Part Time, Full Time, Anytime?

GOOOD News!

I did a GA position. It is part time. Which means that I have to work for them, they pay half of my tuition, and I get a small stipend. Which is so very wonderful and I praise the Lord. That also means that I will need to look for something else part time (really part time part time)...just a few hours a week to help out some. However, I think things will be good.

So in the fall it now looks like my time will be spent with 5 classes, 16 hours internship, 10 hours GA, hopefully another 10 hour PT job, sometime for studying, sometime to continue on my work out regiment, time to eat and breath, and time for family. Will there be time for sleep? I hope!

I do get slightly nervous thinking about all the ways my time will be filled come the end of August. I have good support and friends. My professor told us that we will all look back at the year and think "how did we manage all that we just did"....but we'll do it....we'll make it....from August to May = 9 months!

ALSO......my in-laws just gave Preston and I our Christmas present early -- season passes to Dollywood that will be fun to use. In fact, we are going to use them this Friday to start off! I'm really excited. That will be nice to have come mid fall/winter when both of us could use a break from schooling. I have very kind and thoughtful in-laws.

I'm a blessed woman.

:) Krystal

Yikes!

Yikes! Today is the first day of July and I still do not have a GA. That is probably the greatest stresser in my life right now...PTL! I suppose life is good! All experiences are learning ones...right? :)

I finished up my first class last night and I believe that I only missed 1 point on everything - meaning I got a 99 in the class. Of course that class was the easiest class we will have this year. Next class starts July 12th - Psychopathology....another Yikes! However, I've gotten to know a few girls in class and I know that we can help each other out to study and such. Plus, Preston is SO smart and it's helpful to talk over things with him.

Also, now that I'm back in school I can utilize the CPA (gym). I've been able to go at least two days a week for the last few days...not a whole lot...but it has been super nice. I really enjoy working out at the gym. It is a great stress reliever. I'm able to put on some music and relax! And it helps increase my energy level. I am grateful! Of course, that last time I did not stretch appropriately and now I have some pain in my shins...Yikes!

Life is good....I still need a darn GA!!!!!!!! I did interview yesterday for one and it looks promising...but others have looked promising and nothing has come of them. If you are the praying type (and you even read this) please pray!

Alrighty then...peace out....

KJV

Oh Victory in Jesus

my Savior forever

He sought me and bought me

with His redeeming love

Becoming A Manager....BAM!!

Well....classes started on Monday...it is now Friday morning. Wow. It has already proven to mess with my life a little. School is just so much more work....I mean grad school seems to be so much more work than undergrad. Class is much more discussion based and all of our grades are on papers. So, there is a lot of reading to do and I have a paper due every week...plus discussions for online and articles for classes...etc...BUT life is SOOO good and God is GREAT!

I'm excited about what I am learning and it all fits in with what I experience in my work life too. I can already see how it will help me be a better social worker and improve the way I look at my clients...plus just improve my character as a person. It does feel a little strange to be back in a school setting.

I still need a graduate assistantship which cause a bit of stress for me. I have been turned down by five already and I have two apps still out. Plus, we have to make decisions about our finance...by internship in the spring semester will have a small stipend with it too; therefore, we might look into a Tuition Scholarship instead of a GA...but those are just decisions we have to make.

Preston is very good to me and he is so supportive. I do not get home on Mondays and Wednesday until 9:00 or later, and then on Tuesday and Thursday I have to do more work than I used to. So, I made two big casserole type dishes and we have been eating off those all week. :) I usually try to make something different every night and then we have leftovers on the weekend. But, it has just not worked out like that. I think tonight I will make something for dinner.

All of this causes me to become a better manager of my time. When do I work out? When can I cook dinner? Oh I have to take care of the cats and I'm still working? What about that paper due? Our house!! Will I ever clean it? Ok...so it's not that crazy yet. One class for the summer does require work but I do have time for things and so far I've stayed on top of my assignments enough to where I should be able to relax a LITTLE on the weekend...specifically I don't want to have to worry about school on Sundays! And really this summer is just a taste of what life will be like come August. In August I will be taking 5 grad course...that's 15 hours of grad classes...a full case load for grad school is 9!! Plus, I will have a 16 hour internship...and I will have hours to do for the GA or TA. CRAZY! But hey...it's just for one year...I'm gonna graduate in May -- that's not that far away!

