Time for Some Goals!

Graduation is just around the corner and with it comes summer! Graduation is 23 days away, but in reality I will be done with my Graduate Assistantship and (hopefully) all of my final papers and projects by April 28th. That day will be my last day of classes, and the date of submission for my last projects and papers. Following that wonderful Saturday, I have no plans, no job as of yet, and will still be waiting to take my licensure exam in order to become a CSW (required in order for me to have a job at any agency/organization).

I predict that I will have one month off, possibly more depending on how long it will take to find a job.

That leaves some time for good summer goals, and whether or not I start my career immediately (oh my goodness... I just said the words "my career") summer goals will continue on!

A good friend of mine, Sarah Shaffer, writes a fantastic blog: Becoming a Proverbs 31 Woman. You should definitely check it out! It's filled with new recipes, a fantastic series on keeping your life organized, home decor ideas, and even some awesome give-aways!

Anyways, the point is that she recently wrote a post about her summer goals... and we all know how much I love a good list. So I thought I would create my own! Another reason that I'm doing this is that being in graduate school has made me feel as if I have had to put a hold on my goal setting. I don't have time for goals. Isn't that sad? For the past year, the only thing I can do is think about the assignment that is due in the next two days and how I have to continue working 50 hours a week while taking 15 hours of graduate classes.

So it's time to set some goals, now that I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!

 

Savannah's Summer Goals (In No Particular Order)

• Take and pass my licensure exam with a score above a 75% (so that I can switch states if needed)
• Find a job, start my career (there are those words again!)
• Practice my guitar, be able to play one of my favorite songs
• Get involved at NewLife Church again, and become an active Chi Alphian!
• Fulfill my promise of sending handmade goodies to the 5 people who commented on a give-away type status I posted on FB
• Visit my dear friend, Leah Blackketter in Cinci
• Do some painting and crafting (make use of all those Pinterest craft ideas I saved)
• Hang pictures and painting up on my bare and empty living room wall
• Pick one topic related to my field and study up (I think I will start with Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy... I'm pretty interested in reactions to grief and trauma, especially in adolescents)
• Try new recipes and start organizing my "Sooter Family Cookbook" which has become slightly overwhelming
• Spend more time with Kate and all the wonderful friends I have here in Bowling Green
• Read 15 books, starting with the book "Flashbang" which I have started several times and never finished
• Start journaling again
• Take more pictures, documenting my life and the wonderful friendships I have
• Spend more time in prayer
• Begin reading the Bible in chronological order (which I have never done)
• Study (Kay Arthur style!) 2 books of the Bible
• Go through the entire summer with all laundry being placed on hangers and hung in the closet relatively soon after being washed and dried
• Go on brisk walks very frequently
• Finally, as the purpose of this blog is to keep family living out of state updated on how my life is going and what I have been doing lately (sorry I haven't been doing too well, Grandma), I am going to attempt to post more pictures of things that I love and things that I have been doing.
  
  And there you have it.
  I've set my summer goals.

One of those days....

Approximately 342 days of the year, I have "one of those days".

This type of day means I am sitting at work with a long list (crafts I would like to be doing, books I would like to be reading, and recipes I would like to be cooking) running through my head.

Today is one of those days.

To honor it, here is my list of "If I had my druthers I would be.... "

• At home taking down my Christmas tree, but stringing up more beautiful lights in my apartment.
• Cleaning out my craft closet (organizing is the better word to use, since I know I wouldn't actually throw any craft items away)
• Participating in the National Soup Month by putting potato soup in the crockpot
• Cashing in my free coffee coupon at Starbucks
• Playing James Morrison quietly in the background
• Hanging up the heart garland my friend Kate made for me
• Making a "Take What You Need Sign" for all the people I love (I will post on this later, as it really is a sweet idea)
• Making Gavin's prayer chain, and Kyle's bracelets that they have so very patiently been waiting for (sorry guys)
• Reading Flashbang!
• Writing scriptures on pieces of cardboard to hang on my walls
• Planning spring time decorations
• Browsing through my latest Martha Stewart magazine with a pack of post-its close at hand
• Placing my PRE study guide underneath a magazine so that I can ignore it's calls to study
• Attempting to find a Peter Pan shadow decal for sale on the internet
• Cuddling with Rilla, my sweet kitty
• Planning next weeks recipes/menu
• Watching the Civil Wars cover of "Billie Jean", maybe... eh, twenty-seven times
• Planning a cruise with my friend Lynde
• Sewing handkerchiefs onto my living room couch pillows
• Copying poems, quotes and scriptures into my "Collections" journal
• Journaling

