Some Favorites For You!

To the right of my blog you'll see a link to the Alive Campaign Blog. The Alive Campaign was started by a few Baylor students when their friend told them he wanted to kill himself. They were so moved by his story, they began a campaign to rise awareness about suicide prevention. Their mission is to ride their bikes from Waco, TX to Anchorage, Alaska. This is roughly a 4500 mile bike trek. You should check out their blog on the right and keep up with their story.

Secondly, I want to share with you a book that might be my favorite of all my summer reading. It's called "Same Kind of Different As Me" and is written by Ron Hall and Denver Moore (Click the picture on the right to view it on Amazon.com). 

The book is the true story of a homeless man who grew up sharecropping and an international art dealer from Fort Worth, TX and their unlikely friendship. It is a very moving book. But be warned, I bawled through the last 100 pages, so keep a box of tissues around. I started at 6 p.m. on Tuesday night and finished it around 3 a.m. Wednesday morning. I could NOT put it down!! I highly recommend it to everyone. 

It's Official. .

I am officially a Master of Education! I've finished my time in graduate school, closed my residence hall at Texas A&M for the last time, told my staff good-bye and moved out of my apartment. I had intended to write one last time before I left College Station, however life took over. I ended up hanging out with my cohort in my last evenings in BCS instead.

Now I'm back in Kentucky for the summer. I brought home a box of books that I've been wanting to read and I'm already on number three. The weather at home is perfect. It's been cool, in the eighties, and sunny (except for today). I have had my window open since I've been home and I forgot how wonderful sleeping in a slightly chilly bedroom is!! I am glad that I get to see some spring while I'm home.

So far I've spent the last two afternoons with my friend Grace at coffee shops, playing Phase 10 and chillin' on our Macs. The summer plans include much of the same. They include- Sleeping until noon most days, reading all the books I brought home, playing lots of Phase 10, dog shopping and taking some pictures. I also need to come up with a jazzy new name for this blog since I will no longer be in graduate school. I'm open for suggestions!!

Speaking of pictures here's a slideshow of hooding and the fun surrounding it:

Really?

I am watching the evening news and one of the democratic candidates said:
"You don't pick a president to make speeches, you pick a president to solve problems and take care of you and your family."

Really? I'm pretty sure that I don't elect a president for those reasons. I'm pretty sure the president is basically a figure head who is in most cases, in capable of actually doing anything. He or she can stop things from happening, which is more why I vote for a president.

Call me crazy, but I don't expect or desire the president to take care of me or my family. Call me Miss Independent, but I prefer to make those decisions by myself. And as far as those who aren't able to do that, they should be taught how to fish. Seriously. I'm scared for the future of our country. Socialism here we come. . . (and we all know how well that's worked out for people who've tried. . . )

I have a job

Ladies and Gentlemen, I officially accepted a hall director position at Baylor University in Waco TX yesterday. I couldn't be more excited!

I worked at Baylor this past summer and absolutely loved my time there. The campus is beautiful, the students are really bright and fun, and the folks I'll work with are pretty great too.

Click the photo of the bear on the left to explore Baylor's Webpage.

Sic 'Em Bears!

Sunshine and Summertime. . .

We had RA field day yesterday (Saturday). While I was not participating, like a good hall director I went to cheer my staff team on (they won 4th overall.) Here's a slide show of them having fun!




During the lunch break I was sitting in a circle with some of my colleagues. I mentioned that I love Texas because of days like this. It was mid-80s and Beautiful! It's like this a lot of the days of the year, winter only last around 2 weeks.

What I forgot about Texas sunshine is that it is much easier to get sunburned. I was only for about an hour and a half and spent half that time under a tree in the shade. But my left arm looks very similar to a lobster leg. My shoulders are actually red, rather than pink. And it HURTS! Guess if I'm going to live in Texas I need to remember that sunscreen is a must, even in April!

Friends

Some of my friends have things going on in their lives I want to tell you about.

First my friend Kim (who was one of my first residents as an RA), her husband Jamie, and their family are dealing with Kim's father's illness. He has been diagnosed with the most aggressive form of brain cancer and has death within 6 months in all cases. He was diagnosed 8 years ago! However, he is in the hospital and is very, very sick. Pray for her family and her father. Kim and Jamie are leaving tomorrow to drive from Nashville to Wisconsin, so pray for their safety and that Kim will get to spend time with her father. You can read their story by clicking here

On a happier note: My friend Kristine has designed a "green" shopping bag in a competition for Kroger. You can vote for her bag and help her win! Go Here

New Couch!

