time to update

Okay so it’s been what, over four months since I last posted. A lot has happened in the last four months! God has presented great challenges to me. Last semester was tough spiritually, but my grades turned out very good! I even made the Dean’s list! So I’m pretty excited about that. However, I certainly did not do it alone. I could not have gotten through last semester without the help of God! Now I’m into my second semester, wisdom toothless. Yes, I got my Wisdom Teeth out over Christmas Break, which really, wasn’t bad at all.

During January Term, I did a 100 hour Curricular Practicum at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind (SCSDB). It was a great, but tough experience. It was quite the introduction to student teaching. I had to get up at 6 AM and I was done at 3:15, but that didn’t mean I was done for the day. I still had a lot of paper work, and I was working, which was also difficult. I was very exhausted all month. However, I learned a lot from the kids and about the content areas.

This semester, I’m taking: Audiology and Speech Science, Teaching Language for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, ASL 4, Manually Coded English, and Science for the Child. It is quite a busy Semester. I’m working a bit more hours now, so I stay pretty busy with school work, church, classes, and work. But this semester is going really well, and God has been granting me great JOY lately!

Well, that’s about all I have for now. Toodles!

Strange, but awesome feeling

Well, it has been quite some time since I have last updated! So here goes an update…

Bruster’s is going well. I’m finally done with training, and I absolutely love it! I got to take my first take home of ice cream yesterday (we’re allowed to take up to a double scoop home on the days that we work). I was super excited, and of course, I brought home my all time favorite! Mint Chocolate Chip. And Bruster’s has THE BEST Mint Chocolate Chip!

School is busy, as usual. I have a midterm on thursday that I’m a little worried about, but I’m trying to lift those anxieties up to the Lord. The midterm is in Intro to Exceptional Learners, and my professor basically wants us to know everything in the first six chapters of the book. But other than that, things are good!

Discernment is fantastic. I went on a retreat this past weekend and the strangest feeling of peace came over me. As many people know by now, I am in a new relationship, and strangely, for the first time in 3 years I have absolutely no desire to look into any religious communities. It doesn’t mean that I am no longer open to religious life, because I really am, but I just have no desire to even look at another community right now. It is actually a grace. I am so excited to see what the Lord has planned for this new relationship!

I’m reading a new book now! Its called Captivating by John and Stasi Elredge. It’s a fantastic book about unveiling a woman’s heart. Its amazing, all you women out there should read it!

I love how God likes to keep my life adventurous!

a general update…

So, overall i’m doing better. God is slowly giving me more strength in my discernment. I went to Adoration the other day and just let God fill me with His spirit. Just to recenter myself because I was way overwhelmed and I just couldn’t take it anymore.

I’ve applied to a few jobs. I applied to Starbucks and they never called me back, even after I called them. I applied to the dining hall, and they didn’t call me either. And I applied to Bruster’s, I called them Yesterday and basically they said, “if we want to interview you, we’ll call you,” sort of rudely. So I said, fine, whatever, I’m done with franchises who CAN’T CALL PEOPLE!!!! ARGGH! Okay, so yesterday I went to Startex Learning Center, about 15 or 20 minutes away, depending on traffic, and applied there. The owner was really nice and is very willing to work with my schedule. They really need people with experience there, and I definitely have experience. So hopefully they’ll hire me. I’m getting tired and impatient with waiting. I need money, like now.

Big Sis/Lil Sis (a big Converse tradition) starts this week, and I’m a big sister this year, so I will be busy, and broke this week.

My roommate is amazing, and she’s helped me work through all this…actually we’ve helped each other…I’ve also got other really AMAZING friends who’ve been there for me, and I’m SO thankful for all of them! You know who you are…and thanks to you all!

Well, I need to go put my sheets and towels in the dryer and go get some dinner…toodles!

