Happy birthday, Caroline!

My darling little sweets celebrated her first birthday today. She'll officially turn one on Wednesday. She wasn't really into her cake, but she figured out how to dip the sugar flowers into the frosting and enjoyed that. Enjoy the pictures of my little love below! She kicks off lots of baby birthdays over the next few months.

Whoops...

So, I've determined that I'm really bad at this whole blog thing. But I'll try to get better at it...

In the last month (plus)...

*School has picked up (as expected in week ten). Lots of papers, group meetings, papers, reading, papers...but I'm staying on top of my work pretty well. Thank goodness. Spring break is next week and I'm so thankful for the few days of rest...in between paper writing, reading, and group meetings. My family will be coming up for a few days of it, which I'm looking forward to.

*I've changed the program that I'm in at school. I began in the Masters of Arts in Counseling program and just recently switched to Masters of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy. I changed for a few reasons: 1) Marriage and Family Therapy looks at counseling from a more systemic approach, which is going to be helpful in my future practice. 2) After completing the program and graduating, I'll be able to sit for both LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) and LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) exams, which is also going to be beneficial.

*I've found a Church here that I enjoy, so I'm sticking with it. Beaverton Foursquare is my new Church "home" and I'm looking forward to getting more involved (Children's Ministry?).

*I've been able to spend more time with the three girls and I enjoy so much being closer to them.

*Lots of birthday celebrations for the little ones in my life are popping up! Caroline turns one (I can't believe it) at the end of this month. Audrey will be turning four next month (didn't she just turn one?). Emerson will be three in May and I'll be up there a few days before her birthday, so I'm excited that I'll get to be somewhat close to her near her birthday. Beckett will turn two in July and I'll get to be there a few weeks after, so lots of baby celebrations coming up!

My life has been pretty much consumed by school, but I'm enjoying every moment of it. I'm looking forward to the little "breaks" I'll get here and there (beach, Seattle, etc) and I'm looking forward to the end of my first semester (just over a month)!

Love and blessings.

February already?

Hello friends :) It's been a while, so here's a quick update...

I'm in my fifth week of graduate school and I'm loving the program. Lots of wonderful people in my classes, professors are wonderful...it's good. :) The work is starting to pick up, but that's to be expected a third of the way into the semester. One of my favorite things about going to class is picking up my "daily treat." There's a little glass jar at the information desk filled with little strips of paper. With a label that says "treats that won't go to your thighs," the jar is filled with Bible verses. I take one before each class, share it with my mom, and love starting my class with the joy of God's word.

I just came back from a wonderful weekend in Seattle. My best friend Jordan, who I've been friends with since about the age of 10, lives there now with her husband. Though it was a short weekend, it was so wonderful spending time with her. Went to Pikes and watched fish fly (and saw someone who ordered an octopus), took a ferry to Bainbridge Island for some delicious homemade ice cream, watched old dance videos, and just enjoyed the wonderful weather we had!

This weekend, I'll be taking my sweet baby Catherine to a gymnastics meet at OSU, watching Sam's Special Olympics basketball tournament, babysitting Tucker...busy busy! But I love it!

God is so good!

Wow, it's been a whirlwind of a few weeks! Since the 28th, I've...

*turned a year older...

*moved up to Portland and am still waiting for the unpacking fairies to come and help me with the last few little things...

*started school. I've only had two of my four classes and I love both of them. I'm very excited for my final two classes, both of which are tomorrow...

*got a job (that's new as of today)! I'm now a skills trainer with Western Psychological and Counseling Services. I work in-home with children who are in intensive therapy. I start things on Monday and I'm looking forward to it!

This Friday, I have a fabulous date, which I'm so excited for. It's with a handsome young one month old named Tucker (picture below...how cute is he?)

That's my life up to now!

"I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am." (Philippians 4:12-13)

(Thanks God for Your good word and Your goodness.)

T-Minus Six Days

What a wonderful holiday weekend it has been! I spent Christmas Eve with my family, going to Church, playing games, and watching Christmas movies. I worked Christmas Day at the hospitality house. Though it was odd not being at all of our traditional family Christmas things, I was blessed knowing that I didn't have to worry about a family member in the hospital on Christmas. God gives us blessings and they shouldn't be wasted on us alone.

I went up to Portland the day after Christmas. I moved more things up to my new place and went to The Nutcracker that night. Sunday, we celebrated a belated Christmas with our family (on my dad's side). We took a lot of pictures and celebrated a first Christmas with Elliot and Tucker. Then more moving, followed by a dinner with some wonderful families.

I'll be moving up on January 3rd (hence the T-minus six days) and school starts in two weeks. I'm very much looking forward to the next two years!

Hope you all enjoyed your holiday and here's to a wonderful new year!

15 days until Christmas!

So, lots has happened since my last post...ok, maybe not lots, but it sure seems like it.

I found out that I have been accepted into graduate school! I'll be starting on January 11th and I'm SO excited! It's going to be wonderful. I already have three friends in the program, so hopefully I'll have some classes with them. God is good!

Yesterday, we were very blessed with the fashionably late arrival of our newest family member! My cousin Jenny and her husband Travis welcomed their new (and first) baby boy Tucker James Fox. He joined us a week late, weighing in at 9lbs, 7oz. What a healthy "little" one. His picture is below (keep in mind that it's his newborn photo, so it's not the best).

I'll be starting my home hunt in Portland soon (seeing as I have less than a month to find a place and move because of orientation). But, until then, I'm packing up and figuring out all that needs to get done before I start a new chapter in my life!

I'm taking it easy for now though...I'm working on getting over a sinus infection and bronchitis. Lots of tissues, water, and cough syrup for me!

22 days til Christmas!

Yes, the annual Christmas countdown has begun. :) It's hard to believe how quickly time has passed this year.

This past Tuesday, I had my graduate school interview with George Fox University. It was a three hour group interview. As crazy as it sounds, it was so much fun. Everyone was very sweet (I guess that's what happens when you interview for a spot in a counseling program) and the faculty that was there cared a great deal for everyone that interviewed. I should be hearing by the end of next week...I'll make sure to update everyone when I find out.

Tonight is the Civil War! Don't worry, my dad has already placed a ticket order for the rose bowl and has reserved a hotel room. Let's hope they get used!

I went up to Portland after Thanksgiving to spend some time with friends and family. Emerson and Elliot were there and I very much enjoyed spending time with them, as I don't get to see them often. Emerson is two and a half and always keeps me laughing! Elliot has hit the two month mark and is growing like a weed. I also get to spend some time on and after Thanksgiving with Beckett. I get to see him even less than Big and Little E, as he lives way too far away (North Carolina). But he's now 17 months and all boy. Pictures of all three of these lovies are below.

Next post should hopefully be a celebratory one! The faculty have already made their choices (they make them right after the interview) so now it's just waiting to hear from the admissions staff...yikes!