Just Thinking . . .

Today begins my long day of classes. It is 4:00 and I have been here at UNT since 9:00 this morning. I will be here until 8:20 tonight. Good news today. Our investment house sold!!! Woo Hoo! Next investment? A house for us to really live in. More good news. The cancer has not spread. My grandpa has a better chance of surviving prostate cancer. Even better news! I am going on vacation to Hot Springs Arkansas and I am hoping to see the passion play there! (provided that it is not sold out)Read a good book called "Perfect Trust." Very short and to the point on trusting God to handle your life. It was really good tabernacle material (2:00 a.m. bath tub reading for a week straight)Everyone had a special place where they like to curl up with a good book. The environment must be just right inorder to sit, read, and reflect. My place just happens to be the bathtub between 12:00-2:00 a.m. Where are your special places where you like to sit, read, reflect and talk to God.

NEED PRAYERS!!!!

This is the first time I have revealed this to anyone besides Nancy's answering machine today at church. Three days ago I found out that my grandpa (who just turned 80 in July)has prostate cancer. The doctor did a bone scan on Wednesday to see if it has spread. We get the results hopefully on Monday. This is a crucial test. If the test says it had spread, my grandpa will only have a few years (maybe) to live. If it hasn't spread he can get shots which will shrink the cancer and he could live over 15 years. The doctors have decided that he is to old to operate on, so the shots are his only hope. My family is very tight knit, so this is affecting everyone in their own way. My grandma cried a lot right now, she is still recovering from a knee replacement in April. What horrible timing for this to happen. My mom is trying to be strong as she is the one in our family that is in Texas that can come to their aid and watch over them. This puts loads of stress on my mom with work, and trying to move her mother down here. (Grandparents are divorced) Me, I think today it finally has sunk in. When I was talking to the answering machine it was the first time to really talk about the reality of the situation. Shaune knows, of course, he's been keeping up with this who ordeal, so we have never really had to talk about it. But today was my first time to really hear myself speak the words and face the reality that my grandfather may be dying. (*tear*) I guess I just always imagined that my grandparents would be here to see their great-grandchildren and watch them become toddlers before they passed on. Please pray for the recovery for Charles P. Lewis. I added him to the prayer chain today, and with radiation treatments and such I will be helping my family again and staying on my toes forever moving. Just when I though I would be getting a break too. Thanks for your prayer everyone.

New Job?

Somehow I seemed to have developed a small business on the side of ESD. I don't really know how it happened. One wedding led to another wedding and before you know it, I am helping 3 people plan their weddings and have another possibly on the way (my sister). The last job that I undertook I am being paid for. I have really enjoyed getting to express my creative side in many different ways, (and I get to do a bunch of crafts and don't have to pay for them!) and help people get what they want for a steal of a price and a small fee for me. Shaune is helping me to develope a business contract for future clients that I might have. Could this really be a side business? I don't know, I guess we'll just have to find out.

Business is the Way of America (and me)

August is Minichurch month in my church. Its also start up new bible study times. One thing that I do not like is all the women biblestudy times are during the middle of major college class hours. For the past 3 years I have only been able to participate in 5 short term women's bible studies. No Joy, no classes offered by CBC. This is sad, I wish they had a class time offered on Wednesday night or Sunday morning for Women. Shaune and I were flipping through the classes offered and we found a few offered for men on Sundays, but none for women. Kinda strange, kinda sad. Oh well you can't please all of the people all of the time.

Shaune and I have decided to try out a new class on Tuesday nights. Monday night we usually attend minichurch, but the last summer semester we have had to take off for school, and sadly, we will have to take off for school for the Fall as well. School makes everything so difficult. The class being taken: Love and Respect It ends around Thanksgiving and it on the only day that both of us have nothing going on. I'm looking forward to it and I think he is to. New people to meet and get to join his soccer team.

Wedding Planning may be in my future. I have my hand helping to decorate two weddings and had someone in ESD ask me to be her paid wedding planner. I think that is way cool. There might be another under my belt before to long. My sister graduated from SFA last weekend and her boyfriend of forever (Blake) just got a big promotion. They live almost 2 hours from one another. Wedding bells may be in their furure (I say spring or Summer). SO much to think about so little time. I haven't decided to accept the planning job yet, but we'll see. You know, I just now titled my blog so maybe by looking at it I will take a break from all extra curricular activities.

Been cleaning the house for a week now. Almost done. Few more days yet! Mom is excited to see the photo book from Germany. Will show her this weekend!

Girlfriends

I am almost done with summer school. I must say I have never had this many papers due in one class before. Thank GOD when it is over. I love my life. It is like one big amusement park ride that I can ride over and over again. This summer I have made some new friends. When one gets married, one discoverer quickly that all your single friends ditch you quickly and you life becomes something new. Being married and not having children at our age does make it hard to get together with couples our own age. I love kids, don't get me wrong, but the good old days when you can go out and have a good girls night out are long gone. Thus, when you are young and married, without single friends, girls' nights out are a thing of the past. Well this summer, I made some good friends. Suprising, it is my morning staff at Summer's Cool. They are around my age and each different. One is trying to brake into being a P.E. Coach. She would make a dang skippy one at that. (Did I just say dang skippy?) Another is a teacher this year out in Frisco. She is such a gentle woman with a great creative streak. The third is a blond bombshell who looks like one of those girls in high school who you would never talk to because she was a popular mean girl. She is so the opposite. And did I mention that she went to A&M! On Thursday I had my first girls night out since my batcholrette party! We went bowling down in Denton and had lots of laughs. I an not that great at bowling, but WOW! I HAD AN AWESOME SCORE! I made a new friends the other day. Her name is Kelly and she just happens to be dating a friend of mine. She is beautiful and so much fun. I look forward to getting to know her more in the future. I realize now how important good girlfriends are and how they play an important part in peoples live. I am thankful for my minichurch group. I don't make it lot of the times, but, they have been my friends for a long time. They all have kids which are growing like weeds before my eyes. So many new babies are coming into my life in the next few months. Four to be exact. I'm taking my time though. I have a lot of this world to see (especially Germany) before I have babies of my own one day. Sorry dad, your stash of stuff that I found in the garage will have to Waite a few more years....

Here are pictures of some of my friends who know how to have a great time!
P.S. The picture of Germany are great Robyn. My mom is living vicariously through you!

Almost The End

The summer is almost at an end. Next week is the last week of camp. I am so sad. I was spoiled with a team as great as mine. I will miss all of our kids too. I really look forward to the summer each year because we have such as great group of kids. Being a Site Supervisor was great experiece. It really opened my eyes to myself in terms of strengths and weaknesses. I am talking in blah sentences that really convey no feeling at all. Maybe this calls for a vacation after graduation.

To Whom It May Concern: Marilee has had her baby on Monday. Gracie Mae is her name and she is BESAUTIFUL!!!! So beautiful. *sigh* I can/ can't waite to have kids!

Back in Action

VBS in now over. The day after setup, I ended up with a virus that was acting like a severe sinus infection. Oh joy!! I am still recovering from it. Now I am able to enjoy Sumer's Cool!I love my kids, they are so great! It is hard not to laugh when a pathalocial liar hands you a library book and tells you that the boy in the picture is his brother and his name is martin. The only problem with this is the book is on South Africa! I know his family and they are from around here. Its things like this that make the days so much fun.

Summer school is has started back up and I am taking a class that is EXACTLY like the class that I took last semester. Same book, same notes, same power point, same material, same UNT that is making me take it and won't let me comp out of the class. Oh Well! I am glad I am taking this class over the sumer and not in the fall. The class would be so boring then.

Shaune and I have started planning our vacation to Europe next year. I am so excited! I am hoping to fly over and stay with a friend who is close to our family. :) She knows who she is... Guess I better get the ball rolling and call her and see when would be a good time to come visit!

Open House for Summer's Cool is on Thursday. The slide show that I am preparing is way cool. I am nervous speaking infront of all those parents though! There will be over 60. Guess if I am going tp be a teacher I have to start sometime!

Life and God is soooo Gooood!

Pride

Today is my push week for VBS. There is much to be done in final prep, mostly little things, but I have one week to get them done. I was downstairs in the basement hanging the coral paintings on the walls by myself, in the heat because there is not air conditioner in the church. Some woman whom I did not know paid me a complement on all of my work and was impressed with my talent. The downstairs is starting to look great and all I could think about was it was a shame that in a weeks time, all the decorations that I have spent HOURS making will be torn down and tossed in the trash. At the thought of this I got a little angry. All this work just to have it torn down. Then a little voice went off in my head. It said to me, "WHAT IN THE HECK ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT! This is not about you. It is about the children this is benefiting! Many children could be lead to Christ through VBS and I am blessed just to be apart of it!" I feel shameful now for my thoughts at that moment. This was never about me and for some moment I had turned it all around. I'm glad the voice spoke to me and reminded me of what is important. Pride stinks! I am glad to be back in my right mind. All the hours spent will be worth it to seek the kids faces light up next monday. Things like this is what childhood memories are made of!

A Man and his Boy

Here is the newest member of the Corbett family . . . Jasper! He lives with my father-in-law and Dylan. Here we are two weeks after Jasper came home on a MS Walk in April.

Internet Owner

Today the internet guy can and installed it in our apartment. We also got cable. I think I am really enjoying this! I can watch T.V. and type on the computer at the same time. I hope this does not affect my ability to get things done around the house. I know when I had cable before, I would watch it and not get a lot done. It is distracting.

My cat has found his first toy that appeases him. It is a bee that has crinkle plastic inside it. He loves it. More tomorrow! Hurray for the internet!

Finally I can blog!!!

So I have been trying to get to my parent house to blog. I really miss it. Camp has been giving me the run around. I love it!! I have great kids, moody parents, and a GREAT STAFF!!!! It took me about two days before I was able to get into my groove and be a natural leader. When I am nervous I do not take charge of people like I know I can. Camp is going great.

Shaune and I finally broke down and will be getting internet on Tuesday night. He realized that as a teacher, I need the internet for various things, and conveniently, we found a note on our door that said Comcast (which I hate) would be in the area on a Saturday to offer special deals on Internet and cable. So we got a package deal on the internet and basic cable. I am excited and cannot wait to blog regularly again! Will post again on Tuesday night or Wednesday after the internet has been installed. I have so many cute thing to journal about my children and great staff!

A HOME NO MORE

Shaune and I had the house inspected on Friday. It turns out that the house has foundation problems. To good to be true. We have made the decision to not buy the house. Reasons being I did not want to buy a lemon and end up being stuck living in a piece of fruit for the rest of my life like James and the Giant Peach. (He had a really cool story, but I would not like to live in a piece of fruit.) We decided to end our search because we are currently involved in a business investment for Shaune's company. Our ship has sailed for now, but may come again next year. Boo hoo to living in an apartment where the kids run around like a heard of buffalo and the man down stairs curses like a boat load of sailors. Yes to living in the apartment because of my really awesome creek where I can sit and stare at the beauty of God and marvel at his depth in creation. WOO HOO for the internet! We will finally be breaking down and spending the outrageous $40 bucks a month to have the internet in our apartment.

The summer program starts next week. I will be setting up my site and training people this week. Pray for my nervousness and the confidence to be a good Site Supervisor. I am so excited about this summer!

A Home

Today the banks sent back our contracts SIGNED!! We have five days to get an inspector in there to look at it, which to my amazement, my husband has one lined up tomorrow at 1:00. PRAISE BE TO GOD! If all goes well we will take possession of our new home on June 16th and be out of our apartment by June 26th. Thanks to all for your prayers. Will post a picture of our almost-ours house later.

A Possible Home...?

Shaune and I may have a house very soon. We have laid down two contracts on homes only to be beat out by two other contracts. On Thursday a foreclosed popped up on the MLS. By that night were looking at it. It needs a lot of paint, new carpet, pull everything out of the front and back yard, a new stove, fridge, and a little love. It is however in a GREAT neighborhood, and is 2,000 square feet. It is also 30,000 dollars below what it should be selling for in the neighborhood. It has 4 bedrooms, a large master, dining, and living room. The kitchen is big, but you could only fit a very small table set in it. It has a great backyard for kids, and a hot tub. We looked at it the first day on the MLS and had on unofficial inspector come out and look at it. By day 2 on the market Shaune laid down a contract... and they came back with a counter offer. We know the house was shown over the weekend because we went by to look at it again and the front door was wide open, all the doors unlocked. Shaune and I always lock all the doors to the house. We sent another counter offer and earnest money today, and hopefully it will be the first contract to be looked at on the Bank's table on Monday. If it is and the bank accepts our counter offer, we move to a pending status. This would be an excellent first home that we could live in for a LONG time. Please pray for us and pray that our contract is the first looked at if anyone else has laid down a contract this weekend. As of Saturday, we are still the first people to lay down a contract. I really like this home and I hope we get it! Our window is closing quick on how much time we have to buy a home (due to other business opportunities) other wise we will stay in our apartment for a year. We should know something by Monday!

End of the School Year

I have been busy! We are still looking for a home and school is coming to an end and the summer program is just starting! Exciting!

