Winter Forecast

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!! Somewhere in the academic madness I am still finding the energy to be ridiculously excited about the Christmas season. Oh, there's plenty to be Eeyore about, but I'm just not doin' it. I refuse!!! There's just too much amazing in the world to get so wrapped around negative stuff. This is pretty new for me, especially considering the road I have taken to get here, but I am so thankful. I love when the long, hard, underground work of the Lord begins to surface and changes everything. So, this holiday season, for me, carries with it optimism, Christmas spirit, and SNOW!

I did finish one of my group projects (the paper), only to have the professor replace it with another one! Pfft. Whatever. It's a smaller project and I'm just gonna knock it out and be done. There's no final in that class, so once it's done...The. End. Next week are my two monstrous presentations (one more so than the other), so from now until then = major prep time. Then come the finals. But, my diligence in mapping out the semester early is paying off here at the end. And I haven't procrastinated, so things are still flowing smoothly, despite the amount of work it has taken and still needs to be done.

So, less than three weeks to go, lots of work ahead of me, but hey, FA LA LA LA LA!!! I will not forget to revel in the most amazing season of the year. This is the celebration of my Jesus stepping out of eternity and into humanity to save the people He loves so much from overwhelming darkness and hopelessness. How can that not fill me with light and love? It just does. I hope you will be reminded of His love for you over and over this holiday season. Merry Christmas indeed!!!

Love to you,

Heather

I see the light!!!

Four weeks, and counting...I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It still seems like a speck compared to the work-load I have in front of me, but at this point, I'll take the speck. This week is only two days, and I am busting my rear so that I have NO (zero, zip, zilch, nada) homework over the Thanksgiving break. I am not touching anything having to do with academics for 5 days straight. Oh my gosh, even saying it is delicious. But, that means I have to work extra hard for these next two days to get to that point. I have three major projects due after the break and two of them are nearly done. The third is a group paper (yes, a paper that has to be written as a group--talk about a heinous assignment--makes me need to punch something). I am still waiting on two delinquent group members to send me their sections (due yesterday) so I can compile everyone's writing. Have I mentioned I hate group projects? The two that are almost done are also group projects, but fortunately (thank you Jesus), I have an awesome partner for both. One project is just the two of us in the group. For the other we have a third member who makes me need to scream, of course, but between the two of us, we've managed to knock most of it out.

So, there's my life. One assignment after the other. Most of my social life looks like group meetings and study dates. Sad, sad. I haven't seen anyone socially in the emotional equivalent of 16 years.

BUT...FOUR WEEKS! Four weeks until graduation, the end of all undergrad work forever, and hopefully I will be allowed to have friends again! Hooray! So, not that there are very many of you reading this, but for those that are, my apologies for going AWOL this semester. I plan to resurface some time around mid-January. :)

Well, I gotta get after the pre-Thanksgiving work-load. This Little Engine That Can is gonna keep chug-chug-chugging along. The top of that mountain is within reach!

Much love,

Heather

Random Update

I've officially decided I love being 30. And, so far Kristie Dawn, I haven't had to check any older age boxes on any forms. :) One of the things that cracks me up is how I have apparently matured our entire family unit by turning 30. By that I mean that now, whenever Jason references his age, he is also 30 (he actually turns 29 in about a month). I think he is jealous of my new decade and the seriousness of life that supposedly comes with it. Poor youngster, still has a year+ to go. Anyway, I feel like I do take myself a little more seriously, in a good way, now that I'm in my third decade. It makes me feel legit. :)

School is trucking along. This semester has started out ROUGH and I found myself floundering much more so than any of the other semesters. I am taking the hardest class I've had so far with a HUGE workload and multiple group projects. I've felt very scattery and unorganized, and that freaks me out. Jason thinks that it's also due to some burnout after pretty much two straight years of school without much of a break. He's probably right. BUT, I am feeling better about things now. It's still a lot, but I think I'm finally finding my rhythm.

What else? Our life group is going great. We are finishing up our rounds of testimonies this week and are going to move into direct leadership training in the next couple of weeks. I am excited to dig into the guts of what makes a leader. Our church has stuff in the works, too, to help out life group leaders and I am excited to see where that goes.

So, overall, things are pretty good. I am just trying to find balance in all things, but I've settled into the belief that the process is just going to be a life-long one. It's kind of like balancing a broomstick on one finger. It takes a lot of constant, little adjustments, but it's doable.

My recommended reading: Psalm 91. It's delicious.

P.S. Happy birthday to my little brother!!!

So...

