Saturday, May 22

HAPPY GRADUATION DAY!!!

On this sunny May day, I graduated with a master's degree in counseling and Brett graduated with a master's degree in Christian education. After three years for me and two years for Brett, we finally received really expensive pieces of paper!

So many things have changed since I began seminary in January 2007! I began my seminary journey in Fort Worth, Texas, surrounded by some of the best girls I know. After that semester, Brett and I were married and I continued that fall at Southern Seminary. Poor seminary students that we were, Brett sold cars and I worked in a daycare center that hid babies to keep their ratio correct in classrooms for visitors. God eventually opened up better jobs for us and I baby-sat for two families while Brett threw boxes at UPS. We parked some cars at Kentucky Speedway and narrowly escaped being run over by drunken fans. We also worked at Churchill Downs during the 2008 Kentucky Derby. We then packed up the Penske and hauled our belongings to Kansas City where we have spent the last two years. After lifeguarding at a pool before dawn and being yelled at by a woman over my lack of control over the status of the air-conditioning and Brett painting apartments, God blessed us with incredible jobs. Brett has been the online classroom video editor for the past year and a half and I have worked in the communications office.

Even though we have no ties here, and, at times, have felt like we are out in Egypt land somewhere, we have been blessed and I have felt contentment. Now that we are heading out with no jobs and no place to live yet, I am working on living out what I tell my clients about God's faithfulness even when life is uncertain.

March 20 - 28 Spring Break

A BLAST is all I can think of to describe what a fabulous spring break it was last week! I feel so blessed to have had an "all expenses paid" trip! We were able to see so many family members, friends, and old favorite spots in the glorious SOUTHEAST!!

Saturday, March 20

After seeing how icy the weather was getting outside Friday night, we quickly decided to leave earlier - like 3 a.m. earlier! It was difficult to function after the alarm buzzed and I peeled my sleepy eyes opened. Besides getting run off the road by a tractor trailer and losing three hours due to maintaining an average speed of 38 mph on the interstate, we enjoyed the trip and arrived in Spring Hill, Tenn. with an afternoon to enjoy. My sisters and I went to Kohls and looked at dresses, which was fun!

Sunday, March 21

We went to church and heard testimonies from people who had just returned from a mission trip to Haiti. I also loved listening to Pastor Sam's sermon. It always feels like a "fireside chat" when he talks and I find I learn a lot from what he says. After our usual lunch at China Wok with the family (minus Aaron), we headed over the hills and through Cookeville to see our friends from college, Dave and Magan in Williamsburg, Ky. As stormy as it was, the drive through the windy roads of Tenn. led us to their familiar front door. We stayed up until 2 a.m. talking in the family room! Poor Dave had to get up to teach school the next day!

Monday, March 22

We began our "job" by setting up our MBTS booth at our beloved University of the Cumberlands. It is always weird to come back and see my old haunts. It seems like so long ago that I was a student (2002 - 2006), but at the same time, I have such vivid memories all around campus! I miss it, but I'm glad to grow. After graduation, I had such a pain in my heart to have to leave what I considered my home for four years, but instead of grieving for that time, now I am able to think about it with warm feelings and smile about good memories and friends.

I walked around the campus, the football field, parks, and the baseball and softball fields where Brett umpired, and took LOTS of pictures. WE SAVED AN ANIMAL, TOO! I saw a fuzzy brown object by the softball field fence. As we crept up on it, hoping it wasn't something dead, we discovered a brown beaver-looking animal stuck in the fence at its waist. He couldn't back up or move forward. Brett tried to free the poor critter, but couldn't free it, and the little guy was so terrified, his huge buck teeth nipped at Brett's pants. A local stopped by with some wire cutters, but couldn't free it either. He gave us the number to animal control, which yielded not only animal control, but some volunteer firemen and the county sheriff! The experts identified him as a muskrat, but more fondly called a Florida "water rat." They shoved him backwards through the fence, then sent him sailing through the air, back over the fence, so he could escape to the park nearby. I hope the little fellow is alright after all that trauma! What an eventful afternoon in the 'burg!

Dave coaches girls soccer, so Brett and I went to the WCMS field where I took pictures of the team practicing. I had so much fun trying to get good action shots. I also heard the Whitley County accent, which made me feel so at home again!

We tried a new restaurant in Corbin with Dave and Magan, which was delicious. After supper, we stopped by their church, where they showed us the youth room where they help. We heard about their struggles in ministry and the lives that they've seen changed. The people in that area are so poor; I had almost forgotten. Some of the kids who go to church there do not have food to eat! I am so glad that they can serve those people and teach principles such as True Love Waits.

Wednesday, Feb. 17

It has been a BUSY week here in KC! On Wednesday, we continued our venture into the square dancing world. A little bit o' chicken and a little bit o' dancin' is a great combination. Josh, Brit, Brett, and I began the night with some mouthwatering chicken at Chick-Fil-A, followed by some do-si-do with our fellow square dancers who are all about twice our age. I enjoyed Josh's confused looks and Brett's bouncing with the music. I kept explaining that it's supposed to be more of a "glide" but the music just took him over and he couldn't control himself! Brit and I learned a line dance, which I LOVED! I'll have to remember it and take that home to Nashville with me!

After saying 'bye to our friends, Brett and I rushed home to frost Brit's cake (#4 for the day) and surprise her at their apartment. Josh provided her fave cherry chip cake mix with rainbow chip icing and I turned it into a heart cake! We stayed up late eating cake and laughing! It was definitely worth it :)

Friday, Feb. 5

I woke to find a surprise white blanket of snow on the ground! What a perfect beginning to a Friday! I enjoyed being able to watch the peaceful white fluff fall softly to the ground outside the window during class this morning. It's also my LAST class I will ever have in seminary before I have my master's degree! YAY ME!

I am also proud to say that, unlike the past year, Dr. C no longer intimidates me so much that a blush begins at my neck, works its way past my ears all the way to my forehead when he addresses me. As a new student here, every time I had to talk to him, I felt as if he was looking into my soul. I tried my best to control the embarrassing shade of red I knew my face glowed, and just hope he didn't notice. I am happy to report this situation has remedied itself with time.

I've been so busy this week beginning my internship, working in the Communications office, and keeping up with laundry, dishes, and suppers that at 8:30 tonight, I was in my flannel pjs, robe, and slippers, and ready for bed!

It was a long week, but a good one. It is week three of my internship and I had my first two clients for full-length sessions this week. I was SUPER-NERVOUS, but the Lord really helped calm my anxiousness and listen to two of His precious girls talk about their struggles. I pray that they are able to come back to counseling and come to know His infinite love.

I can't believe it's already February. God has taken me through what seems like a lot, even just since Christmas break. I really worried about finding an internship site, but God put someone in my life who led me straight to one. I really did not want Christmas break to end because I knew I would have to actually start counseling. I embrace new, exciting challenges, but seem to dread them at the same time. Here I am, though, through three weeks, and two clients! I am still nervous, but slowly gaining confidence. My verse for this week has been Isaiah 43:1:

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

When you walk with through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...

God bless y'all. Nighty night :)