Reflection?...Nah, Looking Ahead

Most people would agree that New Year's Eve is a day to reflect on the past year. Whether the year has held times that were good or bad, joyous or sad, failures and disappointments. This is done in preparation of setting resolutions for the new year. Resolutions encompass stop smoking and losing weight to everything in between.

Well, I have decided that I will not reflect on 2007. The major positive was that I completed my undergraduate work but most of the year was filled with disappointments and frustrations.

2008 promises to be a very exciting year for me. NyCee will turn 2 years old, her little brother is due in April and I will complete my graduate studies in September. Also, 2008 is a year of change; in that, the completion of my graduate work will open doors for employment opportunities that were once closed due to the lack of a college education. I will be moving to a new city that offers not only a career for me but an environment for my children to grow and develop.

I woke up yesterday morning so excited as if it were Christmas day all over again. I was excited because I can clearly see that I have a bright future. 2007 held several dark days and tear filled nights. But the key concept for me was to learn why Jesus prayed, "Give us THIS DAY our daily bread" (Matthew 6:8-13 is the entire Lord's prayer.) He prayed that way because we can only deal with one issue at a time. When I stopped looking at what I had lost and focused on what I have, my entire outlook on my life changed.

As of today, my circumstances have not changed but my view of them has; which helps me to overcome them and not let the circumstances overcome me. I encourage you to put into practice the words of the Apostle Paul, "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended: but one thing I do, FORGETTING those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead," Phil 3:13

Set your sights on what lies ahead instead of focusing on things that occured. May God bless you in this new year with prosperity, health and all the desires of your heart.

After Christmas Angel

How cute is she, huh? She is wearing a dress that she received as a Christmas present along with her gold hoop earrings.

And when I said, "Smile," she responded with, "Cheese." She was the bell of the Baby Zone at church this morning.

These are the moments we treasure.

Artwork

I bought NyCee a floatable puzzle for the bathtub. The purpose of the puzzle was to improve her hand/eye coordination plus aid in teaching number recognition. She is supposed to practice putting the puzzle together in numerical order.

However when I walked into the bathroom, I discovered that she had another purpose for the pieces. Somehow she figured out that while wet, the pieces will adhere to the bathroom tiles.



I am still trying to figure out how she got them so far up the wall. She is tall for her age but not that tall.

HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!

I received a call today that all the issues surrounding my financial aid package and the transfer credits has finally been resolved. The funding has been released from the lender, my registration has been completed & the voucher needed to purchase books has been processed and faxed to me. And all of this was completed with four days to spare in the year. (My prayer to God was that this would be resolved before the end of the year.)

Now, I will spend the next week resting my brain as I am enrolled in Accounting and Statistics next quarter. (I thought I would take the hard courses while little Tyler is still in the belly.)

Thank you to everyone who has been praying for me during this very tumultuous time in my life. GOD IS AWESOME!!!!!!

Christmas Morning 2007

Last night was the first year that I played Santa and oh, was it fun. I had a good time with my parents putting together NyCee's toys. When we were finished, all her toys were lined up in the front so that she would see them as soon as she woke up.

This was her reaction when she saw the toys: how cute, huh?

She really enjoyed unwrapping presents. Notice how she ripped the paper off this one? I think she had pinned up aggression that was being released.

But like all children who wake up on Christmas morning, there is one toy that steals the show. For NyCee, it was her bike. Check her out. She is a stunt double already.

Christmas is such a joyous time of the year. I really enjoyed watching the baby open her gifts and clap her hands every time a gift was opened. Seeing her face today really helped me to understand the magic in playing Santa Claus. This year was easy because NyCee is so young but I believe that although it is a tale passed down through the generations, the joy it brings to children helps to create priceless memories.

As I gathered her toys and placed them out, different Christmas' flashed in my memory. Remember to celebrate CHRIST this CHRISTmas day as you gather with friends and family.

Finger Food

Why I even bother giving my daughter a utensil to eat with is beyond me? It is obvious that she'd rather eat her food, including waffles with syrup, with her fingers.

(I hope the world doesn't think I am raising a barbarian.)

The Pressure Is On

After all the drama, tears and stress, the final grades are posted. Here are the stats:

Name: Dayna Thompson
Degree Program: MBA
GPA: 4.00
Credits Attempted: 13.5
Credits Earned: 13.5
Total Credits Earned: 13.5

That's right-a 4.0 GPA. Earlier this week, I completed the first 3 (each class is worth 4.5 credit hours) of the 12 courses needed for my MBA. Here is the catch-22: once the standard has been set, then the pressure is on to maintain it. In graduate school, you can not receive a grade lower than a B or credit will not be given for the course. So now, I will be required to work/study more intensely to keep my grades up to meet this standard that I have set.

