Forgetting Things

I forgot to give my dog a bath earlier this week.

After my last session ended tonight, I forgot that it was Thursday--the last day of the clinical semester--and I wouldn't see any of my clients again.

I forgot to do my laundry until today. It was three days overdue.

I forgot to rinse out my tea pitcher. The crazy ants had a hayday once they infested my kitchen sink.

I forgot to ask my landlord who this person was so I could give them the baby formula that was mistakingly placed in my mailbox. The powdery stuff is still sitting on my coffee table.

And, sadly, I forgot to post my Multitude Monday note three days ago.

It's just been one of those weeks. This blog has been neglected for over a week now, so I thought I had better visit. In spite of everything going on, what with the deadly weather and preparing to end the semester, I can still praise God...in everything. He is good!

Thank You, Lord for...
66. Your protection in the midst of the deadly storms.
67. Allowing me to spend time with the Brazeals, even if we were stuck in a smelly basement most of the time and were all busy with schoolwork. Just being there was medicine for my heart. It felt good to not be alone, even when completing mundane tasks. Thank you for my "second family" as well as my first!
68. the opportunity to see that incredible lightning the other night, to give me a glimpse of Your eternal power, might, glory, and purity. Thank you for lighting up the sky up with streaks of lightning going all different directions--at one point looking like a perfect cross. It was a beautiful sight! And, somehow, completely silent. The sound of thunder never came.
69. Thank you for a brother who cares--and for his rarely-spoken words: "I love u sis." Thank you for giving him a desire to go back to school and seek a college degree...to do something better with his life.
70.Thank you for this week! The end of school is in sight!

Happy Birthday!

Today was a special day this year for me.

Today I turned 24. Double dozen.

Shopping and Panera Bread with some fun-loving friends.

Then off to school where I found my desk looking like this:

Cupcakes, balloons, banner, therapy materials, and a card lay waiting for me to find.

Everyone in the building sang happy birthday to me.

Even some who I didn't know.

Sharing cupcakes was fun, therapy was fun--with both clients,

then off to see the new ACTS, Jr. play: Summer Camp Scrapbook.

It was awesome, by the way.

Just like everything else about this day.

Including the weather, until after the performance. Now it is starting to look nasty outside.

But even that has its ups. I get to spend some time with some very good friends.

Thank you, Lord, for blessing me with the perfect birthday.

You knew just what I needed.

M-O-N-D-A-Y

Church.

I missed most all of Pastor John's message Sunday morning as I was one of the nursery workers and we had a full house. We had the monitor on so we could watch the service, but with so many sweet babies bouncing around, it was difficult to focus on anything else. I hear it was a wonderful message.

Our Sunday School class studied through two verses (and started a third!). We're nearing the end of Galations now. What a blessing this study has been! Sadly, Ephesians and Galations are two books that seem to be--overlooked--quite often by the faith I grew up around. If everyone could just BEGIN to grasp the beauty of the gospel and Paul's firm stance against infiltration of our own works, what a difference it could make.

What a difference it HAS made in me.

"Doing enough" is something I have always tried to accomplish, but satisfaction has never come. It can't come because I never will be able to "do enough" to earn anything from God. God has torn down some of the enemy's strongholds in my life over the course of this study--lies that crippled my faith.

Freedom.

That is what I feel in my spirit. God has freed me! He's still working through some things, but oh have my eyes been opened! Sometimes I want to just burst out with gratefulness to my peers in class, to share with them what God is doing in me and how He is using them to do so. Sometimes I want to just hug someone neck and tell them thanks for bringing out a point I'd never thought of before, to tell them that pondering it throughout the week had brought me closer to my Father, and I loved them all the more for it.

But I just don't.

I push it off on shyness, but is that it? Now here I go off on a tangent.

Family.