Before:


After:

My friends Jason and Patrick helped me move my new couch into my apartment. I had been "shopping" for about a year for a couch that I liked and could afford. And this was the product!! I LOVE it!!

School work will be more pleasurable done on this lovely thing!

Life As I Currently Know It

This week feels like it had several weeks crammed into one. I've been waiting to update mainly because I haven't had the time and because I've traveled a lot this week. Here's the run down (warning, it's long!):

Last Sunday my mom flew into to Houston for a religious education conference. The plan was for me to pick her up around 1 at the airport. Then we would go check her into her hotel and spend sometime together. She had mentioned shopping. BUT the reality was that her plane was delayed 5+ hours leaving Louisville. So I picked her up, let her check into her hotel, we went do dinner (Cheesecake Factory, YUM) and then I dropped her off. My Paw-Paw (who reads this according to my mom) will be pleased to know that no shopping took place!

I then proceeded to spend 1.5 hours driving around the same 15ish miles in Houston trying desperately to get home! Mom called me about 2 hours after I dropped her off to check on my status (it only takes about 1.5 to get from Downtown Houston to College Station), and I was STILL in Houston proper. GEEZ!

I HATE that city. I told my mom that I would absolutely not ever live in Houston. She told me to be careful about that. She always said she would never marry a man with chest hair, but then she married my dad (who has hair not only on his chest, but his back as well!). I told her I felt that was a little different. . .

Monday was jam packed with stuff that I don't remember. It seems like it was a month ago.
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Tuesday was The Big Day- Comps! I finished my case study on Saturday, and then left it until Monday to do final edits. The edits were entertaining to say the least. (Click here to read about one of them). I didn't sleep on Monday night because I was so nervous. Which I just think is pathetic since I knew I would pass and that I had done an excellent job with my case. None the less, I didn't sleep.

Then came the day. I swear I have never been so emotional in all my life (which says a lot since I'm pretty emotional). My exam was between 12:45-2:00. I have never been so nervous and time has never passed so slowly. Right before I left I received a facebook message from one of my students at Baylor. She wanted me to know that she was praying for me that afternoon, and let me know by typing out the prayer as she prayed it. I cried in my office and part of the way to the room.

I arrived 30 minutes early. They told us that we should be there 15 minutes early (even though they are ALWAYS running behind. . . ) and I wanted to make sure that I was on time. I am the person who is always late. While sitting there I did the soduko puzzle in the Battalion, and did most of the crossword puzzle. I didn't think I liked crosswords, but I actually think I do now. Then, one of my cohort members came to meet with his committee chair. He was early so he sat and talked to me for a few minutes. I cried a little bit again.

FINALLY, I get called in to present my case. The way that works we have 20 minutes to present the issues that we see, the alternatives that we discussed and our final course of action. My paper was 20 pages with 1.5 line spacing. 20 minutes is NOT much time. I went over time, of course. Then came the questioning.

Now, I think it's important to note what I was wearing and a thought that crossed my mind as I walked to Harrington. I wore my favorite black dress. It's essentially a long button up shirt with a red belt that goes around the waist. I think it's super comfy, professional and feminine. And, it makes me look skinner than I actually am. So I LOVE it.

But, I couldn't help but think as I was walking to my exam that I felt like I was heading to an appointment with the firing squad and that it was fitting that I was wearing black.

Fast forward to my comps questioning. I love the faculty members that I chose to be on my committee. I really do. They represent my favorite classes and people who I would consider mentors. With that said however, I really thought for a portion of my exam that I might fail. The way the questions were asked didn't make sense to me. And they were things that didn't really apply to my case. I really felt like I didn't pay attention in law class, even though I did and I loved it. So, needless to say, I was holding back tears and getting choked up during my exam.

Then I had to go wait outside while they decided if I passed. When they came out and told me that I did pass, I cried again. GEEZ! The professor who teaches the comps prep class told us that every year at least one person cries. I really thought it would be someone else in my cohort. I think I might have been the only one. But, who cares I passed, and as long as I turn the rest of my assignments in, I'm graduating on May 9th.

Adios, Grad School!
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The rest of the week brought some sleep, two campus interviews, homework that was due but hasn't been started and the return of The Office. (Who has assignments due comps week, anyway?!) Also, I feel like I have much more clarity and peace about my job search. I am excited to know for sure and be able to tell everyone where I'll be in a couple of months.