I thank God that He gave me "...the mind of Christ" (1 Cor 2:16b) and I was able to set aside my personal drama and stress to focus on school. Now, a mental rest break until winter quarter begins in January 2008. WAHOO!!!!!!

The Pork Chop Caper

Why my daughter felt the need to grab the pork chop off of my plate...


hold it in her hands and smirk...

all the while ignoring the cut up pieces of pork chop in her bowl?

I will never know.

Can I have anything?

The Result

Well, the winners are:

Cari, Tarisa, and Aunt Nita.

The baby is a boy!!!!!!!



SHHHH! Don't tell my dad as he doesn't want to know.

Surprise!!!!!!!!!

Boonie and Tarisa decided to throw my parents a surprise party for their 50th birthdays. Tarisa took my parents to dinner as a way to get them out of the house. All the guests arrived promptly and well before my parents returned. Tarisa kept me informed of their progress to the house through text messages.

Everyone hid in the kitchen and when we heard the garage door open, we prepared to yell "Surprise!" Well, we were the one's surprised because my father dropped Tarisa and my mother off and pulled away. We yelled surprise to my mother (and she was truly surprised.) Then, we had to persuade my father to return to the house. After many text messages and pleas, he returned to a resounding "Surprise!" Both, were truly surprised at the party that Boonie and Tarisa put together for them.

My mother commented that she was so glad that it was a quaint celebration-just family. Thank you to all the family members who made the drive to Port Huron for the celebration!

Cast your votes

On Monday 12/17, I will be 23 weeks and will have an ultrasound to confirm/reveal the sex of the baby. I had an ultrasound at 16 weeks but that was to confirm how far long in the pregnancy I was. The technician advised that the sex can not be confirmed until at least 23 or 25 weeks when the fetus is larger. (So does the sex change during that 9 week waiting period?) Anyhoo, moving right along....

Tarisa says, the baby is a boy.
Mom says, the baby is a girl.
Father doesn't want to know.
I am indifferent.

So in the spirit of humor, I thought I would let the public vote on the sex of the baby using the old wives' tale method-carrying high, low, etc.

(Warning, these pictures are quite unattractive and may hurt your eyes. Viewer discretion is advised.)

Right view:

Left view:

Front view:

The sex of the baby will be revealed on Monday's episode of "Wiferhood."

I have decided on names:
Girl: Brooke Elizabeth
Boy: Tyler Frederick

Let the voting begin.

Restored

I received an email this morning that I was placed back into my statistics class. This was before I made any phone calls or sent any additional emails regarding this matter. (I have saved the email as confirmation.)

God is an awesome God.

Now, I just have to exercise a little more patience and I am confident that the matter regarding my transfer credits, which is holding up my financial aid award, will be resolved before the end of the month.

"For with God nothing will be impossible." Luke 1:38

50! Wahoo!

Today was my dad's 50th birthday. Again, we had a small celebration with just his children and grandchildren at the house. Of course, I had to take several pictures of my dad with the cake to ensure the picture was just right before posting.

I am very proud of my dad for working hard for so many years to provide for his family and selflessly putting aside his dreams. My father now holds a Master's of Education, is the assistant principal at a high school and has returned to school to pursue his degree in theology.

Happy Birthday Daddy! And may God bless you with many, many more.

Comedy, sheer comedy

I seriously think that I am being Punk'd. Punk'd is an updated version of the old television show Candid Camera.

So, I've told you about how God opened a door for me to be enrolled in the statistics class that I need for the winter quarter. Well, I learned today that I have been dis-enrolled from the class and put into a business class. I need both but I don't know who dis-enrolled me from the coveted stats class. Of course, I don't have a print out confirming that I was enrolled in the class because I was waiting from the print out from the school. Every quarter I receive a notice advising me of the courses in which I am enrolled. Of course, I don't have that this time. (There is a huge lesson learned in that.)

Moving on...

Then I received an email from my school's financial aid department which stated in part, "We have attempted to reach you several times via phone regarding your financial aid with Strayer University Morrow." Well, we know that is not true because I have been trying to reach the contact person there to no avail.

I am at the point where I have to laugh. Between the drama in my personal life and school life, I could really end up on an episode of Snapped if I let this stuff get to me. But 2 Cor 2:11b reads, "...for we are not ignorant of his (satan's) devices." You have to see and appreciate the comedy in all of this.I know that God has something wonderful in store for me and my children so I laugh in anticipation of the blessing.