My brother's married. I'll have a new neice or nephew in the Fall. My mom's married. I have only talked to her once...maybe twice unless that one was a dream...since the big news. She seems...sweet, so very sweet. I don't think I've ever seen that side of my mom, but I love it! Once of my sister's is engaged to the father of her two daughters. She is so excited about planning a wedding and texts me pictures of colors all the time. It's kind of fun to see her giddy with joy! Oh, any my grandparents, well they are doing just dandy I think. Any little news I get from them is usually hand squeezed out of Mamaw. She's one of those folks that says everything's fine, but once you talk long enough and ask enough questions, you find out a tornado came through and killed all your friends, your dog died, your Aunt had a baby, and two of your high school teachers won Pulitzer's prizes for some thing or another. I may be exaggerating...a little bit...but just a little. Mamaw always brightens my day and I love talking with her, even if it is just to say, "Hi!" She says Papaw's got a colonoscopy scheduled for tomorrow. My birthday. I wonder if there's any way I could make it to Little Rock to see them before therapy. Mamaw says it wouldn't be possible. They wouldn't be free until after 4--when my days really gets started. :(

Bringing this long section to a close, I want to ask anyone who reads this to pray for one of my sisters. They all need prayer--exceuse me, WE all need prayer--but one of my sisters has left and no one is really sure where she is or what she's doing. Last I'd heard, she'd left her son behind and gone back to a guy she been with before who beat her, abused her, and stalked her--a guy I'd rather not see again. I love this sister so very VERY dearly and I just want her to stay safe. And find Jesus. Only He can fill that void she is trying so desparately to fill.

School.

Two weeks left of therapy at the college clinic. After final reports are completed (due Wednesday), things will start winding down. I'm excited about my placement in a nursing home in the summer, just one more little reminder that I only have 3 months and 22 days left until graduation.

Down Time.

I don't have much of that, or I shouldn't have with all I've got going on in order to prepare the end of the semester, but I am trying to take time out to read the newest Mysterious Benedict Society: The Prisoner's Dilemma. I've really liked this series so far, though I am a little iffy about some of the stuff in this newest book. Yeah, I know they are kids' books, but hey, I don't wanna grow up!

I've also spent some time "organizing". Here's SOME of my therapy materials (not as organized yet as I would like):

And here is my "Prayer door." I put either pictures or reminders up to represent people or situations that I pray for each day.

Thankfulness.

56. Another year.

57. Every one of those people represented in the photo above. 

58. Getting a virus on my little pink netbook. This may seem strange blessing, but a classmate's laptop cable stopped working this weekend, so I was able to bless her with the one for my useless computer until the one she ordered comes in.

59. Passionate Perspectives speakers and the practical and applicable information they share about how to bring the gospel to those who have yet to know Jesus.

60. A saying that crossed my path this week, reminding me of a dear friend: "A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and will sing it back to you when you forget the words."

61. Psalm 37, and specifically the beautiful plaque with verse 4 written on it a precious "sister" gave to me for my birthday in rememberance of this Psalm.

62. Health

63. No doctor's bills yet!

64. The news of a friend's pregnancy. What a blessing she and her husband have received!

65. Friends who pray. Friends who love. Friends.

Another Monday

Random Blessings. Because I like it that way.

