My silly, wonderful kids...

These are my boys at their finest...they're the sweetest, most exasperating, crankiest, loving, funny, silly, hilarious kids in the whole world and I wouldn't trade them for anything. This is a couple of days ago while they were just being kids. One day about a month ago, Steven was quoting Monsters Inc and I realized how smart he was, so I started working with them to memorize some Scripture. We are working on Psalm 8 right now, because it has lots of word pics in it: "fish of the sea, birds of the air, children and babies", etc. In four weeks, they've memorized the first 2 verses. I am glad to get the opportunity to teach them early...I remember all the Scripture I memorized as a kid, but now that I'm an adult, it is SO hard to memorize stuff! But what I do have memorized from my childhood is never going away. Thank the Lord I have some Scripture committed to memory--but not enough! "Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." (Deut. 11:18-19)

Tracy's having a boy!!!

I am very excited...my sister-in-law, and one of my closest friends, Tracy, is having a baby boy!! She is due June 23rd. Isn't she cute? Please pray for Justin, her husband--he is fighting in Iraq. Pray for God's protection and also that Justin will be able to come home for the birth of his son.

Bummer!

Well, I'm kinda bummed...

I won't be able to take classes at Biola after all. Allow me to elaborate on this drama:

First of all, applying was a headache. So many hoops to jump thru when you apply for school...references, transcripts, statement of faith (for a Christian school). Shooooot....the application itself is about like writing an autobiographical thesis! Ugh! I can't believe I'd forgotten what a pain it is...about like the pain of childbirth...you know how you forget? And, because I am also an employee, had to check several times to make sure I was getting that tuition discount--very important!

Well, finally got accepted--on to registration! Now for the nightmare. Registration is not easy at Biola. I think they make it as difficult as possible to test your faith. Either that, or it's oppression. It is absolutely THE definition of "getting the runaround". I felt like I was wading thru knee deep mud the whole time. When I got in line, (I got to be first because of the employee status), they put me thru to the computer registration line. Biola has electronic registration for everyone except first timers--but what no one explained to me is that the first timers still register online, they just get the permission for the classes from their specific dept. before going thru registration. So...the music dept gave me this archaic little yellow card with my 2 classes listed on it, and told me to take it with me on reg day and the reg folks would know what to do with it...well, come to find out, after 3 times of trying to register--going thru the line ALL three times!--I had to have an "electronic" signature...so had to call the Music dept AGAIN, and get them to submit my classes electronically...sigh.

So, finally got registered, but then could never get the voice teacher to set up a lesson time. Emailed her twice, who said just "sign up". Then called the music office (twice!) to find out how to sign up, and they said "email your voice teacher" aggghhhhh!!!!

My frustration really went thru the roof Monday morning: got an email from my voice teacher: "Everyone signed up for voice lessons except for you...maybe you can get in after voice workshop". Basically saying: maybe I can work you in since you didn't get to the signup in time....
It's irritating, b/c I checked her door twice last week (following what the music office told me to do) in order to sign up; but never saw a sheet. Also, had emailed the head accompanist (per the music office's instructions), to see if she could get in touch with my voice teacher to set up lessons. Anyway, called the music office one more time: who said to contact my voice teacher via email, and see if I could get this all straightened out....While I had the music office on the phone, I asked about voice workshop. The conversation went something like this:

Me: "Hey, can you also explain to me what voice workshop is?"
MO (Music Office) pause. "Ooooohhhhhhh.... No one ever told you about voice workshop requirment, did they?"
Me: "No.... can you tell me what it is?"
MO: "Well, voice workshop is a requirement as a member of the music program in the Conservatory...you have to show up on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30. It's required for all voice students."
Me: panic at this point

See, I'd signed up for 3 units: 1 hour of voice lesson a week and a 2 hour Music history class, = a total of 3 hours out of the office...right? WRONG! Come to find out, I was required to be have 3 hours of class time for the one unit of voice and 3 hours of class time for the 2 unit history class--on top of labs and homework on my own time! Not to mention, (but I'll mention it anyway:o), Concert Music Requirement: a non credit requirement for graduation--basically attendance to about 20 or so concerts throughout the semester at different locations; mainly Biola, other area colleges, and a couple of big productions in downtown LA--to be completed every semester.

So.....this was looking more and more daunting for someone who only wanted a couple of classes. And the sinking feeling in my stomach was only getting more sinking. So after a few tears of total frustration, I went to talk to my boss, and we agreed it was just TOO much work when we added all up. Hence, I am no longer a student of Biola University. Yeah, I was extremely disappointed...I kept asking myself why is God not letting me have fulfillment from what I truly love? But, He keeps reminding me that it's not about me, and maybe I'm trying to find my identity in something else aside from Him...He sustains me--and keeps trying to remind me that anything can become an idol, even something He created. And, He has something better for me--in fact, He has my best in mind--even if it's not another degree. I was getting so wrapped up in getting more education that it was taking away from my personal life--and that is much more important. So, I'll be all right. God is still in control, and I can take comfort in that.