Final Reflection

     I have mixed emotions about this blog exercise. I am going to start with what I liked. I think it was a good assignment because it made me think about what I was going to write about. I also think that it was good writing and typing practice and the more you practice something the better you get at it. I feel those are the reasons it was assigned. I had some days that writing the blog was easy and the subject for the day just flowed right out of my mind.
     Now we get to what I didn't like. I didn't like having to think about what I was going to write. Some of the days it was a real struggle to come up with something to write about. Also with my busy schedule the writing everyday was hard for me.
     I think that the main change for me is more thought goes into writing what I think my audience wants to read about instead of just writing what I want to.
     So I liked it and I didn't like it but it was a good assignment for us.

Daily Journal 7/19/2014

     Well I think this is the last day we have to blog. I have mixed emotions on this blogging thing. Some days I thought it was okay and some days I absolutely hated it. I think it was because it was so intrusive. It was something I had to do everyday and with my schedule that was hard to do, and I like to keep things easy. I will say on the days that I thought it was okay I liked it. Some days I just have stuff to say and some days don't. It was kind of nice if I had something to get off my chest that wasn't too personal. Although after giving birth there is not much left that seems to personal so I may have done that but to late to take it back now so whatever.
     Something that turned out to be real difficult was the place essay. I had it all written out the only thing left to do was type it up. I was typing away and was near the end when I realized it was not long enough. AHHHH! So I had to come up with some more history and add in some descriptive words to make it longer. It still wasn't long enough so I gave up. I decided that the story was going to get muddled up in additions and I liked it the way it was so again had to go for quality instead of quantity hopefully it turns out okay.
     I can't think of much else to write about pretty boring day at work and nothing out of the ordinary has happened so I guess I will call this blogging thing quits for now.

Daily Journal 7/18/2014

     What a crazy week! Too many assignments and too much work make Teresa a grumpy girl! Let us not forget also that the blackboard is all messed up and we can't submit some of our assignments. Then I see the final on the backboard and am extremely confused. I thought we had to do that on campus and have already asked for it off. So what is going on?
     I finally finished my place essay last night at a little before midnight. I had it almost done and decided I didn't like it so I trashed that one and started over at around 830pm yesterday evening. I did the right thing my essay had started off good and somewhere after the first page had gone terribly wrong. I told my husband this essay is so boring I am even bored while writing it so something is wrong. The new one is much better and I am glad that I started over.
     I am behind on my assignments because the two that you have to do by inserting answers in the word document I have to do at home and you can imagine working two jobs how much time that leaves me at home. My little hp mini laptop doesn't have word in it. I will need to do something about that soon. Maybe the guy that works on our computers can help me get that done, hopefully. I have found not having it is slowing me down on getting things done because I do quite a lot of my school work when I don't have any customers to wait on at work. Well I better get my work done so I can go home and do some more work and eventually get to bed.

Daily Journal 7/17/2014

I'm sure by now, everyone has figured out that I like poetry. Today, I decided to share with you an original poem written for my son by a coworker in 2006.

Lucas

The blue of water in a pool

So often seems to draw you

Too bad you think that you don't rule

For you hold important views

You're often seen to move about

Perpetual in your motions

Lucas there can be no doubt

You're the child of parental devotion

When seven's but a memory

And you stop seeking scooby doo

As your future comes to be

Then you may learn to value school

For now cheeseburgers seem the best

Of foods that you could eat

Your life comes from how you invest

Each day that comes to greet

I think that of all the poetry I have read, this is the most beautiful. This poem tells the story of my son's childhood. He loved swimming in the pool, he loved watching scooby doo, he hated school, and mcdonalds was the only place we could eat. So, I thought it was amazing that with me just telling this person stories, they turned them into a work of art. I keep it in the frame which it was in when he gave it to me, and will treasure it forever.

Daily Journal 7/16/2014

     Wow! I am extremely overwhelmed with everything this week. I was just thinking about freaking out but decided not to. I had to give myself a small pep talk, just calm down, you can do this, it will be alright, that type of stuff and am okay now. These assignments this week are very challenging and am somewhat confused on the  7.2 Research Topic Exploration. I am not sure I understand what to do but am confident that I will figure it out. I am still working on my place essay it is proving to be quite a chore with the research and working all the time but again am getting it done.
     The final next week has come to soon. I have always been good with homework not so good at tests. I guess the big concern is with working so much did I retain what I need to know to get through the test with a good grade. I will have to say a big prayer on Wednesday before going to take the test.
     My son got to go to his first livestock auction today and he had a good time. I remember as a child going and my brothers, sister and I loved seeing all the animals especially the small ones. Also the one we went to had popcorn and hot dogs and who in this world doesn't love at least one of those. I love them both. I have always said if it was a food designed for a kid to like I love it.
     Well I have run out of stuff to say so it is time to get back to work so I can go home. I have a busy evening ahead so am glad I got my blog done early and can concentrate on the other things I have to do.

