Sophie Update

I weighed Sophie today - on my soapmaking scale - and she's at 1 lb. 13.5 ozs. Only 3 more ounces and we can take her to get shots! All that good kitty food must be agreeing with her. Right now she's asleep in the pile of stuff in the rocking chair in my bedroom. That has become her favorite late afternoon nap place. That's my reason for not cleaning out the chair - it would mess up her nap routine. Well, it sounds good anyway!

Hope you're all having a great day!

Hugs,
Kay

I Apologize

I apologize for my blog post yesterday about our family issues. I have always strived to keep my blog positive and upbeat. Yesterday's post was negative, bitter, and our family issues should not have been aired here.

I have deleted the post along with the comments - not to censor but to get rid of my negativity. I appreciate every comment that was made and am taking all of them to heart. I appreciate your prayers for us and love you for caring.

Hugs,
Kay

Checking In

It's been a great week but a busy one! I'm sure glad that the weather cooled off. We had overcast skies most every morning last week and then sun in the afternoon - my favorite kind of days!

School is going great. I'm actually remembering medical terms! I have lots of flashcards and just go over and over them every day.

Steph starts her first job on Monday - picking blueberries. She's excited about it. My friend Kim's son will be picking too. I don't think they realize what a tedious job it's going to be but it will be good for both of them. The picking will last for about 3 weeks so Steph will have some decent money to put towards school clothes and savings.

Sophie is doing great - growing every day and cuter than ever! I think she's finally completely litter trained but as soon as I say that we'll have an accident. She loves to play and we all laugh when she gets into an attack position and then dives for our feet. She thinks she's a big attack cat but she's so tiny that it's hilarious to watch her. She's also a snuggler and loves to take her naps in your lap.

I went to Kim's house tonight and I think we finally got her Singer embroidery machine figured out. That model of machine has a very sensitive thread guide and we kept getting error messages when we'd try to use it. I read on a forum how others have to floss the thread into the machine and it worked! We did 2 practice designs with no problems. Now that we've got that figured out we'll just keep practicing. I can't wait to scan designs into the program. I've got some really cool vintage designs that I want to try out.

Tomorrow we're celebrating my oldest daughter's 39th birthday. I can't believe that I'm old enough to have a daughter almost 40!!! Seems like yesterday she was just a little girl. The years go by too quickly.

Hope you all have a blessed Lord's day and a wonderful week next week!

Hugs,
Kay

Cloudy and Cool

After 4 days of 95 degree temps and blazing hot sun, we have cloudy and cool weather today. What a blessing! I love the sun but only if the temperature stays around 75 degrees. It's supposed to be like this until Friday and that's just fine with me.

I had a very uneventful 4th of July. Steph was gone with friends and I was home studying. There were so many fireworks going off in our neighborhood it sounded like a war zone! I finally gave up about 9:30 and went outside to watch the festivities. I've decided that next year I'm going home to IL for the 4th. My SIL always has a party for the 4th when I'm there and then we'll go watch fireworks. We used to always plan our yearly IL trip so it was over the 4th. I'm not sitting home by myself one more year!

I don't know how much I'll be on here this week as I have lots and lots of homework. I'm really enjoying both of my classes and have great professors. They're very easy going and make the learning fun. I was surprised how much terminology that I remembered in just once week!

Soap and lotion making have also gone by the wayside. I'm not even going to think about it until classes are over in August. Then I'll be ready to get back into it full swing with Fall scents and getting ready for the bazaar season. That really excites me!

Don't you love the pearls on my new blog background?? They are so me - reminds me of my favorite pearl necklace.

I hope you had a wonderful 4th and I pray you'll have a blessed week!

Hugs,
Kay

Another Sophie Picture

Yes, you all are going to get sick of me going on and on about Sophie. But this picture is just too cute for words!!! I think she's the cutest kitten in the world!

Sophie and More

Just had to post a new picture of Sophie. This was taken last night - she's sitting in Steph's hand. She's doing so good! Weighs 1 lb 4 oz now, is almost totally litter trained, and is eating dry kitten food. She just looks so healthy - her coat is shiny, eyes bright, and she plays all the time. But the best part is that she is just such a lover - anyone that is near will get loves from Sophie. We are all just crazy about her.

