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

3 Weeks and counting.....

Well, my first three weeks have been a success...I think! Life is actually busier than I thought it would be...to my suprise. There is A LOT of work to do ALL the time and there will only be more and more to do.

This is my schedule:

Mondays 7:30am-10:00pm (I don't get home till 10...I try to be in bed by 11:00...but it's been midnight...grr)

Tuesday 7:30am-10:30/11:00pm

Wednesdays 7:30am-10:00pm

Thursdays usually 8:00am-9:30pm (even though I get home a little earlier...its still 12 b/f bed)

Friday's 7:30am-6:00/7:00pm.

I feel like Saturday and Sunday's are my only days at home. So, Saturday I get up no later than 8:00 and work on house work until about 10 -- then school work most of the rest of the day. Saturdays are BIG days for school work.

Our yard is stressing me out because I still have to cut the grass...that takes time out of my Saturdays. Then Sunday's we are gone from 7:15 to -- at the earliest 2:00...and on Sunday's I usually go grociery shopping for the week...then make a few big meals for us to eat on throughout the week...make baggies of other lunch items so that in the mornings I just have to grab things for our lunches instead of putting everything together that morning.

And Preston's schedule is worse. I mean he is home a lot more than I am...but he is probably on the computer about 90% of the time that he is home. His dissertation proposal is due by October 6th. Preston often works through the night....he gets hardly any sleep...sometimes he catches up on his sleep b/w Friday and Saturday....but then he often works through the night Saturday and then goes to church on Sunday morning.

We are just in a different world right now....but it is SO much fun. I LOVE the Master's program...and often end the week really tired and slightly stressed....If I think to much about what I have to do it makes me want to cry...but I've not actually cried yet.....we'll see! However, the people in the program...the people I'm getting to know are WONDERFUL.....

I just feel really good about where I am right now in my life....and though I'm super excited about the next stage of my life when I'm finished....I'm really grateful to be going through the program right now. It is a blessing from the Lord...HE is teaching me so much right now.

I'm very surprised at how much I like the program and the people.....but it is good! :)

Here is a pic of me on my first day:

Also...in the first week of school my laptop got a virus on it...it's still in the shop...which makes things a little crazier...I could do more school work at home if I had it....with one computer...we kind of have to work around each other....but I often go to campus to do school work.

One last thing to this online journal :) -- Tomorrow September 19th is my birthday. I will be 25 years old. Kinda weird to me. I actually am beginning to feel like an adult....like I'm growing up. Hmm....what will this year of my life bring.

Until next time.....

peace out....

KJV

JOY UNSPEAKABLE....I AM COUNTING ON GOD

So, today is Friday. The beginning of the end. The last weekend before the fall semester starts and it is already getting super busy.

I started my GA work this past week and I also got a couple of my syllabi and am trying to get started working on some readings and summary papers. Every time I get a new syllabus I get nervous. I don't think I have ever done anything as intense as this program is going to be and I really am nervous/anxious/excited/:)!

I got a beautiful little card in the mail today from a dear friend :) She is very encouraging and strong in the Lord. On the card it had a cute picture of a yellow umbrella. Essentially the card said that she could not protect me from the "rain" b/c she did not have a huge yellow umbrella. Rather, she will walk with me in the rain! And then of course there was encouraging words and scripture to follow. It is wonderful to know that people are praying for me.....and I know this sound slightly selfish and self-centered. That is not my intentions. I truely am humbled and blessed to have people around me that care about me and want to support me in prayer. I recognize too that MANY people have been through programs with jobs/kids/and more. I know that there is nothing special about me....

I also know that some people cope with different things in different ways. For whatever reason, unbeknownst to me, this MSW program is nerve wracking to me along with having to work 20 hours and complete internship hours and be a wife etc....some people might not think that is stressful at all and that is okay. Stress is in the eye of the beholder....right? I don't know what I'm saying.

I'm blessed and I'm glad for friends and support, and I'm glad that I have God who is SOOO GOOD and wonderful! I know that He really will help and give me strength through this whirlwind of a time! I am very happy to be going through this program. I really am!!

HERE IS SONG FOR THIS SEMESTER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jdkfdClHOM

"Joy unspeakable

that won't go away

And just enough strength

to live for today

So I never have to worry

What tomorrow will bring

'Cause my faith

is on solid rock

I am counting on God

The miracle of Christ in me

Is the mystery that sets me free

I'm nothing like I used to be

So open up your eyes you'll see"

Until next time,

Krystal V.

Praise the Lord Moment!!

Just a quick note of Praise here! The Lord has been SO good to Preston and I. I'm glad that my husband is such a man of God who is patient and strong in his faith.

Anyway, I got another half GA position!! Which is great and it means that my entire schooling will be paid for and I will be getting a larger stipend. AND Preston and I will not be wiped out of savings account by the end of May! :) We are SO excited, and I'm a bit nervous because it does add an extra 10 hours to my week. I am trusting in God's leadership and He did open this door for us. I know that HE will give me strength to preserver in this year. Below is such a beautiful verse:

I am a blessed woman of God. I pray that I continue to follow His voice and live a fruitful life!

God is good....all the time....

:) Krystal

4.0 and counting....or rambling

So, summer classes are finished. I completed the 2 courses both with an A, which is nice. I think those were probably the easiest classes i will have so I must be grateful for the good grades.

Now I have about two weeks before the fall starts and I'm trying to make the most of it and get things done. Right now I'm working on some sewing projects. I'm beginning by making some purses for my little sis-in-laws. I'm worried b/c they are getting older and I don't know that they

will really like homemade purses anymore. This one of the ones I have made:

All of them will be different shapes/sizes/colors etc. So, we'll see. The next project will be a group project with the older sister in laws. We are going to try to make a wall hanging for our

parents/in-laws. Again, we'll see how that works out. It is nice to sew when I have people to sew for. I would like to get better at sewing clothes but I'm just not very confident in that and I hate making mistakes because I feel wasteful! I also made this card holder for my sis-in-law...I thought it was a cute pattern and I wanted to try it out. I think it turned out to look okay!

Anyway, I really look forward to the day when I'm a stay at home mom. Now I catch glimpses of what is to come. If I were not in school I would have started up a small garden this year...which I will definitely do when I'm done with school next season or so. At some point, when we do not live in city limits, I would love to have our own goats to get fresh goats milk which we LOVE...and then I would have enough to make other things from the goats milk. Just being a mother is something I look forward to very much. I can only image that having children is 100 times more fulfilling than the way I feel about having my cats :) hehehe

Something that slightly concerns me is getting them into a sleep routine. I know that children who have a routine tend to be calmer and feel more secure. So, I have just finished reading this book:

I really liked the way that it put things. It allows for a mom not to worry about the first 4-6 weeks and just enjoy being with the baby and being a mom...and then after about 4-6 wks is when training begins. However, the author does allow for some flexibility in the schedule. She mentions that parent's do not need to adjust their lives for the baby but rather the baby needs to learn how to live within the families normal routine.

Also, the author talks about crying....and she says that there is no learning that goes on after 5 minutes of crying. So, she does not advocate for a child to cry themselves to sleep...which mak

es me happy. I just feel like doing that would go against my motherly nature to comfort my child. Anyway, it is a great book with good rules but not so strict that it is overwhelming to me. Again, we'll see what happens.

One more thing before my rambling stops. This week at work someone brought an ice cream bar...which was really cool and super unhealthy! But on the bar there were mini bananas...which I thought were neat and I had never seen before.

The End.