Sad News

I have sad news to report. Kimber had a miscarriage the beginning of May. She is doing well. She created a little scrapbook in memory of the pregnancy which helped her deal with all of the emotions she was experiencing. She is now trying to figure out what she should be doing. The Air Force is still being considered, but she has to wait for a while until the doctors clear her. In the mean time she is questioning whether that is the course she wants her life to take.

We are all well and have faith and hope in the Plan of Salvation

I am Not Old Enough!

So some big changes have happened in the Murphy household since the end of January. Kimber and her husband, Josh, have moved back in.  I am grateful that we are in a position that we have the room and the resources to help them. Rearranging the house again was no fun, but it all got done. (One of these years we will be able to use our garage for our cars instead of for storage.)

Kimber  had decided that she was going to join the Air Force.  She met with a recruiter several times, took the ASVAB (a test to determine abilities in different fields to narrow down job choices).  She started taking her physical, but that was cut short – as was her opportunity to join the Air Force for now.There is a good reason for her not joining. 

It's because guess what? I am going to be a grandma!!!!! Kimber found out at the physical for the Air Force that she was pregnant. One blood test later and it was confirmed. Back to the drawing board for these two birds. No one is quite sure how this is going to work, but we just need to have faith and trust that it will.

She is due in November. 

Onward and Upward!

I got in! I was accepted into the Doctorate program! I am so excited. I am equally feeling nervous and scared. I know that this is a rigorous program and will take much sacrifice on my part and on the part of my family.

Once I got over the initial shock the fear started setting in and I doubted myself and this decision.

To bolster my faith I reread my journal from the December to now and saw the many miracles and signs that occurred that lead me to this path. I know that this is the path that my Heavenly Father wants me to follow.  I know that it will be hard, but I know that I will be sustained and given the abilities to succeed in this huge undertaking.

I keep saying to myself: “I can do hard things”. As I say this to myself I think about the prophets Moses, Nephi, Helamen,  the Brother of Jared – all of them were asked to do hard things and with the Lord’s help they did indeed do hard things.

So just a brief description of the program: It will take three years. I start my first class on May 24^th. The name of the program is “Educational Leadership and Innovation”, with an emphasis in Administration.  

Onward and Upward I go with this new adventure!

Just Some Updates

These updates won't be just about me, but also about the whole AZ Dale family clan.

Me first, though. I have applied for the Doctorate program. The selection committe will be reviewing all of the applications and letting the lucky few know by mid-March. Any prayers on my behalf would be greatly appreciated.

I am no longer teaching Sunbeams or the Teacher Development Course. I am settling into my Primary Secretary calling and enjoying it very much.

My friend Kerri has moved to Arizona and she has been taking me on grand adventures: Facials, Stomp, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and soon we will be going to Wicked. I am grateful to have Kerri back in my life - I know her from Spokane and she held both of my babies when they only weighed 5 lbs. It's been fun to have her so close by. (I wish all of my friends would move near by - too many are far away.)

Now for other family news:

Kimber and Josh are moving back in with us. They are realizing just how much money is needed to run a household and it's been difficult for them. Both of them are looking into better career opportunities - Josh has applied for the Border Patrol and Kimber is looking into joining the Air Force.

Jordan is still working on keeping his grades up so he can graduate in May. He has been doing several welding projects and loves doing that. We talk a lot about his upcoming mission. He actually submits his papers the end of June. It's exciting to think about.

For those that know my sister Tara - Her oldest son Josh is doing a semester on a boat traveling the world. He left the beginning of January and has already been to Brazil, sailed on the Amazon, and is now in Ghana (Africa). His adventures will take him to an island just east of Madagascar, India, Vietnam, Japan, and China. He is loving it. Her second son, Joey, Just left last Wed. (Feb 8th) for his mission. He will be going to Minneapolis, Minn. Burrrr.

We calculated a timeline - it will be eight years before there is even a possibility of all my parents' grandchildren being back together again with all the boys leaving on their missions. By then many of the girls may be married and moving away. Bittersweet.

Life is good, busy, and honestly I have no idea what lies ahead, and that's okay.

Gospel Teaching

I have truly enjoyed my calling as a the Teacher Development Instructor. I know that teaching this course has improved my ability as a teacher and I have enjoyed every minute of lesson preparation.

Above are words that I think embody and summarize the principles taught throughout the course.

I love the format and found it wordle.net

Here I Go Again

So...I eluded to an unexpecetd change that may be occuring for me in an earlier post. (NO, no baby announcements here.)

I take great stock in the Scripture Proverbs 3: 3- 5 Trust God, Lean not to thine own understanding and He will direct your path.

Well...Some things have happened in a very short amount of time that have aligned themselves and pointed to me going back school already.

I have always wanted to get my Doctorate, but it hasn't even been a year since I graduated with my Master's so I thought going back to school was a little ways off - like when Jordan got home from his mission.

One of theUniversities here has a great doctoral program that is very appealing and meets my goals as an educator and still allows me to work full time and have time for my family. Will it be rigorous? Yes, but doable with the help from my Heavenly Father.

Right now I am in the process of applying to the program and need to submit my application within the next few days. The committee will then meet and review the 100 or so applications. By March 15th the University will notify the 20 candidates that have been chosen to begin the program in June.

I am nervous, excited, worried and just trying to get through the application itself. So if you are surprised at this turn of event let me just say again, so am I.