Here I Go Again

So this past week I started classes for my second Masters degree. Yes. Second. And I anticipate a doctoral program in the future as well. I suppose I am a glutton for punishment. So let me tell you how I got to this point. As I am by myself with my kids, having a career is not a choice. And let me tell you that it is hard to beat teaching as a career that allows you to have the most time possible with your family. I go home from work when they get off school. Aside for the few teacher conference and in-service days, I have the same holidays off. Yes, the pay is stinky but here in New Mexico I have the ability to top out a little higher than a lot of other states. And teaching out here on the reservation I have the opportunity to live in a decent place as a part of my benefits. This is basically the best gig I'm going to get right now and it is fortunate for me that I LOVE it! So, since I did not go to school to be a teacher, but did go to teach preschool, my employer is requiring me to take some extra classes for certification (out here on the rez this is called alternative certification and there are many teachers who did not go to school to be a teacher but end up teaching out here because of the ability to begin working while simultaneously getting certification). I have 3 years to complete this. I was like, if I'm going to school for certification, I might as well put in a little extra effort and obtain a Masters in elementary education. I will have a psychology, music and early childhood endorsement so I will be fairly marketable as far as teaching goes. I also plan to use my Masters degrees to teach college part time. So here I go again. I am really excited!!

*As you probably guessed from the above logo, I am attending Western New Mexico University; they have a great program designed specifically for teachers already working in the field.

New Year, New Goals

I kind of have this idea that if I post my resolutions on a public forum, such as my blog, then perhaps I will be more likely to keep them.........for longer than I normally would. These are resolutions that I try to improve myself in all of the time anyways. I wish you all the best of luck with your resolutions. I wish myself luck as well.

1. Develop an exercise routine and make it a habit.

*This is not a matter of trying to lose a certain number of pounds, although if I dropped

about 20 pounds I would finally be a healthy weight. My plan of attack since I have

4 young kids and no source for babysitting on a regular basis is to acquire another

treadmill; when I had one in Alabama, I ran much more regularly.

2. Plan more healthy meals and snacks for me and my family.

*The only way I can do this is to take the time to sit down and plan my menu every

week. I fail in healthy eating when I run out of time to cook and end up grabbing mac

and cheese or pizza.

3. Work towards organizing my home.

*This includes budgeting and cleaning schedules. Being organized is simply not a natural

gift. I have recently found some organizing blogs and books that have given me good ideas.

Becoming completely organized is not something that I feel I can accomplish right away;

that is why my resolution is to work towards this.

4. Spend more quality time with my kids.

*This actually goes along with resolution 3 since I am positive that if I am more organized

I will use my free time more efficiently and therefore have more time with my kids. I am

SO tired of feeling like I never get to do things with them that are fun. I know that this is

a harsh fact of life in the 'single mom' life that I now must lead but I refuse to accept that

being a single mom means being less of a mom.

5. Do things for myself without feeling guilty.

*I am going to play the piano, get a mani/pedi, get my brows waxed, go to the spa, go see

see a movie, etc. on a regular basis. And I won't feel guilty about it because I know I will

be a better mother because of it.

I can think of a lot more things I need to work on but I can't overwhelm myself. Yes, I realize that there are no spiritual/religious themed goals. My only goal in that area is to try to keep going to church. That is hard for me right now and I have my kids to thank for my regular attendance.

Here is to an improved year and most of all a happy one!!

Life Lately

I am just going to bypass the not-unique excuses that I have for not posting regularly. So here we go. So obviously we have gotten a ton of snow lately. It's like free outdoor play equipment. I don't even mind the mud and snow tracked into the house and the freezing temps. At least the kids are getting outside. It's awesome! Since the temps won't melt the snow we will actually have a White Christmas; a novelty for us Alabama folk.

Life lately has been pretty good to me, considering. I got a job teaching preschool at the elementary school here at Thoreau. I absolutely positively LOVE my job. I feel so blessed to get to see my kids and have the same days off that they do. I decided to go back to school to get a second Master's; this one will be in Elementary Education K-8 certified with endorsements in music and psychology (psychology is totally thrown on there because I already have a Master's in that field and I may one day lose my mind and try to get a job teaching social science in mid-school or something). I will be starting classes in January.

We moved into the teacherage, which is housing that the schools out here build for teachers since this is such a rural area--there are not apartments or houses readily to rent. We have a great place for cheap and we are very happy to be over here.

I suppose my new job and moving are the most major changes I have had since I last posted. As for the kids, Adam started preschool and is of course one of the wildest kids in his class (I'm not his teacher). It would be like if I had started Sam or Jeremy in preschool when they were 3 1/2. Kind of a semi-disaster. I didn't have a choice with Adam but he is already starting to calm down and since my older three kids are so good everyone knows it's just him and not crappy parenting on my part. That's just how the Lawrence boys are. Crazy and wild and then in between the ages of 4 and 5 a switch flips and they calm down. Adam just recently turned 4 so I wait for this patiently.