46. An ecstatic congratulations from my department's academic advisor for making one of the highest scores on the PRAXIS at our school. Wow, I thought it wasn't a great score, but I must have been wrong. Only with God was that even possible!
47. Holding my dog safely in my arms after she gave me a scare--breaking out the door and running all over the neighborhood--from our home that is within sight of a VERY busy four-lane highway where animals lose their lives every day. I chased her, barefoot, almost in tears, for nearly 15 minutes and over a mile of zig-zagging and running. My feet are raw and I am cross with her, but in that moment I realized I love this dog so very much and it would kill me to lose her. I can't believe she did that! She's never run like that before! Perhaps being in heat had something to do with it. She also seemed to think it was a game. I could just see someone coming around a corner in the dark and hitting her--right in front of my eyes.
48. Finding a pocket folder this afternoon full of paintings, sketches, and collages my sister Rebecca and brother Christopher made for me over the years. It blessed my soul to look back at those and think of those kids, so sweet, innocent, and full of life when they created these little masterpieces. God can restore that sweetness in them--I have hope! And, regardless, I love them as much today as I did when they gave them to me.
49. Hearing a client (an adult client) say, "I don't want you to leave at the end of the semester. I will miss you" and enjoying a sweet conversation with her.
50. Finding out that my summer placement is...*drumroll please*... ... ... ... ... a nursing home! I wasn't too thrilled when I first read the name of the place because it is one of the bad ones in town, but then I got to thinking: I will come in contact with SO MANY people at this place, and in their situation, they need some sunshine. Well, God's giving me an opportunity here to be that sunshine for these folks. I can let Christ shine in me--Sonshine--and spread His joy, peace, and love to them. I've volunteered in nursing homes a lot in my lifetime, and I've done some SLP observations at these facilities. One thing I come away with every time is a heaviness and depression from the pain these guys go through--when their families ignore them, when they don't HAVE family, when they feel helpless and completely dependent on others, when they just can't really live like they used to. So many have lost the will to live. Can God use me to bring purpose back to their lives? Please pray with me on this one. It's a blessing and a prayer all rolled into one!
51. The Wycliffe bible translation ministry and the speaker from it who came Sunday night. I want to be a part of this ministry. Missions has been on my heart since I was a kid (ask my grandma if you don't believe me. She knows!) and bible translation/other languages have intrigued me and been something I've always wanted to do but didn't feel smart enough to attempt to do. Today, I was looking through some old notes I wrote as a teenager for a youth class. The notes were my "aspirations for the future." You know what I said I wanted to be doing in 10 years? "Teaching English or history, learning foreign languages, and translating the bible for languages without a bible of their own." That's what Wycliffe does! (well, minus the English and History part!). Who knew I'd be an SLP instead--a career choice with linguistics skills that could prove useful to learning a language? God has amazing ways of getting us where He wants us, doesn't He?! We'll see where this path goes...
52. A nice, new, ginormous air conditioner. Thank you, landlord, for installing it before the heat hit! I've been pampered.
53. The confirmation I feel about the decision to keep renting this house, even if I did do travel therapy. Also for this feeling that I won't travel but instead find a very good job around here. I don't know why that makes me feel kind of excited, but it does. I also don't know why the idea has crept into my mind. God can see around the corner. Maybe He's just hinting to me that He's got a plan bigger than I can see.
54. Thankful for God's prodding me in love through His word. He daily shows me a limb in my heart and/or life that needs trimmed back, pruned to keep from blocking His glory from shining through. I am grateful for His chastening, even for the times when it hurts so bad I can't breathe for the tears and disgust at my own sin. It is those times when God has been able to speak to me the clearest. Humbled, broken, and knowing He loves me enough to show me where I fall short rather than leave me to my own to fall into satan's snare.
55. A new day. A morning to open my eyes and say, "Thank you, Lord, for waking me up! Thank you for another day!"

Spring

new, green leaves

ecstatic, singing birds

strong, chilly breeze

faint, sweet blossoms

fresh, cool water

my favorite season.

I decided to try my hand at writing a sensory poem. Not too shabby for a simple reminder of all that is sensed during this beautiful season.

On a less creative note, I just discovered this thing on my dashboard called "Stats." I can actually see how many times people view my profile, what country they are from, and what method they used (e.g., google search). It was kind of strange to read about all the countries that have seen my blog. I started this just for my Mamaw and Aunt, and I only have a handful of friends who even know it exists. With only eight followers, one being myself (not sure how that happened), somehow, I have almost 1,000 views. That's kind of neat.

Or creepy. Whichever way you want to look at it.

Four more months!

Four months, seven days.

That's all the time left of my "college career." Then I'll be a big girl, a "grown-up," and I'll have to face the real world.

Good news is, I passed my PRAXIS. Just found out today.

Where am I going to go after school? The options are staggering:

Travel therapy?

Where to?

Stay here?

What's available?

What population?

They're all fabulous. Do I have to choose?

What setting?

Schools? Hospitals? Clinics? Nursing facilities? Home/Daycares?

