Another update on the big P

As of last week, my prospectus presentation announcement was signed off on and turned in. So, I defending March 10th at 3pm....lots of prayers and good vibes needed then! I am now working on the presentation for this defense. I have to create a powerpoint and have about 20 minutes to talk....about my entire study. I am shooting for 20 something slides and already I'm having a hard time synthesizing everything down.
Next week is GSU's spring break, so that will give me the time I need to finish getting ready. I also have a lot to do to prepare for China, so hope to do that as well.
There's lots more updating that needs to happen but for that's it for now. Back to work!

Update on the big "P"....

It is definitely time for an update. What I'm doing these days is hard to sum up quickly when people ask me, "So, how are things going with your prospectus?" Let me break it all down, for those that are interested. The prospectus is the 'proposal' of what my research will be- it's the first 3 chapters of a 5 chapter dissertation. One must write and defend this to a dissertation committee before passing and being allowed to start collecting your data (and then, writing and defending your dissertation).

So...I've been 'working on' my prospectus for a year now. What I am planning to study has changed shape a little and with this new job I started in August, I wasn't able to pull it together last fall like I wanted to. So, the plan is now to defend it in March, before the spring deadline passes (you have to defend it before a certain date in the semester to be considered a "doctoral candidate" at the end of that semester). I WANT to be a doctoral candidate at the end of this semester!

To do this....First, I had to get the best draft possible approved by my adviser by the end of January. Check. Then, after a few suggested changes, I had to immediately turn around and send it to the other 3 members of my committee asap to give them time to read it and either give me suggestions for changes or approve it to defend. I have to submit the paperwork and final draft at least 10 working days before I defend it in March. So...that's about 2 weeks from now. I sent it to my committee Friday and am hoping to defend it March 10-13...

Hope that helps. Will keep you updated. But, to sum up:

1. Yes, the prospectus is basically done as of today (but is still open for changes/approval.

2. It's not over. I now have to put together my presentation so that I can successfully defend this in March. Prayers and well wishes appreciated!

Other than that, work is keeping me busier than I expected, mostly because school systems are experiencing a lot of issues these days and so now my biggest stress is securing placements for our students in schools. Students are worried about finding jobs when they graduate and I cannot blame them. Teaching used to be a 'safe' career but it's not looking great.

Other than that, In the last few weeks, we've enjoyed a wonderful visit with Matt's mom, a nice couple's wedding shower and baby shower for friends, and a 1st birthday party for the beautiful Isabelle.

Hope you are well..
K

Happy Birthday Joann!

Today is my wonderful mother in law's birthday. We are wishing her a happy birthday today, but what's very exciting is that she'll be in Atlanta tomorrow so that we can wish her this in person. Until then, hope today is a wonderful today!

PS- I know I haven't updated this blog in the new year at all...Happy New Year everyone and I have not forgotten about any of you that I have not been in touch with all month. Am in a prospectus-writing daze and I am turning it in to my adviser next week. There will be plenty to do until I defend it in March, but things will be better somewhat in Feb....Until then, take care!

A White Christmas

We left Atlanta the Monday before Christmas for Park City, Utah where we go every year to ski with family. Although I had a cold for the first few days of the trip, it was a really nice time and I did manage to ski on Friday (and only fell once). Although I definitely don't feel like a 'real skiier', I found myself more confident and able to enjoy it more rather than just worrrying about whether I will break my leg the whole time. It was the snowiest trip since I've been there and it was gorgeous to have a real white Christmas. The highlights of the trip included Matt's cousin Alex's song and dance routines, a delicious Christmas dinner at Chez Betty, ice skating on Christmas day, and major scores at outlet stores. We got home last Sunday with no delays at all. Here are some photos of the trip......

Once we got back home, I was greeted with a lovely stomach bug and then the same cold that kept fighting it's way back to me (and is still lingering).

This is definitely the time of year that above all else, I realize how lucky I am to have such loving and supportive family and friends. I am so thankful and blessed.

Happy New Year to all!

Time flies...

When you are doing 8 million things. Isn't that how the saying goes? I apologize to anyone that actually keeps up with reading this, since I clearly have not been. But, as you know, things have been busy around here. This is why I haven't been writing....

1. The House- We have been enjoying unpacking, buying some furniture, and generally just enjoying our house. We still have some boxes to unpack but we are having a housewarming party soon...so I am hoping that will motivate us to do it by then:)

2. Holidays....We had a very nice Thanksgiving with my family here in Atlanta. It was very quiet and nice. I worked most of the holiday week. After Thanksgiving we bought a very nice, but fake tree that actually looks pretty real. Here it is! It's exciting to have a full size tree for the first time together! We'll celebrate Christmas with my family here before we head to Utah for 6 days with Matt's family for skiing.

3. School/work (same thing)- I've been working hard to get my prospectus (the proposal for my dissertation ) finished very soon. I hope to defend it (OK, have to defend it) in March at the latest which means it's actually due in early February. Teaching 3 classes (but mostly grading for them) and coordinating the program I am has kept me very, very busy. I went to a conference in Orlando for about 5 days recently and while the conference was just "OK", I had fun going to Epcot and Hollywood Studios one day. I'll be doing quite a bit of work over the 'break' since I have a lot of program coordination-type things to do before the semester begins on the 5th....too early!

That pretty sums up the major stuff. We had 2 holiday parties to go to this weekend, but Matt is pretty sick and I am either just plain exhausted or getting sick, so we missed them both:( We are now obsessed with the show "Weeds" (yes, about 5 years late to that) so we've been at home watching that and getting excited about our new bedroom furniture and mattress that will be delivered this week!!!

Shopping, wrapping, packing (and unpacking), cooking, and cleaning are overloading the to-do list, but it's all stuff to be grateful to be able to do!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my wonderful mom's birthday. I am going to meet her for lunch near her work and we are all getting together Sunday for a celebratory dinner. I love you mom! Hope the day only gets better:)

Ron Clark Academy

Tonight I was lucky enough to be invited by my advisor, Amy, to attend the Ron Clark Academy here in Atlanta. It was an open house to raise awareness with the local business community since they are a private school that provides almost complete tuition assistance for most of their students. If you don't know Ron Clark or his story, google him to learn more. The school in its 2nd year and is for grades 5-8, in an area not too far from us. Students visit 7 out of 8 continents before they leave and the school looks like a movie set. A lot of learning is done through song, music, and technology. The energy and passion was everywhere and I enjoyed watching Ron teach a lesson with students. It was an abosultely amazing experience and I learned several students from one of my previous schools attend. I also slid down their big blue slide, located in the middle of the school! The best part was when they performed this song- see the links from Youtube. They'll be performing this on several shows this week. It was incredible and I felt very lucky to visit tonight. This is how all schools should be! I'm hoping to arrange for a group of my current students to go and visit one day to witness the amazing teachers. Check these out and enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEKNAZbn9p0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-2g7tYbZ_M