You may not be going through anything today. But keep this in mind the next time the enemy tries to attack your life: "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. STAND THEREFORE..." Ephesians 6:13-14a.

Last week, this would have set me off. Today, not so much. It's funny to me because I know that God is not only going to answer my prayers but go exceedingly and abundantly above all that I could have even asked for. Ephesians 3:20.

'Twas a night of tree triming

As a little girl, we always had real Christmas trees. As part of our family tradition, we decorated for Christmas the weekend preceding my father's, sister's and oldest nephew's birthday. This year was no exception. Well, there was one exception. The tree is out of a box! AGH!!!!!

Every one in the family remembers the constantly growing Christmas tree. One year, we had a tree that grew and grew and grew. It eventually covered the entire front window (actually it was four windows). The tree was so large that it had to be cut into several pieces in order to be removed after the festivities ended.

Then there was the Charlie Brown Christmas tree. One particular year, my father decided to purchase a different type of tree and literally half the needles fell off the tree before Christmas. Every time someone walked passed the tree, needles would fall to the floor. We vacuumed pine needles well into June.

Although the tree came out of a box, I am pleasantly surprised. It turned out really nice and doesn't look like a "fake" Christmas tree at all.

I was even kind enough to let NyCee stay up past her bedtime (way past her bedtime-2 hours past her bed time to be exact) but she had so much fun helping to decorate the tree.

Oh so good!

I was having a conversation with a friend of mine, who lives in a suburb of Chicago, about a few of my favorite foods that I remember from living there.

1. A Chicago style hotdog . Who knew that a hotdog could taste so good? And they are made from 100% beef. Bonus!

2. Giordano's deep dish pizza. This is an awesome slice of pizza pie. Yummy!

3. But the thing that I missed the most was walking down Michigan Ave with a bag of Garrett's Popcorn. This is the best popcorn Ever! It is a wonderful blend of caramel and cheese popcorns mixed together and nearly melts in your mouth. How sinfully awesome!

Yesterday, she surprised me by having a can of Garrett's Popcorn delivered to me as a Christmas gift. How sweet, huh?

No, your eyes are not deceiving you. I consumed 1/2 the tub yesterday while watching Grey's Anatomy and ER.


I was doing so well this month as I had not gained any weight. Well, that is going to go right out the window because I will eat this entire container and dare anyone, including my 20 month old daughter, to come near it. That could be very dangerous for them as I cannot responsible for my actions.

So after several days of endless phone calls to various entities and explaining the same situation over and over and over again, I have uncovered the mystery concerning my education.

When I enrolled at my current university, I transferred in 81 credit hours which were to be applied toward my undergraduate work. In theory, they were. However, the computer system is reflecting that 64 of the credit hours were applied toward a graduate degree. Well, if the school wants to issue a MBA based on that information, fine with me. But in reality that is a clerical mix up.

After crying and praying and exercising serious faith, I was put in contact with an individual who could provide the reason behind the hold up in my funding. I faxed in the documentation from the school verifying the placement of those credits and will be able to continue my education on schedule.

I love that so many people are concerned about me because I am an overachiever and tend to push my limits. But I know that it will be a lot easier for me to push myself regarding school while the newest Thompson addition is still in my belly, than to have two children, working full-time, and trying to complete my education.

Thank you for your emails, concerns, phone calls and prayers. This time in my life is very tumultuous (and being pregnant doesn't help my emotional state-HA!) but it makes the Bible very real. The people in the Bible are no longer characters in a story--but real life flesh and blood individuals who put their faith and trust in a God who is more than enough. This time in my life reminds me of Abraham who was promised a son when he and his wife were well pass the age of conception.

Romans 4:18-20 reads "who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken...and not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body...he did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform."

I know that there will be days when I cry and want to scream because life is not always full of bubble gum drops and ice cream cones. But I have comfort in knowing that Jesus loves me and will not leave me. Again, thank you everyone for the prayers and concerns.

NyCee, The Silly Little Christmas Reindeer

Are words even necessary? She is such a Silly McWilly but is the joy of my life.

Heavy Artillery

Tonight, we experienced the first real snow storm of the season. The weather forecasters are stating that winter storm advisories will be in effect tomorrow.

It snowed briefly a few days ago and the snowflakes were huge. Tonight, the snow is sticking to the ground and covering the cars. NyCee was so excited to walk in it and touch it as she has never seen snow before. I, on the other hand, knew that sticking snow and winter weather advisories meant one thing:



It was time to release the heavy artillery--feet in pj's to combat the cold!