Avec tout mon couer,
Lace
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Water, Water Everywhere- and None That I Wanna Drink.... Yuck
Im usually a positive person................ But I have been more than frustrated with the City of Cleveland Water Department and Maintenence.. Anywho- about 3 weeks ago, (yes thats right-3 weeks) in our terribly dead grass that is thirsting so much for rain and crunches when you walk on it I found a patch of grass about the size of a quarter that was awfully green by the mailbox. Abner and I investigated this little patch and immedately called the ole faithful hubby-who said we probably had a water pipe leaking. To make a very long story shortened: calling Rickey turned into calling our landlord David (who is so awesome and helps like non other), which turned into the City making a stop to our house to dig a mini-hole, flag, and spraypaint all kinds of arrows and lines across trees and in our yard... They told us that it was a main city pipe that was leaking and although it wouldnt effect our water line or system, "It might effect some others on down the road".. Well that didnt sound good... Anywho.. THREE WEEKS LATER the little mini-hole was leaking profusely and becoming not only an eyesore in my yard, but made me (the worrier) worry about my neighbors water lines.. So after many calls, filings some kind of report and work order a couple times and finally begging them to come fix it for THREE WEEKS.. I came home to this sight this morning......
Needless to say, Abner really enjoyed watching the men work and especially the bulldozer that was (and still is) parked in the yard. The "mini hole" turned into a gigantic 7 foot deep, 10x10 massive crater that looks like we have started our own "Noland National Geographic Excavaction Project". I think the most exciting part of the day was when someone came to the door and said "Ma'am, if this here thing might blow, there could be a waterfall going in the air and the whole dang street'll flood-as well as your house. So I'mite have to ask you and your little dog to be escorted somewhere, only if that happens"....... Little dog, eh? COMFORTING....... Sometimes you can only laugh, I know, but if I dont blog for a few weeks from here on out- just know I fell into the new large swimming pool thats next to my mailbox. Thank you city of Cleveland! :)
Avec tout mon couer,
Lace
Avec tout mon couer,
Lace
Friday, August 20, 2010
TeachUp!
So I will give you a minute to watch.......................................................
This video was shown to me at my recent TeachUp! Intern(scholarship) training day. TeachUp! is a non profit organization that was started in 2006 post Katrina in MS and LA as a means to reproduce technology into the human way of life and educational system. It was discovered that in many areas after the hurricane came through, funding seemed to trickle down and make its ways back into some of our programs for the advancement of technology BUT no one was there to use it. In one school, computers and interactive white boards were given to the educational staff and the school- but were NEVER EVEN TAKEN OUT OF THE BOX. Truth be told, many of these teachers just didnt know how to intergrate this technology into thier lessons and plans of study, so they stuck to the traditional methods of teaching. And with the rapid changes and advancements in technology, even what they DID know- was becoming outdated faster than they could learn. So a swift kick was needed....... Thats where DOT USA came in. Affirmed through the Americorps organization of our country, DOT USA saw the need and began to make a change. They initially had 40 interns, students and young adults who were considered to be highly technically savvy and creative, and placed them in the schools that lacked on the Gulf Coast and in New Orleans. The job of the intern was to basically be the technology "liason" between the school and the teacher- explaining some of the most basic online and computer tasks (opening email, sending an email, etc) to teachers and futhering them to be able to create Blogs and teach via online or through skype. And the program officially BOOMED. 40 interns is now 400 interns that serve all through LA and MS, but only in these two states nationally due to the need. After much study, DOT USA and TeachUp! Realized that the Mississippi Delta and the Gulf Coast/Nola post Katrina were two areas that had no concept of the use of technology in the classroom and were some of the places they HAD to begin. DOT USA and TeachUp! are also span all over the world now, with the most exciting of the change and giving back being in Kenya through thier sister programs, ReachUp! and StartUp!, Interns have joined hands throughout Canada, China, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, Mexico, and the United States, with 1400 interns all over the globe now. And I am lucky enough to be considered one of them......
So far what I have recieved has been astounding. I am blessed and lucky and even more excited to get started with some of the mission. I have officially been placed at a Magnet School in Clarksdale, MS outside of Cleveland and you cannot even imagine some of the need at these schools. Possibilities are endless. I also wanna go to Kenya- seeing the webcasts and blogs that these kids write and send to us online is amazing. They have never seen or touched a laptop, not even heard the clicking of a keyboard or videoed themselves with a camera- and that change is being made worldwide. It's amazing and something I am proud to be a part of. For the LONGEST time, I swear I have been searching here in Cleveland and this Delta area for my "place" and my "being here".. and I have honestly come to the conclusion that this might be it. My ideas for change are BIG and thats ok cause some and all of it can be done. Im just going at this with an open mind and soaking it all in so that I can implement it into my studies and my education during my time with Speech Path. Its amazing how things just happen in your life........ :)
PS- MY RICKEY PASSED HIS PRAXIS AND PLT EXAMS AND IS OFFICIALLY DONE WITH TEST TAKING FOR HIS LISCENSURE!! YIPPIE! All that is left are these last few months of student teaching and its home freeeee :) Congrats honey! I am so proud of you and love you sooooo very much!
