GREEEEEEEK

I'm screaming that title, by the way... and I should be working on flashcards and memorizing things and relocating to coffee shops where I can study out of visual range of my bed... I have a vocab quiz at 9, tutoring at 8:30, breakfast and study time at 8, and spin at 6... oy.

But, to end on a positive note,

My sermon went well. Would you like to see/hear pieces? I'll pass it on. Comment!

Spin class with bike shoes... clipped in? AMAZING.

And I danced yesterday. SO good to see friends.

I met with my new lifegroup today. Being prayed for in that way... wow. And reading scripture in a group? More wow.

Alright. Greek, here I come.

Some random things...

Today, I'm booked. But it's a good kind of booked...

Church Carnival from 8-2

Make a dress or take a nap

casserole in the oven

Luau

Go dance! Live band! Become an official card-carrying ASEDA member!

Also, I love Old Navy. I ordered things online which are pending shipment, and paid... oh, half price from the original total. Thanks to a coupon and things being on sale. Only one shirt was full price, out of the 7 or 8 things I picked out. And free shipping? Heck yes! Summer basics I'm too lazy to sew and have absolutely no need to try on because I already have some version of them? Heck yes!

And finally, God is good. Family have been spared from tornado damage, and I realize not everyone was so blessed. But there are already organizations hard at work to begin to make things right when their world was turned upside down. It puts things in perspective, bigtime. Finals and papers are small potatoes by comparison.

Almost Holy Week? Holy cow!

Since last posting, I think I've done okay on many counts.

My Lenten Resolution to give up bad self-care has led to some real honest progress stepping back and taking a long, hard look at life and how I am in relationships and out of them. A friend recommended a book, and it's been good to read on the journey.

I gave another friend my devotional book, as he seemed to need it more than I did in that time, but I think I'm still praying more. I have been meeting weekly with my women's small group at school and that time is so treasured.

Midterms meant a big disruption, but I still managed to sew a bit and dance a lot. I have danced at least once a week and twice many weeks... even 3 times once!

My spin classes paid off- I rode the 48-mile route in the April Fools Ride, held in Millegeville, GA. I'm proud to say I finished- I didn't push my bike at all, pedaled everything. It took 4 hours in the saddle, and between 5 and 5-1/2 total, when you count stopping to stretch and hydrate and do everything possible to keep cramps at bay.

Sewing hasn't stayed at a garment a week, but this is the first time in a long time that I have been sewing this much. On the docket are a petticoat and dress for Easter. Hopefully they'll come together in the time between now and then.

Wow- what a post of I's and my's.

Next time I'll write more about something that isn't me... like re-visiting undergrad.

Lenten resolutions

I gave up bad self-care for Lent.

If you know me, reader, you'll laugh and ask... well how's THAT going for you?

My response?

I'm doing okay... I said the NO- word... to a commitment I couldn't honestly fufill instead of trying to make it work. I'm working out at least twice a week... Spin class hurts so good, but I am already feeling better about my body and seeing improvement. Dancing once a week has given me a lovely way to get active off-campus, and I've made a garment a week so far during Lent.

Praying has happened more, and I am reading along in the Bible study that the church has encouraged for Lenten devotions. As I explore the weirdness thing that is finding a calling, and how to live life as me while pursuing it, I'm trying to be faithful in discerning and it's not always easy. I'm frustrated more than I admit... and I think I'd really be going crazy without the support system I've been able to build here... I am rethinking more and more how I am in relationships, romantic and otherwise...I have an unfortunate tendency to be a hermit if not careful And about how I care for myself. Which is, I think, inter-related.

This resolution of mine will get a real trial-by-fire in the week to come. I have a camp planning session tomorrow, a project for class due Monday and a sermon Wednesday, the day I am also giving blood. Then I have a week and a half before I preach again, and I think an exegesis paper shortly after that second sermon.

Ah, it's the life... off to errands and babysitting.

February and ...March?!

February was good for some things and not so good for others.

Copied-and pasted goals... Italics are completed, comments are in bold.

School:

-READ! What they don't tell you about grad school is that you could easily double the amount of reading you do for undergrad. Easily. Did more reading, still not all of it. But I don't know many people who do all of it.

-Put all assignments in my planner through midterms(one more class worth and I'm done!)

God:

-Pray every day- morning and bedtime(still trying- morning is tough.) Morning is still tough. Better though.

-Read the Bible at least once a week outside of class(so far so good)

Sewing:

-muslin suit jacket(I decided to do a vest without the lining(I don't have fabric) but with facings so I'll have a completed garment... it's all cut out!) After a minor freakout, there is progress!

-refashion sweater(started)

-cut out entire suit this project has been put on hold due to its seasonal nature... August or September?

-construct suit jacket ditto.

Home:

-supply missing kitchen things(done)

-do dishes before bed to wake up to a clean kitchen(hasn't happened as much since school really got underway- I am getting there!)

-Keep laundry under control

Health:

-work out 3 times a week

-try for 3 meatless non-breakfast meals a week

-go dance! salsa once, swing once... sooo much fun twice!

Look for March's goals tomorrow, and a return to weekly or more frequent posting soon.

a day late

... Well, I suppose y'all (if readers exist) will live.

But I'm sorry.

You see, last night I went swing dancing. Monday nights in Atlanta there's this awesome thing called Hot Jam. I've gotten into Swing lately... it's something that brings me joy. And really, what girl doesn't love any excuse to wear twirly skirts and spin? I love it so much I am joining ASEDA, Atlanta Swing Era Dance Association. It's pretty awesome and I think it'll be good... I love the social Swing scene that this city has to offer, and why not get into it?

It's also a great way to get off-campus and meet people... seriously, it's awesome. I am pretty psyched about doing some learning and having some fun.

It's also really nice to just find something good to look forward to- a reward in stressful situations, motivation for finishing my schoolwork, and all those things. It's a good strategy, and I will only learn if I dance... so I plan to dance once a week. Hopefully it'll be good! I know it'll be good for me. When one is a member of any kind of community, getting away from that community is a good thing. It allows you to grow, and the people you are with to grow as well!