Grateful for...Week Two

Here's the second round of thankful fors...

8.  Sisters and fun weekends we spend together

9.  Family that lets me come visit and do my laundry for free at their houses

10. Covered parking spot so I don't have to scrape my car in the morning

11. Professors and mentors who believe in me

12.  Class getting out early

13.  Gluten free grilled ham and cheese sandwiches

14.  Long phone calls with best friends

15. The fact that snow melts... even if it's going to be winter and snowy for months, at least I know that sometime in March...or April... or perhaps May... there won't be snow in Logan.

Occupational Hazard

I got to talk to this awesome person tonight!!

Yes, it's an old picture...but still one of my favorites!!

Seriously, we were so overdue for a two hour phone call and it was perfect!!  I love that no matter how far apart we may be living, or how long it's been since the last phone call/skype session, we can always pick right back up where we left off.

But tonight, I noticed something different about our conversation.  And I blame grad school.  We concluded it is just an "occupational hazard."  But seriously, as she would talk, I was super conscious of what I was saying and how I was responding to her.  I think it's because we just had to an assignment where we had a mock interview/session with a "client" and then had to transcribe a portion of that interview.  We then went through the transcription and marked every time we used a minimal encourager, summarization, reflection of feeling, advice giving, etc.  All those therapeutic techniques are now on my mind and as she told me all about her exciting adventures, I kept analyzing what I was saying.

You're using too many minimal encouragers...She can't even see you shake your head...That was a good reflection of feeling...Should you really be giving advice here?  And then I actually said "You're talking in the past tense- I felt ___ and I thought ___.  Does that mean you've changed your mind?"

Seriously!?!?  I mean, I guess it's good because these things are sinking in and I'm definitely more aware of them, but... not how I pictured it going!  So, this serves as your warning for our future conversations... It's an occupational hazard and you never know when those skills are going to pop up.

Tuesday Thought

Whew!  After a super fun weekend with my sister and her kiddos, I'm back and all caught up on my assignments.  I even put away all my laundry today... which never happens within 2 days of washing them.  Haha.  I've got some good posts coming up, but after today's productivity I decided just to post an awesome quote I saw on Pinterest today...  Pretty much sums up how I feel about my first semester of grad school!  And I am SO glad I took that risk!!  I've learned so much about what I can do these last few months... and know that next semester holds even more adventures!

Life is good!

I hope this works, I'm posting from my phone tonight. I'm so glad it's the weekend and am loving hanging out with these cute kiddos!!

Seriously, is there anything better than this?

Grateful for... Week 1

So everyone's Facebook and Instagram are popping up with things they are grateful for every day in November.  I thought about doing that, but decided this blogging once a day is enough for me to focus on this month.  That being said, I do want to focus on things I have to be grateful for this month.  So for today's NaBloPoMo post, here are 7 things I am grateful for... one for each day this month.

1.  I am grateful for the opportunities I have to be in Logan and at USU.  Grad school is hard, but it is definitely a privilege and opportunity to be here.  And despite the long hours, hard work, never-ending reading and endless to do lists, I really do love my program and what I'm studying.

2. I am grateful for productive days when I can cross of lots of things on my to do list!

3.  I am grateful for Sundays, when I can take a break from all the worldly things and focus on what really matters and have time to take care of myself.

4.  I am grateful that there is a Sonic in Logan, and I can get my Coke Zero with Cherry!

5.  I am grateful for a paycheck every month!

6.  I am grateful for friends and family members that take such good care of me, and are such a support to me.  I am grateful for fiends in my cohort who understand exactly how I feel when I'm stressed with a professor or assignment or whatever it may be.

7.  I am grateful for my niece and nephews...and even more grateful that I'll get to see them tomorrow!!

Good Things to Come

This is one of my favorite Mormon Message videos.  I just love Elder Holland and all of his talks!

No matter what we might be facing, if we trust in the Lord, He will watch out for us and bless us in His way and His time.

the WISC

I feel like I should do some kind of funny post... or meaningful post... or anything really.  But the truth of the matter is that I'm a grad student, and my life pretty much revolves around school, grading, lots and lots of articles, thesis work, presentations, meetings, etc.  This week my focus has been on the WISC-IV.

