Hey guys,
It is sad that this group is coming to an end and we definitely have to at least attempt to get together before May 11th! So looking back over all our blogs I think we have all definitely grown. Closure is always a hard thing for me but I also feel really ready to be done with school (maybe because I took so many credits this semester) and I feel ready to move on to the next phase. Josh and I actually just looked at a condo in Vienna we really like today that would allow us to have Gracie!!! So we will probably try to move in next month! Thank you guys for being with me in this :) I'm going to miss you all!
An attitude I would like to continue going forward and encourage y'all to continue going forward is this notion of being kind to ourselves. It is something that I think we have grown in this semester but I could see it getting easy to forget moving out of college into the "real world." Maybe we could even post on this blog from time to time after the semester ends just to update each other on life and hopefully that will challenge us to try to continue to be kind to ourselves and take care of ourselves rather than lash ourselves along.
Love,
Lindsey
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
8 days!!
Hello all!
So I know I already sort of did my "closure" post, but I just wanted to post back after all of you guys's posts. First of all, as you can see from my title David, I am counting down. 8 days until my last class and 16 until graduation day! I'm so excited! My little sister is coming to stay with my on the 12th-ish and then she's going to stay until the rest of my family gets here for my graduation! I'm so freaking excited!!! but, back to reality. I'm posting this as a breather from my final paper for cultivating the spirit. I can't believe it's due tomorrow! May 1st seemed like it was so far away! Anyway, 1261 words down. Only 739 left. ugh. I can't complain too much though. I just finished my field report for education 301 on sunday and it was 22 pages long. I can't believe I got through that whole thing. I also have a big research presentation tomorrow. After that it's just one 4-6 page reflection and a final reflection for my education class that I've already started. I can't believe I'm so close! It feels like forever!
With my grad school program it's very controlled with what classes you take. There really isn't any choice. I take 1-4 classes a semester and they're always at 4:30 or 7:10. I don't get to pick my section or anything. They literally have a reserved section of the classes for my cohort and tell us all to sign up for them. Fortunately, I'm starting pretty easy. Just 3 credits this summer and we meet TR from 4:30-7:10. Hopefully it won't be too bad.
Lindsey--I hope you're doing ok with Josh being gone. I'm keeping you in my thoughts! I hope that you're able to take Gracie home soon! Have you started your new job yet? If so is it going well?! Hopefully keeping busy with work and your practices can help you not miss Josh ALL the time! ;]
David--You're yard looks AWESOME! I know you probably told us already, but do you live with parents? What family are you going to see in Hungary?
Ariel--I hope your pop culture paper turned out alright and your new jobs going well. I would suggest checking hiremason for jobs if you haven't already. My job was approving the jobs that went on there for two years and they get a TON in just about every field. The best part is that a lot of the companies are mainly looking to hire from Mason. It's definitely worth checking out and if you aren't registered it's free and you have a lifetime membership. If you wait until 6 months after graduation or more you have to pay like $10 or $20 to register. So do it even if you don't need it now! I was looking at jobs on there the other day and I'm pretty sure I saw a couple social work positions!
Guys! We seriously need to have a closure meeting. I know we'll close things out at our last meeting, but I really want to see you all and hang out before we all go our separate ways in the "real" world!
Miss you guys!
So I know I already sort of did my "closure" post, but I just wanted to post back after all of you guys's posts. First of all, as you can see from my title David, I am counting down. 8 days until my last class and 16 until graduation day! I'm so excited! My little sister is coming to stay with my on the 12th-ish and then she's going to stay until the rest of my family gets here for my graduation! I'm so freaking excited!!! but, back to reality. I'm posting this as a breather from my final paper for cultivating the spirit. I can't believe it's due tomorrow! May 1st seemed like it was so far away! Anyway, 1261 words down. Only 739 left. ugh. I can't complain too much though. I just finished my field report for education 301 on sunday and it was 22 pages long. I can't believe I got through that whole thing. I also have a big research presentation tomorrow. After that it's just one 4-6 page reflection and a final reflection for my education class that I've already started. I can't believe I'm so close! It feels like forever!
With my grad school program it's very controlled with what classes you take. There really isn't any choice. I take 1-4 classes a semester and they're always at 4:30 or 7:10. I don't get to pick my section or anything. They literally have a reserved section of the classes for my cohort and tell us all to sign up for them. Fortunately, I'm starting pretty easy. Just 3 credits this summer and we meet TR from 4:30-7:10. Hopefully it won't be too bad.