I also made my first grown up purchase yesterday. I bought a couch! I furniture store in Bryan was going out of business and I went to look around. I found a GREAT deal on a couch and got it! I will be going tomorrow with the men of my cohort to pick it up and move it into my apartment! I'm SOO excited. I'll post pictures!

That's all for now I think. I need to get started on my assignments. Yikes. :(

26 days and counting!!

Comprehensive Exam Week

My comprehensive exam is tomorrow at 12:45 until 2 p.m. (central time). I finished my written case study on Saturday and didn't look at it again until this afternoon. I'm glad I decided to edit the paper because of this:

I wrote: "This focus on miserable achievement"

Instead of: "This focus on measurable achievement"

That's a Freudian slip at it's best!

Keep me in your prayers!! Hopefully this time tomorrow I'll be officially approved to graduate!

Sweet Southern Comfort. . .

I love that song. But, no matter how much I love it, and how much time goes by, I really am bitter that Kentucky is the only Southern state not referenced in it. Seriously. Texas is, but not Kentucky. Bitter Betty party of one!


Back to the case study. . .

WOAH!

I just typed the words "Comprehensive Exam Case Study" on a cover sheet of the paper. Holy cow!! I'm actually doing my comps!! :)

My heart literally skipped a beat or two after I typed, and when I went back to re-read it!

Holy Cow! 38 days until I have a masters degree, an Aggie Ring, and, hopefully, a job!

One Week From Now

- It will be the day before my comprehensive final. (pray for me on April 8th from 12:45 p.m.- 2p.m. central time)

- Most of my cohort will have gotten their Aggie Rings (I get mine on 5/9)

- My Mom will be in Texas! She's coming for a conference in Houston. I get to see her for part of her time here, and she keeps mentioning "shopping" :)

- My best friend will FINALLY be back in the same country as me!!! She will reenter the world of sweet tea, talking in english, and non-international phone calls. :) I'm excited about being able to call her and talk to her much more often!

There's not much going on this week, but SO much anticipation for next week!

My life. . . (just this week)

The following example sums up how I feel about this week:

In 12 hours I will be sitting in a meeting with one of the associate directors of my department. I am very nervous about this meeting, and have no idea what to expect. I don't really know what it's about (I kinda do, but we've talked through this issue like crazy, so I can't imagine what is left to discuss. And I kind of feel like I might be in trouble and that I might be about to get my butt bit. But I'm not the one to do anything wrong. It's a long crazy story. 44 days is all I have left to deal with it. Praise Jesus!)

Anyway, between now and then I have to complete my LAST practice case study (already 14 pages), meet with a student at 8 a.m. to do a room change, meet another hall director at 8;30 to grab coffee before the meeting above. OH- I can't forget, sleep, shower, and get dressed.

Tomorrow's agenda looks like this:
8-830- Meeting with student
8:30-9- Pick up coffee
9-10ish- Meeting with director
10-11ish- Student Leader Learning Outcomes Committee Meeting
11-12ish- Order my Aggie Ring, pick up lunch from somewhere on campus
12-3ish- Class
3-7ish- Start research paper due Thursday
7-715ish- Fire Drill
8-9ish- Staff meeting
9ish til whenever- Finish paper due in class on Thursday.

YIKES!!!! I don't think I'm going to get my full 8 hours tonight! :(

BUT, on the bright side, after comps (April 8th for me) I only have three assignments left- and they are all at the end of April! :) I'll sleep April 9th.

Being Reminded

Lately I've been reminded of a few things. I thought I'd share:

1. I enjoy cooking especially for other people.
   
2. I LOVE springtime.
   
3. One of the reasons that I love Texas is the long spring season and the ability to go jogging in March wearing only a tank top and shorts.
4. I enjoy jogging.
5. I remember why I quit jogging as my knee THROBBED the entire way around the track.
6. I'm graduating really soon- I got my case study prompt today!
7. My RA staff is phenomenal and I'm really going to miss them.
   

So much pride

I have always been proud to be a Belmont Bruin. I had wanted to go to this "music school" since I was a freshman or sophomore in high school. I remember my senior year how distant the dream seemed. The tuition was way out of my price range, and I was one of those students who coasted through high school with at 3.3.- hardly worthy of a scholarship to an academically based institution.

But, things worked out. God stepped in and one change of my parents hearts, on leadership scholarship and $50000 in student loans later, I graduated from Belmont. With two degrees- neither one the Music Business major that initially attracted me to the small gem hidden within the music city. I could have gone to a cheaper school and gotten my degrees after realizing the music industry wasn't for me. But my pride and love the Belmont, kept me there. Tuition raise after tuition raise.

