New Blog

The other day I got the idea to start a blog that is for my journey through grad school into my counseling career. I chose to use wordpress instead of blogger because wordpress seems to be a little more sophisticated than blogger. Here is my new blog site: http://justadustspeck.wordpress.com

I chose to name it "Just a Dust Speck" because one of my counseling professors always talks about how by ourselves, we are nothing, just a dust speck in this humongus world who can't do anything on our own, but by God's grace and His full control, we can be used as His tool to change people's life. When I first began thinking about going into counseling, I kind of got caught up in how I could help people and change their lives.... but then God just smacked me in the face and made me realize that I am nothing, and that the only way that I'm going to be able to help anyone is by fully relying on Him for wisdom and understanding. That's why I liked the image of a dust speck. It puts things into perspective and keeps me from thinking that I am the one who is doing something... because I'm not.

Chocolate Blue

So I have some birthday money that I decided I wanted to put toward our bedroom. Before Rob and I got married I read this book that talked about how the bedroom should be like a personal "sanctuary." Our bedroom right now is far from a sanctuary. We decided to go with the chocolate/aqua color scheme. I didn't use to be crazy about it, but the more I look at things in that color scheme, the more I like it. It's very warm and cozy, yet masculine enough that Rob can feel like he's welcome in the bedroom as well without being bombarded with girly stuff. A lot of other masculine stuff I looked at is not cozy like, so this is a good color scheme that will fit us both. When I get new ideas in my head, it like consumes me! I love finding things to decorate with and love to find creative ways to do things without having to spend a lot of money.

I found this comforter set online that I really like and thought may be perfect for our room:

It's a little more green than I wanted, but I really like it. BUT THEN.... I read the reviews on it, and person after person said that once they got it, the colors didn't look anything like this picture. The brown was a washed out brown that almost looked gray, and the waves were very dull. I was very disappointed. So the search goes on. One thing about this picture that drives me nuts is how uncentered that rug is!

Someone actually created a blog that is dedicated to the chocolate/aqua color scheme. It had a few bedding sets, but none that jumped out at me. After Rob is off of work tonight, we are going to go look at a few places around Lynchburg to see if we can find anything we like. I love shopping for things to decorate with. We'll see what happens. :)

Intended for Eternity?

So I just started reading the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible, which is all about how trying to obtain satisfaction in life on our own, without God, is meaningless, and like chasing the wind.  This one verse stuck out to me tonight, it’s 3:11. 

It states, “He [God] has made everything beautiful in its time.  He has also set eternity on the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

This verse confused me at first, so I looked at what the footnotes had to say about it, and they talked about how man was created to live for all eternity; without death.  But, because of sin, we must now die.  The world is so huge, and God intended us to spend eternity here, having time to be fully satisfied.  Now that death comes into play, we are only on earth for a short time, and do not have the time to become fully fulfilled and satisfied.  That is why we work so hard… but for what gain?  Will we even be remembered after we are gone?  Will someone come behind us and undo all the work we did in our lifetime?  Will the possessions that meant so much to us on earth mean anything to anyone else after we are gone?  Solomon is right…with that perspective, it all seems so meaningless.  Sometimes I wish I could forget about money, forget about going to school, forget about having things, a house, a car, anything… and just go with my Bible and spread the gospel far and wide.  If only it were that easy.  Maybe Christ intended it to be that easy, but I’m too scared to trust Him to keep me safe and alive.  Maybe He doesn’t want me to be safe or alive.  I’m more comfortable being in school, doing what I do here everyday.  Interesting to think about.

Latte Art

So, we are thinking about getting an espresso maker, so I started researching ways to make espresso, and drinks that I like.  While researching, I came across this new thing called Latte Art.  It’s a pretty big deal in some places.  They have competitions and everything! There is really no other way to explain Latte Art than to just show pictures, so here ya go:

This one is probably my favorite. Not the most creative, but really pretty!

This one is neat too.

I never realized how much there is to making good espresso drinks.  Beans have to be mixed at just the right levels in order to make good tasting drinks that aren’t too bitter, or too robust.  I think it will be fun to learn more about it.  Maybe I can try my own Latte Art….  It’d probably suck.

The End?…Or The Beginning?

So… Saturday is the big day… Graduation.  I can’t believe how time has flown by. It’s hard to believe. I remember leaving home to come to college, and now I’ve been married for almost 2 years, I’m getting my Bachelor’s degree, and have started working towards a counseling Master’s and license.  I never would have guessed that this is where I’d be by the end of my 4-year college career. 

So, yes I am looking forward to graduation, kind of. It will be an ok day.  It’s going to be so crazy, with 3 graduation ceremonies to go to, that it’s really just going to fly by and by the time I’ve caught up with things the day will be over.   What I am REALLY looking forward to is my friend Lisa coming to town tomorrow!! We became fast best friends freshman year, but she didn’t come back to Liberty, and we haven’t seen each other since the end of freshman year.  She lives in Canada, so we have never even talked on the phone. Not once!  We’ve kept in touch pretty much at least weekly though, over the internet. Good ole technology!! I am SO excited to see Lisa again!

I have been craving the beach lately! Not sure why…but all I’ve wanted to do lately is take a trip to the beach.  I just want to lay on the beach and not have a care in the world.  No homework or papers to think about, no plans to make, no phone calls, no anything.  Just me, the sand, the sound of the crashing waves, the sun, and Rob!  How amazing would that be!

Right now a thunder storm is going on.  I love thunder storms.  I don’t love the rain coming into my bedroom through the window like a found a few minutes ago, but that’s taken care of now, so now I’m back to loving thunder storms.  Thunder storms have always made me think about God’s power.  Looking across a dark sky and seeing the rain pouring, and bolts of lightning streaking the sky…God’s power is just so evident.  There is nothing greater; there is nothing that even comes into comparison with God’s breathtaking power!  No words can describe God’s power.  But thunder can. 

Time for bed… nothing better than sleeping during a thunderstorm! (Unless water is still coming in my window, which I sincerely hope it not the case.)  Tomorrow is a big day! Can’t wait! :)

So Close...

Yet SO far!

Graduation is in 17 days!! Before then I have:

• 3 papers to write


• 4 exams to take


• a lot of discussion boards to post and then reply to

The exams and db's are no prob. The papers are what I'm dreading. I had four and am now down to three, which is progress, but one is 4-6 pages long, no problem, the next is 12-15 pages long, and the last is 15-20 pages long. Seperately, they are not hard, but having all of them combined with my anxiousness to be done is making me feel overwhelmed. I know I can do it, and I know that I will do it - I just don't want to do it. I can't wait to be done.

Motivation:

That will SOON be me!!

One Month Left...

So it's been a while since I've posted anything. Reason: School work. All I do is school work, or so it feels. But, the good news is that in exactly 1 month from tomorrow is graduation!! It's the light at the end of a long, dark tunnel full of papers, assignments, books, tests, and discussion boards. Both Rob and I are graduating. Rob with 3 Master's and me with my Bachelor's. The light at the end of the tunnel is short lasting because we both start more classes in the summer, but still, it's just the feeling of accomplishment finally... after so much work. It will be a refreshment, even though it's not the end of school. The hard part is getting through this next month. SO much to do! Ah! It'll be worth it...in a month.

Also, graduation means SUMMER! Yay! Even though I'll be taking classes this summer, who cares... it's still summer! I love summer! Always have! The only bad thing about this particular summer is my birthday. I am very opposed to turning 22. Being 21 is the perfect age. I don't want to get old.

Well, on to other things, aka homework.