Thesis update

Not that anyone has asked (I'll try not to be offended) but I thought I would get on and post a quick thesis update. As of this afternoon I have completed two of the five required chapters. Hopefully the productivity will continue since I really need to have all chapters finished by Thursday. If I am able to finish by Thursday that gives me a week to make corrections and finalize my powerpoint presentation.
Please continue to pray!

squeeky clean!

I have discovered the secret to having squeeky clean teeth painfree!!! Since having braces nearly a decade ago I have developed some mild/moderate tooth sensitivities. Along with these new pains came a new dread of the dentist. Each visit seemed to be more painful than the last. Two visits ago my dentist mentioned that there was something they could do to help me with the pain. In my head I was wondering why they hadnt said something before--it had been very obvious that I was in pain during the cleanings. So for the last two visits they have rubbed some sort of numbing gel over my gums. This does not completely remove ALL of the pain, but man does it help! I can now enjoy my squeeky clean teeth in comfort :)

wonderful week

Those two little words have been spoken several times today. Normally I would not have paid much attention to them and may have even shrugged them off. Today I really felt God speaking to me through those two little words. I felt like this week really would be different, that it really would be a better week, a wonderful week.
I am praying that this week is not only wonderful but productive. I also pray that this week is wonderful for all of you (my few but wonderful) friends who take time to read my thoughts.
God's blessings!!

steven curtis chapman & the biltmore house

Well I had hoped to write out a lovely post full of all sorts of information about my visit with Abby and our trip to see the Biltmore House and Steven Curtis Chapman however, I cannot seem to find time to do so. So for now my dear friends you will have to make do with some pictures from the day and the knowledge that life is still very busy for me. I would appreciate any and all prayers as I strive very hard to finish my thesis, start back to work, and be there for my grandmother and family. Only a few more weeks of this absolute craziness!

I had a lot of fun taking pictures of the flowers! The photo of me holding a flower was taken because "George" the bee was sitting inside of it. :)

After singing his first song, Steven gave us all "permission" to stand up and take pictures of the beautiful sunset God created that night. It truly was amazing to experience the first ever Christian concert there at the Biltmore House looking out over all of God's wonderful creation.

stress and hope...

The last few weeks have been very stressful to say the least. I have spent many hours stressing over my thesis (though few actually getting to work on it), many hours doing things for my grandmother or getting her to where she needs to be, as well as a fair amount of time finishing up my last real grad class and dealing with other various family issues. I still do not have any of my thesis written (I am working hard on that today!) but have looked into what my options are as far as finishing it with or soon after the rest of my cohort. More than anything I want it to be finished and over with so that the pressure and stress surrounding it can be relieved. I am ready to look forward to spending time planning a wedding and hanging out with my family and friends. I am ready to enjoy all of those parts of life I have put on hold until grad school is over.

As I sit and look at my to do list today and know all of the pressures that are on me I cannot help but feel hope. Hope has been one thing I have been lacking in recent weeks. At times things around me felt so heavy and dark that while I knew I would not be stuck in this place forever I could not seem to see for myself how to push forward and I did not like the options I saw in front of me. I don't know that I have ever felt so down and defeated, so hopeless and scared.

I do know that God has surrounded me with the most wonderful family and friends who have done nothing but offer many ways to support me and push/drag me through this time in my life. I know without a doubt that I would not be where I am with out you and am so very thankful for the role that each of you play in my life. Continue to pray for me and my family as we are not completely out of the dark yet. Even though it is a small thing to some, this new found hope and joy is a welcome comfort and motivator for me. It is a reminder that my God has a hold of me and my circumstances.


side note: I will post soon several pictures and also a bit about the Steven Curtis Chapman concert this past Friday night at the Biltmore House.