So I was thinking of maybe blogging about some of my musings on a new decade. People keep asking me, "Do you feel different?" Usually when I pass through the threshold of a birthday, I feel nothing. But this birthday I actually have felt different. It's kind of exciting. So, I am in the process of processing. For now I have a book, a mug of tea and a bed calling my name.

Love to all,

Heather

John Doe Letter to My 30's

A friend of mine sent me this blog link with a John Doe letter to My 30's. I thought it was so great and so true, that I decided to just post an excerpt from it. It is from the blog Elements of Style (www.elementsofstyleblog.com) if you want to read the whole thing.

"Dearest Twenties,

It’s official. The time has come for us to finally part ways. Our years together have been ones of self-discovery and self-destruction, good times and bad, filled with belly aching laughter and tears aplenty. But it’s time to move on. I’ve outgrown you and need to pursue things that only my Thirties can fully support. In other words, Twenties- It’s not you, it’s me. You’ve been fantastic and I’ll always remember you, but really... I’m just not that into you anymore.

One very important thing you’ve taught me Twenties, is that life is messy. It’s never the way you pictured it would be and it never will be. It might be better...or perhaps just totally, unexpectedly different. You can’t predict how you’ll feel or what will happen tomorrow. I think the most important lesson you showed me...is that trying to mold my life using the strict rules and assumptions I set out with will never work and will only create hostility and unhappiness. I learned from you that the “not knowing” is what makes it beautiful and exciting. But with that said, I think the thirties will be the most profound time for me and I think it’s about time I got on with it. Big changes, or maybe just small ones, await and I’m kind of psyched to see where they take me. Even if it does mean I have to pony up for some extra strength anti-wrinkle cream (after all, we did enjoy baking in the sun quite a bit during our time).

But don’t be sad, Twenties. I see girls every day who are looking forward to their time with you. I love seeing the twinkles in their eyes when they think about how you will be the best time of their life. And you might be, but as for me, I think the best is yet to come."

Love,

Heather

One week, and counting

I just have to say, I can't believe I turn 30 in a week. It's weird. I'm not sure what I think about that, but honestly, it's not all bad. I may have more musings to follow, but for now that's all I wanted to say. G'night!

Adventures in Dog Washing: A Mundane, Yet Noteworthy Occurance

Today we washed our dogs.  I just need to blog about it because it is always such an epic adventure.  Usually we go to Dirty Dawgz, which is a wash-your-own-dog place.  It's great because they provide big raised tubs, a water/shampoo/conditioner dispenser on the wall and a high-powered blow dryer thingy to super dry them when you're done.  It's great.  And no tub clean up afterwards.  Anyway, the closest one, which was in Coppell, closed.  The next closest ones would be in either North Dallas or Plano.  So, Jason and I decided to just do it ourselves.

We were supposed to get up at 8:00 this morning, and be at my parents' by 8:30.  Well, 10:00 rolls around and we finally start working on the dogs.  My parents have a big back porch so we planned to just wash them out there with the water hose.  But, before we started washing, we brushed, trimmed, cleaned out ears, etc.  That took a good while.  Remember that everything is times 2.  Finally time to wash.

My parents have 2 hoses (bonus!), but one of them is from around the front and barely reaches the porch.  So, we have to sit straight in the sun to wash the fellas.  About the time we start spraying down Big Red (Cody), I think to myself, "I probably should have worn sunblock."  I have to say, though, that Jason and I double-teaming worked pretty well, except for the several times I accidentally sprayed him (and the one time on purpose).  We had to sit with the dog between us, facing each other, so we ended up pretty drenched, but they sure didn't have a chance to get away.  Plus, considering the volcanic temperatures, drenched was not really a bad thing.  After getting Cody completely soapy, Jason proceeds to give him a full-body mohawk, from his neck all the way to his tail.  It was pretty awesome.  Mohawk completed, we rinse and repeat.

Kadin is less of an escape artist and more of a layer-downer.  So keeping him vertical is the challenge rather than keeping him immobile.  His fur is ridiculous.  He sheds like a woolly mammoth (assuming they shed) and just getting him completely wet takes almost as long as the entire bathing process for Cody.  Not to mention the fact that it takes almost an entire bottle of dog shampoo to clean him.  So, about halfway through the Great Soaping of 2009, I look over and there is this HUGE black spider on Jason's leg.  In the 1/2 a millisecond before he notices, I try to swat it off him, but as I start to swing, he sees it.  Insert hilarity.  He launches into the world's fastest heeby-jeeby dance-while-sitting I have ever seen.  It really only takes one large full-body spasm to knock the spider off, but as you well know, your body never really quits after just one.  So while still reeling from aftershocks of the creepies, he promptly switches the hose nozzle to "death ray" and proceeds to thoroughly punish that little arachnid for temporarily turning him into a 6 year old girl.  It was great.  With his manhood restored, and the spider drowned with epic ferocity, we proceed to finish washing Kadin.

