It's been a long time!

Hi friends (if there are any that have continued to look at my blog),

I have been wanting to return to my blog for several weeks, but I just didn't take the time. Tonight I plan to "catch up" on life since the last blog entry. This is definitely for my benefit and if you decide to indure the reading, I hope enjoy some part of it.

This blog allows me to "enjoy the small things" in our every-day-lives. Those are the things that I write down and then I realize those are the "more important" things in my life. They are my life working day-to-day!!!

My last entry was about our loss of our little dude. That was back in Feb. Since that time, we have enjoyed 2 weeks in Longboat Key, FL. We celebrated Easter dinner with some college students and some church friends at our home. We have been blessed with a small couples group that meets most Friday evenings. We are, for the most part, healthy and loving life. Jim and I celebrated our 29 wedding anniversary as well on June 7th. He is my rock, my greatest encourager, my best friend!!

An exciting happening in May was that I finished my Economics class!!!! I began the class in January and finished in May. I must be honest, that was the longest semester I have ever taken. I was trying to "pass", but in the end I received a solid "B". I was thrilled and actually I was so sure that I would "just pass", that even after I received the email confirmation of the grade, I kept checking the webiste to make sure that my "B" was still a "B". I want to thank all for your encouragement and support through this class. This class did take it's toll on me and I decided not to take any summer courses. Well, it's now June and I was able to "relax" some about taking classes and after signing up for my fall classes. [I'm taking 2 classes in the fall that are block courses (7 week each), and a 15-week semester on-line course. SO, I'll be doing 2 classes throughout Sept-Dec, but when I'm finished I will have 3 courses done!! WooHoo :-D] After signing up for fall classes, I contemplated doing a Summer Block II course (runs July-August), my only concern was that I never took an on-line course before, or a 7 week course before...I have always taken semester courses and the fall would be the first on-line course (but it is a 15-week class) I would be doing. After alot of thinking, praying, inquiring, I've decided to take a required course entitled Critical Thinking. It is an upper level course as well. Today when I looked on the Wilmington University blackboard page, I was able to do a bit for the class and get the information from the syllabus to "get a little head start". Any of you that know me, realize that if I can "get ahead start on something I am working on...I'm going to jump at it :-D So, tonight I did some of the pre-class information and then when I was out, I bought one of the two books that I will need for the on-line course. I'm excited, but I'm nervous about doing this entirely on-line, and in 7 weeks!!!! I'm sure I'll need my support system. I actually feel a bit more excited though then nervous (maybe I'm getting better at being back in school after 30 years), I don't know, but time will tell.

Another great item we were able to do was design a deck extension in our back yard area from our sunroom. We had a friend build the majority of our deck and we have enjoyed it already these warmer days!! We hope to do alot of entertaining and have begun a brunch preparation for some individuals that work with Jim and we all enjoyed the sunroom and the extension of the deck. It will be a great place for entertaining as well as our personal pleasure. It has become an oasis without leaving home!!!

The end of May and the beginning of June have been graduation parties and visits with family members. I have also continued to work closely with the NKF for our upcoming walk in Wilmington on October 10, 2009! (I'll definitely be sharing me information on that in the coming months). I will be handing over the "baton" for the weekly dinners at the Campus Ministry, and I plan to work in other areas with the students as well as the volunteer administrative work I do with the Campus foundation.

Thanks for letting me ramble. I have missed sharing on the blog. This entry hasn't been something to make you think, but I hope you see that it has been one that is encouraging. It shows that we all have lives to live and even in the "simple times" we have impact and influence on those we come in contact with.

I know that you will keep us in your prayers as we keep you in prayer. Have a great week! Romans 15:13