Vacation Bible School

Mackenzy attended Vacation Bible School for the first time this year!  She enjoyed it!  Below is a a picture of her on the stage with the rest of her class right before she screamed and began crying and had to be taken off stage...  Apparently Mackenzy is afraid of being up on stage and didn't want to have anything to do with the final performance!  Oh well, better luck next year!

(She's in the middle wearing the bule dress...)



Center City Park Movie

Our city provides a variety of free activities for families in the summers and one of them is free movies in the park!  We met up with Brandi and the kiddies to watch Ghostbusters at Center City Park and had a blast.  Of course Mackenzy had to dress up like a fairy with her wings, chowed down on popcorn which is her new favorite snack, and she had a great time playing with Skylar.  I also had a wonderful time catching up with Brandi and loving on baby Wes!

I'm sure Brandi will get me for posting this picture... Mackenzy was determined for me to hold baby Wes so that she could sit with Brandi.  Well when Wes decided he was done with me, Mackenzy didn't want to move, and Skylar wanted to sit on her mommy too!  The only person who didn't join the party was Grey who decided that dancing, running, and jumping on Granny was more fun!

And in case you can't figure out how they showed  a movie in the middle of downtown, there's the picture!  They blew up the screen, played it on a DVD player, and had huge speakers all around.  We had a great time and will be attending more events in the future!

On a side note:  When the movie started, everyone in the park stopped, danced, and sang the Ghostbusters song!  Classic moment!

City Girl!

Greetings!  A few weeks ago my cohort and I had our first adventure!  We traveled to Washington, DC for the Annual Council for Exceptional Children Children and Youth Action Network Training (CEC-CAN Training).  This was our first time traveling and dwelling together and I can say we all mesh well!  Here are a few photos from our adventure. 

I think we will all admit that we were a little nervous about the trip not only because we were meeting new people, but because we were beginning our journey at a workshop in which we knew little about.  However, as you can see below, we got along very well!

Across the street from our hotel, was an amazing restaurant and bar.  The food was delicious, but the best part was the bathroom!  After leaving the vibrant dining area, you traveled down a dark hallway, that lead to this cool bathroom.  Being the people that we are, we took several pictures in the bathroom.  The sink was touch activated and it glowed!



The wall was a peachy/orange color with birds all over it.  The toileting area was also set up like individual closets complete with a shelf and was even sound proof!

Below is a picture of all the UNCG students and faculty that attended the training.  The woman in the pink shirt with red hair is my advisor and director of our scholarship.  We call her "the Rock".

Our purpose of attending the CEC CAN training was to learn about important policy issues affecting children and youth with disabilities and to become advocates for their rights.  After learning about the issues, we all headed up to Capitol Hill to talk with representatives and inform them about the issues and to ask for their support.  Our "Day on the Hill" began with a briefing that occurred in the Rayburn Building. (pictured below Link 2 Lead)



Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children

(TED CEC)

TED CEC dinner with Jane West

One of the best parts about being on Capitol Hill was being under Capitol Hill!  Apparently another life exists under the capitol and we spent almost the entire day underground.  We went from building to building without setting foot outside!  We "kidnapped" inters to escort us about the trains and through the tunnels, had lunch underground, navigated security, and took some amazing pictures!  This statue was underground and I thought it was beautiful!

 They also had an art gallery that contained artwork from artists and was arranged by state.  Below is just a sample of the North Carolina portion of the wall.

Overall, we had an amazing trip and it was the perfect way to bond as Link 2 Lead scholars!  Next we attend our workshop at the Center for Creative Leadership and head back to Washington, DC for the OSEP conference.

Let the Journey Begin!!!

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!