2-18-08 Our first ROAD TRIP

Lindsey Wilson College is the college I work for and we were invited to main campus to attend a "Welcome Home Emma" party. I have to give some background info for those of you who are not familiar with the college. Lindsey Wilson College is located in Columbia, Kentucky--about 4.5 hours from where I live. I work for the School of Professional Counseling. We have extension sites in over 10 locations through Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia. When I first learned about the college and the programs they offered, I was so excited. I had just earned my Bachelor's degree from Shawnee State University and wanted to continue my education but was not sure how I could do it. At the time, I had an almost 3 year old and an almost 1 year old. Where we live, higher education is not close nor typically easy too obtain. You have to travel...programs I looked into were any where from 45 minutes to 2 hours away. I learned about Lindsey Wilson College's new extension site in Ashland, KY from a former professor who thought it would be perfect for me and my situation. I went to the college on a Friday in July and met Beth the current coordinator. She told me about the Masters of Education in Human Growth and Development that specialized in Mental Health Counseling that they offered but said I had to act fast because classes started the end of August. After our meeting and my internet research of the college, I saw they had a Play Therapy course taught by the president of the Kentucky Play Therapy Association---I was hooked. I turned my admissions paperwork in on Monday! Not really sure what to expect, I went that first weekend. To my surprise my first instructors were the Dean of the Program-Dr. John Rigney and the Associate Dean, Dr. Angelia Bryant. I knew this program was "for real" and was so impressed with the fact that two of the most respected people with the college drove almost 4 hours to spend the weekend in Ashland and teach my class. In April, Lindsey Wilson realized the programs were growing so fast. Beth, my coordinator, and very good friend, was working two sites- Ashland and Maysville--but it was too much for any ONE person to do. They needed to hire someone for the Ashland campus. I applied and interviewed. I was hired and quickly became part of the Lindsey Wilson College family. Family is the appropriate word. I have never worked for a place that was such a "family". Another coordinator from Prestonsburg, Shelia, also became one of my biggest supporters and dear friend. Staff-for the most part- honestly gets along..of course from time to time there is a discussion about what curriculum change should happen or what theorist is the most effect but there is such a sense of family....it is amazing. We had monthly meetings with our direct supervisor Ryan and Enrollement Director Denise. Our time on main campus was always a treat. It was along drive but I enjoy our time at the Best Western and the sense of togetherness and closeness that developed between so many of the coordinators. They are a great group of girls! So I graduated, continued to work and became not only the coordinator but also an instructor for the undergraduate program. When Rob and I decided we were going to start the journey to Emma, we decided that I needed to be at home more and working the 40-60 hours a week was just too much. I left Lindsey but was given the amazing opportunity to continue teaching 2 courses a semester. I was gone for a few months and then the job opened up again and I went back part time to help out because I really missed my job and the people I had left. I was offered the job again full time but was unable to take it because Emma was about to come home. I wanted to be able to be with her and the boys more than working full time would allow. So that was the "short" story of my experience with Lindsey Wilson College.
The Holsingers were invited to main campus to celebrate Emma and my time with Lindsey Wilson Collge. I was excited to return to the campus. Rob and I took Emma on her first road trip to Columbia.


The things I needed to pack this time were MUCH different!

Glad we have a pack-n-play!

Gotta take a bath before the big party!

Dad, Mom and Emma

Shelia and Emma

Christy and Emma

Emma walking with Ryan. She really liked him.

Rob was taking pictures. This is the best one I have (maybe other who were there have a better one...if so, please share and I will post it!) of me thanking everyone for all the support, prayers and being there for us on our journey to Emma.

What would a party be without CAKE! Emma LOVES cake!



She gets so sad when it is done and Mommy cleaned her hands and face!

The Holsingers were given a stone that will be placed on a new walkway that will soon be construced at the college. They said, "The Holsingers will always be a part of Lindsey Wilson College." What an honor! Here are some pictures of LWC's beautiful campus.





Emma had a rough time not being in her bed. She also struggled when we were packing up getting ready to go home. The counselor in my thinks she was afraid that we were going to go and not take her. She is so conditioned to seeing me in a hotel and then me packing and giving her back 6 times. She needed lots of reassuring but as soon as we got in the car....she went to sleep and woke up very happy. We went to lunch at Bella Noche in Lexington. She had spaghetti (no sauce) and loved it!






Emma brought her big brothers cookies on a stick! She thought they would really like the yummie adorable doggies! They sure did!


We also had one more surprise---When we got home in our mailbox we found a letter from George Bush with Emma's Certificate of Citizenship! Now we have to get her SS# and do our Ohio readopt to change her name to Emma Liliana!

Again, I would like to thank the faculty and staff at Lindsey Wilson College for everything. Also, thank you so much to the Alumni Association for dinner at my favorite Mexican restaurant in Columbia.
We cannot thank each of you enough!
The Hs