-Posting more TeachUp! pics and videos for you to see. I hope that this might motivate you all to want to Be the change that you see... http://www.dotrust.org/
My Trainers for TeachUp! are in this video for the Kenya DOT training!! Go Antoinne Powell!! (he's the one that is skyping with the trainees online)
Lots of love and hugs... Cheers!, Lace
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
WORRRRRY
Sometimes all I can do is worry. I worry when I wake up, I worry when I think, I worry even when I sleep and that means I don't sleep at all. There can be so many things that are going on, have gone on, need to be done, should have been said, blah blah blah and I worry about it all. From Abner, to my sisters, to my family, to my job, to Rickey's job, to school, to Rickey's school, money, bills, scholarships, life, life, life- I am a natural born worrier. I have seemed to think that sometimes this may work to my advantage and since I worry, I make sure to get things done. On the other hand, to Rick, I am a disaster when I worry and it drives him crazy. You know that I love to read my devotional and it always seems to bring a sense of "understanding" into my daily situations and today's was regarding worry.. I had never really sat down and thought that my "worrying" meant that I was not giving myself and my trust and faith 100% to the Man above, but it makes sense now. If you worry, that means your faith is in doubt. If your faith is strong, you shouldn't even have to HAVE a sense of worry. Simple as that.
I thought that I would share my devotional regarding worry for all the worriers out there! Enjoy!
Avec tout mon couer,
Lace
Day 83
Love Refuses to Worry
"The worries of this age, the seduction of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful." - Mark 4:19
Some people believe that worry is impossible to escape. To not worry, they think, it not to care, or not to live in reality. But worry is always a distraction from what God wants our thoughts to be focused on. Worry literally means "to divide the mind". It keeps us from loving, serving, and obeying the Lord with full devotion. It is a sin against God.
As people bound for heaven by the saving work of Jesus Christ, we are free to live without fear of the future, and therefore free to live without fear in the present. Bad things that might happen are swallowed up by the assurance that "the Lord if for me; I will not be afraid" (psalm 118:6).
So even though our fickle emotions will always be susceptible to worrying, we can spare each other untold hours of turmoil by committing to keep worry out of our hearts. Because it is built on the prideful assumption that God is not in control of our lives- and that WE ARE- worry is a waste of valuable time.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Im a Grandmother! ;)
My sweet doggie Abner has this thing about toys. Since he was a puppy, he LOVES rubber balls, tennis balls, and stuffed animals. When we go to Denham Springs, he likes to steal Addison's toys and play with them. When he visits my sisters home and sees her dog Brax, he loves to play with his toys. He has an infatuation with bouncing balls and loves to toss them in the air and play catch. It's so funny to watch! The thing about his toys, though, is that he usually destroys them. He rips stuffed toys to shreds and pulls the stuffing out and guarenteed, will pop a rubber ball or eat a hole in a tennis ball. Its just a given. So in time, we have learned that once we buy a toy, a few days later its in the garbage.
YET.... When we got back from the honeymoon and picked Abs up, he had taken a teeny tiny stuffed baby giraffe from my sisters house. He carried this baby giraffe in his mouth everywhere he went, even dropping it in his food bowl when he ate! We thought, MAYBE he wont tear this poor little innocent giraffe a part this time, but low and behold- about a week later we found the giraffe..... Ears were eaten off... Plastic eyes were munched on... Tail was gone... and stuffing everywhere. It was gruesome..
For some reason while we were in Denham Springs on our last visit, Rickey decided that Abner needed another toy. This time, he chose a medium sized stuffed Duck. Why he chose this one, one only knows, but it was cute looking and on sale and we thought, "eh, what the heck- Abs is sweet and this will last for a few days.. oh well." So we got the Duck, brought him home, and gave him to Abs.. For the first 3 days he wouldnt touch this thing. It sat in the exact same spot in the middle of our living room for hours and hours, never moving. Once day we came home and randomly spotted Abner sniffing at this baby duck.. Sniffing turned into, pushing it around our rug.. That soon turned into licking, biting, and tossing it around a bit... Which has finally turned into an obsession......
