Back to life

Image by Leo Reynolds via Flickr

...Back to reality. I've enjoyed the last month or so, with not having a hectic schedule. Back to the real world now, though. The new semester starts this week, so my week looks like this:
Monday: Work from 9am to 5.15pm, College from 5.30-8.30pm
Tuesday: Work from 9am to 5.15pm, Bible study from 7.30 - 9ish
Wednesday: Work from 9am to 10pm (film night for the tenants - Elvis this week!)
Thursday: Work from 9am to 5.15pm, College from 5.30-8.30pm
Friday: Work from 9am to 3.45pm, Ice hockey from 7pm
Saturday: Shopping to replace the broken microwave, putting up shelves and fixing the tv wiring and then Ice hockey
Sunday: Church from 10-1, parents for dinner and finally a bit of rest!

So, it's Monday and already I'm looking forward to Sunday evening for a bit of relaxation!!!

Smugness!

Image by brooklyn via Flickr

I rarely have any occasion to be smug, so when one arises I embrace it warmly! The latest is that I had my college assignments finished before the Christmas break! They add up to approx 6000 words, broken down into 10 weekly assignments and a case study. I was so chuffed with myself that I could relax and enjoy the Christmas holiday, concentrating on doing nothing, wrapping a few presents and just spending time with my family. It was lovely and very, very needed! I did nothing over Christmas. I slept late, ate a fair bit and lazed about.
New Year's Eve was spent with my parents playing board games and some games on their wii. We had a great laugh and at midnight went outside to hear the ship's horns blast the New Year in. We finally made it to bed around 2.30am. It. Was. Nice.

Then, on Sunday, I thought I'd take a look at my college work and get it organised and printed ready to be handed in on Thursday. See? Smugness!

Imagine my horror when the computer won't turn on! I imagined myself having to write all 6000 words again. Finally, the computer DID switch on and I was able to get the stuff printed, but not before all traces of smugness were wiped forever off my face!

Doctor's office

Image by Sarah G... via Flickr

I went to my GP today to discuss the painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications I need to help control the sciatica and fybromyalgia that I'm afflicted with. After the last visit where I cracked my neck at the poor guy and completely freaked him out, I was greeted with, 'Well, what horrible thing do you have for me today?'. Once I was able to stop laughing I got down to the business of the day. We sorted that out and then he decided to give me my flu injection with the most blunt needle I have ever encountered! Really, it hurt!
So, I thought I'd be responsible and ask if there were any pain management, or if at all possible, pain avoidance regimes that I could incorporate into my life. I went in looking for painkillers and anti-inflammatory tablets and came out with those plus...anti-depressants! Allegedly, these tablets can, in very low doses, help stop the pain so the doc reckons it's worth a go. But come on, anti-depressants? I'm still chuckling now!

It's college night tonight. If the tutor asks us again what kind of animal we'd like to be I swear I will not be held responsible for my actions!

Why do I put myself through these things?

Image by y-its-mom via Flickr

So, I'm home from college. I am beginning my third year of five studying counselling, and embarking on the diploma - now somewhat fancied-up and called a foundation degree. Like any course of study there are ups and downs, but for the most part it has been enjoyable!

Tonight, however, didn't fall under that category! Tonight we were doing interesting things like telling complete strangers your fears, figuring out who the significant people in your life are and then drawing a diagram to show this. We spoke of self-concept, self-disclosure and self-actualisation. All very interesting.

Do you know what the class ended with? The tutor going round us all, one by one, and asking what kind of animal we would like to be, and why!

So, where I normally come home quite enthusiastically and excited to share my thoughts and what I have learned, I came home tonight very tired, bored and extremely grumpy!!! Still, at least I'm self-aware enough to realise it!

Memories of Stake Family Camp

1 - The wind and
the rain

2 - Holding onto the gazebo while cooking

3 - Standing under the gazebo while cooking and holding onto it, wearing my waterproof coat and hat because the torrential rain and howling winds meant that we got wet anyway!

4 - The river running through J's tent!

5 - The mud.

6 - The van nearly getting stuck in the mud

7 - The hike to the toilets that were inadequate for the sheer number of people in the two fields

8 - Porta-potty

9 - Ken's magic van

10 The craic

Finally!

Image by hljavery@verizon.net via Flickr

Finally, after 4 looooong years, we got a very important letter from the first presidency! We'd like to thank everyone who knew about this process and offered us support and love. Curious? haha!

The Shack

Cover of The Shack

A friend loaned me a book on Tuesday night after our Bible study. It was a book called 'The Shack'. I don't know if you've heard of it. I hadn't.

I finished it last night. It's not a particularly long book, but it's subject matter is quite heavy. It talks about redemption, forgiveness and our relationship with God in a fictional setting.

While I found that I disagreed on a doctrinal level with some of the ideas, I was able to enjoy it for what it was - a novel. It also provided me with some things to think about. Like, how my view of the world would change if my relationship with God was all it should be and He was at the centre of my life.

All in all, a very thought-provoking little book.