2011 Gratitude Challenge-Day 5, 6, & 7

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Like I said, I may have to combine some days because of being out of town and such. We went hunting this weekend, so I had no way to post. But, I am back and will post now for the days I missed.
Day Five:

My husband works for Pioneer, and they have been an amazing company to him. So, not only am I grateful for his gainful employment, I am grateful for the way that the company treats him and the benefits they provide. 

Day Six:

I'm going to get a wee bit materialistic for day six. I love my Macbook Pro. Love it. Not because of the label or the brand or whatever. I love it because it has been the most reliable computer I have ever owned. When I first went "Mac" I was so confused and overwhelmed. However, it didn't take me long to figure out that it was insanely easier than a PC. Also, I have NEVER once had a virus, malware, or spyware on here. I don't have a security program. It's just the way it is with a Mac. So, I am very grateful that we are blessed enough that I could afford such a nice tool to keep me connected. 

Day Seven:

When I "learned" of the University of Alabama, I was a teenager and wanted to go to college but thought it wasn't in the cards for me. No one taught me how easy it was to get admitted, get grants/loans, and work your way through. Maybe easy isn't the word I am searching for...I think the term may be more "attainable". No one encouraged me to seek college admission, and no one made it clear that it would benefit me. I didn't even finish high school because I had to get a job to support myself. No one batted an eye at me quitting school either. No one. I was just told "it's fine, you can get your GED and you'll be fine". I liked school, and I was smart. I did well in school. Anyhow...I was married as a teen and had two children within two years of getting married. Then the marriage ended. I found myself single with no education and no job prospects that would even pay my childcare. I ended up finding a program for single parents and they guided me in getting a college education. By this time I was the mother of three. It would have been easier to do prior to having children, but I enrolled and I got a degree in the medical field. It was not, by any means, my dream degree or career field, but it was quick and the payoff was well worth the work. In Texas, I dreamed of going to Texas A&M because it was my favorite Texas college. Any college outside of Texas was OUT. OF. THE. QUESTION. 

I did attend there for a while, but life got in the way.

Time has gone on and I decided I was going to look into attending my all time favorite college, The University of Alabama, in order to get a degree in a non-medical field. However, we could not relocate there so for a long time, it was still not an option. Enter the technology of today and Distance Learning Degree programs. I learned Alabama had one, I applied, and I was accepted. 

While I cannot attend on campus, I am a student, and I will receive a degree from UofA. I am grateful today for that acceptance, and for the chance to realize this dream.