My Diploma Is Here!

Here it is! Official documentation that I am indeed a college graduate!

Today was a good day for me & the mailman's relationship. The past few days I have been pretty angry with him, but today he brought me 4 letters from my love and my diploma. I have been waiting for this darn diploma for over 2 months. It was supposed to come in 6 weeks. Yeah, so much for that. Kind of to be expected I guess. UNT never did anything on time while I was there, makes sense they stuck to tradition after I left.

This calls for a little reflection. Did you know that I graduated high school over 6 years ago? Yes, you read that correctly. I am old older than most people who just graduated college. I went to good ole SNU for 2 years and took a year "off" (I took a few night classes at the local community college.) to mend a broken heart, gain some practical experience, and watch my baby sister live up her senior year (& meet my husband!) before finally settling in Denton, TX where I attended UNT for 3 years.

After high school I wasn't even sure I would be able to go to college. I had practically no savings and my mom wasn't financially able to pay my way. My only option was to take out student loans and going to a school that was $20,000/ year, I took out a lot! I would not have been able to get enough loans together without the help of my sweet mentors, Paul & Julie Baxter, who cosigned for me.

That first year was such a challenge, as it is for most college freshman. I was 8 hrs from home, failing half of my classes, and desperately fighting to save a relationship doomed to fail. I struggled to find a church home and to make friends. My sophomore year I made friends and was tremendously blessed by, Ms. Courtney Ruby, who helped me start over after I finally had the courage to leave that unhealthy relationship headed nowhere. 

During my year at home I met my best friend, Sophie, and my husband. I fell in love with the kids in my prekindergarten class and had the time of my life watching my sister blossom. Her volleyball team was phenomenal and so much fun to support. 

Finally, I started my time at UNT. The classes were harder than I expected and I endured more science than I ever dreamed possible. Seriously, why do I need to know Physics, Geography, Geology, Environmental Science, & Biology to teach elementary students?? Let's be honest; I don't. Anyway, I pushed through and learned so much about education and how to be an effective teacher. I planned a wedding and got married. I joined a sorority and made some pretty incredible memories during my 2 years with my sisters. I survived the first 2 years of marriage and learned how to be wife.

I wouldn't trade a single moment of my post high school journey. Every step I took, no matter how painful or uncertain, they each lead me closer to where I am today and that is worth everything.

Letters!

Crockett Update: He's doing really well. :) He hasn't been reverted (pushed back to the company behind him) or gone to ramp (day of punishment). He hasn't had his wisdom teeth pulled yet, but that's still to come. He has passed everything so far and their midterm is tomorrow! (Lots of prayers!) This weekend ends week 4. Most of the recruits in Zulu will be filling out their dream sheets this week for the station they will go to while they wait for A school. We're really fortunate to already know where we're going, but I am super anxious to know where we go after A school, the place we'll live for the next 2-3 years! (Too bad we won't find that out till October.) Overall, these letters were super positive! He's doing so great and adjusting well. I am so proud of him!

Say What??

Well, I was originally waiting to update the world on our life, but I'm quickly learning that if you wait on the military to make definite plans you'll be waiting forever. So as of now here is where we stand:

Coast Guard

Crockett will be leaving TX for boot camp in Cape May, New Jersey on June 5. He will graduate on July 27. He'll then have a few days leave (3-14) to visit family & friends in Texas before reporting to Petaluma, California (just north of San Francisco) where he will be stationed until his "A" school starts on August 15. School (where he'll learn all he needs to know to do his job in the CG) lasts 12 weeks and he will graduate on November 7 at which point he will receive his next station where he will finally be working and not in school. And he'll be working as a.... CHEF! He has decided to join the CG in the Food Services rate. He has a 4 year contract that he'll be signing the day before he leaves for boot camp. Because this is a critical rate right now in the CG we'll be getting a bonus upon his completion of "A"school. (whoo hoo) After his contract is up he can choose to move on with his FS career or start a new path in the CG. Right now we're looking at this as a career option, not just a minimal service. We'll see how it goes though. So far, so good, but by all means, we're just getting started. So where does this leave me you're asking. Well, keep reading.

College

I'm graduating in 3 1/2 weeks!!! I will finally have my bachelor's degree in elementary education and will be a certified teacher in the state of TX. :) Annnnd, Crockett will get to see me graduate. (So thankful!) So at the end of May the lease on our house is up and we will be moving out. Crockett will leave at the beginning of June and I will hopefully be living in an apartment with some friends here in Denton. I have applied for a teacher position for a summer learning academy and am waiting to hear back.

