What is an "A" worth?

     I am now a couple of weeks into school and my internship.  The first two weeks of the internship were really busy because I had training every single day (general training that all employees of the organization must attend--nothing specific to counseling).  I can see that there is going to be  A LOT of paperwork involved in everything I do at my internship!  I haven't started counseling at all yet.  I'm trying to get my first appointments set up, and still trying to decide my schedule and location.  I think I am going to spend one day a week at Mountain Heights Academy--a school in AJ for kids that haven't been successful in traditional schools.  I would be doing group and individual counseling with kids in grades 1-8.  Then I will be at Mountain Health and Wellness's main building two days a week doing traditional counseling in an office setting with a variety of ages and issues.  I feel a little rusty on my counseling skills--I haven't been counseling anyone for 9 months now.  I hope the skills and previous experience/knowledge I gained will come right back to me once I get into the swing of things. 
     I still feel a little overwhelmed at how busy I am right now.  My Multicultural class has SOOOO much busy work--it is frustrating because I really don't have time for it!  We have to write a two page summary on 15 chapters of the book for a "B", and if we want an "A" we have to write an additional 10 summaries (whic means reading an additional 10 chapters), plus view 4 films with a multicultural theme, and write a 2 page summary of each.  On one hand, I feel like it is a no-brainer that I need to do less busy work and just be happy with the B.  But on the other hand, this is my last course (besides internship class) that I have to take in the program, and so far, I have a 4.0.  So I am THIS close to graduating with a 4.0. and I hate to give that up now, just because I am busy and this professor is making it so difficult to get an A.  How much does having a 4.0 matter?  It doesn't matter at all to grad schools (if I ever decide to get my PhD).  It won't matter one bit to my future employers.  It really and truly does not matter at all except that I hate the idea of getting a B, and I have worked so hard this far to maintain a 4.0.  I guess I need to just get busy with my work, and see what I can do.  If I have the time and energy in me to do the work for an A, I will.  If not, I will force myself to get over it!!!
     Everyone who has asked me lately how school is going has gotten some negative, whiny answer about how it is hard, and I am tired of it.  I have decided that I need to try really hard to have a better attitude about school.  I have been feeling like it is a burden and a stressor in my life, but I need to appreciate that I am able to go to school, and I love learning, and I need to choose to be happy.  It's only 9 more months, and then I will be done!  I know many people would love to be able to go back to school, and I need to be happy that I have this opportunity.  I was blessed (and lucky) to get accepted into this really great program at a good school, and I need to be thankful instead of grumbling about it.  It is busy and stressful, but there are a lot of worse trials that I could be going through that are busy and stressful.  So I need to adjust my perspective, and adopt an attitude of gratitude.   I need to have faith that the Lord would not have given me this calling if I couldn't do it.  He wouldn't have given me this calling if it was going to be harmful to my children.  I have to have faith that whatever my kids experience as a result of me being in school is going to help them to learn and grow in some way.  When I was playing dolls with Cheyanna the other night, she had a class of barbies going to college.  One of the college girls was married with kids, and for some reason, it made me happy that she knows that girls and women of all ages can go to college, and that getting an education is a good thing no matter how old you are, or what is going on in your life.  So the next few people who ask me how school is going are going to get a smile and a positive response about how I am blessed to be able to be learning and growing, and setting a good example for my kids.  :) 

Carson is 12

 Carson turned 12 on Friday, Aug 26.  We took him out to Carrabba's for dinner, and then went to Krispy Kreme to get his free doughnut (it used to be a free dozen on your birthday--now it's just one free doughnut). 

 12 is an exciting age in our church, because that is when young people get to start attending youth activities at church.  And also, boys receive the priesthood.  Today was a special day, because Chuck was able to ordain Carson to the priesthood.  We felt blessed that so many family members came to share this special day with us.   

Carson with Bishop Stephens

Chuck's parents and his sister, Megan and her family all came for the special occasion.

Our Family

More S'mores

More pix from NY

Cheyanna relaxing on the front porch

Give Cheyanna a stuffed animal or two, and she will play happily for hours. 

Playing kickball in the front yard

Edwin, my mom's handyman, made this basketball hoop for Charlie.

Cheyanna with cousins Eric and Logan playing at the park

Cade swinging

In front of the Statue of Liberty (way in the distance)

First Day of School

Cade, 4th grade at Noah Webster Basic School

Carson, 7th grade at Smith Jr High

Cheyanna, 2nd grade at Noah Webster Basic School

Charlie, 9th grade at Skyline High School

Summer basketball

The whole month of June, Charlie had basketball practice at the High School almost every day.  They played other schools on Wed nights, and played tournaments on weekends.  It was fun for Charlie to get so much basketball in.  Chuck and I enjoyed watching his games and cheering him on.  Right now, Charlie is 6'3".  His growth has slowed down, but I think he's still growing--we'll see! 

Cheyanna and Savannah

These cute girls are BFFs.  They love spending time together, and they play so cute together.  Cheyanna and Savannah have been friends since they were babies and we swapped babysitting with Savannah's family.  Here we are at the AJ pool, having fun in the hot summer AZ sun!