The WISC-IV an IQ test for kids ages 6-16.  In one of our classes this semester we have to get certified to administer this (as well as the WAIS- the adult version).  Since my kiddo is coming to the psych clinic tomorrow to be tested, I've spent a lot of time with my WISC manual preparing this week.  And am now I'm going to relax and get ready for bed, because you should always make sure you get a good night's rest before any major test... whether taking it or giving it! :)

Blogging Hiatus Recapped

So, seeing as how I had a super long blogging hiatus, I figured I'd do a super quick recap of major things...

February:  Went to California with my sister.  Saw Wicked with my Mom in San Francisco.  Ate at BJs. Loved riding the BART!  Worked a lot on my rec therapy blog.  Lots of relaxing.  Lots of reading.

March:  Visited Logan for the first time.  Grad school interview.  Loved my job at PCBH... kept working on my rec therapy blog.  Waiting, waiting, waiting for answer about grad school.

April:  Got an acceptance phone call from USU's school psychology program.  Accepted the offer!  Realized I'd be starting school in the fall.  Began praying for a mild winter in Logan!  Drove with my sister and her kids to California for a week.

May:  Family vacation/reunion up Sundance Canyon.  My parents, siblings and all the 3 grandkids all up in two cabins for a few days.  Fun times... except for the flu that we shared...  Love my sisters!!

June:  Visited home in CA again, this time for one of my mission companion's weddings.  So fun to see friends, even if it was a quick trip!  Lucky to see my brother and his family while there!

July:  Work, work, work.  Saving money for grad school.  Slowly started moving things to Logan.  Got my apartment key.  Fourth of July fireworks with my niece and nephew.  Lots of playing with the niece and nephew before I'd have to move.

August:  Quit my job as a recreational therapist at the psych hospital.  Drove to California with my sister. Went to the Galt Flea Market. Sister lunch date to BJs. Root canal.  Moved to Logan.  Officially started grad school!

September:  Grad school is officially underway.  Settling into life in Logan.  Getting back into the student mode.  Weekend in Provo for my niece's birthday!  Remembering how busy school can be.

October:  Attended two funerals in three weeks.  Saw the Lord's tender mercies in being able to visit my grandparents (after not seeing them since school started) and be with my Grandma before she passed away.  Enjoyed General Conference.  Super busy with projects, papers, and grading for school.  Blessed to be with family a lot this month.  Mission reunion.  Cute picture with twin!

Overall, it's been a great year!  If you would have asked me on January 1, 2013 where I would be today, I would never have guessed that I would be where I am now.  Yet I know that I am exactly where I need to be.  So many things have happened this year - wonderful things, fun things, silly things, hard things, sad things, expected things, completely unexpected things - but every thing has been for a purpose and provided me an opportunity to develop more faith and trust in the Lord.

Logan - 2 Life Anchors

When I first moved to Logan, I was a little disappointed that there is not a Target or a Costco here.  Really?!? I (somewhat) jokingly said I had made my decision too soon and without all the information.  I then realized that there's also not a Zupas.  Yet as I've spent the two months here in Logan, I realized that Logan has the most important things and I have fallen in love with the Logan Temple.

You can see the temple from almost anywhere in Logan.  I love the fact that I can look out my bedroom window at night and see it all lit up.  It is beautiful!

So then today was Stake Conference.  It was a regional broadcast for stakes in Northern Utah.  Elder L. Tom Perry was there and spoke.  He began his talk by mentioning how beautiful Cache Valley is with the snow we woke up to this morning.  I was silently laughing because I was *not* pleased to wake up to snow (I even decided I would be okay giving up my one extra hour of sleep if that meant it wouldn't snow yet!).  Anyways.  Elder Perry talked about how wonderful Logan is, with the two anchors it provides us.  The first was the temple.  The second is the "A" on campus.  He talked about how these two things could be our anchors--being in the temple and receiving those ordinances and promises, and then furthering our education.  It made me realize yet again what a privilege it is for me to be here for graduate school.

