Heavy on my mind...

This one takes top priority right now and makes my worries seem so unimportant. Please say a prayer for them.

My heart goes out to the Leslie family who lost their 5 year old daughter after a recent car accident. You have enriched the lives of those receipiants that received your daughters "Gift of Life". May you be greatly blessed in return for the difficult and heartwrenching decision that you had to make. May your hearts find peace and comfort during this difficult time.

And now, in no random order...

1) Finding out what transfers from LCC to Baker College. I recently made a trip to the Owosso location of Baker College to check out their RN program. A friend and myself were able to meet with the Vice President of admissions to discuss the program as well as take a tour of the campus. There were so many good aspects of the college and only one bad aspect. I wouldn't necessarily call it a bad aspect even, but the cost of tuition there is higher than what I am currently paying. Considering we are a family of 7 on one income, that plays into the equation. I am funding my education presently with all student loans, which are quickly adding up. I have completed two years at LCC, resulting in a certificate for Phlebotomy and a General Associates Degree. Even so, I am still so far away from getting accepted into LCC's nursing program.
After going over Baker's admission process into the program, I am shocked, frusterated, and disgusted pissed about how long I have spent wasted at L.C.C. The admission process is so much less involved than other colleges that I have looked into. They do require that I take the HESI exam, which is a nursing entrance exam, but I'm okay with that. Their ratio of applicants to accepted students is extremely promising, especially when compared to LCC. Their educational standpoint is they teach you what you will need and use in your career, rather than requiring you to take courses to make you a well rounded student.
The day before we went to visit the campus, I searched on Myspace for Baker Owosso Nursing Students. The first one I found, I sent a message to. I asked her for information about the program from a students point of view. She was very kind and even offered to meet up with us after our campus tour the next day. As it turns out, she is the vice president of the student nursing association! How lucky was that? She was wonderful, spending a great deal of time filling us in. She too is a married, mother of 2, student. She had such a positive outlook when it came to the staff. She couldn't praise them enough. Honestly, the only thing she even remotely complained about was the color of the scrubs! She told us she was "so over burgandy."
So, this week, we will find out what classes transfer over from LCC to Baker. It is looking like this is the route I will go. They accept students in the fall and winter semesters where LCC only takes applications once a year. The last application time period, they had about 45 students apply and accepted 31 of them. They use a point system but nowhere near the point system LCC uses. You don't get more points based on your previous degrees, work experience, residency, or classes you've taken beyond the prereqs. Basically, your points are calculated based on your GPA of the prereqs (which are not as extensive as LCCs), the score you receive on your HESI exam, you must write an essay on Why I want to be a Nurse, and then if you don't repeat any classes, you can earn some extra points. That's it!
So, I am hopeful that some of my classes will transfer over. I will then know what else I must take before I am able to submit an application to the program. If all goes well, I will be attending Baker College beginning this Summer 2007. I'm soooooo excited!

2) Tim's job While his job is not in jeopardy, our budget is. It seems that they have decided to incorporate a one week layoff every month since January. It's frusterating to many of the employees, especially those that live nearly paycheck to paycheck. Yes, they receive sub-pay and unemployment but not in a timely fashion. I'm just trying to be very cautious on what we spend so that we don't find ourselves in any predicaments.

3) The Household Projects We have so many unfinished projects around here that it is driving me crazy. I need to start a list and just start crossing them off one by one. The bad part is Tim really has ambition to start something but along the way he loses becomes sidetracked. It's not just projects that are outside, there are plenty of them to do inside too!

4) How much I love my kids After hearing such sad stories about parents losing their children, it makes me love my children even more. I never thought that was possible! I look in their little faces and they melt my heart. Even when they are pure monsters just a little bit naughty.

5) My hubby Even though he can be a complete pain in the ass drive me crazy at times, I am absolutely in love with him. He has provided for his children and myself in so many ways. Even after being together nearly 16 years, he still has the ability to turn me on make my heart skip a beat...or two. Sure we've had our rough times but we've learned how to overcome those problems and move forward. I have been blessed beyond my wildest dreams.
I remember when we met. I remember being in high school, planning a wedding that many thought would never happen. I remember those that tried to encourage us and those who tried to break us. I remember that first kiss, that first hug, and that first ...okay so we won't go there.
The bond we share is indescribable. That's not to say that we have a perfect union. We have our issues, just as every other married couple has. But at the end of the day, we never go to bed mad. We have always made it a point to make out make up before go to bed, even after an argument. We almost always make it a point to extend a hug and a kiss to eachother before we leave the house.
I can't imagine my life without my partner in crime, my soulmate, my husband. He fufills me in so many ways that I couldn't imagine being without him. I look forward to spending the rest of my life with him. Before I head off to go make out with my husband go to bed, I will share the following.

As one of the songs played at our wedding says:

I Will Be Here
(Steven Curtis Chapman)

Tomorrow morning if you wake up

and the sun does not appear

I will be here

If in the dark, we lose sight of love

Hold my hand, and have no fear

'Cause I will be here



I will be here

When you feel like being quiet

When you need to speak your mind

I will listen

And I will be here

When the laughter turns to cryin'

Through the winning, losing and trying

We'll be together

I will be here



Tomorrow morning, if you wake up

And the future is unclear

I will be here

Just as sure as seasons were made for change

Our lifetimes were made for years

So I will be here



I will be here

And you can cry on my shoulder

When the mirror tells us we're older

I will hold you

And I will be here

To watch you grow in beauty

And tell you all the things you are to me

I will be here



I will be true to the promise I have made

To you and to the One who gave you to me



Tomorrow morning, if you wake up

And the sun does not appear

I will be here

Oh, I will be here.