We Made It- Part 2

My Teacher Work Sample and Portfolio are both finished!!! Now, all I have left is a paper to finish, presentation Monday in class and interview before my committee. Then I will be OFFICIALLY FINISHED WITH GRAD SCHOOL!!!! This whole endeavor has been a lesson in patience and God teaching me that I can do anything I put my mind to, but I am glad it is almost behind me.

We also made it through the Black Friday madness with everything we wanted and no injuries. Props to our local Wal-Mart. They were so organized. I know, those two words (Wal-mart and organized) don't really sound right together, but they were. Angie and I got there at 3 and since our item we REALLY wanted was a special but not one of the huge ones, it was not shrink wrapped so we could put it in a cart when we got there. We just could not check out until 5. I wandered and people watched while she took the car down the street to get me a down comforter for Christmas at Kohl's. The Kitchen aide mixer from Wal-mart was for her! After we left Wal-mart we headed out in search of breakfast. We ended up at Waffle House, the only thing open. You would have thought the fast food restaurants would have opened early, but they did not.

We fortified ourselves with breakfast and headed to the Shoppes at River Crossing to meet mom. We spent time there getting things for everyone and I left them there at 8:45 as I headed home for a long nap.

Got my new cell phone this afternoon and have gotten familiar with it, so it is now off to mom and dads for dinner.

We made it

Well to Thanksgiving Break that is. Even being gone 2 days this month at a conference (more on that later) still had me worn out by the time the bell rang Friday afternoon AND we still had football that night. Football was great, but we lost at the VERY end of the game so it was tough losing in the state semi finals. But, the team can be proud because NO ONE though they would get this far.

Back to being gone 2 days. Mom and I attended the National Council for Social Studies teachers annual convention this year seeing how it was a quick drive up the road in Atlanta. WOW! I had so many options to choose from it was almost overwhelming, note I said almost! It was so worth it the very first day after I got to spend an afternoon "behind the scenes" at the Federal Reserve Bank in Atlanta. WOW what an opportunity. I hope to one day teach econ and take my students on a field trip there. On Friday, we went to many classes and seminars and then hit the exhibit hall. I was like a child in a toy shop the week before Christmas. I went up and down aisles meeting vendors and organizations and collecting everything I could get my hands on. Watch out kids cause I once I get my masters finished, I will have time to go through everything and all the stuff being shipped will be in!!! Needless to say though, the highpoint was Saturday morning when we heard the keynote speaker Greg Mortenson, author of the book, Three Cups of Tea. If you have not read this book, run do not walk to the nearest book store or library and get a copy.

He was simply amazing. He was ill at the time he was there but still gave an outstanding presentation and spoke for over an hour and a half. He then signed books for three hours. He loves what he does and he is changing the world one school at a time. His new book comes out December 1st.

I am almost done with my masters!!!!!! Whoo-Hoo! I am tentatively scheduled for my exit interview on December 8th. My Teacher Work Sample is being proofed and it is done. Now, I have to get finished with my portfolio and one last paper so I can enjoy the break and Angie being home. Back to work!!

Enjoy Thanksgiving with your friends and family. And remember this sign I saw tonight, "Don't have anything to be thankful for, check your pulse"







Happy Thanksgiving Blog World.