I don't really care about the money, except that I want to pay off my accumulated student loan debt.

I just need direction.

"God, guide me to a decision that will bring you the most glory."

Miscelaneous

I'm sure I didn't spell that right, but neither can most of the American population.

That makes me feel  better.

Microsoft Word has spoiled my spelling skills, and unfortunately blogger lacks the spell checker I've grown so accustomed to.

Friends make good spouses.

A recent study found that people who show themselves friendly are more likely to have lasting marital relationships. Hmm. How many scientists, labs, and subjects did it take to figure that one out? :) I came across the article while browsing my email. You can read it HERE.

A decade is plenty of time to forget.

It is easy to forget someone, especially if the person you forgot was someone you've never met in person. Seeing a face usually does the trick of embedding them in your memory for life. A guy popped up on my yahoo messenger today whose username looks familiar, but I am clueless as to who it might be or how I met him. I'm thinking it was from that year, between my 12th and 13th birthdays, when I chatted with random strangers in chat rooms. I wisened up pretty quick to creepiness out there. Regardless, I'm very curious as to who this person is.

I finally discovered the origin of the Groucho Marx mask.

I found out who Groucho Marx was! I bought a collection of old classics at the store because it had "Arsenic and Old Lace" on it--one that I remember laughing my head off at the ridiculousness of. One of the films included in the collection was "A Night at the Opera," starring the Marx brothers. Right off the bat, I recognized the resemblance of Groucho's face to those toy masks that came in every goody bag I got as a child. 

Organizing books is hard work.

I should've known, having been a library aide for 3 years of high school. I spent nearly 4 hours setting up an organized system for just my kids books. Of course, the system included ordering the books, taking inventory of them, writing my name in each one in case they are lent out to classmates, and organizing them electronically for easy search on my computer. I wonder how long it will take to get through all the rest of my books?

The sun split the clouds.

At least that's what it looked like yesterday morning. I wish I had a better camera than this silly point-and-shoot that has no options. Better yet, I wish I knew how to use one. Sun rays beamed through the clouds via several holes that spread at least half a mile wide. It was utterly amazing to behold. For some reason, my mind automatically thought, "The Lord sees all, hears all, knows all" when I saw this beautiful act of nature. It reminded me of His light peircing the darkness. Thinking of it sends chills of joy down my spine.

I'm thankful to the Lord for:

41. the passion of our instructors in Perspectives class. What a blessing!

42. hearing reports of God answering prayers--healing some, protecting others. What an encouragement!

43. the reminder of His faithfulness in spite of my fickle, wavering emotions. He has stood by me at times in my life when I literally turned my back on Him. I don't ever want to forget!

44. protecting me as I braved a drive in Little Rock during rush hour and for blessing me with a beautiful day with a dear friend. Friends are gifts from God!

45. allowing me an opportunity to go to bible study last Friday night--the first in over six months. Being there, listening to my peers discuss the Living Word, and applying it to our own lives was definitely something I needed. I wish I could be a part of something like that every Friday night.

 

Spring Break

I said I would post later about Spring Break, so here it is...every detail, from the fun and intriguing to the exceedingly mundane:

On Saturday, I went to a Neurological Ranch for school to administer some tests on folks who've had strokes, traumatic brain injuries, or other neuro issues. The grounds of the 400+ acre ranch were breathtakingly beautiful. However, the experience made me realize I don't think I'm cut out to daily work with people who can't inhibit their thoughts.

The Ranch

On Sunday, I enjoyed visiting with some friends from church and basking in the glorious weather on their many patios. We even ate dinner outside--using bar stools as tables! That night, the moon was absolutely stunning in the sky. A kind friend happened to have a camera handy and took a few photos of it as we were both heading to our cars that evening. God's handiwork is magnificent!

While he was snapping these pretty photos (and many more), another friend and I were discussing how we were going to convince her mother to let her spend the day with me without arousing her mother's suspicion. Sneaky us had a plan up our sleeves...

