The semester is coming to a close and to say we are relieved would be the underest of understatements. At the beginning of the semester, I wasn't really sure if we could pull it off, but we'd both had comfort and encouragement that we could pull through. When the time came, we kind of just shut our eyes and dove in. This is the first and last semester both Tom and I will have classes on campus as parents.
In general, I've learned that I need to enjoy my life, no matter how crazy and hectic it gets. I also need to keep up with the little things that give me strength every day like prayer. That has made all the difference and I believe it got us through these difficult 4 months. I won't go into too much detail about how crazy things were this semester, since I know everyone has hectic lives. (I feel like the kid in Elder Cook's talk: "Hope ya know, we had a hard time." Here's the link to that if you wanna watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz41YxNiHEg)
Anyway, I'll just tell the story of the last few weeks.
As Tom and I were juggling parenting, school, work, and marriage, I started to worry that I wouldn't be able to pass one of my classes. I've always taken my grades pretty seriously, so this prospect really depressed me. I was wondering why Tom and I had received the comfort that we did, since retaking this class would throw off the rest of my planned semesters and possibly make it so I couldn't graduate before we go off to Tom's PA school. Also, (and I'm ashamed of this) I wondered where the blessings were from following the counsel to get my degree and following the commandment of raising a family. I felt guilty doing my homework because I couldn't spend as much time with Emmitt and I felt stressed playing with Emmitt because homework was due.There were times that I was really short-sighted and didn't appreciate how full my life is because of my family.
Anyway, the class I wasn't doing so hot in is an excel VBA class (Programming in Excel). I thought it was interesting and I enjoyed the work. Even though I understood the material, though, it took time. And I didn't have a lot of that. We were given 3 weeks and each day, I'd think, "Ok, I'll give it 2 hours today," but after all was said and done, Tom and I would end up exhausted in bed after midnight and my project wasn't getting any doner.
The final week before the due date arrived and Tom (who is my hero) took two full days off of work and devoted all of that time to playing with Emmitt. (He probably had more homework than me.) While Emmitt took a nap, he'd sit by me and encourage me and have me explain what I was doing so that I could understand what needed to be done next. I got a lot done in those two days, but about a 3rd of the project was still not finished. The night before the project was due, I sadly submitted what I had done, knowing it wasn't good enough to get my grade to a C-.
The next few days I refocused on my other classes and tried to come to terms with the looming F. I scheduled my appointment with my teacher to go over the project and tried to look at the bright side. At least the course was almost over and I only had one more online assignment for it. The Friday appointment came and I was kind of embarrassed to sit in my professor's office where he would find out I'd be repeating the class.
There's some background on my professor you need to know. He has a reputation in the accounting department of being very unforgiving. A "no excuses" kind of guy. However, when I sat in his office, he was very kind and complimented me on the work I did get done for the project. He still agreed with the grade I gave myself though, (a 69.9%) typed it into my overall grade and said, "You are so close..." In my head I was thinking, "Don't add insult to injury. Just let me take my paper and I'll just go. No need to explain how I need to work harder next time! SERIOUSLY, I'm not going to CRY! IT'S FINE, I'LL BE O--"
"You have until Monday at 8 AM."
Wait, what?
"You work on it and get as many points as you can and I'll let you resubmit it in an email."
After I sat there for a minute, pouring out yessirs and thankyous, he said, "Don't tell anyone." Didn't want anyone to think he'd gone soft.
I went home and Tom (again) dedicated all of his time to Emmitt. On Monday at 1 AM, I submitted a completed project. I was so proud of it, too! The next day I started the last assignment around 7 PM and realized it would take me all night, but I got it done. Today, my grade updated to a 76.65%. Tears were shed, hugs were given, cheers went up, toasts were made, the band burst into song...
Ok, not really. But really, I'm happier about this C than I have ever been or ever will be about an A++. I am so grateful for an understanding professor, a sweet baby, a wonderful husband, and a caring Heavenly Father.
I also have to mention my good friend Chloe who watched Emmitt for us for half an hour twice a week. She is such a kind person. We often joke that she got more pictures of Emmitt than I did this semester...actually it's not a joke.
Speaking of pictures, here's an update!
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| Emmitt in his snappy suit from Grandma |
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| Who you callin' tiny? |
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| Blowing Bubbles and Flying Kites for Easter |
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| Tom: Hey, did you get my shadow? |
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| Tom: Taj! Taj, did you get my shadow? |
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| Emmitt: Oh Dad... |
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| We got a little bored with the kite flying so this kind gentleman took over. |
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| I need to get more of these! |
