Things on my mind

Reading my sister's blog has challenged me to open up a little bit more in mine. It's so easy to talk about what Abbie's up to, because it changes every day...and I get a little weirded out because I don't know exactly who's reading this blog--the medium is so strange! But anyway, here goes.

I met with one of my counseling profs last week, actually on the day my new nephew was born, to try to iron out my spring schedule. I started taking classes in 2005, and it really wasn't until this semester that I really decided to commit to finishing the program. But for this reason, I'm pretty far behind in a program that's designed to be 25 months long. I'm feeling stressed about taking the right classes at the right time, and I'm worrying that things I learned in some of the basic classes I took over a year ago aren't sticking with me. One thing I was considering for the spring was beginning my first practicum (I need 600 hours total! How the heck am I ever going to fit THAT into my life?!). but after lots of talking and prayer----yes, against all odds, Matt and I actually prayed about this (we don't pray very much, but that's a whole 'nother blog) I've decided to wait to start the practicum until this summer. Which is a relief. I'm not ready to counsel real people with real problems yet. I have the skills, but personally I need to grow a little more.

So my counseling prof, who's had me in class several times and who knows me really well, actually encouraged me to start considering doctoral work after I finish at Asbury. ! I'm still sort of in a daze from this conversation. The thing is, she's really down-to-earth and since she told me she thinks I could do it, I know she really believes I could. She told me that, for me, it wouldn't be a matter of getting into a program, it would be a matter of finding the time to finish the dissertation. Having worked with doctoral students for so long, I know this is THE struggle students face. Of course the option of pursuing a Ph.D. is on the table...it's just hard to imagine how that would fit into my life, especially if (when) Matt and I have more kids.

Holy crap, I would love to get my Ph.D. I would love the doors that would open up--to teach, to write, who knows what else! I would love my kids to have a mom who went as far as she could possibly go in school. What an awesome example that would be!

I admitted to my prof that what I do in my spare time is research....stuff. Anything. If I'm going to make any decision, you can bet that hours of research is going to be logged before I actually decide. It's so lame and nerdy! But I really can't get enough of it.

I wonder if I'm boring whoever's reading this. But I guess it's my blog so I can be as boring as I want :-)

Our church is having its annual retreat this weekend. I'm so looking forward to being outside, even in the cold--to seeing the trees and to hanging out with church people. It is so awesome to see how much everyone loves Abbie. And she just soaks up the attention. I'm looking forward to sitting by the fire with Matt and Abs, and just being cozy. We went last year, but I was still in my first trimester, so I didn't feel so hot. Hopefully I'll have energy to go on a hike or something this weekend. Toting my 20-lb tubster :-) She is really giving me a work out these days.