First day of school.

{this was supposed to post this morning. my internet was having issues}


Today is quite possibly my last first day of school.

ever.

{but maybe not. PhD anyone?! no.}

that's weird to me.

I did the {basic} math and realized that this is my 20th first day of school.

I bet my mom's so proud! :)

I can still remember my first day of real school, wearing my hair in a ponytail with a massive bow/clip thing, a denim skirt, ruffle socks, and white shirt with my brand new backpack {that I got for my bday!}

We always took our pictures outside on the sidewalk before the bus picked us up. And the early morning sun behind me...

{still have that picture, mom?}

But since I don't live in the pretty country house on that lonely gravel road anymore, and I don't really need a big 'ol backpack {since I only have one class today}...

we'll have to settle for this less than exciting first day of school picture.

yes, I cut my head off. on accident. whoops!

Here's to 20 years of education!

{too nerdy??}

and yes, I know this is blurry. It was a picture-fail kind of morning.

...and here's to {hopefully} acing another fellowship interview this afternoon!
{which, btdubs...went ahhhhmazingly!!!}

eek.

{source}

I have another interview this afternoon for that amazing fellowship I mentioned before. 

And while I thought this pictures was fitting,

I'm not really nervous today :)

I'm just excited!

I'll be meeting with some big wigs from the Hematology/Oncology unit...

which would be my first choice for my placement, were I to receive the fellowship.

I cannot wait to sit and chat with such wise individuals, who are doing the very things I'm so interested in.

Kind of like a dream come true, you know?

Even if I don't get the fellowship!

Just chatting and gleaning wisdom from them is amazing enough.

So if you're looking for me around 3:30 today...that's where I'll be :)

{and I WILL catch up on my blogroll soon enough, these doubles at work are putting a serious kink in my style!}

interview.

"Hi, My name is Katie the grad student and I want your money."

source

Ha! Too forward?! Maybe.

But today will go something like that for me. 

I have a pretty big interview for an AMAZING fellowship.

You see, grad school is expensive. And social work isn't exactly a lucrative career that will really pay back the degree quickly.

Hence the need for a paid fellowship.

And to be honest, I still would have applied if it were unpaid.

You see, there's this AMAZING children's hospital in Indy. Like world renowned amazing. I got really sick in 3rd grade and spent some time there, so I know firsthand. 

They focus on family-centered care and the doctors, nurses, administrators, and social workers all work together. That's a pretty rare concept these days.

Anywhoooooo, I would love to get this fellowships. The internship at the hospital, the mentorship by some awesome and wise people, the learning experience in general...and let's be honest, the money...would ALL be so amazing. once in a lifetime stuff, here.

So today, at 4pm, I'll make my trek downtown for my interview. 

If you think of it, pray for me? For my passion and heart and commitment to social work to show through? But really, for God to be with myself, the fellowship administrators, and anyone else involved to make wise decisions with this process.

Here goes nothing :)

{also, when I googled 'interview' to get a pic...this was one of my options. What?!?!}

source

dundundun.

clearly I'm into 2 posts/day these days.

And clearly I'm ok with that :)

I guess I just get so excited about things,

I have to share them with someone.

{and J has a habit of not answering his cell phone during the day. Something about having to do work while at work. weird}

Anywhooooz.

I finished my summer class!

FINALLY.

ohmyfreakinggosh.

This class drug onandonandonandon.

And the beast of a paper I've been slowly drawing out and procrastinating on was killing me.

But you better believe I just submitted that baby and said a sweet, sweet goodbye to grad school until late August, baby!

And I'm just a {wee} bit excited about it!

Now its just me, the summer sun, waitressing, and hot weather for the next 2 months :)

And I can think of two other furbabies who are pretty excited about this summer class thing coming to an end...

{what a baby. See his video debut on the post below!}

{rough life. And yes, she still has a head. Its just in its usual position, hanging off the couch.}

Ready, Set, Back to School.

And one month later, I'm diving back into grad school. 

head first.

4 (harder) classes.

1 (seemingly wonky...so far at least) practicum.

Lots of homework.

Still selling bras and panties.

Trying to get back in shape with the hubs.

and also trying to keep quiet in the meantime.

woooooweee. 

