Done!

I guess that finishing up my second bachelor's degree deserves at least a blog post, as that's about all the celebrating I feel like doing right now. Being out of school for the summer is reward enough.

I'm amazed that everything worked out as well as it did... and that now I'm a Utah State graduate with a pretty decent GPA and B.A. in communication disorders. It's seriously a miracle that I managed to get a good GRE score, study for full time online classes, and get in the grad school, all while working 50 hours a week. Such a blessing! My boss at work was very supportive, I felt aid from on high, and I had a surprising amount of online peer support that helped a lot with questions, grad school worries, study guides, etc.

I sure won't miss the online class format. Positives: flexible, can get ahead in classes if you need to, still work full time. Negatives: Boring lectures format, spending way too much time staring at computer screen instead of in person interaction, huge classes that have little interaction or no with the professor.

Yay for being done! 
And having a lot to look forward to this summer.
Including 10 days off work starting Friday night!
And this weekend's trip with a rather good looking guy to :

I ♥ San Diego

 

Old Town San Diego: Beautiful everywhere! Mormon Battalion Museum, yummy mexican restaurant, cowboys, ice cream

Loma Point: Cabrillo National Monument, exploring tide pools with Haley, pelicans, seals, lighthouse, captivating waves, gorgeous blue-green water, perfect weather, fabulous views captured by Alexis.

LA in a day

Los Angeles: Griffith Observatory, Hollywood sign, Long drive through Hollywood, past the LA temple and to Santa Monica, beach, crepes, fender bender, Punch Brothers concert. Thanks to my awesome hosts (and amazing photographer): Alexis and Michael Jenkins.

I'll be taking a chance

Please consider this poem in light of the delightfully wonderful, yet difficult decision in my imminent future of where to go to grad school:

The Zode in the Road by Dr. Seuss

Did I ever tell you about the young Zode,
Who came to two signs at the fork in the road?
One said to Place One, and the other, Place Two.
So the Zode had to make up his mind what to do.
Well…the Zode scratched his head, and his chin and his pants.
And he said to himself, “I’ll be taking a chance
If I go to Place One. Now, that place may be hot!
And so, how do I know if I’ll like it or not?
On the other hand though, I’ll be sort of a fool
If I go to Place Two and find it too cool.
In that case I may catch a chill and turn blue!
So, maybe Place One is the best, not Place Two,
But then again, what if Place One is too high?
I may catch a terrible earache and die!
So Place Two may be best! On the other hand though…
What might happen to me if Place Two is too low?
I might get some very strange pain in my toe!
So Place One may be best,” and he started to go.
Then he stopped, and he said, “On the other hand though….
On the other hand…other hand…other hand though…”
And for 36 hours and a half that poor Zode
Made starts and made stops at the fork in the road.
Saying, “Don’t take a chance. No! You may not be right.”
Then he got an idea that was wonderfully bright!
“Play safe!” cried the Zode. “I’ll play safe. I’m no dunce!
I’ll simply start out for both places at once!”
And that’s how the Zode who would not take a chance
Got no place at all with a split in his pants.

So the other day I got this letter while at the grocery store: 

This was pretty much the most exciting thing to happen to me in awhile...for several reasons: #1- it came earlier that expected, #2- it came as an acceptance letter, not a rejection (this is the #18 program in the nation for speech pathology and rather competitive) #3- everyone has been really supportive and happy for me (check it out: 55 likes on fb and 25 comments is a personal record for me... considering I have yet to be engaged or pregnant) #4- Life feels like it has more potential than it has in a while and I sure love that feeling (this may or may not also involve a boy).

So after I sat down at the grocery store to post on fb, called my mom and dad, and such... now it's down to the business of deciding... what kind of financial aid can I get, where would I live, could I ever afford it, is this where God wants me to be? Thing is, I much rather would be in this dilemma than not. I thrive on these sorts of adventures and feel so blessed to have things work out so well this far. It makes all the studying, GRE stress, applications, and boring saturday afternoons studying seem well worth it. (Of course it always seems that way looking back, rather than when you're in the middle of it all, doesn't it?)