Lindsey--I hope you're doing ok with Josh being gone. I'm keeping you in my thoughts! I hope that you're able to take Gracie home soon! Have you started your new job yet? If so is it going well?! Hopefully keeping busy with work and your practices can help you not miss Josh ALL the time! ;]
David--You're yard looks AWESOME! I know you probably told us already, but do you live with parents? What family are you going to see in Hungary?
Ariel--I hope your pop culture paper turned out alright and your new jobs going well. I would suggest checking hiremason for jobs if you haven't already. My job was approving the jobs that went on there for two years and they get a TON in just about every field. The best part is that a lot of the companies are mainly looking to hire from Mason. It's definitely worth checking out and if you aren't registered it's free and you have a lifetime membership. If you wait until 6 months after graduation or more you have to pay like $10 or $20 to register. So do it even if you don't need it now! I was looking at jobs on there the other day and I'm pretty sure I saw a couple social work positions!
Guys! We seriously need to have a closure meeting. I know we'll close things out at our last meeting, but I really want to see you all and hang out before we all go our separate ways in the "real" world!
Miss you guys!
Monday, April 29, 2013
Almost done!!!
Hey groupies,
I cannot believe we are all so close to being done!! David, your backyard looks awesome! You are a very talented landscaper! Josh's family owns their own landscaping business so I really can appreciate the hard work, it looks great!
My well-being practices are going really well! I got to play a pick-up game of soccer last week with some coaches in the Vienna area and it was so much fun! I was so sore from it! Haha I am definitely not in the shape I used to be :) but I had a great time!
Josh and I officially filled out our application to adopt Gracie so now we just need to move and then we can get her! I am so excited!!!!
Josh left for FL again this morning which is hard but this challenge is forcing me to deal with some issues like I am working with my wellness practitioner/counselor on why I have such a fear of being alone and taking steps to ease my subconscious like leaving lights on and having Josh set his alarm to call and check in with me during the night. I am optimistic that this week will be a little easier than last! And to answer Heather's question we won't be moving to FL because it is a short term project so hopefully Josh will be done with all of this craziness in July.
Pushing through all my papers due this week is going to be challenging but I know I can do it and it is so worth it! We all can do it! I am so excited for all of us :D
Cheers y'all!!
I cannot believe we are all so close to being done!! David, your backyard looks awesome! You are a very talented landscaper! Josh's family owns their own landscaping business so I really can appreciate the hard work, it looks great!
My well-being practices are going really well! I got to play a pick-up game of soccer last week with some coaches in the Vienna area and it was so much fun! I was so sore from it! Haha I am definitely not in the shape I used to be :) but I had a great time!
Josh and I officially filled out our application to adopt Gracie so now we just need to move and then we can get her! I am so excited!!!!
Josh left for FL again this morning which is hard but this challenge is forcing me to deal with some issues like I am working with my wellness practitioner/counselor on why I have such a fear of being alone and taking steps to ease my subconscious like leaving lights on and having Josh set his alarm to call and check in with me during the night. I am optimistic that this week will be a little easier than last! And to answer Heather's question we won't be moving to FL because it is a short term project so hopefully Josh will be done with all of this craziness in July.
Pushing through all my papers due this week is going to be challenging but I know I can do it and it is so worth it! We all can do it! I am so excited for all of us :D
Cheers y'all!!
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Final Final
Helllllloooo Ladies!
How's everyone enjoying the spring? The most difficult time of the year is coming up so good luck to all of you on your final exams/projects/presentations or anything that you have! I'm happy to say this is my last last final period. In 3 weeks, we'll be all graduated and I cannot wait!
Lindsey - I'm glad to hear you got a job like that, and I'm VERY jealous too! I keep looking for jobs but the State Department isn't easy to get into!
Ariel - I have a job for the summer but that ends in July and then I'm planning to go to Hungary to see my family because I haven't seen them in 2 years and I really miss them :(
Heather - CONGRATS!!! I'm so glad to hear you got into grad school, it's not easy! Best of luck to you next semester!
This is a picture of one half of our backyard. I finally got to clean both of our fish ponds, and this is how one of them looks. I like it and not to brag but I think I deserve a pat on the shoulder :)
Hope all is well with you guys, I can't wait to see you again in two weeks!
