time heals many wounds

November 8th came and went yesterday. It wasn't until today that I remembered the significance it has for Skip and I. I have a small tattoo over my heart of a pair of baby feet. It represents the baby that we never got to meet, the babe we never got to hold and kiss. We lost our first child from a miscarriage in March of 2000. It was a terribly painful experience but we encountered the peace and comfort of the Holy Spirit like no other time before. That babe was to be born on November 8, 2000. He or she would have been nine this year! I'll never forget the ache in my chest when we received the news, the disappointment and the shame that followed was debilitating. But that ache is gone now. It doesn't hurt anymore. I know that some day I will get to see that child.

back in the saddle again

You know how when you don't exercise for a long time and you restart, even if it's something light, you hurt like mad for 4 days? That'll be me. It's been awhile since I have blogged but I need to get back into it.

Bear with me. It might hurt us both.

my favorite number is now 82

I got my scores back this week for the pharmacy college admission test (PCAT). I was so scared to open it. But I did mighty fine!

I scored really high on the verbal ability, biology and reading comprehension. I did ok on the math and bottomed out with the chemistry. No surprises there. I was pretty ill-prepared for the chemistry. I did above average on my essay. My composite score, which combines everything and compares me to the "norm" put me in the 82nd percentile. That means that I did better than 82% of the norm. Or something like that. At any rate, 82 is now my favorite number!

The PCAT score is merely one facet in the jewel called "Pharmacy School Admissions Requirements". There isn't a passing or failing score. It's just a score. And I found out that those who do really well on their PCAT don't necessarily do well once they are in the program. Interesting. Now I have to finish off 2 pre-requesite (did I spell that right?) courses (economics and public speaking, which I'll do at the local community college), fill out the behemoth of an application, get my stellar references, write a personal statement, hope for an interview, get through the interview, pray for a spot, and WAIT. By this time next year I should know if I got in or not. I'll be applying to the Univ of MN here in Minneapolis and to Creighton Univ in Omaha (online program). Both would be excellent. Both are very competitive. With God on my side, I know I will get into something if that's what He wants!

The best thing is that I don't have to take that blasted thing over. Whew.

the planets

Simon learned a song at school. It goes like this:

The planets, the planets
I can name the planets!
This brain of mine
Knows all nine
Now listen while I say them.
Mercury, Venus,
Earth, Mars and Jupiter
Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto!

So he sings this. And it bugs me. Because Pluto is no longer an official planet, right? So I say,
"Simon, did you know that Pluto isn't actually a planet?" Without skipping a beat he responds in his "Duh, Mom" tone saying, "Mom, it's a dwarf planet."

Well, excuse me.

ugh

The snow is melting and overnight we grew a pond in our backyard. Gross.

The red thing by the fence is a floating sled. The water is probably a good foot deep.
It will recede, thankfully.

Our backyard is a sea of melting yellow snow.

Ugh.

you need to read this

Please read this. It will move you.

Hillbilly teeth and love

Here's my new bookcase! I love you, Craigslist.

Ella's spreading the love. She made and taped these valentines all around the house.

Simon got some new teeth.