May you all

have a blessed Christmas!

17 months to go!

I'd be lying if I said I didn't learn anything this entire semester throughout my first semester of grad school, as much as I don't want to acknowledge it. With seventeen months to go, here's some of the lessons of this past semester.

-I know more about the history of this new profession than I ever desired to know or probably need to know, but it was definitely all new information.
-I finally understand 'in loco parentis' now that I do not live it out on a daily business.
-I've learned what is too many hours of work and taken action to reduce those hours.
-You can make good friends in a new city within five months of moving there, cue "make new friends".
-I am very different from my classmates on so many levels.
-I know some new ways to make cool publicity.
-I never want to be a micromanaging bitchy boss.
-You can definitely learn about giving up control to God by going to school, taking tests and submitting papers. When it's done, it's done and the grade is up to God working through the teacher.
-GPS is wise investment.
-I miss working with teens! Often I wonder if I should be working with teens rather than college students which stinks because I'm earning a degree to work with college students.
-I know what effort is required to get grades that are good enough to keep me off probation and pass in my program. I am learning not to take professors comments personally, because simply, I got a good enough grade and didn't have to sacrifice more of how my life should be framed while living into God's plan for me.
-I can do this! Only 17 months to go!

In My Travels

Oh, the grandeur of having a week off from school and the apartment building to reconnect with friends and recharge. My journey began early Saturday morning with a drive over to the Philly suburbs to say with good friends and play with their son. I last saw him about a month after he was born and by now, at almost eight months, he can do so much more, including spit up on me a lot. :)
Sunday was filled with a worship gathering, followed by hanging out with a good youth ministry friend at a local Holiday parade. I forgot how good it is to do very normal things like watch too many firetrucks go by in parades, heckle the marching band and recognize people in the crowd. The youth group, which she used to direct, was doing a fundraiser and some couples I met through the years of doing joint ministry were there. Then it was off to have Starbucks with a good friend before the massive 13 person Friendly's dinner (yum) and the regular hours of hanging out at someones apartment.
Monday was reserved for the gathering of moms with the exception of me. I got the chance to hang out with a wonderful group of Godly woman whom I have known for years as we met back when we were all single. Each of them me them met their husbands at church and now have children with more on the way. Amongst the four of us women we had the almost 8 month old, twin 10 month old and a 15 month old to play with and chase around the house as we got caught up. I miss them so much! While it's good to have play dates here and there, its not the same as living life together like we used to;
For dinner I dashed off to have dinner with some old coworkers before making the journey to LI for family time. Long Island was filled with family time, Thanksgiving, reading for class, Thanksgiving worship service, seeing church family and a quick trip to Starbucks with a friend. Then the craziness ensued Friday and Saturday. Late night bowling with friends who happen to be teenagers and act like it means that things will not be boring. Plus when my sis and I have a gathering with friends who used to be our neighbors nothing will be too calm and I have pic/video to prove it.
But break has to end so after the worship service and coffeehour on Sunday I packed up the car to begin the journey back. After a too short visit with Billy between services at his church I arrived back to reality at 11:30 p.m. to begin the final week of classes, apartment work and studying/writing for finals.