David
PS: has anyone started counting down the days? :)
How's everyone enjoying the spring? The most difficult time of the year is coming up so good luck to all of you on your final exams/projects/presentations or anything that you have! I'm happy to say this is my last last final period. In 3 weeks, we'll be all graduated and I cannot wait!
Lindsey - I'm glad to hear you got a job like that, and I'm VERY jealous too! I keep looking for jobs but the State Department isn't easy to get into!
Ariel - I have a job for the summer but that ends in July and then I'm planning to go to Hungary to see my family because I haven't seen them in 2 years and I really miss them :(
Heather - CONGRATS!!! I'm so glad to hear you got into grad school, it's not easy! Best of luck to you next semester!
Hope all is well with you guys, I can't wait to see you again in two weeks!
David
PS: has anyone started counting down the days? :)
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Grad School
Hey guys!
I hope everyone is doing well. Congratulations on your new jobs Linsdey and Ariel. Also congratulations on getting Gracie Lindsey! That's got to be so exciting! I'm sorry to hear about Josh having to work in Florida. How long will he have to do that? Have you thought about the possibility of moving there if it's long term? I know it's going to be hard to be separated. Josh and I went through something similar when he was in the Army. I know how hard and lonely it can be. Keep your family and friends close and it won't be so bad! I'll keep you both in my thoughts!
So I have big news! Yesterday, I FINALLY got my letter from GMU about grad school and... I'm in! I got into the program I applied to and I'm going to be starting my first class in June! I'm SO excited!! Now, I just need to focus on ending my last semester and bachelor's degree with some closure. I want to finish strong. I talked a bit about it in our posting for this module, but I tend to get lazy during the end of my semesters, especially since it's my last semester, and I have been particularly feeling bad about my lack of focus and dedication to school. I'm already moving past the end of the semester and I haven't even given it proper closure yet. I am going to work very hard to buckle down and be a focused and hard working student for the next 2.5 weeks of my semester and then I'm going to fully appreciate crossing the stage and feeling like I truly earned my diploma.
I also want to feel like we've had good closure as a group. I'm going to miss reading about you guys's lives and having friends to share my spiritual journey with. Part of getting good closure I think, is to definitely meet and have lunch. Just so we can say our goodbye's as a small group.
Anyway, I'm going to go do some of that buckling down and work on some of my papers. I have 6 pages down on my 30+ page field experience journal on top of a presentation and 4 other smaller papers due in the next two weeks. I've been procrastinating working on all this, but I know I'll go crazy if I don't break it up and work on it a little at a time. So, wish me luck! I can't wait to see you guys!
Heather
I hope everyone is doing well. Congratulations on your new jobs Linsdey and Ariel. Also congratulations on getting Gracie Lindsey! That's got to be so exciting! I'm sorry to hear about Josh having to work in Florida. How long will he have to do that? Have you thought about the possibility of moving there if it's long term? I know it's going to be hard to be separated. Josh and I went through something similar when he was in the Army. I know how hard and lonely it can be. Keep your family and friends close and it won't be so bad! I'll keep you both in my thoughts!
So I have big news! Yesterday, I FINALLY got my letter from GMU about grad school and... I'm in! I got into the program I applied to and I'm going to be starting my first class in June! I'm SO excited!! Now, I just need to focus on ending my last semester and bachelor's degree with some closure. I want to finish strong. I talked a bit about it in our posting for this module, but I tend to get lazy during the end of my semesters, especially since it's my last semester, and I have been particularly feeling bad about my lack of focus and dedication to school. I'm already moving past the end of the semester and I haven't even given it proper closure yet. I am going to work very hard to buckle down and be a focused and hard working student for the next 2.5 weeks of my semester and then I'm going to fully appreciate crossing the stage and feeling like I truly earned my diploma.
I also want to feel like we've had good closure as a group. I'm going to miss reading about you guys's lives and having friends to share my spiritual journey with. Part of getting good closure I think, is to definitely meet and have lunch. Just so we can say our goodbye's as a small group.
Anyway, I'm going to go do some of that buckling down and work on some of my papers. I have 6 pages down on my 30+ page field experience journal on top of a presentation and 4 other smaller papers due in the next two weeks. I've been procrastinating working on all this, but I know I'll go crazy if I don't break it up and work on it a little at a time. So, wish me luck! I can't wait to see you guys!
Heather
Change, Change, and More Change!
Hey everyone!