You would think that after all of that, we would be done, but you would be wrong.  Next comes the clipping of the nails.  I chicken out and go inside at this point.  But my parents have a glass back door and I can see Jason out there using piledrivers and the sleeper hold to try and get Cody to hold still long enough to get his nails trimmed.  Needless to say, they both hate it.  Once again, Kadin is a much more willing participant.  Pretty much, if you're touching him, he's happy about it.

By this point, we have clean, albeit very wet dogs.  Ta-dah!!!  Kadin looks like he has a jerry-curl, though.  It's great.  Jason and I are another story.  We are dripping with nasty dog water and sweat, and covered in clumps of wet fur.  There is also fur floating in the air.  And since we are wet, it sticks to us like glue.  I think I have a slight inclination of what it feels like to be tarred and feathered.  Every surface of me is covered in either wet or dry dog hair.  It's stuck in my eyelashes, inside my mouth and coating all of my clothes.  At this point we literally throw in the towel, clean up the back porch (which looks like a Pomeranian exploded on it), and pack up all of our primping paraphernalia.  My sweet mom, who has been bringing us water, random needed items, and generally popping her head out to enjoy the spectacle, offers to make us some lunch.  But, we are too hot and gross to touch anything so we head home.  (Oh, and did I mention sunburned?)  After three hours of cleaning our dogs, I think we maybe should have driven to Dallas.  I guess, sometimes, that's just what love looks like.  I've never met a shower I loved more than the one I had this afternoon.  

Summer School

Well, Spring semester is over and summer school has started up.  I'm only two days in and already slightly overwhelmed.  Mostly due to the fact that I have to read Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, and Kant all within about 4 weeks.  I'm taking ethics, which is basically an advanced philosophy class.  So Plato and I are hanging out for the next 2 weeks.

My internship training starts next week, and I am excited to get rolling on that.  I am going to be working with Friends of the Family on their Survivor Advocacy Team (SAT).  With the SAT I am going to be on-call to go to the emergency rooms as an advocate for victims of sexual assault.  Intense, right?  I have to have 60 hours over the course of the summer, but fortunately my training counts for 30 of those hours.  So, I'll complete the training hours over the course of the next two weeks.  Then I should be shadowing someone who has been a part of the program for a while.  After that, I will be on my own.  I do get some credit for being on-call.  For every 8 hours that I am on-call, I get one credit hour for the class.  If I do get called, then I get real time.

It is overwhelming to think of being in such an intense situation, but I know the Lord has big things to teach me.  And He is always faithful to equip me for the situations He calls me to.  Feel free to be praying, for the next three months especially.

Jason is doing well.  He is headed for youth camp in a few days.  I can't even tell you how excited he is.  He gets a break from work and tons of time with the youth kids--his perfect vacation.

We are taking a break from many of our regular commitments.  Our life group is taking a break, my women's group has ended, the weekly youth stuff is done for the summer, etc.  Jason and I have learned the hard way about the importance of rest, so now we try to use the summer to embrace that principle.  It's nice to have some time to breathe and evenings to relax.  Anyway, there's an update.  Hope you are enjoying your summer so far.  Take care!

Not so great at blogging

Well, turns out I'm not so consistent with blogging, but it feels like I mostly have the same old song to sing.  School, school, tra-la-la, school.  I'm taking 15 hours this semester and honestly, I am struggling with burn-out.  But, I still love it even when I'm burned out.  Things are going well and I think I am getting all A's, so far.  I've got about 5 weeks left and then a break before I start summer school.

Jason is doing well.  We had a bit of a scare with his job recently.  Not a scare, really, but reason to be concerned.  His office (Hilton) is going through "restructuring", as are a lot of companies, and we were left wondering if he would be able to keep his job.  But we found out at the end of March that he is going to keep it.  So that was a huge answer to prayer.

Outside of work and school, things are still busy.  Jason is part of a praise team that practices on Monday nights.  On Wednesdays, I have women's Bible study and he goes and works with the youth.  Every other Thursday we meet with our precious life group, and weekends are a mish-mash of down time and social obligations.