Our conclusion??? We are grandparents and Abner has a baby pet of his own... his "baby duckie" as we call it goes EVERYWHERE, and I mean EVERYWHERE, with him. He doesnt sleep without it. When we go outside, he carries it in his mouth or leaves it by the door to be picked up when we get inside. He hugs it, and loves it, and its so funny.. We have been waiting for the day that the duck is pronounced - but maybe that wont happen this time! Rickey checked the duck the other day to make sure we werent having "leaking stuffing" and its actually in MINT condition! So, Abner has a baby duckie, and we are officially Grandparents. What a precious pup! :)
Avec tout mon couer,
Lace
Projects
Here are a few pics of the china cabinet and the antique dresser serving as a buffet/entertainment center in our living room. We distressed them and repainted and are super pleased! :)
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Back in the Saddle Again...
Things have been kinda nuts around our little Noland family home, and I realized the other day that I hadn't kept a good blog going on since the wedding has passed.. So let me get you all up to speed...
The wedding came and went- and it was fabulous (but you already knew that, right?)... Then the honeymoon trip SADLY came and went and it was MORE than fabulous. I hated to see that go for sure.. Sooo we made our way back to Cleveland and our little reality happened.. We got back to MS and checked back into society; paying bills, getting up for work, grocery shopping, schooling, working more, ball time, etc etc etc.. The weekend of July 11th (well it was really just that day, we couldnt slip away from Cleveland too long) we got to have a mini vacay to Oxford and Water Valley to visit with our dear friends Tanya and Randall. Tanya was throwing a suprise birthday party for Randall's 30th birthday and we COULD not miss this! T did a great job of the decor and the food and we had an absolute ball. This was our official "FIRST" couples get together since we got back from the honeymoon and it was so much fun! Rickey met some other cool guys and I got to spend time with Tanya, Pax, Mrs Cathy (Tanya's mom who literally is like my second mom- I swear), Wheezy, Molly O, Cailon, Bethany, and Tammy! All my buddies! It was a lot of fun for sure. Rick also had a great time getting to spend time with Pax, Tanya and Randall's little boy, and if you know Rick well enough, you KNOW that he loves the littles. Pax is SOOO cute and he reminds me so much of Harrison. I had a ball. I wish that Tanya and Randall would just decide they wanted to move to Baton Rouge when we eventually did, cause Harrison, Ben, and Pax would TOTALLY be best buddies.
Anywho, after the party that night, we ran back to Water Valley to see Charlie for the rest of the evening and packed up some furniture. Our little house in Cleveland is tiny- I mean T.I.N.Y- but its ours and we love it. Now, although we LOVE it, it was beginning to look a little bare. We had so much wedding stuff boxed up and packed up to be taken to Natchez, I think over the time we collected it, we were using it as furniture! :) Rick and I seem to be a little on the obsessed side with antiques. Its so funny because both of our parents (Betty for me and Mrs. Dana for him) would take us looking for antiques as we were children, and so we actually ENJOY doing this as a couple now (yep. we are officially old and married)... We really like the "Shabby Chic" style of some pieces revamped with lots of the new looks of Pottery Barn furniture too.. After the gifts starting coming in from the wedding, we had LOTS and LOTS of china and dishes and no where to put them, so we knew that we needed a china cabinet desperately. We also found a vintage Buffet/Server in an antique shop in Cleveland and we fell in LOVE with it. We wanted to use this for our TV entertainment center in our living room and were just oogling this piece every time we found ourselves browsing. The problem was- both a china cabinet we loved and the antique buffet that we swore was so beautiful it must be sent from God- were out of our price range. About $2000.00 out of our price range together. So, when we stopped back at Charlie's in Water Valley he told us that if we "wanted", Betty had a china cabinet that had never been used before in the basement we could have. We knew it needed some updating to fit our taste (some distressing, a nice coat of paint in the color we wanted, etc) but we liked the challenge. After looking at some other furniture in our house, we both fell in love with my Great Grandmother's highboy/bedroom dresser set. After scoping it out, I realized that we could TOTALLY distress this and give it some love and care, and it would work perfect. In my heart, I knew that I could make it look identical to the expensive buffet we found prior.. So at 11:00 at night, Charlie, Lace, and Ricker loaded the furniture up- and head back to Cleveland.. to make a VERY long story short......... We DID it! and the pieces are AMAZING! We fell in love with two pieces of furniture that were OVER two thousand dollars together.. but NOW we are in love with two pieces of family furniture that were FREE and spent $60 on paint, brushes, some distressing syrup stuff, and a little bit of time.. and they came out AWESOME! I will have to put some pics on here when I get a chance.. I cant wait to do more projects for sure!
