Howdy, y’all!

Some of you may be relieved to read this post, because it means I haven’t dropped off the edge of the earth into oblivion.

Yes, I’ve been chronically busy for quite some time now; I just haven’t wanted to expend the energy necessary to give updates on my latest happenings. Until now.

Those of you who aren’t studying Interior Design (which is most of you) might be surprised at this, but it’s actually a LOT of hard work! Not in the same way as math or science, mind you, but definitely strenuous and time-consuming. Keeping up my grades and trying to turn in work that’s satisfying both to myself AND my teachers has been challenging in a very rewarding way.

All that to say…I am:

1. Graduating from TCC on May 2^nd!
2. Officially one of TCC SE’s 20 recipients of the “Who’s Who Among Students at American Junior Colleges”! There was a luncheon yesterday at TCC Metro, each campus will have a ceremony next month.
3. Working on my design portfolio this summer.
4. Going to study for the one CLEP needed to graduate, during May (I can still be in the ceremony). I’ll have an AAS in Interior Design.
5. Post-graduation, I’ll be working MUCH more on driving practice.
6. In re: working on my portfolio, I hope to get a job with a residential designer around the end of summer/beginning of fall. I’ve got an NY State trip with the fam planned in early Sept, which is one of my considerations.
7. Ultimate goal: gain experience so I can confidently offer my services as a home design consultant. (Although by then, with the laws, I won’t be able to use the word “design.”)

In a nutshell, that’s where I am and where I’m going with school & career at present. God is good – it’s incredible to actually LOVE what I’m planning to do for a living! Far cry from where I was my senior year and the following 2 years when I had NO clue what I wanted to do with my life.

Hope you all enjoyed my update, it doesn’t even include all my other activities and the few dozen assorted goals and “fun things” I still want to do in the near future.

Could y'all please pray for my grandparents? Apparently my grandma Mason was taken to the hospital last night for pancreatitis - all I know so far is that they needed to keep her overnight & my aunt didn't want to freak us out by calling (it was 11 PM when they reached the hosp.).

Anyway, we're essentially unable to physically help out because my grandparents live in the Des Moines area...just a bit of a commute. I so wish I could be there with them, but I can't. On top of that, according to Grandpa Mason's recent mental assessment, he's pretty much at "severely impaired." So the local family needs prayer, as they have to make sure someone's taking care of him in leiu of Grandma.

It's really, really hard to see Grandpa failing - he's always been the sharp, on-top-of-things jokester. But it's even tougher for Grandma to be incapacitated, because she's the one who takes care of others. I guess we all need prayer, because it's not going to be easy.