Seriously Adorable.

I can't get enough pictures of my precious little nephew!

I mean seriously.

Adorable.

Can't wait to meet you Cutter!

Wow.

A lot has happened in the past month.

1. Saw my sister, brother-in-law, and (hopefully soon to be born) nephew!

2. Got to spend a "girls" weekend with mom and sister! Tons of fun!

3. Had a bunch of friends over for fondue! Delicious! : )  

4. Took the NCE! Find out in 6-8 weeks if I passed and can get licensed.

Really, this post was just to post some fun photos of my sister!

Can't wait to meet my little nephew! Graduation is in 2 months! Hooray!

Blessed.

I have so much to be thankful for every single day of my life. Days like today, remind me once again, that I am as a human, as an American, prone to forgetting that I am so blessed. The rest of this might be a heavy post, so if you want light and easy, just skip over the rest of this. But days like today have me thinking about my life & my purpose.

I was reading an article the other night and fully realized the extent to which I have such a taxing, heart moving, tough, painful, and oh so rewarding profession. To really get in touch with such deep inner pain means I must be willing to experience some of that pain, to face it and believe in the other person's capacity to handle that pain. (Garry Landreth)

I realized again today. There was a woman who I referred to residential treatment because of her extensive drug use - a woman for which I could do nothing else. I listened as she described some of the worst abuse I have ever heard. I let her cry without trying to stop her. I listened as she described how tired she has become of using every day and the wreckage and chaos her life had turned in to. I listened as she said, "I just want to be happy. To smile." I didn't try to minimize her pain, her drug use, her failings. I put away my questions and sat there, encouraging her to find a shred, an ounce, just the tiniest amount of hope she could find and hold on with her whole life. Almost a week later, today, she called to thank me for being a blessing in her life. This woman, who statistically will not make it through residential treatment and will go back to using - called me to say thank you, for taking the time to listen and just sit with her. She told me no one else listens.

I am so thankful - that I am a part of a profession that seeks meaning in their work, that experiences another human's pain and gives hope, and one that BELIEVES that the other people can handle the pain. I am thankful, that it didn't matter what theory or technique I used, it only mattered that I cared. That I showed this woman I cared.

I am blessed beyond belief.

Among other things..

I don't like when people lie to me. It makes me angry. Sometimes disappointed. Mostly angry.
I usually just let it be and keep that to myself. However. Not with big companies who annoy me.

Here is to you lady at Time Warner who just lied to me.
If you are going to tell the customer that you can not change their bill, make sure that is true. I will ask for your manager which makes you look like an idiot. If you are going to lie to a customer, make sure it is not one who used to work a customer service position herself.  I know what to say and to make your life a little more uncomfortable.  If you want to tell the customer that the competitors use DSL and you use cable, so you are faster, make sure you know what competitors the woman on the phone mentioned. I might have mentioned other providers that actually have MORE efficient services than you. If you are going to use the company's webpage to back up your lie, make sure it matches your lie, because it makes you look ridiculous and shows you are a liar. I will go check that website and find out if you are lying, which you were.

Someone at Time Warner is about to get an eyeful when they have to read and respond to my long tirade about the poor way their customer service people are treating customers and how they are lying to the customers. Girl probably thought it was someone else who would cave. Wow was she wrong.

Miscellaneous Musings

My Miscellaneous Musings

• I never could pull all-nighters in high school or college. I just got exhausted easily and stopped doing my work. So, figures that at around 1:30am after helping Tim, I laid down on the floor, pulled a pillow with me, and answered the rest of the questions with my eyes closed.
• That brings me to this: Apparently, Dr. Hobby taught me very well about APA formatting and I'm a ridiculous nerd. I wanted to cry after reading through someone's references and seeing that every one of them was botched!
• So far, this semester seems a BREEZE compared to the Spring. I so hope that it stays that way! Tim and I got to have a date on Friday night and everything! That so rarely happens!
• I get to see my sister in 2 weeks! So excited! Mom and I are driving down together, I'm taking her maternity photos, and we're going to her shower on Sunday! Can we say I am so excited!

GA

We went to GA and I had a photo shoot with Gayle & Sarah. These are some of my favorites. I will share more photo posts later but thought I'd get one in before my last grad school semester starts!

Waiting.

God's a safe-house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times.

The moment you arrive, you relax; you're never sorry you knocked.

Psalm 9:9-10 (The Message)

I talked to a close friend the other night who was going through the rough time. She felt so strongly that God had put her in a situation and wondered why she felt like God had dropped her there - waiting for something to happen and to change.

Now, I sit and have to wait. Ten days. Wait and see what God has planned.

Thankfully, last night, I read that Psalm and fell in love with it.

So comforting, so peaceful.

I think it makes the waiting easier.