What an end to a month!

As I am sitting in bed, collecting my thoughts over what I have done today and what I need to get done tomorrow, it just astonishes me how I've made it through the past few years. I'm saying this because I had an exam Thursday evening and have 4 this upcoming week. The 2 hardest exams will be Monday of course!

Back to the past...I had a crazy, different roomie freshman year until I lived alone for the spring semester while being busy as a bee as a softball manager. I enjoyed being alone and had great supportive friends during that time who I had a lot of fun with when I did have time to party. I made okay grades that year but I lived and breathed softball and that job became a priority.

My sophomore year was when Shelby joined me in our humble abode. It was the adjustments to living with another homo sapien that kept me on my toes with a harder course load in the fall. Of course, there was the time Shelby came home saying she was changing to Pre-Med. We were a little awestruck by that one but she changed her mind and stuck with business/pre-law. Oh this one is even better! Shelby had traveled to Austin to watch Meredith Bard play volleyball and came home proclaiming she was transferring to t.u. because she LOVED austin. I almost threw up but I'm sure Great Papaw was jumping for joy in heaven.  But once again, changed her mind. Plus! Who wouldn't want to live with me in my awesome house?! haha... And there was that football season which was alright but it was memories made that fall that were amazing. Dating a cadet in the band and sitting up-close and personal with the action on the 1st deck! Heck yes! James was a gentleman but that relationship lasted a short 5 months but we still are acquaintances. But because of my struggles, I finally reached out to a horse trainer and began lessons in the English discipline. Boy, was that my release. My go-to-activity to get my head straight. You have to physical and mentally do so much on the back of a horse that it frees your mind from everything...except on bad days...then it gets difficult to concentrate and I cry so Aubrey listens.

Junior to say the least was a hard transition. I made a lot of mistakes and cannot say I would take them back because that's how I learned! Courtney Janak moving in was not a mistake! From taking that wretched physics that summer, we became closer when she moved in and began a long-lasting friendship that I cherish everyday. Unfortunately, she became a buffer to some of Shelby and I's arguments. That's what sisters are for? Anyways, I started getting nervous about graduating and getting into PT school so I started researching more, talking to more advisors, and it wasn't until that summer of 2011 that I began shadowing an awesome PT. But last spring was a whirlwind. Taking 2 science courses and carrying 15 hours was difficult for me. It was even more difficult for me to not help provide for my education now that I did not have job. Money isn't everything but it stresses me out. That summer was great too! I joined the summer choir at St. Mary's and just have the itch to sing praises all the time now!

Now I'm in my final spring semester in my undergraduate career. Time has flown and friends have come and gone but I truly embrace being able to attend this school and incorporate the diversity it brings to my life. I originally wanted to complain in this post about the stupid hard exams I have this week but I wanted to reflect more on the good than the bad. I've been very blessed. And I am very thankful yet I still have a ways to go and I cannot let go of my sights, dreams, hopes, wishes and abilities.

Thanks for reading...and I leave y'all with this...

"Ask & it will be given to you;

seek & you will find;

knock & the door will be opened to you."

- Matthew 7:7

...we're cool Aggies...



Kudos to the Teachers!

Praise to y'all and your hard work that each one of y'all do!

I'm saying this because I'm having to make a simple lesson plan for a yoga routine and it's hard as heck! My good darling friend, Stacey Gillis, has been student teaching this semester. I've seen at first hand her evening routine of making lesson plans and creating things for her 1st graders to do in class. Bless her heart because she's tired all the time! I'm a third way finished with my lesson plan and I'm already tired of seeing it! So here's something for the teachers in my life...