Job Description

I have been thinking to myself lately as I observe the world around me and I have begun to wonder, "What do I want to be?" I have decided to be a teacher. Mostly everybody know that I want to be a teacher. A teacher of art, a general classroom teacher, any of these would float my boat. But I will say that working with ESD has opened my eyes about something. I have changed what I want to be. In stead of just being a teacher, I want to be the teacher that can help effective transition learning disabled children, and high function disabled children back into the classroom. Through the various schools I have been at I have discovered that not enough needs are being met. General classroom teachers have been relying on the resource teacher or the inclusion teacher to handle the children. Many teachers are overwhelmed by people with disabilities. I am at times too. But I think that because of being Dyslexic and see how people treated me, I want to help the children and set the parents down the right road when they are young. I believe the more you invest in your children, the more you will enjoy them and teach them how to be a good stewart with what you have. Jesus said "Let the little children come to me." And they came. I say bring on the challenge and let God show me the path I am to take, and if this be the road, then so be it.

Math Class

*Trumpets Heralding in the Background*

Hear Ye, Hear Ye! I HAVE PASSED MATH WITH AN "A"! My graduation in a year and a half is now secure! This Dyslexic has made her first and last A in math because I do not have to take math anymore! WOO HOO!

House Hunting

Our apartment complex decided that they were going to raise our rent by 10 percent. Shaune and I have decided to find a house. We found a really cute one and there are no offers on it yet. On Monday or Tuesday there will be an offer though. OURS!!! My husband is truly amazing. He was able to make as few call and show me houses with his realestate license. We looked at 5 in one day decided on two that we like. Hopefully they will not raise above our price range. My husband has great talent on reading people, he has better woman's intuition than I have! House hunting is stressful though. It is a real marriage tester. You have to be patient and play the waiting game. Make concession with one another about what you want, where you want to live and what you can afford. My husband is wise with money and is choosing houses that we can afford and live comfortably. He is a good husband. I am lucky to have him. I learned a valuable lesson this week. Trust in the talents that God has gifted you with. Use them to your abilities and trust others to use them wisely.

Loss of the Internet

I don't think I appreciated the internet until I lost it. The people we were bootlegging the internet from decided move out. Now we do not get the internet in our apartment anymore. My husband and I have things we need to get paid off before we can afford to get it. We don't have cable either. We have a 42 inch screen t.v., but no cable! I think this is funny. I am going to have to visit my mom and dad more, either that or save up a year and decide to buy it. Let me see, news, news,.... my grandmother went home the other day. She is healthy and well. My cat has allergies, I am up to my ears in homework, reports, and finals that are coming up next week. Of course it is all stuff that I need the internet for. Our country and life style has become so dependent on the internet. If terrorists really wanted to displace people, get rid of the internet and the phone lines. That would slow America down. It is such as shame that we have become so dependent on it. Everything that I wanted to watch on t.v. I can watch on the internet. Don't need the home shopping net work, I have e-bay! No one uses the phone as much as they do e-mail. What do you think?

Grandmother Update

I have spent the last several days rising early and coming home late in order to see my family. My grandmother Carol, her sugary went along great, but her recovery time took her twice as long as was predicted for her to come out of. She was hurting really badly and the hospital almost OD on pain killers, so my mom spent the 1st night at the hospital with her because the gave her a reversal and put her on oxygen. At times she would stop breathing for a second or two so thus the oxygen. They sedated her pretty heavily. The only time they could get her to wake up and come around was when they would say "Grandma" really loud and she would look for her grandchildren. I however, am the only grandchild in the area. I got there on Tuesday night and my mom and grandpa had just left. My grandfather was having sever anxiety problems with seeing my grandma in such a sedated state.

It was awesome. When I got to her room, it was the first time she had come around all day, she talked to me and carry on small conversations. She laughed lightly, and was happy. Shaune and I stayed for about 45 minutes before leaving. On the way home I called my grandpa and told him we had been there to see her. I did not realize how badly my grandma had been until I called my grandpa. He started crying when I told her how grandma had responded. He was happy. Today, I got up early in the morning to go and visit her. Mom told me that I may not want to come because she was just as bad as the night before the first visit. My grandpa was really sad again because he had never seen her in a good condition yet. After I arrived, it was just like when I had visited before. She started coming around and talking and laughing. She was much better. My grandpa started crying again because now he could see that she would really be getting better. As of tonight, she is more coherent and out of danger with the medication situation. She is still in a lot of pain, but God has been with her.

Thanks everyone for your prayers! I have been in prayer for several days now and I have no idea how prayer warriors pray as much as they do! It sucks the life out of you! I am exhausted after so much time in prayer. But, it does leave me at peace with myself and whatever happens. Kudos to those who are constantly praying. I love to pray, don't get me wrong, I do it a lot. Some of my prayers are short and I try not to ask for to much for myself, but there are just some of those people who are ment to pray. They spend long days secluded from people and just pray. I am definitely not one of those people. Thanks to those that do.