So, the moral of the story is, even if I haven't completely fallen in love with Logan, I do love these two anchors that I have here-- the temple and the my graduate program at USU.  And that's really all that matters. :)

Grading

So, I'm a TA for two different undergrad classes this semester.  I've never really considered going into academia and being a professor, but it's been a good experience and a great source of income. ;)  Most of the time it's pretty good, except when it comes time to grading big projects.  Like I've spent ALL day (okay, ALL week) doing.  I've definitely learned what kind of assignments I would give if I were to be a professor.  And assignments that take 30+ minutes to grade each, with a class of 32 students, would not be included.  So, in honor of my grading burnout tonight, on day 2 of NaBloPoMo, I present some of my favorite grading memes...

Or procrastinate...

Said no graduate TA EVER!

I wish... instead they just emailing me asking for comments

We do

All that being said, I usually don't mind the grading... The classes are interesting and overall the students are good too... But these weeks where I spend more time grading than anything else can be a bit exhausting....

So I'm using my extra daylight savings hours to watch Netflix and get some extra sleep!!  

NaBloPoMo... Again

Well, folks, it's November 1... and that means it's once again NaBloPoMo.  I realized this a few days ago and debated about whether or not I would participate again this year.  I know it's been months...since I posted and I don't have much free time these days, but I decided tonight that I want to try.  Even if I don't make it 100%, something is better than nothing, and it'll help me focus on the little, important, tender mercies each day instead of the chaos that can be the life of a grad student.

Oh, ya, did I not mention that?  Ya, it's been THAT long since I blogged.... oops.  But, I'm in grad school now, up in Logan at Utah State University in the school psychology program.  It's a great program!  And in honor of my grad school life, I'm going to share a link that my awesome friend Steph shared with me earlier this week...

Grad School Barbie... seriously, read it... it's hilarious (or maybe only for me since I had just walked out a thesis meeting when she posted this to my Facebook wall).

http://joannarenteria.com/2011/12/13/i-was-considering-grad-school-and-then-i-saw-this-hilarious/

I promise I don't look this creepy!

Either way.  Happy Day 1 of NaBloPoMo!

Just Listen

I may or may not have read this book in 24 hours.  I guess that's what happens with YA fiction...and a delayed flight followed by a lazy day at home! :)

Overall thoughts of the book:  I enjoyed it.  I was a little hesitant with the YA part, but I was also in the mood for an fun, easy read.  This fit both categories.  I'd also heard recommendations about another one of Sarah Dessen's books, and a few people suggested YA fiction when I've asked for books.  So I figured I'd give it a try.  I'm glad I did.  It was in part about a girl in high school figuring out who she is, what role her past will play in her future, and how she fits in socially and in her family.  I really like emotional dramas, and this seemed to be right up my alley.

Falling to Heaven

So the second book on my list was "Falling to Heaven" by James L. Ferrell.  I was super excited to read this book.  I was first introduced to James L. Ferrell when I read his two books, "The Peacegiver" and "The Holy Secret" during my second transfer in the mission field.  My mission president gave me both books and assignment to read them each twice...before the next transfer meeting.  It was an amazing experience and I've read "The Peacegiver" several times since then.  I absolutely love that book!

So, when I saw his newest book "Falling to Heaven" at Deseret Book a couple of weeks ago, I immediately bought it.  I read about three-fourths of the book on Saturday and finished it up tonight.  It's a pretty simple read, but really deep and profound at the same time.  It's different than the Peacegiver, and that's something that I struggled with initially.  The writing style is different, the way he approaches the subject seems different.    It wasn't what I expected.

Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the book.  It was about how to find happiness in this life, and he talked about things in a new way.  It was really interesting, and it makes me want to go back and really study--not just read--the book.  I particularly liked the end, where he talked about living a "confessional life" and being honest with those around us.  He talked about how the key to finding happiness is falling, and it reminded me of a quote from his other book about the Fall of Adam and Eve and how that related to the Atonement.  I'd definitely recommend this book, with the warning that it might be different than you expect, but totally worth it!

Sunday Thought

I love this!!  Don't you?!?

Room

Okay, I have officially finished the first book in my A-Z reading challenge.  Here's my thoughts...

I absolutely LOVED this book!  I had a few people recommend it to me, and it was the perfect book to start off with!  It was a little hard to get into because it was written from a five year old boy's perspective.  But once I got used to that, I couldn't put it down!  It was so hard to work on other projects, or even go to bed at night, because I wanted to just keep reading.