I'm glad I'm doing this program. The Lord has opened this door for us and we are walking through it with FAITH, and it's a fun adventure. I'm trusting that the Lord has plans for me having an MSW...or maybe He has plans for the experiences and growth that will come through the MSW program. God is good and His plans are perfect. So trusting I will do.

:) Krystal V

"Trust and obey

for there's no other way

to be happy in Jesus

but to trust and obey."

Ode to Darlene...GA...and the Shack

Today was a success and a joy. I worked, was able to ride with the music blasting and the windows down, had a nice bike ride with hubby, and most recently mowed the yard...oh, and signed up for my fall semester classes. :)

Darlene Constantine is the Executive Aid for the social work department for the MSW program. She is SO good at her job. She is super friendly and always willing to help us with anything. She also works fast and got all the permits ready for us students to sign up for fall classes. AND, she is quick to respond to emails! THANKS DARLENE (not that you will see this thanks...but I will thank you in person later).

Also, I got a phone call from one department about a GA position, and we are planning to have a face to face meeting (interview) on Tuesday morning. Praise the Lord for that. We'll see how things turn out!

And ~ FYI ~ Right now Preston and I are "reading"/listening to the audio of the book "SHACK". It is really good and I would recommend it with hesitancy. I know that there is a lot of controversy around this book...but there is A LOT OF TRUTH in it too. The book is making me think outside of my little box. God is SO much more than I realize and there is SO much to having a deep, inner, and real communion with GOD! If you are looking for a summer read check out the Shack...by William P. Young

Hope everyone is able to enjoy their weekend!

:) KJV

Blessed Assurance Jesus is mine

Vocal Chords and Hormones

Today I heard that women have a hormone which helps them relieve stress, and that hormone is elevated just by hearing their mother's voice. Something I should keep in mind as I go through this MSW program, and I should always take time to call my mom!

I signed up for my first two classes. I will be starting the first class on June 7th. That class is just a "bridge" course to overview what we learned in our undergrad program. Then at the beginning of July I will start the psychopathology course, which I hear is the hardest course in the program. I'm grateful that will be the only class I'm taking at that time.

So, I have about 3 1/2 weeks before I start my first graduate class. I'm excited, and I'm really excited about the vacation my family is going on right before class. We (my dad, mom, sister, brother-in-law, me and Preston) are going to San Antonio for a week. It will be nice to be together, relax, and breath one last time before getting started! Hopefully it will fill up my "gas tank"!

Yay for today and more YAY for tomorrow because it is Friday....last day of this work week!

:) KJV

Blessed assurance Jesus is mine

P.S. If there are any praying people reading this blog...(not even sure that anyone will read this at all)...but if you are -- PLEASE PRAY THAT I GET A GA!!! A GA is a Graduate Assistantship. That will give me a tuition scholarship for the fall and spring semesters and a stipend as well. I have to get one in order to continue the program in the fall and spring. I'm trying. I'm completing applications and calling people. Just waiting to hear now.

...Oriented

Today, May 12th, 2010 was a cool day. Today I went to orientation for the MSW program. It was kind of a crazy experience...I'm actually doing this...they actually want ME to be in this program. The day was full of professors talking about different things. Some interesting and some not so interesting. One of the professors said that writing might be a useful tool to help us "stay sane". The program is very difficult and intense. Especially for those who are doing the Advanced Standing program, which I am doing. With the Advanced Standing, we get to cut out the first years worth of work and start in the summer. So the program for us only last from June '10 to May '11, and things are crammed!

Anyway, so the professor suggested we write...or blog, and I decided to take her up on that. Just to keep some peace of mind. To have a place to "vent" and release some thoughts while I go through this CRAZY experience.

As for the title of this blog "unruffled repose"...what a cool thought. It is a definition for the word serene, and I know there will be times when I do not sense that peace and serene feeling. However, I know that there is a constant in my life and that no matter how "much ruffling goes on I can still remain reposed"! Praise the Lord....for HE is the constant and HE is the one who will give me that calmness and assurance as I go through this program.

I'm excited and nervous and pray that this blog is a serene place for me!

:) KJV

Blessed assurance Jesus is mine