A Strange New World

So, I moved into Converse yesterday. It took a lot of work and I’m quite sore. But I got pretty much everything unpacked yesterday, which was great. Orientation Leader Training hasn’t been bad at all. It’s been really great seeing everyone again. I really missed all of my friends, so it’s great to catch up with people.

However, Things are strange for me. Most of my friends graduated last May. I was realling close to all of them. It was wierd this morning when I left to go to mass. I actually looked in the lobby expecting two of my friends to be there ready to go to mass together. I keep expecting to see different people, and they’re not here. I realize that they have moved on to gain more and different experiences, however it hasn’t sunk in yet. I’m a Junior, and that is way strange. Just yesterday, I was a freshman coming into orientation.

I just feel so awkward here and not at peace. Like a part of me is still missing. Maybe I left a part of me back at Camp Burnt Gin, but I wasn’t at complete peace there either. Where, Lord, where will I feel complete peace? Where do you want me?!

Packed up, ready to move

Well, I’m sitting on the couch waiting for my dad to finish changing my oil so I can start packing up my car. All of my stuff is packed up ready to be moved out. I’m feeling at a little more peace now. I talked with my good friend Heather today. It made me really excited to get back at school and see everyone. I think once I actually get there and settle in, I’ll be at much more peace. I’m kind of looking forward to be back in a regular schedule. It’s easier for me to pray that way. I’ll also have an adoration chapel and a catholic church just a few minutes down the road. That really helps a lot. I’m also really excited to see my bible study leaders and their family. They have the most precious kids. 3 10 year olds, an 8 year old, a 7 year old, and a 4 year old. All of their kids are adopted. 3 of them are siblings and another 2 of them are siblings. They are all so full of energy and so enthusiastic about the Catholic Church. They’re an amazing family.

I may also have a job for this semester. It’s a nany/do some house work job. I’m excited to see what the Lord has lined up for me with this.

Once I get to school, I may not have much time to post. I have intensive training for Orientation for five days, then five days of Orientation for the Freshmen. I will be going from like 8-10 everyday, so I’ll be quite busy.

So, Until we meet again! God bless!

School soon…

Wow, I can’t believe that camp is over and school will be starting soon…like really soon…like two days from now I move in! It’s so strange feeling. I feel like I’m having an out of body experience. Like Camp really isn’t over and school really isn’t starting. I just feel so strange. Saturday, I will move into school, I will see my bible study leaders and my closest friends at school. I’m excited to see my friends, but I’m not sure if I’m ready to go back to school. I’m kind of nervous. I’m not at peace right now.

Dear Lord, I ask that you grant me peace about going back to school.

I don’t want to rush time, time goes fast enough. I want to enjoy and live through completely each moment of each day. I do not want to feel anxious. I want to strive to “cast all of [my] anxieties on the Lord because He cares for [me].”

Lord, help me live just that.

I cannot be worried about my vocation, I just have to get through school. If God ever asks me to fill out an application, I’ll do it when He calls me to do. Even if he calls me to fill out an application does not mean that I will actually become a nun. Do I want to? yes, I do. Does the Lord want me to? That’s for Him to know and me to find out. I wish people would understand this. There is no way for me to know for sure if this is for sure my vocation. I feel that there is a great possibility that I do have a religious vocation, but I cannot know for sure until it actually happens. Not until I take my final vows. I am truly excited to see where the Lord takes me this year. I can only hope that I am totally faithful to Him and that I do His will every minute of everyday!

Lord, Help me do your will every minute of everyday. Help me stay faithful…

PRAXIS shmaxis

For those of you who don’t know, the PRAXIS is a series of test for teacher certification in SC. PRAXIS 1 is like the SAT with reading, writing, and math sections. PRAXIS 2 is specific to the area of education you are getting certified in and PRAXIS 3 is the Principles of Learing and Teaching (PLT).

I finished the Math section and passed last November. I took reading and writing today. I passed reading, but won’t know about the writing section for a couple of weeks because the essay has to be scored. I am praying that by God’s Grace, I passed.

Thank God it’s over!