China Trip Video

Finally, I have put together a video of the story and some of my pictures from my recent trip to China.    The video is about 16 minutes long.

The Excitement Continues!

For those out there in Blog land that care---

I made it to China and back home!  It was certainly a life changing experience and not at all what I planned or expected.

Two hours into the first leg of our flight to China, I got up to make a bathroom visit.  While getting out of my window seat, my right knee "popped" and pretty much felt like it went out of joint.  However, I proceeded to change planes and continue on to China.  Never expected to spend 13 hours on an airplane with an icepack on my knee wondering how badly I had injured my knee.  But that's what I did!

After 10 amazing days in China to be discussed in another post with pictures, I sought medical attention last Friday.  The doctor recommended scope surgery and felt like I had likely torn some cartilage and I'd be all fixed up.  I scheduled it for the first available date, Tuesday.

The view from inside my knee revealed that I really did a number on that knee in one misstep on an airplane.  They cleaned it up some and are assisting with exercises to get me walking again.  But the long-term diagnosis is knee replacement surgery in a few years.  Missing cartilage and torn ACL could not be repaired. 


Although I'm not excited about this, I'm optimistic that God will help me in this new adventure!

God promises to work all things for my good.  I have already seen His hand in it all.  I'll do my part and trust Him with the rest.

Sorry I've been away so long

Can't believe I have not posted anything in so long.  All I can say is life is good but VERY, VERY busy!

Tax season went a little long due to some Washington DC holiday, so the deadline wasn't until the 18th.

Then I had company the next weekend and so my house needed some serious whipping back into shape.

Of course I got behind in school during tax season, so these last couple of weeks have mostly been cramming to finish up term papers, homework, studying for finals, etc. 

Then we have this post tax season retreat as a celebration of the season that I have a major part in preparing for....it's today...I think I'm ready.

Oh yeah, Monday is the deadline for Texas Franchise Reports or extensions.....so we've been scrambling to make sure everyone is covered there.

If that's not enough to make your head spin....well....

I leave to go on a school trip to Beijing, China in the wee hours Monday morning.  It's a wonderful opportunity and I'm very excited!  My list of what needs doing before China is still way tooo long.  Maybe there are a few things listed that simply will not get done.  But a lot of them really HAVE to happen soon!

And when I get home from China...I have NOTHING planned for 5 weeks....No school...no wedding....no vacations.  I'll be able to work and catch up at home.

Well time to run again!  It's almost time for the staff retreat!

Francine Rivers

I absolutely love the books that Francine Rivers writes!  She keeps you in the story and you just can't put the book down.  There is an opportunity to get one of her e-books for free through April 4.  It is Leota's Garden.  Luckily, it is one I didn't already have!  Can't wait to read it.  Find out more information about her and her writing here.  There is a contest where you can win all of the books she's ever written!  So please be sure to check this out.  You will absolutely LOVE Her Mother's Hope and Her Daughter's Dream!  And everyone loves Redeeming Love.

Baby Declan is agrowin!

A few more Dallas Blooms Pics!

Tulips!

I made it to the Dallas Arboretum yesterday.  LOTS of people and LOTS of TULIPS!

5 Week Count Down

It's time for some adrenaline to kick in.....Tax Day is only 5 weeks away.  School paper due in 3 weeks.  And here I sit blogging!  Time for LOOOOONG days at work!  So glad I LOVE my job!

China

China Trip is a GO!

I found out last night that my application to go to China with my university has been approved.

So....to get through tax season, spring school session and prepare for this trip in the next 2 months!

This will be quite the adventure for this East Texas Country Girl!

Maybe So!

I have made application for the China foreign exchange program.  I have my passport paperwork ready to turn in today.  The school officials will review my paperwork along with other students who desire to participate and determine which students fill the available slots.  I'll keep you posted!

Enjoyed getting to video chat with my son and grandson yesterday!  Isn't technology great!

To CHINA or Not to CHINA

The accounting department where I am a student is offering an accounting class in China the end of May.  

Right now the PROS are outweighing the CONS!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy birthday to me,

Happy birthday to me,

Happy birthday dear, Karen,

Happy birthday to ME!!!

Eeyore

Eeyore is an elderly, grey donkey, who lives by himself in a perhaps rather remote corner of the forest called Eeyore's Gloomy Place.

Eeyore is, to put it politely, a bit of a pessimist. He is consistently grumpy and gloomy throughout all of the stories, although just occasionally we see that he is capable of real joy too!

Eeyore can be relied on to think the worst in any situation. Although he is usually proved wrong, sometimes he is proved right. 

"A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference"

Eeyore

Tracking

Don't you just love the UPS and FEDEX tracking?  I discovered this about a year ago and just love ordering things online with tracking information.  I can click on the link in the email from whoever I purchased something from and know where my "stuff" is.


And today's excitement is .................................


My iphone4 has made it from Memphis to Dallas to Plano!


It is supposed to be delivered TODAY!  Thinking it just might be hard to concentrate at work today!


Do you order online?  Do you use the tracking info?  Do you just love it?

Deception!

Just why do bad things look so pretty?  This little dandelion looks so pretty out in the grassy lawn!  But looks can be deceptive!  It's a WEED!  Everyone knows how easily those weeds can spread! 

Clearing away the Clutter

 

When I beheld these trees with all the "junk" which had collected in the branches, God asked me to examine my life for unnecessary clutter.

So what clutter needs cleaning from your life?

Daffodils for Mama's Birthday

So today I want to pay tribute to a very special lady--

My Mother!

Today would have been her 84th birthday.  She celebrated 75 birthdays on earth and went to heaven a few days after that 75th birthday.

I learned so very much from her!  She was an extremely intelligent lady and had many, many talents.  She taught many lessons simply by the life she lived.  She believed in hard work, honesty, family, and faith in God.

She was a pretty good gardener and had a row of daffodils in her yard.  Quite frequently, they were just beginning to bloom when she had her birthday.  So as a child I would frequently pick her a bunch of "yellow flowers" for her birthday.  So yesterday, at the Arboretum, I "picked" a few pictures of daffodils.

Happy Birthday, Mama!

Went to the Garden today

 I ran away from home this afternoon;

I ran to my secret hide-away!

Shhhhh...don't tell

Needed to hear from God....

Wanna know what He told me?

The tulips are coming soon!

Gonna be pretty before long....

Out with the old  and in with the new....almost time.

Little buds are getting ready....

They want to show off their blooms

Ahhhh, Cherry Blossoms!

Bet I have lots of roses someday soon....

 I just can't wait any longer....I got to show my stuff!

  

ANTICIPATION

wait anxiously

EXPECTATIONS

a deep longing

HOPE

Romans 8:18-21 (The Message)

 That's why I don't think there's any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what's coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.

 Our discussion included the ultimate anticipation---HEAVEN as well as short-term goals such as finishing my masters degree and getting my CPA license.  We talked about the importance of always having something to look forward to...it keeps us moving!

Can't wait for Dallas Blooms coming March 5!