Joyful

The picture here is our youngest granddaughter, who was very stealth like in quietly playing with mamas make-up. She blissfully adorned herself like mama and then was found by mama and to her surprise there was only sweet words. What a joy this is for me, as her grandmother, and recognizing this important role in her life.

The beginning of this year I began college and today, I just enrolled for my second semester. I have heard from my teacher that my grades are very good and while it does take work and planning ahead, I am ready to take on my next new adventure. The work has been challenging which I think is good because I have to stretch, but stress in getting outside one’s comfort zone is a good thing.

I will be going overseas with Jim this time and teaching in the marriage and family seminar. That is definitely one of my favorites, and I regularly teach the differences of communication between men and women. There is a lot of laughter and the class always seems to have a great time.

January 2019

In January, I had several opportunities presented; time that I could spend with our family and be around family for the birth of our great grand child. This was a very happy event to be with everyone. However, my beloved Jim would be overseas teaching the seminars. It would be a six weeks absence from each other. This was a season of beautiful opportunity for me, however, in considering this I was very much aware that I would not be going with Jim on this trip. Singularly, it was a tough decision to make. 

Another opportunity that presented itself to me was to begin college for my General Ed. Technology has made it much more accommodating for me, being legally blind with a visual acuity of 20/250. So, I am an online student, and I love to learn. My major is psychology and while I find this a very complex subject, (as is our minds, right?) I tremendously enjoy the learning process. It has been 47 years since I was a student and studying so, this is an enormous change in my lifestyle. Because I am taking classes online I have tremendous freedom. I can take my textbook with me and I will still be able to teach overseas when we have our seminars .

I have sought the advice and conferred with many, as it says in Proverbs 11:14 … In the multitude of counselors there is safety.

Our family is supportive of me in this and Jim is very pleased that I am undertaking my formal education. Lord willing my plans are to go on to a four year college after this. Ever since I was young I have always had a curious mind, wanting to know about everything. The time presented itself to me with a golden opportunity, and I said yes.

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up"

          Ecclesiastes 3:1-3