If you check back again with me next week, I'm sure I'll have the same list stuck in my head.
The whole idea of "I want to be at home - taking care of my nest, cooking, and crafting" is not a new idea for me.
Note: While I talk about all the things I want to be doing at home... I am so blessed to have the job(s) that I do. I am getting paid to sit here, blogging and doing homework. I have an internship with people that I absolutely love, get along with really well, and I get to work with teenage boys that are funny, clever and brave.
I have a blessed life.

"two birthdays, a grill, and some non-exclusiveness"

Oh the days of being in Murray, when a birthday meant lots of food, lots of people and the chance to write a goofy email.
For some reason, as I was searching my gmail account for a friend's address, this email came up.
I wrote it to invite people to a birthday party, and re-reading it made me giggle. 


Reason number 7,945 that I miss Murray.... I don't get a chance to write emails like this.

"Dear friends.
For some odd reason I was put in charge of sending out the invite email for the big shindig Danni and Susan are having tomorrow night for Danni and Kaylee's birthday. I guess you could call it a birthday bash. I believe, however, that a "bash" is violent and a "shindig" sounds like it originated from the 70's. So let's go with shindig.
Anyways, let me tell you several things.
1) Grill is provided, and so is the meat.
2) We need sides. Lots of them. And not the kind found under your arm, the kind that comes in a bowl or casserole dish that is edible.
3) Drinks, chips, and some desserts are also acceptable.
4) I am not an elephant, therefore I don't remember everyone's email address. So.. if someone's email is not in here, PLEASE invite them. Mk. Thanks.
5) I need to know if you are coming, and if you are bringing something (please do) and what it is.

Danni's NEW apartment is 1411 Hillwood. You drive past WalMart (it's on your left), take the second road to your right after you pass the hotel on your right -- NorthWood. Turn left on Hillwood. It's the only 2 story duplex on the road, it's on your left and it's 1411.

It starts at 6:30, tomorrow night.
Email me back (although I prefer carrier pigeon. they're cuter.)

All my appreciation,
Lady of the Lake of Shining Waters.


P.S. This is not formal ladies and gents, we prefer that you do not show in formal attire. A.K.A. Tuxedos and evening gowns.

I Turned on the Radio

I never listen to the Radio. Why? Because christain radio stations tend to play the same 15 songs for 10 years in a row. Like this one below. But today I turned on the radio. And it was a good thing. Because I needed to hear this song. Especially the parts underlined.


"I Need You To Love Me"
Barlow Girl



Why, why are You still here with me
Didn't You see what I've done?
In my shame I want to run and hide myself
But it's here I see the truth
I don't deserve You



But I need You to love me, and I
I won't keep my heart from You this time
And I'll stop this pretending that I can
Somehow deserve what I already have
I need You to love me



I, I have wasted so much time
Pushing You away from me
I just never saw how You could cherish me
'Cause You're a God who has all things
And still You want me



Your love makes me forget what I have been
Your love makes me see who I really am
Your love makes me forget what I have been




God's grace is a gift that I'll never stop gawking at.

I Think I Hate Halloween....

Last night, I was laying in bed after browsing over Facebook's newsfeed. It was filled with Snow Whites, goblins, cowboys and naughty chefs. And so I started thinking about how much I dislike Halloween.

I hate the darkness of Halloween... that it's a holiday where dimmed lights, cobwebs, skeletons and motion-detecting horror scream machines are on everyone's Wal-Mart list.

I hate the arguments about whether Halloween is pure evil, set apart to sacrifice children that satanists raise just for this day or whether it's just a day to dress up in the latest Disney princess outfit. (The child sacrifice reference was the title and blurb of an article someone posted on Facebook.)

I hate that American's spend an average of $50's on candy the week of Halloween.

I hate violent costumes. Why is it acceptable to society to dress as a dead bride, with a knife sticking out of your head and blood on your face? If I were to walk around as a rape victim, would you laugh and point and rush to have your picture taken with me?

I hate that the morning news topic on TV is inappropriate outfits for 5 year olds.... that are sold in retailers around the country.

