I'm still here

It's been a while since I've been to this blog. Things have been hectic, but sweet and amazing this summer. I decided to take two classes this summer and with working full-time things have been interesting. And by "interesting" I mean jam packed. As I type this I am behind on posting for several chapters in one class....something I hope to have corrected by this weekend.

I made a major decision this summer too. I've decided to apply to PhD programs in my field. I wanted to get my doctorate before but thought I should start out small by getting a MAC first.

Now that I'm in the program and doing well while working full-time it feels like the time to fly. I'm scared and not scared. I'm excited and positive about my chances of getting into a good program. I'm feeling really great about getting into the program that at this moment speaks to me most. It would mean not having to leave/rent out my home and not having to make some outrageous commute daily. Any commute over 15 minutes and I'm tense - unless I'm driving somewhere on vacation.
Things are good and getting better despite the fact that I can't get everything done each day.

Right now life is consumed with work, school and my home. And I'm behind on several projects in all three of those areas. My place is coming along...I finally, FINALLY found a wall color I liked once it was ON the wall. Things are falling into place when I have the time to work on hanging art, organizing etc.
Once I have things in place I'll post some photos. I'm trying to work out roman shades at the moment. I love having large windows, but I am not loving the cost estimates for roman shades for those windows. The cost may be why all my neighbors have curtains or blinds. I don't care for either so roman shades it is for me.

Other than work, school and home, my maternal grandmother has been ill this summer. That's been stressful, but I also see the grace in it as it is giving my family time to work through her illness. She's 82 years old and her nickname is Sweet.
I realize that 82 is "old" to some, but in my family we expected her to be around perhaps another 20 years so this has come as a shock in many ways. My paternal grandmother is 102 years old and she still drives and goes out dancing. I don't have a relationship with this grandmother, her choice, and so Sweet is the grandmother I've always known and loved. I'm not ready for her to leave, but I understand if her body is tired.

When my great grandmother died in 2008 she was one month shy of her 101st birthday. My mom and I had driven to Mississippi to see her for a visit. She was very clear of mind, but she said her body was tired. She also said that she'd like to see her mother again. Her mother died when she was 11 and her sister was 1 years old. I can't imagine losing your mother at 11 years old and waiting almost 90 years to see her again. I'm grateful that my great grandmother had her sister at least. I wonder how her sister feels having lost her mother 91-92 years ago...

I've babbled enough for now. I'll try to come back and update this more often and stop slacking.