School is going great! I had class on Monday and Wednesday. Love both of my professors and have made some friends already. One lady recognized my name from the online computer class last quarter so we sat together. In medical terminology our professor had each person tell a little about themselves. I would say that at least 50% of the class is age 45 and up, most have gotten laid off from jobs, and are training for a new career. I don't feel like such a fish out of water!

There is going to be a lot of work with medical terminology but I think it's going to be fun. I was a great speller in school, loved English grammar, loved to diagram sentences, etc. This is a lot like that. I have about 100 flashcards made up already and am working on more tonight. Steph will get to help me study!

It has been so hot here the past couple of days. I've basically stayed inside in the air conditioning. This morning we all got up and got the upstairs cleaned. Everyone pitched in and the whole thing was done in an hour. Tomorrow will be the downstairs and then we're going to relax the rest of the day. I'm making beans and potato salad then we'll cook hot dogs on the grill later. Steph is gone to a friend's so it will be quiet (well except for the fireworks). That's ok because I have homework to do. Even though it's loud I just love the 4th! Red, white, and blue is so cheery and it's so wonderful to live in a country where we are free!!!

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!!!!!

Hugs,
Kay

Getting Excited

I'm getting so excited about school tomorrow. Don't know why this quarter is any different other than the fact that it's my last one! I feel like I can see some light at the end of the tunnel.

I had a hard time going to sleep last night and was up at 6 this morning. Hopefully I will be up that early tomorrow as I have to go to school by 7:30 so I can pay my tuition before class. The college will not let you have one inch of wiggle room (even though they waited until 5 days before the end of the quarter to let me know my financial aid was suspended) and they have to have their money before I can even walk in the classroom door - I can understand that but it means I will be in a long line and hopefully will get done to make it to class by 9 AM!

It is a cool and overcast morning. It was 85 yesterday and that feels hot to us wimpies in the Pacific NW. We are so fortunate that it cools down at night and we don't have the horrible humidity. I've already been outside enjoying the cool morning and listening to the doves cooing in their tree across the street.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do today. I might get my sewing machine out and work on some zippered bags. A nap will probably be in order too since I go up so darned early and went to be so late!

Have a great Sunday!!

Hugs,
Kay

Just Visiting Around

It's been so long since I've visited many of my favorite blogs. I've just spend the last hour and a half catching up on what's been going on in Blog Land. Now I need to turn the computer off as my right hand has gone numb from using the mouse for so long!

Have a blessed Sunday!!

Hugs,
Kay

Prayers Answered

Thank you all for praying! God heard those prayers and sent a special angel who is generously paying for my tuition!!

Thank you Joanne for listening to God's leading and thank you for your kindness to me. Your generosity is appreciated more than you'll ever know.

I can't begin to describe how much this gift will help my family. With these classes my chances of getting a job are so much better and I will be able to support myself and my daughter. Someday in the future I will pay forward this gift by helping another person in need. I've said it before but I'll say it again - I am so blessed by the friends that I've met through my blog. Each and everyone of you mean so much to me!! Thank you again for your prayers.

Love and hugs,
Kay

Prayer Request

I got a letter in today's mail saying that my financial aid for my classes has been suspended. I dropped a class last quarter that I had registered for but did not need for my certificate. When I got my financial aid last quarter it was based on 6 credits. When I dropped the one class it shows I only completed 5 and that I promised to complete 6. That is the college's reason for suspending my aid for Summer quarter. When I dropped the class I was not told that my financial aid would be affected.

The upsetting part of all this is that the letter was written on June 24th, I got it today and classes start on June 29th! That doesn't give a person much time to make other arrangements. Especially when you have no other resources and have to come up with $405 in 2 days! I have to pay for 5 credits on my own before I will be considered for financial aid again.

Would you please pray that somehow I will be able to pay for my tuition? That if taking these classes are truly God's will then He will provide financially? I am just heartbroken because these two classes are the most important one's I need in order to get a job in a medical office. I am trying to remain positive about this whole situation. If it happens I can't get the classes this quarter then I'll move on to Plan B. I'm not quite sure what Plan B is but God does and He will show me the way.

Thank you so much for praying with me and for me.

Hugs,
Kay