I hate that cleavage is a part of most Halloween costumes, and it doesn't matter how old or young you are... if you've got boobs, show 'em. Mother of __*insert number*__ kids? That's ok, your kids aren't at the wild drunken party to see your immodesty.

I highly dislike Halloween. And I just realized it yesterday.

The Effects of Cold Medicine...

Normally I am pleased when someone goes out of their way to help me.
Normally I think to myself "Wow. How kind was that? Jesus, please bless them today." or "I'm so glad they knew how to help me... because I sure didn't."

But not today.

Here's the story.

I pull up to the parking garage and wait for the gate to lift. It doesn't.
"Oh!", I think to myself, "it's one of the days where they randomly require you to wave your permit in front of a sensor in order to lift the gate."
I open my car door (since my car was not close enough to the sensor) and step out.
I'm immediately jerked back in my seat because I left my seat belt on.
"Please, God. Please don't let anyone have seen that."
Turning around, of course there is a car behind me -- and the girl obviously saw me.
Realizing that my cold medicine is probably the reason for my slightly non-responsive brain, I focus on getting my WKU I.D. out of my wallet and swipe it across the sensor.
Nothing.
I then spend the next 2 minutes trying to get the sensor to read my ID.

I swipe up.
I swipe down.
I swipe across.
I press it against the sensor.
I tap it against the sensor.
I turn my card around, I turn my card upside down....
Nothing.

Finally, the girl in the car behind me (since there is now a long line of cars watching my sniffly, tired, pale and confused self unsuccessfully wave my ID around like a fool) gets out and runs up to my car window and says "use this" and swipes her PARKING PERMIT.
(Clearly the sign said permit... and I'm trying to swipe my ID like I just returned a book from the library.)

Of course, when the gate lifts and I pull into a parking spot, the girl parks next to me.
I choose to hide in my car while talking on the phone to my mother rather than explain to permit-girl why my brain seems a little foggy today.

Considering my opening statement, I grudgingly say that I am still glad she helped me out.
But only because if she hadn't I would have had to get out of my car and wave all the other cars into the other lane, until there was enough room for me to back out and leave in shame.

So here's a half-hearted thank you to permit-girl.

This will have to suffice

I will continue writing blogs. Funny blogs, newsy blogs, inspiring blogs... those kinds of blogs.
As for now.... I'm going back to the always trust-worthy list.

So here is my list for today.

1. I started my internship this week at Group Effort, a boy's group home. I will write about my initial reaction later.

2. I now know that I am 100% sure that I want to be a foster parent.

3. I went to bed at 8:15 last night.... but I was ready to go to bed at 5:15.

4. I'm overwhelmed with homework. The kind of overwhelmed where you have to grab a towel to wipe off the snot and tears that just pooled on the face of your cell phone, that kind of overwhelmed. I have so much reading.... and one of the books that I have to write a paper on is way beyond me. It's intellectual vocabularly is about 10 notches above mine. I despise this book.

5. I'm going to Murray in two weeks... and I'm relieved. I need to see Jennifer, Amanda, Andrew, Mr. Mark Randall, Kathleen.... all of those good people who lift me up and cheer me on in life.

6. My apartment is a mess. "Why?" you ask. Well. I get up. Get ready. Travel 30 minutes to work. Work from 8 - 4:30. Travel 30 minutes home. Take a 45 minute dinner break. Study. Fall into bed (typically as a weepy snotty mess). Get back up. Do you see a time scheduled for cleaning in there? No. Neither did I.

7. I have a planner again. The relief I feel is unimaginable. I can plan and schedule my day. I can write to-do lists, grocery lists, homework lists and movies-to-buy lists... and they will all stay in one book, in one place. I feel rich. And organized. (Thank you, my dear auntie!)

8. I am going to write a short blog about how much I miss people smelling good. (Not that anyone smells bad... it's just that no one wears perfume/cologne around here... and that is a tragedy. Everyone should smell good.)

9. I have a new friend named Danny. He went to culinary school but he refuses to bake for anyone. Supposedly it is my turn to bring a snack to work. He states that he is a "fat man that likes to keep his fat, so no bringin' dang carrot sticks. Shew. bring sumpin' GOOD."

10. I am blessed and highly favored.

Goodnight, people.