So here's to making sure that “Don’t take a chance. No! You may not be right.” is exactly the opposite of the voices I listen to when forging down the path ahead.


p.s. my other blog (yeah the one where I write about gushy dating stuff and vent about boy and such) has a new post on it... but this one I wrote last year (that I also doubt anyone has read) is more quality.

Part of a family

I found this art work that Luca made at school the other day and  was deeply touched. I do feel a part of this beautiful, kind family, and it has changed my heart. I'm glad it has touched their hearts as well. To have been so unconditionally and fully accepted by these children and their parents has been a blessing beyond what I could have ever asked.

At the top of the reason I'm glad to have spent the last year in Salt Lake City are these two little boys. It has been such a privileged to watch these boys grow up. I didn't know how attached my heart would become to a baby boy whose diapers I have changed a million times and whose little changes every day are such a joy to be a part of. I didn't know how a spontaneous "Guess what... I love you" would mean every time I hear it. 

I am grateful to have spent a good portion of the last five years a been a nanny. Being single for much longer than I anticipated has lead me down unexpected and sometimes difficult paths. But any heartache has been tempered by having innocent, loving, playful children to smile with and love every day. I miss these two darling faces more than I could have anticipated. They both have such kind hearts and joyful personalities. I hope to play with them again soon.

And then, there are these three children who changed the course of my life forever. They are part of the reason I am becoming a speech pathologist and a lot of the reason that I feel like children with disabilities are meant to be a part of my life forever. I anticipate the day when I can come to really know the eternal, perfect souls that are hidden inside of their bodies and minds of such limited capacity. There is something in Ali's eyes that will always speak deeply to my heart.

I am not sure if my time as a nanny will continue beyond this spring, I do know that life brings progression and change.  Time passes quickly and I often look back and ask myself what I have accomplished as the years go by and I get older. In many ways, I feel to wonder if I could have done more. In other ways, I look at these beautiful children who have been a part of my mornings and afternoons and dinnertimes and know that this is meaningful. Those thousands of small moments with each of them have changed me forever. They have been my meaning...my purpose.

If I actually used twitter...

...my tweets from the last few days would include:

All I can find in the cupboard for dinner is Oreo's. Better than nothing?

The temporary crown on my tooth that I just drove all the way down to the dentists office to have put back on the 2nd time lasted about 1.5 hours before coming off again. They made it looser :-/ Now I can't wear it at all. Not fun.

Why does my hair always unexpectedly dry beautifully when I'm not try to get it to do that, and then look terrible when I'm actually trying for the air-dry, wavy look?

I'm going to slip, and slip hard, one day on the layers of ice that surround my car. If you can't find me one day, check the parking lot. Still, I'll take that risk in exchange for not having to deal with ice and snow on my windshield on cold winter's morning.

Favorites of late

Favorite Christmas Present (thanks Mom): Cute yet functional snow boots that I finally got to use, though only to walk across the ice to the horrible laundry room in our apartment complex. Still, these boots are going to get some snowshoeing use in asap (which may not really be that soon if it decides to not snow again for a several weeks).

Favorite Yoga Pose: Warrior (though I have set to make this happen on the beach...that would be awesome)

Favorite expensive hair product: Bb. deep leave in conditioner

:

Favorite song I can't get out of my head this week

Favorite surprise: a guy who actually planned a decent date (just pray that he isn't like the last 10 guys--and doesn't disappoint me in a big way; small disappointments... I can handle, big ones... not so much)

Favorite video related to my future career that I've seen lately.

 Favorite recently discovered recipe: Pumpkin Pull-Apart Bread. Though a close second is the delicious meatloaf I made last sunday. If you haven't ever had REALLY good meatloaf in your lifetime, make it happen soon. Guaranteed it's better than you think.