Tera's Surprise

My friend and neighbor, Tera had a birthday in June.  All of her kids were out of town the week of her birthday, so her daughter, Ashley, texted me, asking if I could make sure Tera had a fun Birthday.  It was the perfect chance for me to repay Tera for the awesome surprise party she and Lani threw for me a couple of years ago!  I got the key to Tera's house from Ashley, and made some fake plans to take Tera to the Olive Garden for dinner.  Then Lani, Colleen, and I  decorated Tera's house, and all our friends came over, and we waited inside Tera's house for her to get home from work.  As she walked in the garage door, we yelled surprise, and we scared her good.  Once she got over the fright, she appreciated the party!  We had some good food.  We played some games, and we danced, talked and laughed the night away.  Tera is such a good friend who does so much for everyone around her, that it was nice to have a chance to do something to show her how much she is loved and appreciated. 

Colleen, Tera, me and Lani

The birthday girl

Tera's party

Tera's Surprise!

Shanie, Amy, me, and Colleen

Shanie and me

Jenny, Lani, Stacey, Jill, Shanie, Tera, Courtney, Rebecca, Rocki, April, Krista, Amy, Trisni, and Colleen

Me, Lani, Tera and Colleen with Edward

Here We Go Again

It's fall, and that means back to school!  For the kids, Charlie is starting 9th grade at Skyline High School--a new experience for sure.  Carson is starting 7th grade at Smith Jr. High--a new school and his first year of Junior High.  Cade is starting 4th grade and Cheyanna is starting 2nd grade at Noah Webster.  Cade really wanted to go to the Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies this year.  He applied and got accepted, but we felt that it would be better for him to stay at Noah Webster with Cheyanna.  The thought of having four kids in four different schools (riding different buses, and all arriving home at different times) was pretty daunting.  Especially since I am heading back to school myself, and I'm starting my internship.  This is my 3rd year of grad school (I'm getting my Master of Counseling at ASU).  It is a 2 year program, but I am taking the scenic route, and going at a little slower pace.  I am going to be doing my internship this semester and next, which entails working (for free) 20 hours a week, and going to class every other Monday night for 3 hours.  I also have a Thursday night class (the one I was planning to take over the summer, but I dropped it).  So my life is about to get really busy again.  Last weekend, as the reality of starting up again hit me (after having such a nice, relaxing summer spending time with my kids), I got really, really anxious.  I did not want to go back to school or to start my internship.  It is a lot of hard work, and starting my internship is scary.  But most of all, I HATE being away from my kids.  I hate not being there for them every night.  I hate being busy all the time, and worrying that they are not getting all the love and attention that they need from me.  So I was starting to wallow in self pity.  Why me?  Why does the Lord want me to do this right now?  This is hard!  Then I went to Stake Conference, and listened to Elder Bednar, and felt totally uplifted and strengthened.  I realized that it's not about me.  I covenanted to do His will.  I promised Him I would do whatever he asked of me.  And this is what He is asking me to do right now.  I don't know why.  But I do know that it is the right thing for me to do right now.  So I realized that I have had a lack of faith.  Heavenly Father wouldn't ask me to do something that would be harmful for my children.  I know that He will look out for them, watch over and protect them while I'm away.  I also know that He wouldn't have given me this calling to go back to school and get this degree if I couldn't handle it.  It's hard, but I know in the end, it will be good for me.  It already has been good for me.  It's not the easiest thing for my kids to have me gone every Thurs night, but maybe it is good for them and Chuck somehow.  Maybe there are lessons they can't learn any other way.  A change of perspective was all I needed (along with a little faith).  Life is hard.  But that's how we grow.  So I'll be the best mom I can be, and make the most of the time I am able to spend with my kids (and maybe be a better mom to them because of it).  And I will get all my assignments done somehow.  And I will figure out how to do all the paperwork, and how to handle a caseload of 20 clients, and I will complete my internship.  And I'll be better off somehow because of it.

Grandma Taylor

Marie with her two sisters: Laurana and Mona

Our family with Grandma

Chuck's sister, Lindsey, made the trip from Colorado 37 weeks pregnant! 

Idaho

Chuck's mom grew up in Rigby, Idaho.  His grandma still lives there.  We had a family reunion at the end of July to celebrate Grandma Taylor's 90th birthday.  A few weeks ago, we learned that Grandma has cancer that started in her colon, and has metastasized into her lungs.  She does not want to fight it, so we know she does not have much time left.  It was so great that we got to see her, and our kids got to see her and meet those relatives, and visit that area, and make those memories while she is still here.  It was really hard and sad for Chuck to say goodbye, but we are SO glad we made the trip there and had that time together.   All of grandma's living siblings were there, and each had a member of their family get up and speak about their memories.  Chuck was nominated to be the one to share memories of Grandma Taylor. 

Grandma Marie Taylor with 3 of her children: Bryce, Jennie, and Dawna

Chuck and his mom