Courageous Joy

Wonderful Wednesday

Quote of the Day: "Can I have a ticket for sleeping?" or "Thanks, Mom for coming with me."

Yes, I know it's Thursday but I had no time to blog last night. ::snort::

Good grief this got long - reader's digest version if you can't read it all: Josiah registered for classes. I was gone from 7:30a.m. to late last night....with a brief hour at home. I don't like running all day. LOL

The day began with Curves. Feeling that I'd not sweated enough, I followed that with my Step Video. I quickly called in our produce co-op order. Then ran out the door with Josiah.

Josiah had a group meeting with the Advisor from the Business Dept at the University yesterday. I asked if he wanted me to come - I was perfectly fine going or not. He said yes. I WAS told that I couldn't take photos of my baby at college. ::snort:: BUT since we showed up 10 minutes early and no one else had arrived.....

Note the boring decor. I, personally, think you would hold folks' attention better with a bit more inspiration in the decor...but who am *I*? ::snort:: BTW no one else had showed up at 10:00 when the Prof walked in. He took us back to his office and we met with him privately. When we left there were 3 others who had showed up late waiting to meet with him. LOL This proved his point to Josiah about "standing out among your peers if you take intiative and stay organized". Note - I'm seriously wondering if I can sneak in and get a "first day of school" photo of Josiah. We have none of those "first day at school" things as the kids never LEFT for school....I should have taken photos each year - maybe I did and I've simply forgotten but I'll be sure from here on out....maybe we'll rent a bus so we can get those cool getting on the bus, looking back at Mom shots...LOL

The advisor was very encouraging. He said that Josiah would do well in college, as homeschoolers know how to take initiative and own their education. He agreed with Josiah and Michael that he should only take a couple of classes this semester and see how that goes with working 40 hours. Then he can take more classes and know how much of his work load he'll need to adjust to succeed. I'm the "charge ahead full speed" type and thought "go for it" but wisdom of the males prevailed. ::snort:: Since Josiah is paying for this completely out of his pocket, he is very determined to get good grades and doesn't want to take more classes than he can handle. We discussed the paying for it yourself thing. The advisor loved this aspect of "owning your education" by paying for it - but also pointed out that with one more class he could have aide in paying for it (which we've already applied for in January). We shall see what happens next year. I certainly applaud the determination of a son who wants to pay for his bills, pay his way and save up to support a one income family. I'm not at all disparaging his goals. He's a very wise young man and we are content to let him make these decisions.

Then we began the maze. Lifting the hold by turning in a military dependent paper so he can pay in state prices. Registering for classes. Getting a campus one card. Getting a parking permit and schedule etc. He's in. All the paperwork from NARHS etc arrived on time. Shew.....

The sweetest moment of my day is that alternate quote above....We talked about how it was a huge switch to go from homeschooling to this campus that you have to DRIVE around....and that I knew it would probably be a bit overwhelming and didn't mind coming with him. We had a great time being together and visiting...and I realized anew what a wonderful young man he's become. I'm so GLAD he's staying close to home. Why do they all eventually leave home???? ::snort:: ::gasp:: ::sniff::: No! Self, think ahead to Christmas and more children via the in-law system, and grand babies...don't think about goodbyes.....

Did we learn something? Yes. Michael and I take a hands off approach when our young adults are deciding what to do after graduation. We offer advice when asked, (and they always ask)but we don't do the work for them or push them in any one direction. Why? Because we know how important it is that they learn how to hear God's voice in these decisions. This is the first really big adult decision they will be making and we want them to have confidence that they can hear from God....and when it gets tough that confidence that THEY heard this direction and that they PRAYED over it will hold them in good stead. By this time we have seen with all three that have graduated that they ARE capable of hearing His voice....We have chosen to lower the volume of our voice so it doesn't clutter their mind while they seek His voice. Josiah had said he'd NEVER do college. That was fine with us. He changed his mind. That was also not a problem. My stance had been "if you aren't doing college, I need to teach you everything NOW" so his transcript was perfectly fine for switching gears. He spent quite a bit of time going back and forth between college and Master's Commission for this year. The "paperwork" for going to college got put off. I told HIM to apply etc if he wanted to go. I stand by my stance, but NOW the others will know if you wait until the very last minute, you may not get all the classes you want at the nice times you want! LOL I doubt we'll DO the applying or push much more, but in the future we'll be more aware of deadlines... He's been saving all year to pay for insurance, car, and future....so he was in good shape.

OH - he DID get all his classes on MWF and in times that will not affect his work schedule. BUT we saw how many classes were closed this late in the game.

Now - here's where I WOULD change something. Because he insisted he was going to own a fishing guide business, I didn't push the SAT etc on the normal schedule. He took it this year - a full two years after he'd completed Saxon Alg 2. I'm convinced Algebra leaks out if you don't keep using it....and so he didn't score well on that part of the test. He has to take the "developmental" math - which is pre-algebra. I am certain that a month into this class algebra will pop back up on the screen from the depths of where it is hiding and he'll sail through the class. He made A's in Saxon Alg 1 and 2.... From now on, tell me you aren't going to college, and you will still take those SAT's and such in your Soph/Jr years.... That is a new family non-negotiable. LOL

Books - for 3 classes.....USED $298.00. Can you believe it? I'll quit griping about homeschool high school texts. 4 books - $300 - ridiculous!

That thin PAPERBACK history book (second in stack) $75.00 used. The Prealgebra? $98. Those other two over $50 a piece. We laughed when we saw Killer Angels at $10 USED - two reasons....the price and we have it at home and he read it as a Jr. LOL I think he'll do fine.

So - that took longer than we thought and I got home with just enough time to run off again. I spent the afternoon running errands. I had to pick up meds at base, deposit Project Officer money at the chapel's bank, turn in forms at the chapel, drop off a payment for our storage unit, drop off a gift and borrowed swimsuit at a friends, and I tried to drop off some other things at another friends.

I got home around 4 p.m. There were a host of phone messages and I need to sort through them. LOL

Last night Debbie and I ran over and kidnapped Mandy. I HAD my camera but was so tired I forgot to take pictures. I guess we'll have to do it again. It was fun to grab her unawares. She told us she had a hot date with Marty at 7:00 and we'd have to be back by then. Marty said, "No - they ARE your hot date." I'm guessing we were a disappointment - but we did have fun. ::snort:: Mandy's first child went to college this past weekend. Her baby begins kindergarten on Monday. It seemed like a good time for some "friendship intervention".

It was a FULL day. I walked in the front door as Mike walked in the back door (on the cell phone). I don't know how Michael does these days ALL the time. The day made me so grateful that I am a stay at HOME mom. Debbie and I joked about that. She works full time. I told her I don't know HOW she does it. Being out all day exhausted me. However, even homebodies must have an errand day from time to time.

OK - so who besides my mom managed to read all this???