I really enjoyed how the author portrayed the innocence of Jack.  He is such a cute little boy, and the reader can't help but fall in love with him and his simplistic view of the world.  I also liked the book because it was emotional and personal, and I felt like I could enjoy the emotions of the characters without getting caught up in the drama like at work! :)

I'd say more about the book, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone.  I'd definitely recommend this book!!

A-Z Reading Challenge

Today I had a fabulous idea.  After some researching on Google, I realized that I wasn't the first person to have this idea.  Oh well.  I still think it's fun and I'm still going to do it.  And anyone else who wants to join me is more than welcome!

During the year 2013, I am going to read at least 26 books....one for each letter of the alphabet.  I'll pick a book that starts with each letter of the alphabet (although with X or any other super hard ones I may just let myself pick a book with that letter somewhere in the title).  I'll write a short review of each book I read, and keep this post updated with the book I've chosen for that letter.  Also, feel free to comment with book recommendations!  I'm always looking for new books to read.

So... Here's the list:

A -
B -
C - (The) Cross Gardener by Jason F. Wright
   - (The) Christmas Train by David Baldacci
   - (The) Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
D -
E - Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn

F - Falling to Heaven by James L. Ferrell
   - Fire by Kristin Cashore
   - Forget Me Not by Dieter F. Uchtdorf
   - Family Pictures by Jane Green

G - Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
   - Graceling by Kristin Cashore

H - Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom

I -

J - Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
  - January First: A Child's Descent into Madness and Her Father's Struggle to Save Her by Michael Schofield

K - Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen

L -

M -

N -

O -

P -

Q -

R - Room by Emma Donoghue 

S - (The) Seventeen Second Miracle by Jason F. Wright

T - Through His Eyes by Virginia Pearce
   - Then I Met My Sister by Christine Hurley Deriso

U -

V -

W - (The) Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright

X -

Y - Your Happily Ever After by Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Z -

What Faith Can Do

Tonight I went to an amazing fireside about becoming our best selves.  We started by listening to and then singing this song.  It's an EFY song most of us had never heard and we didn't have the actual music, just the text, so it didn't sound great, but the message was perfect.  Take a minute to listen to it, and really think about the words:

Isn't that a beautiful message?

"Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise...
You think it's more than you can take
But you're stronger, stronger than you know
Don't you give up now...
Impossible is not a word
It's just a reason for someone not to try...
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way...
I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do."

That's what faith can do.  I know that through faith, the miracles we seek can become realities in our lives, the broken pieces can be healed and our lives can be guided by our loving Father in Heaven.  Faith can do whatever we need.  Through faith we can do whatever the Lord asks of us.  It's hard, of course, but never impossible.  The Lord will help us, and will make up for what we can't do.  We just have to have the faith to act, the faith to try, and the faith to never give up.  That's the power of faith in our lives.  That's what faith can do.

Quick catch up and on to 2013

Ya, I had great plans of posting a Christmas thing and a year in review and all that jazz.  My parents came out for Christmas and then we were struck with what we've affectionately named "the plague" and all those lofty plans flew out the window.  Having the flu at Christmas isn't fun.  But everyone having the flu just stinks.    But, it was still wonderful to be together and have my parents in town and see my sisters so much!

Anyways, those posts aren't going to happen, and it's time to just focus on 2013.  I feel like I should write the obligatory 2013 New Year's Resolution post, but I'm not going to.  I'm actually not making New Year's Resolutions.  Instead, I'm going to continue something I started in October.

In October, I went to a mission reunion.  (Which was amazing, by the way!)  Anyways, my mission president has always focused on setting and keeping goals and returning and reporting on those goals.  So at the reunion he taught us about his 10 in 90 program.  It was awesome.  Basically, it's a list of ten things (goals) that you will accomplish in the next 90 days (or 3 months).  Specific things, with a deadline!  And not something that you will evaluate in a year.  90 days is the perfect time.  So I started this in October, and it worked really well for me.  I include professional, social, spiritual and personal goals.  And now that it's January, it's time to make my new 10 in 90 list.

And no, I'm not going to post it here.  But I will share three of my items of focus for the next 90 days.  One is to read the entire Book of Mormon in these 90 days.  The other is to create a program and schedule for interns at my facility.  The other is to post more regularly on the blog.

What about you??  What are your goals?