Counseling and Such

This blog will make very little sense to the outside reader; however I am writing it for me and using this more as a journal.  Yeah the whole world can see it but that's okay.

Counseling is a powerful thing.  My school offers it free to students and decided to take advantage of the offer.

It is amazing how someone with nothing invested in your life can look in from the outside and give an observation that is really very clear.  Why don't we see that for ourselves?

Well I was challenged by my counselor Wednesday afternoon.  She gets to hear lots about my life and background.  I'm going mostly for career counseling, to help me figure out the direction I should head in.  After taking over half the session to talk about one topic she stopped me and said, "You just talked about that for twenty-five minutes and got animated and excited.  Why don't you do something with that?"  Wow.  I didn't realize how passionate I can be about this.  I don't want to go into the details at the moment, maybe another time.  I was then given the challenge.

I was scared to death.  BUT I did it!  I actually did it!  Granted I could hear my heart beat in my ears and was shaking but I accomplished my challenge.

On a completely unrelated note, I have been staying up really late this week.  I don't know what has come over me.  I can't seem to get myself to bed before one.  Even when I need to be up early I still go to bed late and then stay up the next night.  Craziness.

So far I've logged in to My Fitness Pal 55 days in a row.  I'm pleased with myself.  I am down 26 with my first goal being minus 35.  Why 35 you ask...that is how much little man weighs and I want to be able to say "I am minus my son!"  :-D

This week and last has not been the greatest diet wise.  I bought chocolate, which I shouldn't have even done but we all make mistakes.  I've been over almost everyday and am learning not to beat myself up so much but learn from it and try to make better choices next time.

School has been going well.  This week is mid-term week and I had a few tests but nothing bad.  This semester is proving to be quite easy.  I spoke to my counselor about this and she said maybe there is a reason for that.  At first I felt really bad and guilty that I wasn't really having to study or work hard but it is freeing up time in other areas for things like my challenge.

There is a season for everything.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

 ¹ There is a time for everything, 

   and a season for every activity under heaven:

 ² a time to be born and a time to die, 

   a time to plant and a time to uproot, 

 ³ a time to kill and a time to heal, 

   a time to tear down and a time to build, 

 ⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh, 

   a time to mourn and a time to dance, 

 ⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, 

   a time to embrace and a time to refrain, 

 ⁶ a time to search and a time to give up, 

   a time to keep and a time to throw away, 

 ⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend, 

   a time to be silent and a time to speak,

 ⁸ a time to love and a time to hate, 

   a time for war and a time for peace.

love 

anc

Helping Others

I am loving my classes this semester!  They are all very interesting and thought provoking.  It is so nice to have classes that relate to life and have a purpose.

For my course in Missions and Evangelism, we are doing an evangelism practicum.  No this does not mean we are to go out to the streets and hand out gospel tracts.  It is about building relationships with others so we can then share our story about how God found led us to Him.

The teacher did not leave us hanging for places to go.  He had several different organizations come in telling us about their work and how we could help.  The vast majority were youth centered.  I do not mind youth but I would rather not have to work with them if there is another option.  While it was beginning to look like that would be the only thing that would fit into my schedule.  Boy was I wrong!  God brought a speaker in just at the right time to rip my heart open . . .  Teaching English pronunciation to international students and sharing about Jesus!  These are adults who have come from places like China and Korea to study in the States.  They are smart brilliant people, most are doing doctorate work at a local university.  Well I qualify!  I speak English and know our customs!

I was not able to go last week because little man and I were just not feeling up to it and honestly I wanted to check it out before he came.

It was amazing!  Before I left I was praying this would be a fun and good experience for me.  It was more than I could have ever imagined!  I cannot wait to go back!  The students are so kind and really have a desire to learn!

Now is this were I will end up, helping international students with English?  I honestly do not know but I like the possibility of it :-)  I will continue to pray and would love other's prayers as well about it.  My school does have a program for ESL/EFL Education so it could happen!

I mostly watched while I was there to see how things go.  The lady I got to know is from Korea and it was so fun to learn about her and the culture.  She is so friendly and opened up a lot.

I'll definitely be updating more about this experience!

love
anc

First Day of School - take two

Today was the second first day of school. :-)


The first chapel of the year happened and I greatly enjoyed it.  I had a three hour break in between chapel and my first and only class of the day.


Pentateuch seems like it will be a good class.  It will consist of routine, which I enjoy.  It is just a matter of getting into the routine!  Lots of quizzes and reading but it won't be difficult.


Tomorrow I have two of my three classes, as one is not meeting.  I'm excited for things to be rolling along.


Little man will be coming home Sunday and I'm very ready to see him again.  These two weeks have been an odd one.  It is slightly stressful thinking about trying to work with him here but I got this :-D


I ended up taking a two hour nap today and then went on a walk to read some.  Here is what spoke to me:

I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake

      and will never think of them again.

Isaiah 43:25 NLT

We are forgiven.  I love this!

Oh I almost forgot to put this!  Today was day 8!

First Day of School

Today was the first day of classes.  I went to bed at 9:30 last night, which is very early for me.  I knew I wanted to be up early so I could complete day 7 of my 21 day habit forming activity!  I am one week in!  Two more to go!

I had to force myself out of bed.  I figured I'd have no problems getting up since I went to bed so early but apparently I got too much sleep!  I made my way to the gym at a very slow pace.  I decided on only thirty minutes on the elliptical because I wanted to be sure to have plenty of time to shower, dress, and eat.  Plus I was just exhausted and didn't feel like going longer ;-)

As it turns out chapel was not happening today so I was up and going much earlier than needed.  I ended up just going to my first class an hour early and reading my bible.  It was a nice quiet time.

First on the class agenda for the day was Gospel Narratives.  My professor is very funny and I think the class will be a good one.  It will be the intellectual side of the gospels so its different.

Immediately following was World Missions and Evangelism.  This professor is great as well!  There will be a great chance to grow in this class with an evangelism practicum.  Although this course is required for everyone it is going to give me the first glimpses into my major.  Very exciting to be learning about world missions!

A lunch break is set before my next course.  I headed home very hungry.  I changed out my books and got some food.  Then off to Basic Christian Beliefs (BCB).  Now this is probably the class I have been most excited about.  The teacher is also a pastor at a local church and I have heard part of his story during a chapel last semester.  His daughter was a missionary in the Middle East and was killed one year ago this August.  When he went over the syllabus, honestly I was expecting the same thing I had in my other courses.  "This is a college class.  We are here to learn.  It will be intellectual."  I was so very wrong.  The professor wants us to grow in our Walk with Christ, not just read about basic beliefs.  Yes there will be studying involved but we need to remember Him in everything we do.  Also we are asked to exercise at least seven times every two weeks for thirty minutes!  I got this!  We are to be good stewards of our body and as 1 Timothy 4:8 says, "For physical training is of some value..."  I'll post more on this later!

Wow.  I was completely blown away!  I then got to thinking about where I am in life.  My last college was a great school but I must say I love where I am so much more.  All of my courses this semester center around the bible and I couldn't be more happy!  The school is so understanding of who I am and that I am not only concerned about school.  I do have a little one to take care of and they truly get that!  This is going to be a fantastic year!

I have one more professor to meet tomorrow but so far they are all amazing!  Now it is time to write a short half page response paper to the first chapter of the wonderful book Radical.  I have already read this book but it was nice picking it up again.  Then I will be getting everything I can done for the week and maybe getting ahead before Little Man comes home Sunday.  Can't wait to see him!

love
anc