Since this weekend is Easter, Cross Timbers is doing the big Easter hoopla, as usual.  I think it's going to be amazing.  Jason and I are serving at the 5:00 Saturday evening service, and then attending one on Sunday.  After that will be family time--probably lunch.  Too bad all the grandkids are too old for Easter egg hunts.  I'd thoroughly enjoy one.  We should have to hunt for eggs stuffed with cash and gift cards instead of jellybeans and chocolate.  A big-kid Easter!  (Hint, hint family!)  :)  Seriously, though, I do miss dying eggs and the anticipation of looking for the loot.  I'm sure I'll get to relive it all again, though, when we have kids.

Bigger than all of that is the fact that Easter is an amazing holiday!  It is the celebration of the greatest victory of all time.  The ferocious love of our God overcame torture, hatred and death to bring us freedom, grace, abundance and eternity.  Oh that I would be reminded of the eternity that awaits me, even though I only glimpse it in a foggy mirror.  The hazy shadows of what He promises are enough to thrill me to my soul and I pray that this Easter, for all of us, will simply take our breath away.

Sending love,

Heather

Funny

In an effort to figure out all the settings and junk on this blog site, I have now officially become a follower of my own page.  And, I can't figure out how to get it off.  I was trying to start following Jamie's site, but apparently that is not how you do it.

The Obligatory First-of the-Year Blog

Well, it’s 2009…isn’t that how it’s supposed to start? A new year—onwards and upwards—etc., etc. My main thoughts on this year are “So far, so good.” I had a delightfully long winter break from school, lasting from mid-December until January 20^th (about 6 weeks). I spent plenty of time relaxing and watching tons of movies. I also managed to be productive by washing the dogs (yep, both of them, in our tub—yikes!—but not at the same time), sorting through clothes to be thrown out, donated, etc., some seriously cleaning and finally cleaning and organizing “my office”—dusted, reorganized, papers filed, old docs shredded, etc. Not to mention all the baking I did around the holidays (and for Dad’s birthday). I did a double-batch of chocolate chip cookies and a triple-batch of Oreo balls right before Christmas. I don’t think any of them lived to see the new year. I had to make another batch of Oreo balls for the New Year’s party. And just recently dad got red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing. Yum! Happy Birthday, Dad.

For two weeks of my break I pretty much hung out with Jason on our couch as much as I could. He was working from home the week of Christmas and the week of New Year’s. That was a huge blessing and we soaked up as much time together as we could in between holiday activities. I hosted a shower the first weekend and we were both in a wedding the second weekend. During said wedding, my darling husband had his first opportunity to be Santa Claus. (He made an appearance at the reception since it was a Christmas wedding.) Oh my, what a spectacle he was (and loved every second). You get the gist from the pictures, but let me assure you that Santa shaking his rear to the Macarena for all of the wedding guests was a much greater event witnessed live and in action. For me, the highlight was when he actually danced his hat, hair, glasses and beard right off his face. I hope none of the kids saw.

As of this past Tuesday, I am officially back in school. This is my last year of undergrad and I am already super excited to graduate in December. I am taking 15 hours this semester: Tests & Measurements, Logic & Critical Thinking, Global Perspectives in Art, Counseling Theory & Practice, and History and Systems of Psychology. I think I am going to have my hands full. The art class makes a great break from all the other psych classes, though, and we get to do cool hands-on projects like making masks, Aboriginal painting techniques, hand-made paper, print making, Shibori (a Japanese printing technique on cloth), and other stuff like that. It’s therapeutic and stress relieving for me to have a class where I can plug in my iPod and get to be creative for 3 hours. And this is the last class I need to fulfill the requirements for my art minor.

I am going to have to take classes in the summer and then the fall semester will be my last full semester of undergrad. Then I will graduate with my BS in Psychology and a minor in Art. I also believe that I will be doing my clinical hours this summer. I’m not sure where I’ll be doing those, as I have several places to choose from.

As for Jason, he is continuing to work hard to put me through school. I am so blessed to have a husband who is willing to stick by me and not only work hard to provide for our family, but also to be a constant streaming source of encouragement and uplifting. I constantly hear him saying, “I believe in you! You can do this!” I don’t think I could make it without him. He led a group of sixth grade boys in a Disciple Now retreat last weekend and had a blast. Jesus and wrestling—what more could a group of teenage boys ask for? Feel free to join with us in praying that he will be able to start working from home full-time soon. The drive back and forth to Dallas is killer, especially when he could do the same exact work from our living room.

Well, that’s most of what’s going on with us in 2009, so far. Oh yeah, one of our dogs got in a big ol’ dogfight today. Way scary. I’ll post more about that later.

Jason and I hope that your New Year is going well and that God is filling your life with His presence and His blessing. Until next time…

Sending our love,

Heather & Jason