Daily Journal 7/15/2014

My son and I were talking about a book series he likes called Fablehaven. It's about a brother and sister, Seth and Kendra, who's parents are going on a cruise that Kendra and Seth's grandparents set up for their children after they died. The kids were not invited on this cruise, so they had to go stay with their Grandpa and Grandma Sorenson. They were NOT looking forward to a long, tiring summer with their grumpy grandpa, and thought it would be a long, boring summer. When they get there, however, things aren't quite as boring and regular as they thought. The grandparents are caretakers of a wildlife reserve called Fablehaven, for mystical creatures such as Fairies, Satyrs, and Nymphs. The kids, driven by curiosity and a bit of stupidity, involve themselves in complicated things that they definitely didn't expect, such as defeating a demon that's been asleep for a very long time which was being awoken by an evil witch in the forest, who they were forced to release from her captivity by asking for too many wishes.

This sounds like a very interesting series in my opinion, and I was happy to talk with my son about it. If you like fantasy books with magic and mystical creatures, this is definitely a book you should take a look at. It's a 5 book series called "Fablehaven" and it's written by the author Brandon Mull.

Daily Journal 7/14/2014

     If the world was ending I would spend my last day with my husband and son. We would get up early have our coffee and then make a nice breakfast of biscuits and gravy. After our food settled we would take a drive into Arkansas. We love to just take drives and Arkansas has so many neat towns. We would stop at thrift stores and shop, talk to the locals and find out the cool things to do, and we would do them. After the busy day we would end in a town, ask the locals where to go eat and enjoy a nice dinner. There is not a better day than a road trip day spending time with the guys I love and enjoying their company. After our nice dinner we would go home, watch a movie snuggled up on the couch. I can't imagine the world ending I am an optimist so I believe the world will go on forever. My son will grow up have his own family and live a long, full, happy life. Then he will watch his grandchildren grow up to live long lives. So I believe he world has a long ways to go.
     To change the subject tonight we are having a big dinner to celebrate my mother-in-laws birthday. My husband is home making oven baked chicken with mashed potatoes, green beans and rolls. For desert we are having a  homemade cherry pie made by my son. I know his mema will love that something made with love. After dinner we are going to play dominoes, mexican train is the game. It sounds ridiculous but it is really fun to play. I hope she has a nice birthday.

Daily Journal 7/13/2014

     I thought I would share another poem that I really like. This is a poem that was with a handprint puzzle my son made on his first day of kindergarten.

Sometimes you get discouraged
Because I am so small
And always leave my fingerprints
On furniture and walls

But every day I'm growing
I'll be grown some day
And all those tiny handprints
Will surely fade away

So here's a little handprint
Just so you can recall
Exactly how my fingers looked
The first day of school

     That is an amazing poem and it and the handprint puzzle were a gift for me that he brought home. I put them both in a frame and will treasure them forever. Whoever wrote that poem and came up with that project has an amazing imagination. He made that on August 20, 2003 where have the years gone. Now his hand is three times the size and over three times the age. That little boy is now sixteen and the best son then and now. I am a very lucky Mom!

Daily Journal 7/12/2014

     Am here at work tonight and we decided to have Olive Garden. It was delicious and they have a good special going right now a 3 course meal for 11.99. So that is a good enough price for a nice dinner. I may have to make my writing short tonight. It has been a busy day and am behind on getting my work done and don't want to spend the night here.
     I have been working on my place essay but it is going slow. I am sure that I will get caught up and get it done though. I am finding it difficult to be descriptive in talking about my place. It seems when I write something down and am trying to be descriptive it sounds weird to me, like Maybe I am overdoing it. Maybe I am that could be the problem. I want it to sound natural and I don't talk with a lot of description so when I write like that I don't like the way it sounds. I will get it worked out and make it sound good. I have faith in myself. Well I have to get back to work or i will be here forever. Sorry so short tonight but am juggling jobs, school, and family and can't get it all done some days.

Daily Journal 7/11/2014

     I make something  that is absolutely delicious and easy to make. Everyone reading this has to try this recipe. This is a list of the things you will need to buy.

Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
1 box of 12 ice cream sandwiches any flavor you like
2 lg. tubs cool whip
1 box chocolate pudding mix
1 pkg. oreos
 First unwrap six of the sandwiches and put on a cookie sheet in a row. Then take one tub of  the cool whip and mix the box of chocolate pudding into it. Spread half of that mixture on the sandwiches you layered on the cookie sheet. Cut up some oreos and sprinkle on the chocolate cool whip mixture and then put on the second layer of sandwiches and repeat the layering with the chocolate cool whip and the chopped oreos. Then cover the whole thing with the other tub of cool whip and sprinkle oreos on the top and put in freezer. I freeze mine overnight and it is amazing.
 I make this all the time and my family loves it. I usually always use just the vanilla ice cream sandwiches but have made it before with the chocolate and neopolitan and just as good. I thought this would be something fun to share and am glad I did.