Sooo coming back to Cleveland that weekend, I soon realized that my car is officially out of comission and not drivable. Before the wedding I was having some problems with it, but Rickey and I decided that it was too close to the wedding (like 3 days away kinda thing) to really worry about it or send it in to the shop and we would deal with is when we got home from the honeymoon. Cleveland is small enough, and our schedules are pretty opposite, so we have been sharing his car to get to school and work. It hasnt been that bad, really, until..... I realized that my car is officially a dead one. Something is wrong with the lifter in the engine, and I just have to get it fixed. No telling what that is going to cost. Just another thing that I have to do I guess.. So currently, Rickey and I are just buying our time til we have to buy a car or fix my current car and saving saving saving. Upon realizing that my car was crap- we decided it was time to head to see our family in Denham Springs and Baton Rouge! So the following weekend that I was off we hit the road in his truck.. I was SOOOOOOO excited to see my baby nephew, Benjamin, since we were on the honeymoon when we was born and I hadn't even laid eyes on him yet. Candice, Glenn, Harrison, and Ben were SOOO excited to see us and we were JUST as excited to see them! Thier house is absolutely precious and they live in the most precious neighborhood. Harrison LOVED and I mean LOVED getting to spend time with his Uncle Rickey, and he cried when we left. Ben is literally the sweetest baby I have ever seen and held. Well, I cant really say that, because so was Harrison- and Molly Adyson- and Pax- and Parker (you see where i'm going with this?) and I swear I fell in love with him instantly. Rickey also got to hold and love on him, and naturally, he adored this... We got to see Rickey's Mom, Dad, and brothers for a bit and it was great too. They are always so refreshing to spend time with. When we visit them, its a breath of fresh air. They take such good CARE of us and help us to stay motivated and positive. Rickey and I (me especially) can get SOOO bogged down with the idea of "Cleveland" because here, we are alone. All of our friends are gone - except for the baseball crew that we have, and that is like our family. All of our family is away, our BEST friends are in our respecting hometowns, and even then, Rick and I are very challenged with the time that we get to spend with each other, working completely different schedules with nothing to do here in our off time. It's so nice to go visit Pops and Mrs Dana or Candice and Glenn and KNOW that these people understand us and the situation that we are in. Its comforting to hear them say, "keep the faith.. it's all going to get better" or "we've totally been there and everything works out".. And I know that it will, its just hard...
So when we came home, it was back to working.. and working... and working... and working for each of us. Our schedules hit overdrive. We have gotten to spend time with each other in the mornings before school starts for an hour or when we swap vehicles at the hospital at night. Rick and I miss each other BUT we know that everything that we are putting in right NOW, we will get back twice fold.. That being said, I've had a ton on my mind about my career lately, and seemed to have talked to EVERYONE that might understand and ask them what to do. Nursing is a demanding career and although I love it, I am exhausted. Burnt out. Already...I work at night and my schedule is intense. 7 nights on, 12-14 hour shifts, sleeping in the day when I'm really not sleeping at all, then having 7 days off which I'm not really taking off.. With Rickey and I having such demanding jobs (whether or not you know it, being a coach is the most demanding job in the world practically) and we soon realized that in order to have it ALL (family, being a devoted Mom and Wife to a big family, volunteering like I want to, having the schedule that I want to have, being able to attend my husbands games and travel with him in the summers to tournaments) that something had to give. Rickey and I have literally been in constant prayer about where to go next for ME. I had an idea of what where I wanted to see myself do, and thought about it... prayed about it.... talked to Candice about it... realized I had my family's support... talked to God about it.. talked to my husband about it... talked to myself about it..... and I thought I would go talk to my advisor to just "talk" about it.... and when I went and talked to her.... I was amazed. She graduated with the exact same second degree and Master's that I will finish out as. She actually attended the exact same school in Louisiana I want to attend. She was in the exact same situation and boat that I was in, prior to HER marriage, at the exact same age that I am currently at... That solidified my plan right then and there. Plus, changing my career choice has opened a lot of doors for me (and with the help of Dr. Lilly Lamb). I was granted full tuition to return and finish classes I need for a second career change. I recieved a scholarship that will pay for all my books and extra for living expenses for me and Rickey (about 1200 dollars that we get to use for whatever extra we might also need).. I also am interviewing tomorrow for a second scholarship that