SEMESTER # UNO

Well, Its week number 2 of graduate school and I still have a smile on my face. Although the first week was complete chaos, I am now feeling the calm after the storm and am starting to get into the groove of things. I am already noticing the subtle differences between a baccalaureate program and a masters program. When I was working on my BSN it was very intense, and very structured. There was no veering off the nursing track, and no entertaining of new ideas or though processes. So far my classes, although very time consuming, are pretty laid back with lots of discussions, papers, and presentations. Opinions about particular subjects are welcomed by all and are discussed by many. Each teacher encourages each individual student to think out of the box and use their own critical thinking skills to formulate new nursing theories while incorporating them into their practice. This semester I am taking Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Role Development, and Advanced Educational Process for Nurses. Although each of these classes encompass their own challenges the Advanced Education class has been pretty challenging for me. Never have I, ever have I, taken any sort of educational class. I have always known that along with my Nurse Practitioner degree that I also wanted the freedom to be able to teach upper division nursing. So along with my FNP degree I will also be working on obtaining my certification to teach. Along with that certification comes many classes on basically, how to be a teacher. My first assignment for this class is to quote, unquote:

"come up with an imaginary college, then come up with a nursing class that you would like to teach. Once nursing class is decided upon make syllabus for that class including, class overview, class goal, class objectives, outline of class, week by week schedule and so on. Next make a power point presentation (because you will be teaching this class to you peers), along with conducting a 100 question test that will be formulated by you (me)."

WOW, I could not believe she was serious!! I can talk to about the role of cell membranes and nuclear receptors in determining the response to hormones all day long, but coming up with a syllabus?? Sheesh!! If anyone has in words of advice please send them my way.

ITS FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE, AND LIKE MOST OF YOU D.J. AND I ARE EXCITED ABOUT ANOTHER EXCITING SEASON. HOPE EVERYONE ENJOYS TONIGHT'S BIG GAME~ GO VOLS!!!

HAPPY, HAPPY, BIRTHDAY

"The older the fiddler, the sweeter the tune." English Proverb

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TWO OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE!! I LOVE YOU BOTH VERY MUCH!

WAY TO GO JESSICA

"All successful people men and women are big dreamers. They imagine what their future could be, ideal in every respect, and then they work every day toward their distant vision, that goal or purpose." Brian Tracy

Congrats to my dear friend Jessica who will be graduating with her nursing degree this Friday!!! Way to go sister!! We are all so proud of you!!

*PRAYER*

"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 (NIV)

THIS BIBLE VERSE HAS BEEN ON MY MIND THIS WEEK. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW I AM STARTING SCHOOL, YES AGAIN, ON AUGUST 25TH. I WILL BE WORKING TOWARD A MASTERS DEGREE AS A FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER WITH A MINOR IN EDUCATION. ALTHOUGH I AM VERY EXCITED, I AM ALSO VERY NERVOUS. IT IS EASY TO DOUBT YOURSELF AND YOUR CAPABILITIES AS A NURSE AND AS A STUDENT. I OFTEN ASK MYSELF IF I WILL BE STRONG ENOUGH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY TO JUGGLE THIS CHALLENGING ROLE AS A FULL TIME STUDENT IN A MASTERS PROGRAM, WHILE ALSO BEING A FULL TIME NURSE AND A FULL TIME WIFE. AT THE SAME TIME THAT I AM STEPPING OUT AND MAKING A CAREER MOVE, IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT D.J. IS MAKING SOME CAREER MOVES HIMSELF. THE BAD PART ABOUT MAKING ANY KIND OF DECISION IN YOUR LIFE IS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THE OPTION OF LOOKING 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD TO SEE IF IT IS GOING TO BE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. SO I ASK YOU TO PLEASE KEEP D.J. AND I IN YOUR PRAYERS, AS WE BOTH TAKE LEAPS OF FAITH INTO WHAT WILL HOPEFULLY BE A BLESSING IN OUR FUTURE.

WEEKEND RECAP

My goodness, what a busy weekend it has been! D.J. and I have managed to pack 3 fun filled days into a 4 day weekend, with today being our day to relax. Starting off on Friday evening we headed out to the Viola Homecoming with my Mom, Dad, and Jackson for a cheeseburger and good company. A cheeseburger was enough for me but D.J. ended the night with a funnel cake a piece of watermelon, and a stomach ache. Then bright and early on Saturday morning D.J. and I headed out for the "Longest Yard Sale in the World" (literally). The yard sale starts in Ohio and ends in Gasden, Alabama. D.J. and I decided to yard sale the lower half, so we started in Chattanooga and made our way through Georgia, crossed back through Alabama, and ended our day in Gasden. Never in my life have I saw so many people trying to "wheel and deal" at the same time. However one mans junk is another mans treasure so by the end of the day D.J. and I ended up with many little treasures of our own. My personal little treasure that I am very proud of is a 1930's vintage costume dress that is just spectacular. We also decided to theme our basement in vintage/antique sports equipment. So we picked up some really unique equipment to display throughout the room. Although exhausted from a day on the road we woke up Sunday morning and headed down to the cabin for a day on the river. The sun was shining, the water was beautiful and it was a great day to be alive!! Here are some pictures from the Viola Valley Homecoming.

THE COUNTRY CROCODILE MILE

"Inside every older person is a younger person - wondering what the hell happened." - Cora Harvey Armstrong

AS MANY OF YOU ALREADY KNOW TUESDAY IS MY 25TH BIRTHDAY..YES I AM GETTING OLDER AND OLDER. IN LIGHT OF THIS VERY TOUGH BIRTHDAY YEAR D.J. AND I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR A LITTLE SLIP-N-SLIDE FUN. THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW MY HUSBAND KNOW THAT HE ALWAYS TAKES THINGS TO THE EXTREME. SO BY 1PM ON SATURDAY I HAD A 5 FEET WIDE, 50 FEET LONG SLIP-N-SLIDE COVERED WITH WATER AND SOAP READY TO PROVIDE ALL KINDS OF SLIP-N-SLIDE FUN TO ME AND OUR GUEST. IT PROVED TO BE A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE WE HAD AN ABSOLUTE BLAST.THERE WAS NOT A SOUL IN SIGHT WITHOUT GRASS MIXED WITH SOAPY DETERGENT COVERED FROM HEAD TO TOE. IT MADE FOR A PERFECT BIRTHDAY MEMORY. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED AND RECONNECTED WITH YOUR CHILDHOOD YEARS. I HAVE POSTED SOME PICTURES OF OUR FUN FILLED DAY ALONG WITH A PICTURE OF MY BIRTHDAY CAKE (THANKS LADIES).