I'm now a graduate of Oklahoma Christian University!  Can you  believe it!?!

Les and I graduated on Friday, 25th April, 2008 and we had a nice little crowd of fans to support us!

Here's how the day went:

9:00am Ring Cermony

11:30am Lunch

2:00pm Graduation ceremony

5:00pm Early dinner

Saturday, 26th April, 2008
Saturday was a beautiful day, so we went for a walk in the park.  It was even sunny enough for
Miranda and me to get burnt!

When we got back, there were flowers waiting at my door....from my MUM and DAD! 
hehe...I wasn't expecting that!  Mum mentioned that something would be coming for me, but I naturally
assumed I'd find it at the post office! :)

Thanks Mum and Dad!

My Western Civ class at OCCC doesn't finish until early May, so I'm still working on finishing that, and I'm
also still working on some school work for OC!  Just a couple of things left before I can actually say that I'm
finished completely.  But at least I graduated and don't have any more classes.

I will go back to working from 2-6 every day (still part-time) until I find a full time position somewhere. 
We will be moving in about a week, which I'm very excited about.  We are going to be renting a house, so we
will have plenty of space and our own backyard.  We will even have our own pool!! ....shared by everyone
in our neighbourhood of course!!!

Yes, I know I've been slack and have not updated in a while, but things have been tough!
The weather has been crazy - lovely 77 F / 25 C degree weather one day, and then snowing the next.  It's been
jumping all over the place with the ever present Oklahoma wind.  Since the beginning of the semester I developed
some sort of cold and then I realised that I must be dealing with allergies for the first time in my life - because I'm
still fighting congestion and overall tiredness almost 6 weeks later.

And then there's uni.  I'm now finishing up my 5th week of classes - in my FINAL semester at Oklahoma
Christian University! The only problem - I was (past tense because in the last day or two I may have moved in a
more positive direction) suffering from extreme lack of motivation.  The new found allergy problem was no help at
all.  All my classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays again, but I am only working Mon/Wed/Fridays - which
makes things a little easier.  Work has changed too because I'm now working with the 4 year olds instead of the
2s (who I had been with since starting April 2007).  It's OK....just different. 

Over the 3 week Christmas break I took an online course (Principles of Marketing - random class to make up
hours), so I didn't really feel like I had a break from uni.  I still didn't get my practicum (work experience)
assignments finished (because I'm terribly lazy and unmotivated), and of course I still haven't done much more on
it because this semester started and all the new work has taken priority!  Thankfully I have a very caring teacher
who knows that the work will be done eventually!

Anyway, I will survive and here's what I will be doing until April this year....only 2 months away!

My classes at Oklahoma Christian University:
~ Christian Family (random Bible class to make up hours in order to graduate)
~ Cognitive Skills (Early Childhood Education)
~ Cognitive Skills practicum (30 hours outside of class that I was not initially aware of!)
~ Learning, Instruction, and Assessment - LIA (Education class)
~ LIA lab (outside of regular class time)
~ Family Life Education (extra Family Studies class to make up hours)

And at Oklahoma City Community College:
~ Modern Western Civilization (online)

It's hard to believe that I'm almost done.  It feels like there is way too much to do and not enough time to do it in.
I know that I will be able to get it done, it's just been a little hard staying focused and motivated.

To leave this post on a happier note, here are some highlights from our Christmas/New Year celebrations.

Christmas in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Ben's first Christmas!

Some fun with Miranda and Damien in Abilene, Texas
& Skipping stones into Lake Abilene!

New Year's Eve
On our way to San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio, Texas
& the Riverwalk (with millions of other people!)

Ben's 1st Birthday Party
His birthday is the 31st December, but we celebrated a little bit after that

Ben and his crazy Aunty Shell

The Malan/Gatewood clan
Tulsa, Oklahoma

The D'Arth/Smart clan
My family's Christmas in Australia

I'd like to believe that Dad is pointing at Chris and me saying,
"We want YOU and Chris here for Christmas next year!"

And then I say, "Ok, Dad, we'll be there!"

Since my last post............

...Kay had her birthday!

14th September, 2007

...my parents came to visit me!!!

9th-23rd October, 2007
We had picnic lunches and many dinners out, we went to Tulsa, the Rose Gardens, camping,
the Oklahoma City Bomb Memorial & Museum, a Johnny Cash musical (Ring of Fire), Lake Hefner,
OKC Botanical Gardens, etc, etc.

We only camped one night, but that one night was quite eventful.  Storms are quite amazing in a tent!
This is what we woke up to the next morning...it wasn't all that far from our tent!

...my sister had her birthday! (11th November)

...Miranda and Damien came to visit us for Thanksgiving  (23rd-25th November, 2007)

...my nephew turned 2 years old (29th November)

...Chris organised a big event on campus - Tony Snow came to OC to speak about leadership.

Thursday, 29th November, 2007
The big Tony Snow Event...

...Scott Brown made a surprise visit from Australia!

Saturday, 8th December, 2007
Our own little Christmas party!  I'm still waiting on the photo we took with Scott...
but here's a photo of the rest of the group!

*Photo removed*

...we've had some really great Oklahoma winter weather (ice storms)

Monday, 10th December, 2007
We were without power the entire day!!!  It was kind of cold...well freezing actually.

The ice made a 2nd window...

....which Marshall punched out!

And this is how I really felt about the cold and having no electricity!

The ice storms did get me out of one of my final exams, so that's something for me to smile about!

...I've now FINISHED my 2nd last semester!!!!  This was a tough semester.  I want to try to forget about it!!! 

...Chris has now graduated from Oklahoma Christian University!

Friday, 14th December, 2007
....this photo was taken in the middle of the day, and yes, they were freezing!!!

*another photo removed*

I have so many more photos (of my parents' visit, of little Benjamin, of the ice storm, etc etc),
but I think I've put enough on here for now.

After reading Miranie's xanga, I realised that I'd almost forgotten to make a xanga post for the new semester!!!
I've almost finished the first week of my 2nd last semester, and I'm now pretty excited
about graduating next April .  It's going to be great! 

I'm working around 16 hours a week (+ any other hours they need me to come in), and here are my classes:

~ Personal and Family Finances (Family Studies)
~ Professional, Ethical, and Legal Issues (Family Studies)
~ Senior Bible Seminar
~ Senior Philosophy Seminar

~ Family Studies Practicum (which I completed over the summer)

Most of my classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so I've ended up with a pretty good schedule.
I have a lot of reading to do and many papers to write.  My parents are coming in October (yay!!), so I better
get organised and get homework completed on or before time!!!!

And finally, last weekend I decided that it was time for a bit of a change:

My new do...thanks to a random hairdresser for cutting it, and my wonderful husband for colouring it!

Welcome to Savannah Grace, niece No.2!!!!!!!!!!
Born in Australia on the 24th August....so she is now a day old!!!!!
Weight: 8lbs 6oz (If I remember correctly)
Mackenzie is now a big sister!

This brings me to a total of 5 beautiful children who will call me Aunty Shell !!!!!
I'm a little excited!!!