if I get, will total up to $15,000 dollars for the rest of my school and Graduate School... and mine and Rickey's prayers were answered. We asked God to use us as vessels, point us in the right direction and move us to the places that He wants us to go and be open to changes that He sees fit for us, as sons and daughters to Him, as Christians, as a new family, and as Husband and Wife. It is sooooo true that if you ask Him, and follow Him, you will recieve Him. After talking with my God, myself, my husband, my sister Candice, my sisters Terri and Britt, my friends Tanya, Bethany, and Stacie- I will finish a second degree and master's in Audiology and Speech Pathology and get to have a career and a time frame that I have wanted FOREVER. Nursing brought me here and I am so thankful for that, but I want something a little different. My friend Joeli really was my motivation for all this- She just completed a degree in nursing from being in real estate and I have said time and time how awesome it has been to watch her do this in her first few years of marriage, while having to not work, and go back to school... and honestly, she has been one of my sources of motivation.. So Thank you Joles! I can also thank Bethany and Stacie, who talked to me numerous times about the career itself and how it has benefitted them.. I cannot thank Tanya and Candice, Brittany, and Terri Lynn enough on being supportive and showing me that family is important and time with your kids and husband and in laws and sisters and friends are what matters. They have been my rock and backbone through all of my decision making and I am grateful for that. I HAVE to thank Dr. Lamb, my advisor, for helping me to focus myself and to grant me scholarships that completely pay for all of my school. That in itself was an amazing blessing. I dont think that Rickey and I would have been financially able to do this without those amazing scholarships, when both of us are buying books and schooling. These scholarships were HUGE for us. And I cannot forget to thank my Rickey, who fully supports me to do something that I love- something that will allow me to work with kids, can allow me to work in the school system if I wanted, have summers off, or work in the hospital setting and still be affiliated with the medical practices I am used to.. and I can practice MYSELF. I am really excited..
Speaking of Rickey, I said in one of my last posts that he started student teaching and were we so excited that this would be his last semester. He met his preceptor for his class and turns out she is a bit of a "teaching Nazi"... So what we thought might be somewhat of an enjoying semester, might be more difficult than expected. But- he is up for the challenge and is actually really excited. Supposedly, if you are placed with this preceptor in the school (to which he was placed by the Dean of Education), you are one of the top students in your specialty field (secondary ed in social sciences with a minor in special ed). He is going to learn a lot and he is ready for that. Baseball is also starting up for him and the first fall ball meeting is the 16th of August when school starts back for all the athletes. He is very ready for it to start back also because its hard to go a few months with out that bat swinging or being behind the plate for ole Rick... ;) Even though we are literally SWAMPED with things going on in our lives and our schedules, we are blessed FOR SURE. Our God is sooooo very good to us and we continue to see his blessings every single day. We are both off this weekend and are planning to be lazy and hang out with each other before the chaos of the weekdays start back. For now, I must go back to work... thank you all for your love and support. We have the best family and friends ever....
Avec tout mon couer,
Lace
The wedding came and went- and it was fabulous (but you already knew that, right?)... Then the honeymoon trip SADLY came and went and it was MORE than fabulous. I hated to see that go for sure.. Sooo we made our way back to Cleveland and our little reality happened.. We got back to MS and checked back into society; paying bills, getting up for work, grocery shopping, schooling, working more, ball time, etc etc etc.. The weekend of July 11th (well it was really just that day, we couldnt slip away from Cleveland too long) we got to have a mini vacay to Oxford and Water Valley to visit with our dear friends Tanya and Randall. Tanya was throwing a suprise birthday party for Randall's 30th birthday and we COULD not miss this! T did a great job of the decor and the food and we had an absolute ball. This was our official "FIRST" couples get together since we got back from the honeymoon and it was so much fun! Rickey met some other cool guys and I got to spend time with Tanya, Pax, Mrs Cathy (Tanya's mom who literally is like my second mom- I swear), Wheezy, Molly O, Cailon, Bethany, and Tammy! All my buddies! It was a lot of fun for sure. Rick also had a great time getting to spend time with Pax, Tanya and Randall's little boy, and if you know Rick well enough, you KNOW that he loves the littles. Pax is SOOO cute and he reminds me so much of Harrison. I had a ball. I wish that Tanya and Randall would just decide they wanted to move to Baton Rouge when we eventually did, cause Harrison, Ben, and Pax would TOTALLY be best buddies.
