Update

So, I haven't posted in a while, but there's not that much to post about. I graduated in December (HOORAY!) and just chilled out through the holidays. Mid-January I took the GRE and did ok on it. It wasn't spectacular, but it was good enough that I feel comfortable not taking it again. Next is the start of the grad school application process. I have been procrastinating on that because it feels overwhelming, if you want the honest truth about it. So yeah, other than that, I'm in the process of cleaning the house. I've cleaned out the laundry room, our closet, the kitchen, and am planning on hitting the office area next. Jason and I are getting some much needed time together, which is awesome. After two years of dealing with my nose in a book, I think he deserves it. So there you have it. There's a small update so that I don't miss another entire month without posting. :)

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!