...a plan to aid her father in surprising their mother with a beautiful reception on their 30th wedding anniversary. Their anniversary was the next day--Monday--and not a single plan had been made when this moon's phase was captured shortly before midnight.

With the help of other family members, friends of the family, and a sweet mother and daughter from our church, the reception fell together beautifully just in time for the couple's arrival at the church.

The same kind photographer who caught the moon took these photos. It just seems I don't have a camera on me when I need one most! He even included a video clip from the moments when the lovely bride was "surprised!" However, because I haven't received permission prior to writing this, I have left names out of this story and faces out of the photographs. It was a beautiful, fun night. Worth every second of labor, too! We all went out to the family's home afterward for more fun and fellowship--into the wee hours of Tuesday morning.

Tuesday started with another doctor's appointment to find out if a CT scan was necessary or if I could live without one for now. The meeting lasted only about 10 minutes and it was decided that the strange object in my pelvis showing up on X-Rays doesn't seem to be bothering me right now so I can survive CT Scan-free for the time being. Good news! 

The rest of the day was spent patio-furniture shopping with the family mentioned above (refer to reception story). We spent hours (quite literally) sitting around a table in the Walmart Garden Center chatting while the gentle breeze blew around us. 'Twas nice.

Wednesday wasn't near as eventful. Housework, schoolwork, a quick visit to try out the patio furniture that was chosen, and AWANA with the precious kiddos who were rowdier than usual. I wonder if the break had anything to do with it?

Thursday was not interesting at all. I ran errands all day and read/watched movies all night. I took Stella to have her bush groomed down to a manageable length. This photo was taken on my phone shortly after picking her up Thursday night:

They cut her hair quite badly. Look at the pink patch of completely bare flesh on her chest...whereas there is patches of fur at different lengths all over the rest of her little body.

Friday was grandulous. Is grandulous a word? If not, now it is. Anyway, I spent all morning trying to find someone interested in going to the Museum of Discovery with me (thankfully, the perfect person agreed to go with me this past Tuesday instead). Then I went around town with a very good friend to pick up materials for building a chicken coop at the youth ranch she works at. We bought some chickens before heading back to the ranch. It was so precious to hear those little chirps!
Stella met Glory, my friend's adorable yellow lab pup, and instantly fell in love. They are now best friends. I was too soft-hearted to tell them there will come a time (very soon!) when the can no longer play so rough together due to Glory's rapid growth and many months to go before it peaks.
The rest of the evening was spent getting to know my friend better--and loving every minute of it--as well as discovering that Stella is actually a well-behaved dog and obeys me more than I realized. My only regret from that visit is that it couldn't have been longer, much longer, as I had to get up at 4:30a.m. to head back home. Why?

Because I had to work on Saturday morning, that's why! Regardless of my exhaustion, the day was a good one. I took some of the fellas bowling and realized they bowl a lot better than I do! Well, that's not saying much because I stink at it, but still! I was impressed! It made me itch to go bowling sometime myself. I really need to do that soon. I watched a couple of movies while doing some computer work that night after work.

Sunday was a typical Sunday. I enjoyed meeting with my peers for the Sunday school class, picking back up in Galations chapter 5. You wouldn't believe how long we've been in Galations if I told you. It's a good way to study scripture, though, and I rightly enjoy the pace. We dig much deeper into the Word through this class than any other class I've ever attended. Even Old Testament Survey my freshman year of college wasn't as thought-provoking as this class and I had to write a 9-page paper for it! I learned a lot more about J. Hudson Taylor during service that afternoon and walked away with one particular scenario burned in my memory: the story of Mr. Taylor giving the $50 bill in his pocket--all the money to his name--to a poor man whose wife was dying. In that moment I realized that I don't know if I could trust God in that situation. I want to, I hope I would, but would I? I only pray that my trust in Him will grow stronger--and that I will place complete trust in Him. Perspectives class was back in full swing and the place was more crowded than usual. That's not a bad problem to have! :)

I went home and fell asleep. Thus ended Spring Break 2011...the last one I shall ever experience as a student.