Daily Journal 7/10/2014

     Wow! I had a good day. I got my I Believe essay revision done and will answer the questions and post it in the blackboard when I am done writing my blog for today. I also got started on my Place essay. This was an easy choice for me I chose to write about The Shepherd of the Hills. It has been a place for families to go in Branson for over 50 years and the play is unquestionably part of the history of the ozarks. I have worked for the family that owns the Shepherd of the Hills park for about 16 years and they have kept it going through all the bad weather and low attendance it truly means a lot to them. Last year they chose to close it for good and had the last show. They made that choice after the owner Gary Snadon passed away from cancer. There was such a huge outcry from the community and visitors that had gone to the play and considered it a landmark that the family made the good choice in opening back up this year with a limited schedule. It was the right choice to make that is one of the things that started the Branson area into becoming what everyone sees today when they visit. I already know the story pretty well now just need to research the owners and the writer of the book. I will also research on the play I may find some stuff I didn't know and that would be great. It is a great story, I have seen the play at least 7 times and would go again if I had time. So anybody reading this if you haven't been to The Shepherd of the Hills you must go you won't regret it.

Daily Journal 7/9/2014

There's a special kind of happiness
in sharing little things,
The laughter, smiles, and quiet talks
that daily living brings.
There's a special kind of comfort
in knowing your family's there,
To back you up, to cheer you up
to understand and care.
Of all the treasures life may bring,
your family means the most,
And whether near or far apart,
That love will hold you close. 

     I was searching on the web and came across this poem. I thought it was so beautiful that I had to share it on my blog. In just those few words it says so much. I am very fortunate to have a wonderful family and this poem sums up how I feel about them.
     Last week and this week so far I have had to deal with a family member and a friend who just can't seem to get their lives together. I have helped them both repeatedly with whatever I could but they don't seem to listen, learn, or do anything different. The friend I have been helping for five years and the family member for nineteen years. When are they going to help themselves and at what point do I give up and let them go? I am ready to give up especially on the family member it has been a very long time and he doesn't seem to want to grow up and become accountable for his life. I hate to give up but his disruptions in my, my husbands, and my sons lives are becoming harder to deal with and as he gets older harder to understand. I just don't know maybe it will all work out.

Daily Journal 7/8/2014

I can imagine the smells of oak trees, honeysuckle, lilac, fresh cut sawdust, kettle corn, aftershave, women's perfume, candy, the individual scent from sheep and horses, burning wood, black powder, and hot apple cider.
I can hear the sounds of people shuffling in their seats, kids whining, dad's yawning, and then the sound of the fiddle leading the square dance, shuffling of feet as they dance to the music, and the clapping an hollering as the spectators watch, then the  pounding of horse hooves as the riders come through herding the sheep, the guns going off as they celebrate, the sound of the model t coming into the spotlight.
Just thought I would practice for the research essay this week. I am looking forward to this assignment it is easier for me to write about something I can research.
It was a busy day today, actually a busy week and I have made good money too. It helps me get ahead when I have a good week. My husband and I are starting a farm and the extra money will help us buy some more animals. We already have 2 pigs, 80 chickens, 2 bunnies, and about 30 Ginny chicks. We would like to buy 6 more pigs and a milk goat. I know you are saying," What are you going to do with a milk goat?" Well we are going to milk it and make cheese and butter, and we will probably drink the milk to. It has been a long time since I drank goats milk so that will be interesting to see if I still like it. I have to go for tonight time for bed.

Daily Journal 7/7/2014

  Sorry I was not able to type my blog yesterday. If I told the reason it would be an invasion of someones privacy and a terribly long drama filled story that I was unfortunately indirectly pulled into.
   My family and I are into watching our second season of  the television show Under The Dome. It is about a whole town covered by a dome that nobody can enter or leave through. They are trapped and each episode we see the characters struggle with themselves, each other and their fear of never getting out. The dome seems to be trying to tell or teach them something and they are having a hard time figuring that out. It is a Stephen King book they turned into a television series and it surprises me that I  like it. I am not a big fan of his books even though he is extremely popular.
  I finished replying to everyone's I believe essays. I hope I did okay. They were all so good and I could tell how much my writing group classmates have grown in their writing. I hope that I have grown as well. I can't tell any difference when I read my own essay. It was hard to point out what I thought was unclear or confusing. I try to avoid the negative and always look to the positive. I also don't want anyone to think that I think my writing is better than theirs because it isn't. I try real hard to avoid situations where I might hurt someones feelings. It is important to me to be aware of what I say, to be kind and considerate to everyone. That is another one of my beliefs that shapes my daily life and makes me who I am.