I have actually been surprised by who has come forward and shown me support in this time. I guess this will sound dramatic but I have also been surprised at who hasn't. It was painful at first but a year after Jesse's and mine decision to separate, I am finally not afraid to be alone. And I am truly alone. However, my children have found a even larger place in my life than before, if that makes sense. They are absolutely my focus and love. I think that they are amazing, even when everyone in Walmart knows we left the store. Even in church when I am playing piano and they are sitting by themselves in the pew being insane. I have the best kids in the world.

I am also going to make an attempt to keep this blog up. Wish me luck.

Life goes on

So it's pretty much out now. After 7 months of separation I am officially a single mother. I never thought I would be in this situation and no, I will not answer questions of how did this happen or give details. However, if I have anything to say I will say that had Jesse and I not been too proud to ask for help years ago we might could have saved ourselves this indescribable pain. I don't know. And that is all I will ever say about it. And my life goes on because it has to. So in keeping with trying to grasp at any positive aspect that I can grasp on to, I will tell you all about the things that I am happy about in my life.

First, my kids finished the school year not only with great grades but with awards from school. Meredith got the award for the highest score in the entire second grade on the computer testing as well as an A in math for her final grade. Considering that we have twice had to homeschool her we feel that this is such an achievement for her! So in three weeks or so, I will have a pre-schooler, first grader, third grader and fifth grader! Everyone in the same school......for only one year! Jeremy will go to mid school next year so I am going to enjoy this year as much as I can.

I am only 2 classes from my Masters! I have currently applied for jobs in the school system; I had an interview this summer but I didn't get it. With this being my first job (besides for the substituting) in over 10 years I feel that I will eventually get something but it might be a while. In the meantime I am at least getting to know the personnel at the schools.

We got TV!!!!!! For the first time ever, we have Dish and I am so excited!! I have been wanting this for a few months due to problems sleeping which I hope I get over but honestly probably won't anytime soon. In the meantime, I'm at least watching cool TV while I'm up and unable to sleep.

Lastly, I appreciate all of my friends. It's been hard to deal with rejection and disapproval and also a blessing to feel loved no matter my situation.

Wow my phone is cool

This is my first blog entry from my phone. I have the blogger app for the android. Its pretty cool; that means I will have the capability to update my blog FROM MY PHONE complete with pictures. I have officially reached the age where I am old enough to be all like 'wow the technology these days is amazing!! When I was a kid........' Yeah I know it's sad huh. Anyways for my birthday I totally changed my hair. I have been needing to do something like this for a while now and I really like how it turned out. I walked into the place and informed the sylist that I had the same hair at 35 years old that I had been sporting since high school. I told her I wanted it cut and with blonde highlights and she could basically do whatever she wanted and she was thrilled. I was too when she was done and now every time I pass a mirror I think that I have great hair.

I hope I have posted the pics ok. There is one of my hair before and then one after.

Cats

So Cats came to Albuquerque and opened last night. I wasn't expecting to get to go but a good friend of mine accidentally ordered 2 pairs of tickets instead of just 2 tickets. So Meredith and I got to go; I was pretty excited to take her. I have never seen this musical; I had only heard some of the music. I have always always always loved the song 'Memory.' Plus I just really want the kids to always be around stuff like this. I grew up being exposed to the arts and living out here I have to make the extra effort since we don't have many things like this close by. I wondered if Meredith would really get into it or not and she did get a little fidgety towards the end (it started at 8 pm which is usually her bedtime) but she declared it was awesome! Now I am even more motivated to take the kids to some performances and things this summer and I am hoping I can find stuff like that to do at USA in Mobile while we are visiting. Great night with some great friends!!

Ummm yeah, sorry about that

So school is almost out and I remember that I have a blog. I go to check it and see that, yep, my blog is still Christmas-y. So, anyways even though I am on Facebook and stuff I still like to blog, too. Let you all know what is going on with my uber interesting life besides for little quips here and there. Yeah, I'm just kidding my life isn't very interesting but still; I feel the need to write about it. I have been steadily taking and completing classes for my Master's in Psychology; should be done later this year with a total school time of right under two years. What I hope to do with this is to take the exam to become a New Mexico state licensed counselor and also take a couple of extra classes here at the local university and then also sit for the test to be qualified as a school psychologist. I am currently working on submitting resumes/applications to all of the local community colleges for adjunct teaching positions. ALSO, I am keeping my eye open for elementary teaching positions since my undergrad degree qualifies me to apply even though it's not elementary ed; this is because they need teachers out here on the rez, yo. Well, normally they do. Got some major cutbacks going on right now so we will just see. I may just keep subbing which I am happy to do.

My kids are really growing up!! Jeremy, Meredith and Sam only have two days left in the 4th, 2nd grades and Kindergarten. I have put Adam on the list for next year's pre-K 3 class. Yay!! Adam, unlike my older three at that age, is very ready for school and it is convenient since I have to work anyway; his readiness alleviates the guilt that I would feel.

Anyways, here's hoping for more consistent updated blog posts. Please, please, contain your excitement. Seriously, I promise I will be more interesting as time progresses.