I.will.not.be.overwhelmed.

(repeat to self x5)

Anyone else feel like this new year is coming in full force? eek!

Cheer up pup! Only 1 1/2 year left!

exchanging ornaments.

I joined The Great Ornament Exchange 2010 and knew that I had to make a homemade ornament. Low funds and a bug to sew both contributed to this necessity. 

I scoured the internet and found this little gem and knew I had to make it. but let's just say that paper piecing and hand sewing are not my fortes! 

Here's my finished product. I used some Amy Butler fabric I've been waiting to break out. It turned out ok but definitely has some signs of homemade love.

Sure hope Bethany likes it! Its off in the mail...so I guess we'll see! And I can't wait to see what new addition to our tree I'll be receiving :)

after cramming (as in Ihaven'tevenstartedstudying) for my exam tomorrow, I'll finally get to start enjoying this Christmas break! And I sure do have a list of things to accomplish.

think reading, baking, Anne of Green Gables, sewing...

i.can't.wait.

this.close.

two more papers down.

one group project and one policy paper to go.

and a measly exam

I'm so close I can almost taste it...

(also so close I may be going crazy.)

I'm determined to come out alive.

for a glimpse into my life...watch this. 

friendly reminder.

I woke up this morning and could not think of one good reason for being in grad school right now.

I want to gauge my own eyes out.

graphic, yes. but true.

This is my life right now. (there is some slight language in video. don't judge. I didn't make it.)

clearly, I need to remind myself why I'm doing this (and that in one measly week I'll get the most needed month long break of my life).

so, in effort to do that, I've made myself a little list to prevent my from gauging said eyes out while I write this lit review, write my program development paper, create a lobbying strategy, and summarize my service learning experience. (makes you want to die just reading it, right? right? i know).

10 reasons being a grad student is GOOD and RIGHT

1. really, its not that hard. aside from these two weeks.

2. I really do love learning. wait I do? yes, yes I do. 

3. James 1:27. its not about me, remember?

4. I've been given so much, and in order to help others through the gifts i've been given I.need.this.freaking.degree.

5. I have a kick butt internship lined up for Spring semester. 

6. life isn't easy and challenges are good for me. Right, Jesus?

7. What other full-time gig would allow me to spend so much time with this cutie?! (besides being a mom. But J says I have to wait for that...)

8,9 & 10. God is good. He doesn't give me too much. He's all I need. (want to write my papers, God? pleeeease?)

sigh. I feel better already. and with my group mtg cancelled, more time to finish work, and snow on the ground and a dog to go play with...

its not a bad day.

hopefully I don't die before the semester ends though.

friendships, grad school, and other life things.

this week has been absolutely crazy. (in so many ways)

i have some pretty kick-in-the-pants papers and projects for school 

J left his job (to move on to bigger and better things though!)

we went to small group again (another success!)

i had a bit of annoying health things (really facial swelling? every wednesday? you're getting on my nerves.)

aaaand murphy peed on our white curtains again.

awesome.

but really, I love busyness and challenges and its not been all bad.

although my grad school plate is piled hight right now, the end of the semester is This.Close. and i have next week off for thanksgiving. (can I get a hallelujah?!) 

God's been So.Very.Faithul. with the job situation. I've never felt so much at peace about such an uncertain thing. (another hallelujah? yes please!)

and small group. ohhhhh let me tell you about that. it was wonderful on so many levels! We're on James now, and as J referred to it, its a major kick in the pants. Add to that some wonderful conversation and new friends...and you have a complete grown-up success! J and I both walked away excited about the group and new friends and just being grown ups. I'm so glad we took the step and tried it out!

and I finally have some meds to help with my pesky swelling, so that's most definitely a blessing. still pesky, but not so much.

and murphy. how can I be mad a such a cute, cuddly dog? Exactly. I can't. How am I ever going to be a good parent when I can't even discipline my dog?! 

enough rambling? probably. gold star if you actually read this rambling post :)

happy almost weekend and thanksgiving! 

in other words

I'm in class all day today (which is fine by me...I love school!)

But during our first morning break, I noticed that Kate, one of my favorite bloggers, had a new post up.