Daily Journal 7/52014

  Will this day ever end? I wish that this place that I work part-time would get a clue. It is maddening that they do not pay well and want everyone to do three peoples jobs at the pay of barely one employee. I just do not understand why these places want to treat their good employees terrible and their bad employees good. I already do extra things that are not part of my job and they just keep expecting more. This is one good reason to do really well in school so that I can do something I enjoy and hopefully somewhere that I am appreciated. Isn't it funny most of us are pretty simple to please we just want to be loved, appreciated and treated with respect. Is that too much to ask? I don't think so. Working at this place may drive me crazy but it is nice to write out my frustration in this blog. Who knew I was going to like blogging, weird.
 I haven't gotten any of my schoolwork done today I should get busy. I am close to done just some replying to do in the discussion board and one more in the writing group discussion board and I should be done. I notice each week it gets a little easier to get started and to get finished. It is either because I am getting used to school or getting better at writing, maybe both. I better get to work and get it done it is already late.

Daily Journal 7/4/2014

 I had a busy day today at work. That is one of many bad things about working all the time is having to work on the holidays. It is a real bummer when your family gets to do stuff and you have to work or even worse when they don't celebrate because you are not there. It makes me feel bad like they are missing out on stuff. There is not much I can do about it though. The price of everything keeps going up and the pay does not. When are business owners going to learn that you can't keep your good employees when you aren't willing to give decent raises.
 Anyway I worked on replying to the I believe essays and it was not as bad as I thought it would be. The essays are really good and it is easy to find stuff that I like about them. It is nice to learn little things about my classmates and their families. 
 Well the day has been long and I am real tired so I am going to have to end this and go to bed so that I can get up early and do it all over again.

Daily Journal 7/3/2014

Today was a unique day for me. My days are usually ordinary and boring but today at work one of my coworkers who is a little down on his luck asked me if prayer worked. At first I was caught of guard it was not a question I would have thought this person would ask. When I got over the brief shock I said confidently yes, I believe prayer works. He paused and said he didn't think it did because it has never worked for  him. So I asked him how he knew it didn't work. He said he was sure it didn't work because just one bad thing after another kept happening. I told him I understood what he was saying but to imagine for a minute how bad it could be if his prayer really weren't being answered that maybe he should look at it as his prayers are keeping the bad from spiraling totally out of control. I reminded him that God tries to show us what we need to do and in our hearts we know what we need to do but the problem is we don't listen and then blame him when things get bad. He seemed to calm down some after that and then he changed the subject. I just thought it was odd because I am very private about my faith and I don't normally discuss it especially at work but I think it made us both feel good and I hope it helped him. Then I got to come home  to my husband and son who made a delicious dinner and we watched a movie. So I have to say it was a great day all around.

Daily Journal 7/2/2014

 Another day ,another dollar and another busy day at work. I am glad though that it has gotten busy it makes the time go by so much faster and I make more money when there are more customers.
  I went into the workshop this afternoon and it took me four hours to read through it and check trough my writings. It was an interesting assignment. I relearned some things I already knew and quite a few things I didn't.
  I feel nervous about critiquing the group essays in this weeks lessons. A big part of the assignments we are doing in this composition class involve stuff I am just now learning so it makes me feel like I have no idea what I am talking about. I definitely will try to do my best.
  Last night we watched a cartoon movie called" Freebirds ". It was hilarious! It makes me wonder where  writers come up with the ideas for their movies. Are they just sitting around one day and it pops into their heads or does a lot of research go into coming up with the idea and then writing the story. Then where do the characters come from and how do they make them match so well to the story. This is stuff I had never thought about before taking this class. I have a terrible time coming up with ideas of what to write but once I get the idea the rest seems to go smoothly. I could not imagine coming up with an idea big enough for a book or movie. I have a hard enough time coming up with stuff to write in this blog. I thought it would get easier but my life is not very exciting and I run out of things to write about everyday. Well tomorrow is another day maybe something worthy of blogging will happen.

Daily Journal 7/1/2014

  I felt better today which is good. Was glad to be back to normal and back to work. I had a busy day today printed off my lessons this morning and the week doesn't look to bad. I worked on my reading assignments and found the How to say nothing article pretty interesting. That was after I went through the regular weekly drama with a coworker. You know the one that coworker we all have that can't seem to get their life together and has to drag everyone around them into their mess. Unfortunately I am the one drug into the mess for being nice and trying to be helpful. I survive though so it is just a mild irritation that I could do without. I am looking forward to reading my discussion groups essays and having a good week.