here i am....

okay...so it's been over a month since my last post...it's been that kind of month-ish. here is a re-cap
1) coughed for about one month till they figured out that it was bronchitis so, i'm way better now
2) school has been consuming. i suppose that happens since it's my last month
3) the kids are just amazing and really troopers considering i feel as though i've been totally preoccupied with school
4) ry gave me flowers and a beautiful card for mothers day. it was so thoughtful. i don't think he has purchased me flowers in about 7 years. he's not a flower guy. BUT...he is a word guy so i always get words...and he gave me such a gift this year of words. thanks, babe.
5) the kids began their first organized sport, indoor soccer. ill post photos and explain next post
6) we got to witness the marriage of our dear friends courtney and andrew. ry married them, we sang and em and will were the flower girl/ring bearer. yes, again. i'l post photos next
7) last night was the first of a week of goodbyes for me. in my graduate program, as you finish, the professors and your peers gather for a night of prayer and blessing over you and you receive a ring that is engraved with the words, "abide in me". i can't convey in words what this night was like last night. how can the past three years be over??!! i have a HUGE two part comprehensive old test. final tomorrow and i'm soooo very thankful that i didn't even think about it last night. i was sooooo able to be present to receive all the amazing words and prayers of my dearest community. i will forever be changed by their sharpening, encouragement and love.

so...that is what we've been up to. i know there has been a ton more...but i'll post photos and add captions to explain more...pray for me this week as i study all day and night today/night for this Old Test. comp. final. it's at 9:30am tomorrow morning.

sick

'i cannot go to school today' said little peggy ann mckay...
the line from 'sick' from the shel silverstein poem book, 'where the sidewalk ends' (classic!) is running through my mind and i have finally caught what my kids and hubby have had for the past month...this on fire throat, headache...

please pray for healing on our family. i have a HUGE old testament test on thursday night and am just so wiped out i have no energy to study-but i need to. i didnt do too well on the last test and need to at least do a little better this time around.

also, we are heading out on a little mini family vacation on sunday-tuesday for spring break, then ry is out of town for one of his best friend's wedding in colorado, so i'll be a single mom for a week...so...please...please...pray for healing and some sort of mental retention of the old testament material. thanks friends!

permission

why is it so important to receive permission?? this is a question i'm thinking a lot about. there are a great number of things i have learned while in grad school that are amazing and have equipped me for the future. so...now what? the future is about 50 days away...and i have some ideas... and there is fear there...fear in sharing the ideas...what if i share them and someone says, 'no, i don't think that can work for you'...why is it that i value the words of my professors so much that i don't really feel released to do the things i feel i think i want to do until i receive their permission?

what will it look like to think outside the box a bit to consider my future-it's not safe...but it could be amazing to see how it could be possible...could i actually get paid to help people? that is what i was trained to do...i actually do get paid now for it...but outside of grad school...with my training wheels off...do i have permission to go and do it outside of biola? in the church? outside the church coming along side churches and supporting them??

sigh...welcome to my interior!!

52 days...

There are 52 days till i graduate...things i want to do when i graduate...
1. sleep!!!
2. learn to sew
3. organize our books and all my school work
4. figure out how to run a business...i have ideas about future vocation for me and am curious to sit down with folks who i trust to run my ideas past them
5. have a weekend away with ryan
6. go on vaca with the family (i think we almost have it booked..two weeks in june-yeah!!!)
7. sit during naptime and not feel guilty that i'm not reading, writing, studying...
8. write and assimilate all my writtings in my journal about my journey through grad school. i'd love to give this to the kids for them to see later on...
9. start a date once a week with emily ( i have one with will, but not em...)
10. catch up with long lost friends
oh...one more...sand, stain, paint and seal this one piece of furniture i found in a dumpster that i LOVE and think will be amazing, but have not had the time to work on it
okay...one more...have a girls night out/over nighter with friends in my grad program before they all move away
learn how to make jewelry. my sis gave me all the tools for christmas and they've been in my bedroom waiting for me to play with. i have so many old necklaces that i cant wait to tinker around with...
i want to consider more of how to consume less, reuse more, repurpose things in our house more and teach myself and learn along side the kids on how to be a better steward of the possessions we've been given and home.
many more things come to mind...i think i'll stop for now :)

Newest creations...

Here are some of Emily's newest creations...this one she folded in 1/2 to create her layered look







here is the front of the layered one...it bunches up at the top and is sort of gathered...amazing!!








her little rose that happens when she ties it all up going through the holes of the blanket. she's so creative! (and beautiful...look at those eyes!)

Green ideas...

so...i found this blog on another great blog "flipflops and applesauce' today...
repurposeful...check it out!

here is a great little idea that i want to do...i'm sure i have something around the house that i can make this into...

anyone want to teach me to sew??!! i seriously...this summer..when grad school is done...want to learn how to sew...anyone have a machine or can fix my old hand me down machine??!! it could be my graduation present??...!!?? hint hint...; )

Will's new hair...

William wanted a hair cut...can a 3 yr old be that aware of his hair?! apparently...

So...i sat on the couch with emily while the boys were in the bathroom cutting will's hair off...

my little surfer man with floppy hair is no longer...he traded in for spikes