The good, the bad, and the Girl Scouts

Well, it's another hit and run blog! I seem to be constantly busy, so this has all been roamin' around in my head for weeks, looking for a way out...and here it is! So, OK, technically I had an assignment due last nite--well, it is suggested that I should prob'ly turn it in last nite--I love not having deadlines! At any rate, Danica's party was today--13 kids in my house, so I am just too tired to do any work that requires brain power, and it's close to done, so it'll keep til tomorrow! So, back to it--life has been a crazy lot of ups and downs lately--mostly downs--but, through it all, there have been some shining lights. First is, I have been drawing closer to God, which is great. He's lately been more than some ethereal being up in the clouds sending me stuff from time to time. It's more like He's been a visitor, One who is actually hanging around and having a definite presence. It's cool, what can I say?
The next thing is school...it is a daily grind much of the time, but here again, I see God. I have zero background in business or accounting. My degrees are anthropology stuff and criminal justice. So, I sometimes sit and stare at the assignment specs--which are as vague as the ones at UoP--anyway I stare at it for days and then all the sudden, something clicks and I knock the assignment out in the nick of time! It floors me! I know God is doing my homework! I am sooo looking forward to being done, but at the same time, I rather enjoy it. I am about to be DOCTOR Angie--and I fully intend to flaunt my credentials whether its poor etiquette or not! God does the homework, but I do the typing and staying up late, late, late! I plan to start this next class on April 18--I am in two right now that will be ending at the end of April and the end of the first week in May. Usually, I take 3 classes at a time in this program. Somehow, I am pullin' A-range grades, which is also amazing! So, as I was looking on-line at the catalog the other day, it said we are allowed SEVEN years to complete a PhD--I started like 8 months ago--and after this class, I technically start my dissertation--wow! Yeah, there are a couple research classes and a test mixed in there, but after this next class, I go into a class that sets up the framework of the dissertation and an annotated bibliography and stuff, so I'm callin it ABD after this class--ABD is this cool little thing that stands for all but dissertation. It's like I will have the DBA, but not the PhD quite yet. DBA is for doctorate, so, hey--I am going to start putting PhD/ABD after my name and Dr. in front--informally, of course! And, wow, I can't wait! It really is worth all the work! The sense of accomplishment, and the awareness of God's work in my life, are amazing!
Another thing that has been very fulfilling lately is my little troop of Girl Scouts! I absolutely LOVE this role! Somehow, purely by accident and without even noticing, I have developed a leadership skills curriculum--and it WORKS! See, I fell into this about halfway thru the year--the other leader's friend is dying and she went to care for her. So, here I am, and I did the first lesson on MLK cuz it was February (Black History Month). We talked about his leadership stuff and all that. I made a slideshow, etc. Fun, then, we talked about Leukemia and made a get well card for Vito. So, somewhere along the line, I started looking at the book and it was about leadership. So, I didn't really like the book, but I pulled a few ideas from it. Ok, so last week, the new CLC (Community Learning Center) wanted to have a copy of our curriculum. Wow, Ok, so I typed one up and wow--it came together like a puzzle--all the last minute activity ideas I dream up on my way to the meeting, or the night before--wow. How did I do that? It reminds me of Erkel, from that one show! Did I do that??! And, it hadn't even occurred to me, but I have been seeing changes in these girls lately and I wasn't even paying attention--I kept thing wow, these girls are doing sooo well! It hadn't even occurred to me that I facillitated it! But, yep, when I started, I was spending most of the meetings telling them to sit down and pay attention--but now, they are this awesome group of girls who help each other with their homework and behave courteously and want to get involved in things and their self-esteem is coming up--it truly amazes me! And, I guess word's getting out that scouts is fun because we are adding a new girl almost every week, even though it's been available to them all year long! We did have a couple bad ones quit after I told one of em that she couldn't be texting and facebooking during our meetings and that I wanted her to participate and have fun. I am soo mean! Anyway, the change in these girls is just mind-blowing! We have since gotten together with the little girls troop and helped them with their self-expression projects, begun working on setting up a diaper drive or diaper bank--whichever we can--and they are just so excited about helping babies and helping others and excelling! They are a fine group of girls. It is just so cool to see--these kids who are starting this race in like fourth place with tons of obstacles and they are near the finish line, so to speak! The school has been declared the #1 poorest school in Omaha, which means these are the kids nobody expects much from and they are on their way to proving everyone WRONG! I really could go on for like ever about these kids! This really is what I have always wanted to do--work with kids. I thought my patience was shot and that older kids wouldn't be responsive to my little esteem building thoughts and ideas, but I was wrong! I have half a mind to spend an extra few months after graduation and get my teaching certification. Idk, but I love this! And, apparently, I am pretty good at it--the little girls from the troop I co-lead keep giving me little cut-out hearts and the older girls have started inviting themselves over my house and coming to church with us! It is just too cool, so I better shut up now!☺