Never one to skirt around sensitive issues, this post about Onan and abortion is no exception. I think it must be extra interesting to me because the story of Tamar is one of my favorites and I do and will continue to experience the issue of abortion in my social work career.

So if you're looking for some thought-provoking reading today, head over and take a look.

back in action.

Oh hey, world! I forgot you existed for awhile...

grad school will do that to you.

Sorry about being m.i.a for so long, but it was like academic diarrhea this week. seriously, it was SPLAT all at once.

(was that too graphic?)

but anywhoooo I could not be more excited to resume life again. After class last night, i breathed the biggest sigh of relief and treated myself to more York peppermint patties (i have no shame about my current obsession), the Office, and the Apprentice. and an early bedtime.

all is well again!

I'm feeling really lazy today, but that's ok because the only things on my to-do list are things i love. cleaning. running. project runway. crafting. seeing my better half. finally.

happy friday!

sidenote: let it be known that while i was absent from the blogging world for a few days, several posts were still started in my head. a few of them:

-an open letter to the squirrels and chipmunks of the monon trail

-an open letter to AT&T

-an open letter to Bath & Body Works

(why am I on an open letter train of thought?)

...all that said, I'll spare you my feelings about the above things. just know they're strong. especially towards the first two. curse you AT&T and Monon critters! curse you!

Grad school

...that's what Murphy thinks of me going to grad school. No worries, sweet puppy, after today we'll have time for more walks, ball-throwing, treat-eating, and your favorite, cuddling!

blah...
i'm bogged down with tons of reading for class right now. and zero motivation to finished said reading (also, I think I need glasses because the words blur together and I get a headache every.single.time. i read. but that's another story!)
also, I want a cuter blog. I see lots of blog templates by an elusive Josh Peterson. I don't know him, but I want one of his templates.
and despite my absence, I have been working on my national sewing month projects! Placemats are underway, fabric for the clutch has been cut...and that's where I am. a post on that later perhaps? When I'm done with my homework?

Also, I decided that if I had a nice camera I would take/post more pictures. But my 5 year old Sony Cybershot isn't doing so hot these days. We're not really on speaking terms.

sigh. back to reading about social policy. joy! :)

sigh of relief.

First day of grad school- done.
Verdict- not too bad!

I woke up bright and early this morning, half-nervous/half-excited about the official start of this new chapter. As the long day of syllabus-reading, group discussing, and power point overviews unfolded, I realized that I did not, in fact, bite off more than I can chew (as I've been questioning for the past week!). Instead, I was reminded of my deep passion to help others, to challenge my own thinking and encourage others to do the same, to surround myself with wise individuals, to seek to know my God better through my studies and my career. I walked out of class today feeling very blessed for this opportunity and excited about the refining process that these next two years will surely bring. (Remind me of that six months from now when I'm knee deep in journal articles, research papers, and field work...or when I get my first paper returned and a big fat C or D stamped across the front!).

Other things I'm especially enjoying tonight...
orange sherbert.
my sweet dog.
tacos.
and my wonderful, supportive husband!

and now, I'm off to cuddle with said supportive husband :) Happy Tuesday!

and so it begins.

Grad school hasn't officially started yet (not for 5 days), but I feel like I'm already jolted back into student mode. In the last few days I've poured over pages crammed with social welfare statistics and personal stories. And I still have a paper and three article readings to check off my to-do list before 9am Tuesday morning when I step into my first ever grad class. eek! If all that weren't enough to make me really start feeling the change, the shift from working full time to being a student again...than the fact that my husband is fast asleep (as normal people are at 1:30am!) and my mind is still turning after finishing The Glass Castle, a gripping memoir assigned for my first paper. This must be a forshadowing of many, many nights to come. At least I have a partner in crime...


Isn't he a cutie?!

curtains.

While I have a million things to write about, from moving and starting grad school to the intense book and perspective on the working poor in America that I'm reading about right now for class...

all I can think about is how EXCITED I am about our new curtains! Crisp, clean, white curtains. Now our freshly painted gray living room walls look put together. Looking at them makes me smile :) And I have the best husband ever for putting them up for me!

That's all for now!