There is so much pride in my heart for that little school on a hilltop- the school that was/is often overshadowed by the school across the street- Vandy. (I can't imagine how poor little David Lipscomb feels at the other end of the blvd.). I was blessed to be a part of a class that got to see a lot of changes take place that have really boosted our little school into the national spot light.

I survived living in Wright Hall when it was surrounded by construction- The Beaman Student Life and Curb Event Centers on one side, and Kennedy Hall (known only as The New Hall then) on the other. I lived in Hillside when they started tearing down portions of Bruin Hills to build Thrailkill Hall. I remember when Homecoming consisted of Fall Follies and Soccer Games, and students didn't have that much buy in. I remember rushing to get to Showcases early because the Massey Performing Arts Center couldn't hold as many people who would be there. And volunteering to help with set up for The Best of the Best at the Ryman so I could attend. I remember when Belmont was completely a baptist school, and the debate over trustees hadn't yet made its way into the student spectrum. I was there the first year the CMT awards were on campus, I remember how irritated I was about being hassled on my way to work and having to wear "credentials" in my own student center.

I went to the first games in the Curb Events Center- when there weren't a lot more people than Vince Gill and his family. I remember watching with pride as we played and lost to Vandy in the days before Justin Hare. I watched the enthusiasm for Belmont Sports grow and with it, the enthusiasm for the school increase. I was so proud to graduate knowing that I had received a stellar education and that as I moved on to graduate school I was much better prepared than many of my peers from other institutions. To top it off, I had relationships with faculty and administrators that I relied on then, and have been blessed to be able to depend upon now. I had given back to my school by being an RA and a class officer. I was able to be a part of the beginning of the senior class scholarship (a tradition I pray continues and grows). I was sad to leave, but couldn't wait to frame and hang my diplomas on my wall. I wore my Belmont Ring with pride, and still do.

Now, almost two complete years later, the pride I had for my institution then seems so minuscule when compared with the pride I feel now. My alma mater has been in the top of similar institutions, and opened beauitful new health science and theater buildings. An alumna rocked the country on American Idol, and a girl who I sang with in a gospel choir and knew as one of her RAs was crowned Miss USA. Bring grace, pose, integrity and humility to the disgraced program.

As if that weren't enough, the school is hosting a presidential debate this year. The students and alumni are constantly being recognized for their work and contributions. One of my favorite faculty members received a state wide teaching award (so deserved!). And our basketball team has steadily, and consistently forced its name into the living rooms of America. My little Belmont lost to Duke by one point, in the last seconds of the game. People who gave me a hard time about my faith in my school, are finally starting to realize Belmont is more than just a music school with famous alumni. They are starting to take note.

All the great things going on are not a surprise to me. I've known there is something special about that school on a hilltop for nearly a decade now. I had no idea what that might come to look like, and never would have imagined that my little Belmont would be in the place it is now. I cannot wait to see what is in store in the future. I am sure that the institutions motto "from here to anywhere" is true not only for its students, but for Belmont as well.


Go Belmont. . . .

I'm in love...

. . . with an outstanding book. I have recently been reading Elizabeth Gilbert's book Eat Pray Love. I find myself needing to keep a pen with me when reading because I want to remember lines or paragraphs from the book. I want to share one that is especially powerful to me:

There's a power struggle going on across Europe these days. A few cities are competing against each other to see who shall emerge as the great twenty-first-century European metropolis. Will it be London? Paris? Berlin? Zurich? Maybe Brussels, center of the young union? They all strive to out do one another culturally, architecturally, politically, fiscally. But Rome, it should be said, has not bothered to join the race for status. Rome doesn't compete. Rome just watches all the fussing and striving, completely unfazed, exuding an air like: 'Hey- do whatever you want, but I'm still Rome.' I am inspired by the regal self-assurance of this town, so grounded and rounded, so amused and monumental, knowing that she is held securely in the palm of history. I would like to be like Rome when I am an old lady. (p. 72)

While reading that, before I got to the last line, all I could think is how I want to be like that. When I read the last line, I literally exclaimed "Amen!" alone in my apartment.

I've been thinking about the ideas of self-assurance, classiness, and stability a lot lately.

Recently I went to the JFK Presidential Museum in Boston. I found myself drawn to Jackie Kennedy Onassis. She was such a symbol of classic beauty and elegance. She went through a lot of crazy, chaotic, and traumatic things in her life but remained steady, grounded and timeless.

