weren't around for my first week of school, this is the traditional "first day of school" picture...only it's the 7th day of school.  Robert sneaked in the picture.  This was taken one day after he had his wisdom teeth taken out.

Almost halfway

I've made it through nine days (eights days of class, one day off).  I have eleven days to go (one day off, ten days of class).  I finally feel like I've done the amount of work that needs to be done at this point.
I just got the syllabus for one of my two July online classes.  It doesn't look too bad.
How do you guys focus on today and what today requires?  How do you avoid thinking about that big _______ (meeting, appointment, assignment, etc.) that's next week or next month?
Let's focus on non-school stuff for a moment.  Robert got his wisdom teeth taken out on Thursday, and he's doing okay.  Still pretty swollen.  He's also tired because he's still on the prescription pain killer.  I think he might attempt to go back to work tomorrow.  We shall see.
Babysitting Cooper and Miles has allowed for a break in my classes and studying.  It's nice to think like a little kid for a bit.  I told the boys Robert was working.  They asked if he was saving up for a John Deere Gator like they are.  Oh man. haha On Friday Coop asked if Robert was blind.  I wonder what prompted this.  They've known each other for over a year.  Coop has seen Robert drive his car, read, and pick him up - all things that require being able to see.
Mom and Dad finally got home on Friday.  They had been gone for a week and a half.  It's nice to have my support system back.
My brother's basketball team won the Portuguese basketball national championship.  Very proud!  He'll be back in about two weeks which will be cool.
Robert's sister (Bethany) got engaged.  They're getting married at a country club in KC on September 3.  Congrats!
I've learned a ton about delegating and prioritizing in the past week and a half.  I CAN let others help me.  They want to because they love me.  I am blessed.
Lastly, I got a professional head shot done for class yesterday.  Enjoy. haha

Amy in survival mode

I've made it through three days of summer school.  Sixteen days to go.  It's completely insane.  I don't have time to describe it all right now, but it includes writing a billion papers and reading a trillion journal articles and textbooks.  A basic synopsis: I've held back tears during class each day so far.

Friendship

I have been blessed with some very good friends.  I really hadn't thought about it until I went to college and realized you just can't make bff's over night.  I think I always to it for granted that I grew up in one town, so I was able to make friendships that have already lasted over 15 years.  Some people moved every 5 years.  Then I went to college and thought I'd never make another friend.  I was wrong.  Although friendships at college were way different, they were still good.  I don't know if you feel the same way, but to me friendships seemed to change every semester or school year.  It really depended on who I had classes with, whose schedule lined up with mine for lunch, who my suitemates were, and so on.  It was different, but still meaningful.  I say all of this because as I start this new scary chapter in my life (grad school) I'm encouraged by the fact that I've made friends in the past, and I'll do it again.  It might not be instant, but it'll happen.  Let's look at some pictures with friends and reminisce, shall we?

Leigha and I have been friend since our stroller days.  We've always lived on the same street so play dates happened often.  Even though she lives six hours away now, our friendship is still going strong.

(Kelsey on the left) Jen is such a great listener.  She does a wonderful job and hearing me out.  She's gonna be a great nurse!

Kelsey and I have had many an adventure together: El Salvador multiple times, Girls Double Cooper (for life),  and who can forget the time we "chaperoned" a middle school trip to the corn maze?

A Mother's Day tea with my small group.  I am so very thankful for my mentors (Leslie [front row, second from left] and Casey [front row, center]).  Those girls challenged me and taught me so much.

Michael: excellent pianist, fellow Gilmore Girls enthusiast

Luke (left) and I go all the way back to the playground in elementary school.  Tyler (right) thinks I'm the coolest thing since sliced bread.  It's great.

Fond memories with Elise include space camp (God bless Hunter Moore), El Salvador, choir, church, and life since age 9.

The best friends a gal could ask for

Tarah: Not only is she tall, pale skinned, and blondish/reddish haired like me, she's also a great friend.

Grant - Prom date, choir buddy, world traveler, and my only friend with a wet suit

Windermere buddies - Rachel and Loretta.  Thanks for making last summer way fun!