Okay so I have SO many new updates, please bear with me! First of all, my well-bring practices are going really well which are spending time with kids, praying, and working out 3x's a week - this got way easier once it started getting nice out!
1) Death in the Fam
This past week was hard but good. Josh's step-grandfather (who was like a grandpa to him) died last Friday so this past week everything was thrown off because we attended the viewing Monday night and the funeral Tuesday morning, both in Winchester, so I had to miss some classes/assignments. My teachers were cool with it but it threw off my groove and now I am way behind :( I have 12 chapters, 2 articles, and 2 papers to write before tomorrow (please pray for a miracle!)
2) Josh's New Project
We just found out Josh got put on a project in Florida for work so he will be in FL Mon-Thurs every week and only be home on weekends and he leaves tomorrow :( It will be hard but I'm trying to focus on the positive sides of it like we will appreciate our time together more, we will be committed to praying for each other, our grocery bill will go down, etc. I'm only nervous about sleeping alone, I never have, even growing up my sisters and I would always sleep together so that will probably be the hardest. Please keep me in your thoughts/prayers for that!
3) I GOT A JOB!
I'm praising the Lord right now because I received a job offer before I even began the job search. I will be working as a Business Systems Specialist for the company I used to work for, my old boss offered me the job. It's not my dream job but it will be good money and my boss says he can work with me if I want to try and make some creative decisions in that position. It is such a huge blessing, I can't take any credit for it, obviously I didn't even apply, thank you Jesus!!
4) And since I got a job...WE ARE GETTING GRACIE!!!!!!
We are planning to move into to a bigger apartment at the end of June so we should be able to get Gracie early July, I am so excited and it's all I can think about!!! I wish we had her right now!!!
Heather - my friend just heard back from GMU about grad school via letter in the mail yesterday so you should be finding out really soon, you can even try calling! I really hope you get in! Hang in there! We are almost done. Be kind to yourself about not being a homework nazi but maybe try giving yourself small rewards when you finish assignments, like dessert or something, so you have incentive to finish! I'm so proud of you working on your relationships (especially with your Mom) that's tough stuff, but I believe you will be blessed by the work you put in.
Ariel- Congrats on your job! I'm hoping you can find a social work job too! I will also pray that your 20 page paper comes more easily than you expect and that you can enjoy writing it. Crazy as it sounds, I do believe that it's possible!
David - Sorry you got sunburned :( It sounds like you're making some serious headway in your yard though, that's not easy work. Make sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated :)
So can we all safely plan to grab lunch at Chipotle in Fairfax Corner this coming Saturday, the 27th? Can we say around noon? I would love to catch up with y'all in person!
Okay so I have SO many new updates, please bear with me! First of all, my well-bring practices are going really well which are spending time with kids, praying, and working out 3x's a week - this got way easier once it started getting nice out!
1) Death in the Fam
This past week was hard but good. Josh's step-grandfather (who was like a grandpa to him) died last Friday so this past week everything was thrown off because we attended the viewing Monday night and the funeral Tuesday morning, both in Winchester, so I had to miss some classes/assignments. My teachers were cool with it but it threw off my groove and now I am way behind :( I have 12 chapters, 2 articles, and 2 papers to write before tomorrow (please pray for a miracle!)
2) Josh's New Project
We just found out Josh got put on a project in Florida for work so he will be in FL Mon-Thurs every week and only be home on weekends and he leaves tomorrow :( It will be hard but I'm trying to focus on the positive sides of it like we will appreciate our time together more, we will be committed to praying for each other, our grocery bill will go down, etc. I'm only nervous about sleeping alone, I never have, even growing up my sisters and I would always sleep together so that will probably be the hardest. Please keep me in your thoughts/prayers for that!
3) I GOT A JOB!
I'm praising the Lord right now because I received a job offer before I even began the job search. I will be working as a Business Systems Specialist for the company I used to work for, my old boss offered me the job. It's not my dream job but it will be good money and my boss says he can work with me if I want to try and make some creative decisions in that position. It is such a huge blessing, I can't take any credit for it, obviously I didn't even apply, thank you Jesus!!
4) And since I got a job...WE ARE GETTING GRACIE!!!!!!
We are planning to move into to a bigger apartment at the end of June so we should be able to get Gracie early July, I am so excited and it's all I can think about!!! I wish we had her right now!!!
