The Cohort

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

LINK-2-LEAD Scholars

From left to right: Aftynne, Mel, Jennie, and Kara

http://www.uncg.edu/ses/projectlink2lead/index.html

Let the adventures begin!



Easter Pictures

Hello!  I'm playing catch up but here are Mackenzy's pictures from Easter!



Jeremiah 29:11

I've wanted to go back to get my PhD since 2008 when I finished my masters degree.  That year, Ray and I had just gotten married, bought a house, and were settling in to married life.  Taking a paycut to go back full-time was not feasable and I didn't want to go back to school and work because I knew it would be difficult.  In other words, it just wasn't the right time.

So I began teaching and loved it.  I still kept the doctoral program in my mind and we kept trying to prepare ourselves financially and mentally in hopes that I could one day go back to school full-time...  As usual, life happened, dreams got put aside, and of course... it still just wasn't the right time. 

When I learned that my services were no longer part of the overall budget in my county and that I could potentially be without a job, I panicked.  I cried.  I questioned God.  With the help of my family, I came back to my senses and created another plan.  A plan that would involve me applying to graduate school, getting licensed in another teaching area, and looking for jobs.  For months I was left with the unknown of what I would do the following year and I asked God to protect me and my family and provide a way.  I also asked him for patience and faith because I knew that He was the ultimate decision maker of my fate.

For the past 2 years, I have experienced periods of uncertainty.  In the midst of the storm, God taught me to patience and faith.  I've been teaching in my new area for a year and have almost completed my first year as a doctoral student! This year has been busy, but I feel like all of the events that occured over the past year have helped me realize my calling...

So again I prayed.  I thanked God for making things ok, for giving me a job, and for finding a way for me to go back to school.  I also told Him that He had given me to much and although I was doing well, I wasn't happy.  I still wanted to go back to school full-time.  I once again asked him for faith and patience and to find a way for me to concentrate solely on my studies.  And he did...

In November, I learned of a scholarship/fellowship that would provide comprehensive pay to 4 doctoral students in the area of special education/teacher education AND it was at my current university.  I once again gathered the materials, submitted them, and waited.  I interviewed in January and waited 3. long. months...

On Good Friday, I learned that I was accepted in to the scholarship/fellowship program!  I cried.  I fell to my knees.  I thanked God for finding a way!

I've learned that God indeed had a plan for me, but I had to wait for the right time.  I had to trust Him.  I had to have faith.  I had to have patience.

***

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
                                                                    -Jeremiah 29:11

Screaming Kid!

Like Mother Like Daughter

Mackenzy has had an anoying cough/ runny nose/ sneeze/ fever/congestion thing since the end of summer last year.  She's been to the doctor several times and missed a few days of school because of the "cold" that never seemed to go away.  The doctor always said a cold was to blame for her sickness and that kids can get up to 14 cold a year.  He also said that her cold would run it's course and she would begin to get better in 7-10 days and that no medicine was needed to control her symptoms. 

Her doctor is awesome, but we know our child and when her colds outstaying their welcome, we started to wonder if she was really experiencing colds...  Plus, I'm allergic to everything and allergies and asthma run in both of our families.  We hit our whits end when her cough started to disturb her sleep and she was waking up crying because she couldn't stop coughing.  So I made an appointment with my allergist office for her to get tested.

We spent roughly 3 hours with doctors getting allergy tested, x-rays (chest and throat), and describing her medical history.  Mackenzy did an amazing job at the doctors office and didn't cry at all!  Of course I did bribe her with gloves and a cup...

So what was the diagnosis?

Her allergy test was negative!  Yay!  But her colds were definitely not colds...  just like we thought.  She definitely has asthma and possibly allergies.  He couldn't tell if her cough was an allergic cough or an asthma cough so he is treating her for both to make sure she clears up.  She's on step up treatment for the next few months and is taking a pharmacy full of medicine that totaled up to $279.00.  Yes I nearly cried in the CVS line....  Luckily, her combination of antihistamine, bronchodilators, antibiotic, an inhaler along with the breathing mask, and steroids seems to be working!  We have had 2 cough free nights, she's breathing better, and her cough has decreased throughout the day!  Although $279.00 was a shock to my wallet, I'm glad she is feeling better and the hassle on Friday was worth it.

Life is going well...

I realize it's been about 2 months since I've posted, but that's because nothing exciting has really happened around here.  We are still going to work and school and in our free time we manage to sleep and eat! 

Mackenzy is growing in to a little lady!  She is roughly 36 inches tall now and about 26 lbs.  My mom pointed out that she is over half my height now... and she is only 2 1/2 years old!

Enjoy the pictures!

Conversation with a 2 year old...

So, Mackenzy has a froggy pencil topper that she got from Chuck E. Cheese a few months ago.  She absolutely fell in love with this frog and not it now lives in my car because it has to go with us everywhere.  Tonight, Mackenzy grabbed her pencil and realized she hadn't brought her froggy inside the house.  Our conversation went like so...

Mackenzy: Mommy, I can't find my froggy?  Where is it?
Me: Your froggy is in the car.
Mackenzy: Well, you better go get it! (as she points to me and then to the door)
Me: I'm not going outside to get your frog!  It's cold out there!
Mackenzy:  Well, you better put on you jacket!

I laughed hysterically for about 10 minutes!  She's to smart for her own good!