I have found myself surrounded by a lot of competition, striving and chaos this semester. I've never been one to get caught up in things like that going on around me. Truth is, I know that I have a different purpose and calling. I hope that when it's all said and done, I have been like Rome and Jackie O. I believe that I'm called to have a different approach to life and specifically the job search than those around me. I hope that I am doing that calling justice. That I am allowing God to show Himself through me by remaining grounded and confident, not giving into the chaos around me. I also hope that this is preparation for the rest of life, and that I may remain that way no matter what phase of life I am in. I pray there may never be any doubt who I am, and Whose I am.

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Now playing: CASCADA - Truly Madly Deeply (UK Radio Edit)
via FoxyTunes

Boston

I feel like I've moved to Boston! We've been here a week now, and I won't be heading back until tomorrow evening. With the conference being over, today is going to be filled with traveling and visiting the city.

I have never been so excited to go back to College Station, and sleep in my own bed!!

Knocking States off the list. . .

As of right now I have 17 states I've never been to. When I head to Boston that will be 16. I just reserved a rental car to drive to New Hampshire to see my Godparents, which will make that list dwindle to 15. I'm so excited!!

And, I might side step to Vermont and Maine so that I can say it's only 13. . . who knows!

New England here I come!

Excitement!

I leave in just a little more than two days for Boston and the NASPA Conference. NASPA is one of the main student affairs conferences, and one of the biggest places for job searching. While the actual conference starts on Sunday, The Placement Exchange (a.k.a. job searching) starts on Thursday morning. I can't believe that the time has finally come! It seems like we've been talking and planning for this trip forever (I did order my plane ticket in September!). I don't have a lot of job interviews set up yet, only two to be exact. However, there are a few more that I need to apply for and hopefully will have at least 2 more set up before Thursday.

I have reached a good point in my job search. There are people around me who are searching and who are truly desperate. They apply for every job that opens which sounds remotely interesting, even if it is at an institution they wouldn't like to work in, or a place they wouldn't want to live. There are also the people (sometimes they are the same people) who say that the first job is just a job. It's just roughly a two year commitment to gain the experience to get a better job. The goal is just to get one and keep it until a better one comes along. It is truly challenging to watch that and not start to feel a small amount of desperation creeping in. It's also hard not to develop a spirit of pity towards their lack of confidence in their purpose.

I have not grown desperate, and I won't either. My job search comes out of a place of deep calling and passion. I refuse to live my life half-heartedly or to apply for a position just to say that I have. God has called me for a specific purpose, and His time line is much different than the time line of those around me. I have developed a since of pride and confidence in God's hand and calling on my job search. I know that He has an amazing first job lined up for me, and it will be at a place where he has truly called me to serve. The Lord has been truly faithful to me, and I have no doubt that he will continue to be. He has blessed me with a strong sense of discernment, and I know that he will reveal things to me in the right time. I am truly excited to see what and where it is! I pray that I will be able to keep my eyes and my heart focused on Him through this time. I believe I'm called to be an example of peace around chaos. When I have tried to live that on my own, I have failed. I need to remain focused and allow God to work and talk through me. I pray that he uses me to plant some seeds that might grow some day.

On an unrelated note- Safe Spring Break Week started on Thursday. This has demanded a lot of my time as a member of the planning committee and I love seing things come to fruition. Part of the events included two nights of passing out water at bars. Thursday night we passed out water at one of the big dance halls that has a popular college night. Last night we passed it out behind Northgate (the bar district across from campus). The free water was a big hit and we had a great time in the process! Both were long nights (2:30 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. respectfully), where around 700 bottles of water were distributed. I also was able to see a fist fight and report it to the police, which was a first!

The next couple of days means ironing, packing, finishing up some school work that's due on Thursday and getting work stuff ready for me to be out for a week. My NASPA roommates and I drive to Houston on Tuesday evening to stay in a seedy hotel. Our flight to Boston (non-stop, thankfully) is at 7:30 a.m. An early flight is good because it means I can sleep the whole time- which is a blessing for someone who hates flying. Because we have to be at the airport so early (between 6 and 6:30) we decided to drive down the night before. We get into Boston around lunch time, and interviewing starts on Thursday. Sunday the conference starts and finishes next Wednesday. We fly out on Thursday evening. We thought it'd be fun to have an extra night in Boston to sight see and have fun, since it is our spring break!

Fight the Feeling

This is my cousin!! (Distant, but still, we're related).

He's awesome!