One step closer

So, part of the program I'm in requires us to do a practicum. A practicum is comparable to a pre-internship. It's a time to get your feet wet, observe and learn about counseling.

At the practicum meeting in October the Counseling Center here at school presented the opportunity to do practicum at their sight. I was slightly intimidated and definitely not interested. The intimidation was followed with a feeling of conviction. Maybe this would be a good opportunity to grow and challenge myself.

So I interviewed last Thursday.

And I got it.

And I called mom, and she was excited.

And I am really excited. I kinda get butterflies in my stomach when I think about it.

So next semester I will be spending 8 hours a week in a healthy, Biblicaly centered environment learning what it means for me as an individual to become a counselor...or whatever it is the Lord is preparing me to be.

I'm Growing Up, Mom.

It was one of those weeks. A growing up week.

Do you ever have those?

By Friday I had to call mom and tell her of my growings...and she agreed.

I am growing.

In her perfectly mother way she told me to "stop it".

I don't think she meant it.

Sometimes it's hard -

like when I have to face truths about myself that I'm not proud of. In counseling we call these "growth edges"...I'm definitely not finished growing.

Sometimes it's good -

like when I have a voice that a younger woman listens to about experiences and lessons God has taught me in my life. love it.

Life is messy and good. Today I'm one mark taller on the wall of life. It comes with pain I warn you, but the pain can turn into some beautiful tools useful for later.

You Gotta Serve Somebody

With a combination of homeopathic remedies, antibiotics, rest, and lots of Advil I am now feeling much better! So I had lots of sweets last night in celebration! :) Thank you for the sweet card Granny, and the love from everyone!

You know those seasons of life where it is almost as if you can hear the Lord talking to you every moment. It's as if He is guiding every step and every choice, and there is a empty feeling in your stomach when you disobey.

The late great Bob Dylan sang..."you gotta serve somebody". This has been my theme as of late. Who am I serving? With my time and choices of how I use my time? Who am I serving with my thoughts? Energy? Am I serving my friends? my desires? I've been reading through Isaiah and chapters 44-46 and the theme that resounds is

"I am the Lord,
and there is no other,
beside me there is no God" (45:5;18)

We all have idols in our lives, but it is only the Creator of everuthing who is to be served in our life (Is. 45:7-12). We must listen to the voice of the Creator that is guiding and obey - out of love and grattitude. Because He is God, and there is no other. This may take me awhile to learn, so be patient as future posts may have the same theme...

Temptations

Since I am sick and on antibiotics in my house going up my mother told us to stay away from sugar. So...today I resisted the lone strawberry pop-tart in the zip lock bag that needed to be eaten and had plain oatmeal instead.

I also resisted the free cinnamon coffee cake at work just sitting waiting for me to eat during break and ate toast with almond butter.

I even resisted the delicious homemade gourmet pastry/berry/powdered sugar dessert made by our neighbor Kat delivered especially for me.

But I could not and did not resist two, three...ok maybe closer to five spoonfuls of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream from the freezer! Oh, so good!

Favorite Things About my Valentines Day

a couple days late..

1. A love poem written by Susan for Josephine and I.
2. The new pajamas from Susan that say "love.love.love."
3. Eating dinner with friends of all ages.
4. Hugging a wonderful suprise named Andrew Keena at Doug&Danae's.
5. Swing dancing at the masquerade and feeling - so happy!

Valentines Day was so much fun I had a "love hangover" Sunday. Since I'm still technically sick I ended up spending most of Sunday in bed after church.

But it was a very fun Valentines!

Sick

We are wholistic beings. I knew about a week ago I was not getting enough sleep and I would probably get sick. Sure enough, I woke up on Saturday exhausted. Once home from Tulsa I had allergies like crazy, then this morning I woke up with a throbbing ear! By noon it felt like the entire left side of my jaw was numb and I couldn't chew well. You know that popping pain you get in the airplane, it was like that but not popping - just piercing. Weird. I called a doctor's office nearby and cried on the phone when describing my symptoms. Once at the doctor she pretty much told me "take pain reliever". grrr... She did give me some amoxicilin too. I do want to say that I'm grateful my dad made me buy health insurance, becuase I used it. And, I had money set aside for these moments so I was able to pay the doctor & get the perscrption. Such a good feeling.

Hi Babies!

I get to see these two Saturday morning...1.5 days and counting...