Breaking the Fall

So, fall break was this weekend....Monday and Tuesday. Preston and I had to be at our internships on Monday, but then Tuesday I had all day to spend here at the house and do school work. Although it was not like a total two days off break - it was definitely a lighter load kind of week so far. I am ever so grateful to the man/woman who created the idea behind fall break...it is a genius idea that allows us to refocus a bit before drudging through the next part of the semester.



Fall break for Preston and I started with a nice walk through Elizabethton to enjoy the beautiful fall trees! I love fall. The cool weather and changing colors! BEAUTY TO BEHOLD!







Then Preston and I went to a reception for a couple that recently got married. It was a sushi restaurant...they rented the whole place. It was a lot of fun and I LOVE sushi so that was great! Plus, they had these cute Asian theme cupcakes. Adorable!

We also got to experience Preston do a little dancing...yeah...priceless I know...wish you could have been there to see it! :)



We got to hang out with friends Brandon and Shantell. FUN TIMES FOR SURE!

We went to the flea market in Morristown - which was HUGE and very exciting. I got me 3 dollar shoes for this activity at Dollywood...and we found Preston a pair of 8 dollar New Balance shoes! Also chocolate too.




Yes...then we went to Dollywood. Enjoying watching the horse walk around to make sorghum (however that is spelled). Preston enjoyed learning more about wood working tools, and then we both participated in a ropes "Adventure Mountain"....it actually was a bit scary at time and a lot of fun!

Then back to home we went...with our lovely and cute kittys! :)












SO....that was fall break. Tomorrow I go back to my normal schedule. Actually, I think the next part of the semester is going to be crazier. More papers due and harder junk. I looked over a syllabus today to get started and it just makes me stressed to think about what I have to do.

This first part of the semester, though, has gone VERY well. Though we are busy we find time to be together and we do random things to take good care of ourselves. We could ALWAYS spend more time with the family, but I know in time that will not be an issues at all.

Onward to part two of this semester.

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3-7

These verses are a great reminder that in Christ we (I) are strong. That is one thing that is WILD about this experience in the Master's program....the corruption all around me...even through people who call themselves Christians but lead very different lifestyle or are so tolerant that they neglect to truly believe in the Bible as the final authority.

I believe that my role right now is just to portray an attitude of love. I have already faced situations where I have had to leave because of what that situation was promoting, and though I genuinely care about everyone in the program with me there are limits to what I will support.

It is a crazy part that actually adds a little stress to my life. How to be a loving compassionate Christian woman in such an ungodly place. How to stand true to my beliefs and not be judgmental....it's a great experience...and it shows to me that God is SO very important to me...but I still struggle with wanting everyone to like me and not hurt their feelings.

LIFE IS GRAND and GOD is AWESOME!

-- peace out
KJV

P.S. I'm not sure about the pics and the writing around them...not sure how that happened etc...

Series of unfortunate...or fortunate events...lets take a look

So today a lady from work gave me a root for one of those viney plant things that grow in water. I was excited and so was Presto because he love naturey things in the house (it is soothing). However, we have a cat, and I have visions of me lying in bed and hearing a loud crash, splash, and meow all at once. I posted some pictures of the cat's first encounter with the plant. (just for fun). I actually have A LOT of work to get done for school. I'm freaking stressed right now (kind of) I don't really get super stressed. But, for me I am stressed. It's becoming the middle of the semester, I'm more tired, and I have midterms, papers, projects, etc. It is just crazy. This weekend i will be in Bristol ALL day on Sunday with the Regional Area Medical people, helping out doing social workey/case management type things. It will be a great experience I'm sure (I hope) however, it just adds to my already full schedule. So, why am here at my blog...I don't know. I do enjoy writing sometimes even if it is nonsensey...it gets my mind off things for a little while.

One thing that is going SUPER great is my field placement/internship. I working with two different therapy groups. One is specifically for women who are addicts and the women have children. The other group is for the general public who have addiction issues. Both groups are intense outpatient groups and so the members are required to come to group four days a week for three hours. THAT IS A LOT OF TIME. I am leading the regular group every Monday and the women's group on Friday's. I am learning a whole lot about the substance abuse population, and about therapy. I really enjoy therapy and I really enjoy working with alcohol and drug abusers. There is SO much to learn, and that is a part of this MSW program that is great. I am learning a whole lot of stuff. Stuff about people, stuff about children, stuff about myself, stuff about therapy, and stuff about plants and the body and random things.

The other day learned that the spleen actually does have a use. One of its uses is to help keep the body's ph levels in balance because the spleen is like a holding tank for some chemical (that has a long name and I don't remember). But, when your body is low on this chemical the spleen will release some of the extra it stores. Very random...DON'T LET THE DOCTOR'S TAKE OUT YOUR SPLEEN!! Just kidding, kind of. Things were put in our body for a reason...always strive to keep your body in tact.

WOW...I am rambling...looks like I am avoiding school work, huh? Guess I should get back to work! Below are pics of the plant and cat! Enjoy!











Mello did jump off safely....this time.....we'll see how this story continues.....

May the Lord bless you with a smile today!

Peace out
KJV

What am I talking about?

So, it's 4:05pm on Saturday and I'm at the computer lab working on a paper. However, as I write I am realizing that I do not know what I am saying. Yet, I keep writing. So, I thought I would take a break - clear my head - and write some nonsense on my blog. But, I really don't have much to say.

Oh, well...we did purchase a treadmill. I am very happy about that. We have had it for about a week now. It is really nice, and it makes working out more convenient than me trying to work it out going to the gym at school all the time.

Preston's deadline for his disertation proposal is October 11th. He is supposed to turn it in to the committe this Monday morning for them to review it before he presents it. I'm SO excited for him and for all the hard work he has done thus far. He is such a dilligent worker and totally a man of perserverence. He is a great man of God and a good example for me.

After he proposes he will begin sending off applications for internship placements. I think his list has about 15 placements ranging from places in Michigan, Utah, Chicago, West Virginia, and Kentucky. It's crazy to think that less than a year from now Preston and I might be moving. Of course, there is a HUGE chance he will not get an internship because the school is currently not accredited, and there are limited placements that will accept non-accredited schools. SO - for all you praying kind of people - if you think about PRAY that the Lord has complete control over this situation and that if it's in HIS plans for Preston to get a placement this year that we have peace about that and if it is HIS plans that we wait a year that we have peace about that!

We'll see what happens. :) Off to type some more on my paper.........................maybe I should do some more reading first......................ahhh........so much work to do :)

Life is GRAND!! :)

Krystal