[Side Note: The CG will be housing Crockett for both boot camp and "A" school. He'll be making money the entire time and living in the barracks on base. I am NOT allowed to see him through boot camp, (we'll be writing letters the old school way.) however, "A" school is a little different. It will operate much like college. He goes to class, but his free time is his. If I chose to move to California he could stay with me, but it would be financially on us for me to do that. I don't know when the last time you priced California apartments was, but let me go ahead and sum it up for you: EXPENSIVE & SMALL.]

Since we will be getting our permanent station in November (where they will actually give us housing allowance to get a house/apartment together.) we've decided that I will not try to find a teaching job just to start in August and leave in November. So I will be subbing as much as I can in Denton, while also starting on my second bachelor's degree. (I'm getting it in Hospitality Management!) I will also be staying in my sorority, Sigma Alpha, and getting the amazing honor and privilege to serve on the executive board as Secretary.

So, all in all Crockett & I will be apart for about 6 months, only 2 of which will be non-contact. We plan to fly me over to California as much as possible. (Round trips from Dallas are $300 if bought far enough in advance.) We are incredibly grateful for this as we know it could be much, much worse. The main reason we decided on the Coast Guard when thinking about military options was the non-combat oriented, close to home, not deployed into war factor. After boot camp and "A" school are completed we will get to spend the rest of his career together. (Now, there is a possibility Crockett could get stationed on a cutter [boat] and he could spend up to 3 months on/3 months off, but I'll at least be able to live on/near base.)

We are so thankful for all the love and support we've received from our friends and family through this process, but we are most thankful for a loving and faithful God who hasn't left us one single second along this journey. I am so comforted knowing that Crockett is safe in his father's hands and God has always known exactly where we'd end up. Being in the dark has been especially difficult for me and learning to let go of the control I (thought I) had over my life has been so amazing. It's actually less stressful to know it's not my concern. I look forward to seeing how God uses Crockett and me in this journey.

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."- Romans 8:28

2012 already??

Welcome 2012!

2011 flew by so quickly and I can't believe it's already 2012. This is the year I have been waiting for for so long and it's very surreal that it's really here. I will graduate college in 4.5 short months. For six years I've been at this whole degree thing and I really can't believe it's finally going to be over. I also can't believe that I have no idea what I'm going to do when I graduate. Crockett was sworn into the Coast Guard Friday, 12/30 and now we wait for his ship out date. When he does finally leave I won't know where we are headed until week 5 of basic training. It's so scary and excited all at the same time.

These next 4 months are going to go by so fast, but they are going to be busier than ever. I am Rush Chair and Fundraising Chair in Sigma Alpha and I'm taking a little! I'm also finishing my last semester of college student teaching in 1st and 3rd grade. I honestly can't wait to be done and I am anxious to start this last chapter with Sigma. I know it's going to be amazing!

Crockett and I at the Armed Forces Bowl in Dallas, TX.

Well hello 6am; it's been a while.

Well, school has started. It hasn't quite been a week yet, but I think I have an understanding of how this year's schedule will look. Only one class I haven't been to yet, and I'll get to do that tomorrow. So I'm only in class 3 days a week which is nice, but those three days are pretty busy. Crockett and I have to bring our lunch to school. At least there's a microwave on campus. Hello mac & cheese bowls. :) I'm taking 2 science classes and my CDL class which means that technically I'm taking 15 hours (5 classes), but in reality I have 8 classes including labs!! I'm not nervous about anything yet. Environmental Science seems interesting. Earth Science seems boring, but not too hard. Education classes are my specialty and math is TBA. My prof seems nice, but me and math have a bad history. We were great in high schoool, but we broke my sophomore year of college. I'm not sure I'm ready to rekindle yet.
Aside from academics there is another thing that will be occupying my time this semester. I am rushing SIGMA ALPHA! :D I am so so excited! It's only been two days, but I have met some incredible girls and I am feeling God's confirmation that this is right where I belong. The girls described themselves as awkward and loud. Umm... yes please!! I think it'll be a fantastic way to make friends and find a home for my bruised heart. I met a girl last year who seemed to be my heart friend instantly, but she left me with a bad taste in my mouth after really disappointing me and walking out on me when I needed her. I'm eager to see how God works through the Sigma ladies in my life.
Also, I had an interview with a family for a permanent nanny position last Sunday and I GOT IT!! I'm super excited to be working for this family. I know God is going to use me in the lives of these children and I can't wait to be his vessel! How blessed am I to be chosen to demonstrate the love of God to the most precious little lives?!
I continue to give God all the glory for how my life is going right now. He has answered prayer by giving us a church home, giving me a group of girls to share my heart with, giving me a great job, continually providing our financial needs, and allowing us to find each other in love. It's easy to remember God in the hard times. It's easy to talk to him when I can't breathe because of the pain and I have no where left to turn, but I often find it harder to remember to praise him. Things are going great and there's only one reason for that: because my God is good!!
PS. Diego the cat has come to live with us and he is doing much better. :) I think he'll do well here.