Heather - my friend just heard back from GMU about grad school via letter in the mail yesterday so you should be finding out really soon, you can even try calling! I really hope you get in! Hang in there! We are almost done. Be kind to yourself about not being a homework nazi but maybe try giving yourself small rewards when you finish assignments, like dessert or something, so you have incentive to finish! I'm so proud of you working on your relationships (especially with your Mom) that's tough stuff, but I believe you will be blessed by the work you put in.
Ariel- Congrats on your job! I'm hoping you can find a social work job too! I will also pray that your 20 page paper comes more easily than you expect and that you can enjoy writing it. Crazy as it sounds, I do believe that it's possible!
David - Sorry you got sunburned :( It sounds like you're making some serious headway in your yard though, that's not easy work. Make sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated :)
So can we all safely plan to grab lunch at Chipotle in Fairfax Corner this coming Saturday, the 27th? Can we say around noon? I would love to catch up with y'all in person!
Thursday, April 18, 2013
In Search of Motivation (and time)
Hey Guys!
Things are getting pretty crazy. I only have a few classes, but all the assignments seem to be due around the same time and I have SO little time to actually work on them. I'm trying to be gentle and kind to myself and not kick myself for taking an evening off from homework, but it's so hard to keep up. Right now I'm torn between just taking the rest of the evening off or having some free time this weekend. I thought it would be a no brainer, just get it done now, but I'm really having a hard time digging down and finding the motivation to make myself do anything else right now. I feel lucky to even have done my cultivating the spirit work. I've had the craziest week at work, Tuesday I worked 11.5 hours not including my hour break, so all told I was there from 8-8:30. It was insane. Then last night I went straight from work to class and was there until 10 PM. This is the first time I've had a second to just sit down and do some homework. I wanted to start out with my "easy" homework and do a post with you guys and respond to the questions for this module. Anything to put off working on one of the many papers and projects I have coming up. One of my classes hasn't even given the assignment for the final paper and I'm already feeling overwhelmed. Part of me just feels like laughing at myself because I've had MUCH harder semesters, but I've never had to work full time while being in school full time. Sometimes it just feels like it's just more than I could possibly hope to get done. Yet somehow here I am and I'm almost graduating. I just am so afraid I'm going to slip up and fail a class or something and not graduate. I'm also going CRAZY because when I interviewed for grad school on the 18th of March they said I should hear back in 3-4 weeks. Monday was 4 weeks and still no news. Keep your fingers crossed for me! Everything else is still pretty much the same. As my last post. Trying to come up with somewhere beautiful to have an outdoor wedding, but I'm really floundering a bit, but that's just something fun and exciting I work on in my "spare time". If anyone knows somewhere cheap and pretty, let me know! I hope to hear from you all soon about our lunch date!
Heather
Things are getting pretty crazy. I only have a few classes, but all the assignments seem to be due around the same time and I have SO little time to actually work on them. I'm trying to be gentle and kind to myself and not kick myself for taking an evening off from homework, but it's so hard to keep up. Right now I'm torn between just taking the rest of the evening off or having some free time this weekend. I thought it would be a no brainer, just get it done now, but I'm really having a hard time digging down and finding the motivation to make myself do anything else right now. I feel lucky to even have done my cultivating the spirit work. I've had the craziest week at work, Tuesday I worked 11.5 hours not including my hour break, so all told I was there from 8-8:30. It was insane. Then last night I went straight from work to class and was there until 10 PM. This is the first time I've had a second to just sit down and do some homework. I wanted to start out with my "easy" homework and do a post with you guys and respond to the questions for this module. Anything to put off working on one of the many papers and projects I have coming up. One of my classes hasn't even given the assignment for the final paper and I'm already feeling overwhelmed. Part of me just feels like laughing at myself because I've had MUCH harder semesters, but I've never had to work full time while being in school full time. Sometimes it just feels like it's just more than I could possibly hope to get done. Yet somehow here I am and I'm almost graduating. I just am so afraid I'm going to slip up and fail a class or something and not graduate. I'm also going CRAZY because when I interviewed for grad school on the 18th of March they said I should hear back in 3-4 weeks. Monday was 4 weeks and still no news. Keep your fingers crossed for me! Everything else is still pretty much the same. As my last post. Trying to come up with somewhere beautiful to have an outdoor wedding, but I'm really floundering a bit, but that's just something fun and exciting I work on in my "spare time". If anyone knows somewhere cheap and pretty, let me know! I hope to hear from you all soon about our lunch date!
Heather
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