Anywho, after the party that night, we ran back to Water Valley to see Charlie for the rest of the evening and packed up some furniture. Our little house in Cleveland is tiny- I mean T.I.N.Y- but its ours and we love it. Now, although we LOVE it, it was beginning to look a little bare. We had so much wedding stuff boxed up and packed up to be taken to Natchez, I think over the time we collected it, we were using it as furniture! :) Rick and I seem to be a little on the obsessed side with antiques. Its so funny because both of our parents (Betty for me and Mrs. Dana for him) would take us looking for antiques as we were children, and so we actually ENJOY doing this as a couple now (yep. we are officially old and married)... We really like the "Shabby Chic" style of some pieces revamped with lots of the new looks of Pottery Barn furniture too.. After the gifts starting coming in from the wedding, we had LOTS and LOTS of china and dishes and no where to put them, so we knew that we needed a china cabinet desperately. We also found a vintage Buffet/Server in an antique shop in Cleveland and we fell in LOVE with it. We wanted to use this for our TV entertainment center in our living room and were just oogling this piece every time we found ourselves browsing. The problem was- both a china cabinet we loved and the antique buffet that we swore was so beautiful it must be sent from God- were out of our price range. About $2000.00 out of our price range together. So, when we stopped back at Charlie's in Water Valley he told us that if we "wanted", Betty had a china cabinet that had never been used before in the basement we could have. We knew it needed some updating to fit our taste (some distressing, a nice coat of paint in the color we wanted, etc) but we liked the challenge. After looking at some other furniture in our house, we both fell in love with my Great Grandmother's highboy/bedroom dresser set. After scoping it out, I realized that we could TOTALLY distress this and give it some love and care, and it would work perfect. In my heart, I knew that I could make it look identical to the expensive buffet we found prior.. So at 11:00 at night, Charlie, Lace, and Ricker loaded the furniture up- and head back to Cleveland.. to make a VERY long story short......... We DID it! and the pieces are AMAZING! We fell in love with two pieces of furniture that were OVER two thousand dollars together.. but NOW we are in love with two pieces of family furniture that were FREE and spent $60 on paint, brushes, some distressing syrup stuff, and a little bit of time.. and they came out AWESOME! I will have to put some pics on here when I get a chance.. I cant wait to do more projects for sure!
Sooo coming back to Cleveland that weekend, I soon realized that my car is officially out of comission and not drivable. Before the wedding I was having some problems with it, but Rickey and I decided that it was too close to the wedding (like 3 days away kinda thing) to really worry about it or send it in to the shop and we would deal with is when we got home from the honeymoon. Cleveland is small enough, and our schedules are pretty opposite, so we have been sharing his car to get to school and work. It hasnt been that bad, really, until..... I realized that my car is officially a dead one. Something is wrong with the lifter in the engine, and I just have to get it fixed. No telling what that is going to cost. Just another thing that I have to do I guess.. So currently, Rickey and I are just buying our time til we have to buy a car or fix my current car and saving saving saving. Upon realizing that my car was crap- we decided it was time to head to see our family in Denham Springs and Baton Rouge! So the following weekend that I was off we hit the road in his truck.. I was SOOOOOOO excited to see my baby nephew, Benjamin, since we were on the honeymoon when we was born and I hadn't even laid eyes on him yet. Candice, Glenn, Harrison, and Ben were SOOO excited to see us and we were JUST as excited to see them! Thier house is absolutely precious and they live in the most precious neighborhood. Harrison LOVED and I mean LOVED getting to spend time with his Uncle Rickey, and he cried when we left. Ben is literally the sweetest baby I have ever seen and held. Well, I cant really say that, because so was Harrison- and Molly Adyson- and Pax- and Parker (you see where i'm going with this?) and I swear I fell in love with him instantly. Rickey also got to hold and love on him, and naturally, he adored this... We got to see Rickey's Mom, Dad, and brothers for a bit and it was great too. They are always so refreshing to spend time with. When we visit them, its a breath of fresh air. They take such good CARE of us and help us to stay motivated and positive. Rickey and I (me especially) can get SOOO bogged down with the idea of "Cleveland" because here, we are alone. All of our friends are gone - except for the baseball crew that we have, and that is like our family. All of our family is away, our BEST friends are in our respecting hometowns, and even then, Rick and I are very challenged with the time that we get to spend with each other, working completely different schedules with nothing to do here in our off time. It's so nice to go visit Pops and Mrs Dana or Candice and Glenn and KNOW that these people understand us and the situation that we are in. Its comforting to hear them say, "keep the faith.. it's all going to get better" or "we've totally been there and everything works out".. And I know that it will, its just hard...