A Teacher's Prayer - Help me to be a fine teacher, to keep peace in the classroom, peace between my students and myself, to be kind and gentle to each and every one of my students. Help me to be merciful to my students, to balance mercy and discipline in the right measure for each student, to give genuine praise as much as possible, to give constructive criticism in a manner that is palatable to my students. Help me to remain conscientious enough to keep my lessons always interesting, to recognize what motivates each of my students, to accept my students' limitations and not hold it against them. Help me not to judge my students too harshly, to be fair to all, to be a good role model, but most of all Lord help me to show your love to all of my students. Amen


On to the learning at my level...I finally have been having some success on exams. I am retaking Chem 1 to get an A...I made a 98.5 on my first exam!!! Whoop! And this week, I made a 93 on my Athletics Injuries exam. It is very crucial that I make an A in this class since I am going to be applying to the entry-level Master's program in Athletic Training here at A&M. I have 5 exams and a couple quizzes coming up in the next 2 weeks. So it's going to be stressful but I'm going to be getting on the studying ball as soon as I get my brain functioning in the morning. I'm going to get through it though because of  2 things - 1) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 2) There's a horse show on March 4th (Mom's birthday weekend) in Bellville. I was not able to attend the 1st show since it was cancelled to the heavy rain we had at the beginning of February.

Another reason to be praising the Lord is that my Aunt Rhonda finished her radiation treatments on Monday! Please keep her in your prayers so that she may heal and become stronger and hopefully no more cancer!

Thank you all for your eyes and ears and guidance for the past few years. It really means a lot to me because without y'all, I wouldn't have molded into the young lady I am now. Dad, you especially have been encouraging and confidence-boosting and I appreciate that greatly.

With love and thanksgiving,
AC

Just One of Those Days...

I started this day with a tweet ending with "Lord, I hope this day is good." That is the title of one of my favorite songs resung by Brandon Rhyder. It's a really good song and I like to listen to it when I'm happy, sad, angry or whatever! Well...I don't know if this day was good except He did keep me and my family safe on our trip to Houston in the treacherous rain. And thank you Lord for the rain! But that was one of the three songs I'm going to reference in this post.

We trekked to Texas Woman's University at the Medical Center in Houston for their Open House. We heard several speakers on admissions, financial aid, why we should choose TWU, & then go listen to stuff about our interested field of study. Mom, Dad & I sat in with the PT stuff then got to take a tour of the classrooms and labs. Really cool stuff but...

Before we left, I asked the admission's lady how competitive I would be with a low GPA, great resume, lots of shadowing, etc. etc. and her answer was pretty crystal clear that I wouldn't be competitive at all even if I made amazing scores on the GRE. So we headed to our vehicles & Dad decided to ride with me as I follow Mom to Carraba's. We contemplated options...and Ladies & Gentleman, I think I'm reconsidering my career path. I don't want to specifically announce what it is but it will still be medical-related. Even Dad had noticed that I am losing some of my "want to learn" spark and said that I needed some time off from school. I will still graduate in December and weight out my options within the next months.

As I headed home, I phoned a couple of friends for their incite & guidance & opinions. Ultimately, it is my choice. It is my life. I do want to succeed and help others. I just have to made the right decisions that will help guide me in my best interests, with the good Lord willing.


And if you have noticed my somber mood within this blog, I have some very sad news. Mom & Dad arrived home to find our beloved 15 year old Boston Terrier, Valentine, had passed to doggy heaven. I'm trying to hold back the water works while typing but it's inevitable. That dog brought a lot of happiness, laughs, and pure love and joy into our home. She is already deeply missed and I pray that God is throwing her squeaky toys in the pool for her to fetch.

"Sometimes this world feels so cold. Sometimes hope is all we have to hold. Sometimes a prayer’s our only hope."

 - Sean McConnell, "Prayer You Can Borrow"

I thank Him for the many blessings He has bestowed upon me, my family and friends. I have found a deeper faith with Him from all of the good and bad times in my life. And even though I am unsure of my educational and career future, I know that whatever I do, I have to do those things with the Lord in mind.

And the song that hits my heart every time I stumble...

And I'll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

And every tear I've cried

You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm