Summer Time

This picture was taken from my phone at my seat at graduation. Too bad I forgot my camera, but at least I had my phone.

So lately Matt's been back at school twice a week night while continuing to work at 4 every morning. I have been working on finding a job. Some days I work a little harder than others. If anyone ever needs a job, talk to my dad, he's pretty much the king of how to find a job period, let alone the tough economic times. I am grateful that he has been so helpful and inspiring. He has helped me learn how to network and reach out to people so that I can find a job. I have had a few leads as of late and I'm now trying to follow up on them.

I am also trying to loose the graduate school pounds i gained by eating healthy and exercising. I am still feeling stress because of not having a job, so the pounds do not want to leave. How is it fair? I bought a "raw" recipe book from a used bookstore and have tried a few out. I made raw "bread" more like a cracker, but very good. I made raw brownies, they were wonderful!!!

Raw Brownies:
1 cup pecans
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp agave nectar
1 cup dates (pited of course)
1 tsp vanilla

Grind them up in the food processor and then press then into a small container.

They made a great treat that is healthy, we especially loved it with other things. We put it with ice cream and had brownie sunday. I also put some with whipped cream and it was great. It was great plain too. It takes a lot like the Laura Bars you buy at stores.

I'm done

Ok, so I just finished my last paper for my master's degree. I am so excited. I cannot believe I am done, finished, finito! With my schooling almost done I've been able to clean and cook again and Matt has been so excited to "have me back" he says. What a wonderful husband to not complain, but completely support me and my hopes, drives, career, education without question. I am so blessed. Several of my friends are going through rough times in their marriages, or divorces and I don't mean to put this in their faces, I just am so lucky that my husband has given more that his share of effort into this family while I've been busy, crazy, and insane-er than ever before!!

I thank God first because countless times He has helped me type papers and read faster, better, and with more accuracy than ever before. Countless times he has kept me awake, interested, nice, happy, when life is hard. Thanks be to God for getting me through this degree and for helping my husband get through it as well.

Although I lost my job last week, I can't help but see the positive things I do have in my life. Like my one friend who is going through a seperation with her husband said, losing a job is much better than losing a husband. She is right. So jobs come and go, but relationships are forever.

I cannot wait to see my side of the family soon. I miss them so much. It really makes me sad to see how much they grow and I'm not there to be a part of it. Oh well. We cannot do everything. But I really wish I could.

Graduation is Friday!! Matt is coming with me and I'm so excited. I was planning on walking at first, but after losing my job I changed my mind because the robes/ hood/hat/tassle were expensive. My professor was so adamant that I go to graduation that she gave me the money for it. God sure moves in mysterious ways. I am so grateful to her, my professor, for helping me out and for God giving me this tender little mercy, in my interpretation it was His was of saying, "I am still here, see!!" Because this came the day after losing my job in my master's graduation exit interview.

Well, thats all for now. Sorry I have been so bad at posting. It will get better now that I have a life back!!! OH< and YES, you may refer to me as MASTER GREEN, if you like. JUST KIDDING, I could not resist!! hehe

Haircut, Grad School, Matt's Dad

Ok, I finally got my pictures up of my new hair cut. I'm loving the new look but the hair cut is not the greatest quality. He seems to have cut it uneven, even after I went in to get it fixed once. One side seems to curl more making it look even shorter. Oh well. I got to donate 10 inches to locks of love so I'm happy about that!! Matt loves it too. He likes my new look especially the swoopy bangs.

Grad school is going great. I just love learning and taking my experience to a whole new level. I have class 6 hours a day 5 days a week. So its intense, but its great. I can get done with my masters by June of next year if I continue with 15 credit hours each quarter. But that's a big decision I have yet to make. Matt is taking quarter off but hopes to cut back on working and focus on school in the fall.

Matt's dad is back in hospice after a brief spell in the hospital. It seems that he will probably die soon. Today our whole family was togehter for the first time ever. Matt/me, Andy/Naomi/Juliana, Rand, Alan, Mom, Dad. This was really cool since we've never all been in the same room before as a family, and we are all sealed together. But dad was really tired, week, and struggling. It was the worst I've seen him ever. I feel like the time we have left with him is drawing to a close. Its so sad, but we are working with the grief.

Mine and matt's computer seem to be failing so I don't blog or email quite as much as I used too, its is very frustrating. We are trying to figure out if we should get a new computer to replace both of ours or each get our own again. But I want a lap top that I can bring to school and stuff. So we'll figure something out. Let me know if you know of any CHEAP but good computers for sail. I DO NOT want a compaq again. Thanks!

Life is a Highway!

I still haven't unpacked my camera from the move so no new pictures for now. I've been learning a lot and growing personally in my new stage of life. Living with the in laws has really taught me some valuable lessons. In fact its been a really great way to progress. I'm learning a lot about patience, self-discipline, patience, communication, patience, and love. This opportunity has been a blessing to stretch myself and learn about others' needs as well.

Graduate school starts the last week in June. I am so excited, I've been ordering my books online to find the best deals and such. I've started reading the required readings and I am loving it. My favorite book so far is Steven Covey's Principle Centered Leadership. I am learning a lot about how I can improve and progress as a leader. I really look forward to my summer of school.

My old job has opened up and it looks as if I have shot at being rehired. In fact I'm pretty sure I'm a shoe-in for the job. I'm praying that's the case at least. If i get this job Matt and I are going to be moving in September a little closer to my work. Then Matt is considering going to school full time and focusing just on education, leaving work behind for a while. This will allow him to get done a little more quickly.

Grad School and the move

Hello everyone! The 10k went great, the move is pretty much over, and I got into grad school. So the 3 things I had going on are progressing. The move was Saturday, our friend Matt came over and helped Matt move the heavy stuff but everything else we packed into our huge moving truck. I got to drive the truck, which was really cool since it was like 15-16 feet. I think I would make a great truck driver!!!

I packed and moved from 7 am to late in the night and matt worked at 4am and then moved till late into the night.(Isn't my matt amazing?!) We were so tired that we slept so good that night. Sunday we were both so sore all over that it was pretty funny. We had a great mother's day spending it with the green's. It is really fun that we have 3 families living in this house now!!!

As far as Grad School goes, I am in a 6 week academy where I get 15 credits towards my master's. This is likely to be intense, but I'm very excited. My degree is Educational Leadership. I hope to work towards being able to be an administrator/principal but not any time soon. Thank you to my family for your prayers. I was so worried about not getting in, but I did, thanks. Its interesting to see how different my life is now from what I ever thought it would be. I turn 28 next month, have no kids, just married, and going to grad school. Each one of these is the furthest thing from where I thought I'd be at age 28. The Lord has such a different plan for me that I had for myself. This lesson I hope to teach my children. It is so important to prepare a girl like me for motherhood, but I was never considering working, living alone after college for 5 years, going to grad school, etc. Its important to teach motherhood but also remember that some of us must be mothers in other ways. We need to teach business, self reliance, and independence type things as well. Mother's Day is bittersweet for me- the world doesn't recognize me as a mother but I do!!! For whatever reason the Lord is having me nurture and care for other's kids now. That's where my mothering talents are needed and I'm ok with that.