So when we came home, it was back to working.. and working... and working... and working for each of us. Our schedules hit overdrive. We have gotten to spend time with each other in the mornings before school starts for an hour or when we swap vehicles at the hospital at night. Rick and I miss each other BUT we know that everything that we are putting in right NOW, we will get back twice fold.. That being said, I've had a ton on my mind about my career lately, and seemed to have talked to EVERYONE that might understand and ask them what to do. Nursing is a demanding career and although I love it, I am exhausted. Burnt out. Already...I work at night and my schedule is intense. 7 nights on, 12-14 hour shifts, sleeping in the day when I'm really not sleeping at all, then having 7 days off which I'm not really taking off.. With Rickey and I having such demanding jobs (whether or not you know it, being a coach is the most demanding job in the world practically) and we soon realized that in order to have it ALL (family, being a devoted Mom and Wife to a big family, volunteering like I want to, having the schedule that I want to have, being able to attend my husbands games and travel with him in the summers to tournaments) that something had to give. Rickey and I have literally been in constant prayer about where to go next for ME. I had an idea of what where I wanted to see myself do, and thought about it... prayed about it.... talked to Candice about it... realized I had my family's support... talked to God about it.. talked to my husband about it... talked to myself about it..... and I thought I would go talk to my advisor to just "talk" about it.... and when I went and talked to her.... I was amazed. She graduated with the exact same second degree and Master's that I will finish out as. She actually attended the exact same school in Louisiana I want to attend. She was in the exact same situation and boat that I was in, prior to HER marriage, at the exact same age that I am currently at... That solidified my plan right then and there. Plus, changing my career choice has opened a lot of doors for me (and with the help of Dr. Lilly Lamb). I was granted full tuition to return and finish classes I need for a second career change. I recieved a scholarship that will pay for all my books and extra for living expenses for me and Rickey (about 1200 dollars that we get to use for whatever extra we might also need).. I also am interviewing tomorrow for a second scholarship that if I get, will total up to $15,000 dollars for the rest of my school and Graduate School... and mine and Rickey's prayers were answered. We asked God to use us as vessels, point us in the right direction and move us to the places that He wants us to go and be open to changes that He sees fit for us, as sons and daughters to Him, as Christians, as a new family, and as Husband and Wife. It is sooooo true that if you ask Him, and follow Him, you will recieve Him. After talking with my God, myself, my husband, my sister Candice, my sisters Terri and Britt, my friends Tanya, Bethany, and Stacie- I will finish a second degree and master's in Audiology and Speech Pathology and get to have a career and a time frame that I have wanted FOREVER. Nursing brought me here and I am so thankful for that, but I want something a little different. My friend Joeli really was my motivation for all this- She just completed a degree in nursing from being in real estate and I have said time and time how awesome it has been to watch her do this in her first few years of marriage, while having to not work, and go back to school... and honestly, she has been one of my sources of motivation.. So Thank you Joles! I can also thank Bethany and Stacie, who talked to me numerous times about the career itself and how it has benefitted them.. I cannot thank Tanya and Candice, Brittany, and Terri Lynn enough on being supportive and showing me that family is important and time with your kids and husband and in laws and sisters and friends are what matters. They have been my rock and backbone through all of my decision making and I am grateful for that. I HAVE to thank Dr. Lamb, my advisor, for helping me to focus myself and to grant me scholarships that completely pay for all of my school. That in itself was an amazing blessing. I dont think that Rickey and I would have been financially able to do this without those amazing scholarships, when both of us are buying books and schooling. These scholarships were HUGE for us. And I cannot forget to thank my Rickey, who fully supports me to do something that I love- something that will allow me to work with kids, can allow me to work in the school system if I wanted, have summers off, or work in the hospital setting and still be affiliated with the medical practices I am used to.. and I can practice MYSELF. I am really excited..
Speaking of Rickey, I said in one of my last posts that he started student teaching and were we so excited that this would be his last semester. He met his preceptor for his class and turns out she is a bit of a "teaching Nazi"... So what we thought might be somewhat of an enjoying semester, might be more difficult than expected. But- he is up for the challenge and is actually really excited. Supposedly, if you are placed with this preceptor in the school (to which he was placed by the Dean of Education), you are one of the top students in your specialty field (secondary ed in social sciences with a minor in special ed). He is going to learn a lot and he is ready for that. Baseball is also starting up for him and the first fall ball meeting is the 16th of August when school starts back for all the athletes. He is very ready for it to start back also because its hard to go a few months with out that bat swinging or being behind the plate for ole Rick... ;) Even though we are literally SWAMPED with things going on in our lives and our schedules, we are blessed FOR SURE. Our God is sooooo very good to us and we continue to see his blessings every single day. We are both off this weekend and are planning to be lazy and hang out with each other before the chaos of the weekdays start back. For now, I must go back to work... thank you all for your love and support. We have the best family and friends ever....
Avec tout mon couer,
Lace
Sunday, August 1, 2010
The First of the Last
Tomorrow is a special day in our little Noland family. Rickey is starting his very First day of his last semester in school, and if you know the interesting road that we have been down, this is exciting. I seem to brag about my husband, and I can do that - because my husband is AWESOME down to the core- and today will be another one of those days when I brag on him and his achievements.
If you know Rick, you know this kid is a true gem. Rick is probably the hardest worker that I have ever met when it comes to a couple things: wanting to help someone who needs help, wanting to do something that he wants to do, and wanting to keep a promise or a goal that he has made to someone. He will stop at NOTHING, and I mean Nothing, to make sure that the people he knows and loves are taken care of- before his sweet little self needs anything. Rickey is a perfectionist and a competitor and he loves a challenge and rising above. My husband has a heart of GOLD and is sold to the things that matter- God and family, puppies, children, and ball. His story goes that when he was a little boy, his was asked what he wanted to be when he grew up. He drew a baseball player on paper and chose to follow that dream. Rickey played ball and that was his life- a ball PLAYER- up until 2 years ago when he was released from the St. Louis Cardinals organization following Spring Training. Let down is not the word to describe this feeling that my sweet Rick had, BUT, as our God proves to be strength and the One that we can always run to, he led Rick on a path to finish his college career and choose a path that would touch hearts more than anyone ever imagined.
Tomorrow Rick starts the first day of his last semester doing Student Teaching at Margaret Green Junior High here in Cleveland, MS. He is still coaching ball here at Delta State and things are going well with that.. But Rick's heart is ready to give up the player role he's held for so long. He will be finishing his degree in teaching with hopes of teaching Special Education. His passion- his forte'- has migrated far beyond a baseball field where he teaches healthy and athletic young men how to field and ball and promote themselves to become professional players. He is on a road to be able to be a mentor, a leader, a role model, a teacher, and a friend, to special needs children who will LOVE Coach Noland more than any of us could imagine. To me, the idea that my husband will wake up every single morning, put on his khakis and tie, and walk into a school system where he makes more of a difference in students lives who, personally, intimidate me- is amazing. I could not do what he is choosing to do with his life, but if you ask him, he loves it. I am so proud of my husband... He is just the best thing that has ever happened to me and I am soooo excited to begin this journey with him as we end this semester of teaching and coaching and hopefully begin a new life in the new future (in DENHAM SPRINGS!!)
Enough for now, gotta get back to work... Yep, still working nights with some little changes coming for me.. Will update on that a little later.......
Avec tout mon couer,
Lace
If you know Rick, you know this kid is a true gem. Rick is probably the hardest worker that I have ever met when it comes to a couple things: wanting to help someone who needs help, wanting to do something that he wants to do, and wanting to keep a promise or a goal that he has made to someone. He will stop at NOTHING, and I mean Nothing, to make sure that the people he knows and loves are taken care of- before his sweet little self needs anything. Rickey is a perfectionist and a competitor and he loves a challenge and rising above. My husband has a heart of GOLD and is sold to the things that matter- God and family, puppies, children, and ball. His story goes that when he was a little boy, his was asked what he wanted to be when he grew up. He drew a baseball player on paper and chose to follow that dream. Rickey played ball and that was his life- a ball PLAYER- up until 2 years ago when he was released from the St. Louis Cardinals organization following Spring Training. Let down is not the word to describe this feeling that my sweet Rick had, BUT, as our God proves to be strength and the One that we can always run to, he led Rick on a path to finish his college career and choose a path that would touch hearts more than anyone ever imagined.
Tomorrow Rick starts the first day of his last semester doing Student Teaching at Margaret Green Junior High here in Cleveland, MS. He is still coaching ball here at Delta State and things are going well with that.. But Rick's heart is ready to give up the player role he's held for so long. He will be finishing his degree in teaching with hopes of teaching Special Education. His passion- his forte'- has migrated far beyond a baseball field where he teaches healthy and athletic young men how to field and ball and promote themselves to become professional players. He is on a road to be able to be a mentor, a leader, a role model, a teacher, and a friend, to special needs children who will LOVE Coach Noland more than any of us could imagine. To me, the idea that my husband will wake up every single morning, put on his khakis and tie, and walk into a school system where he makes more of a difference in students lives who, personally, intimidate me- is amazing. I could not do what he is choosing to do with his life, but if you ask him, he loves it. I am so proud of my husband... He is just the best thing that has ever happened to me and I am soooo excited to begin this journey with him as we end this semester of teaching and coaching and hopefully begin a new life in the new future (in DENHAM SPRINGS!!)
Enough for now, gotta get back to work... Yep, still working nights with some little changes coming for me.. Will update on that a little later.......
Avec tout mon couer,
Lace
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
