Monday, October 26, 2009

Ode to the average.

We aren't competitive at all at university are we....or sarcastic? Yes, I am being sarcastic. I studied super hard for the most intimidating of tests and got a B...which in any other circumstance would be fantastic, wonderful and a lot of other descriptive words that show how awesome it is and yet, I'm sitting here trying to not be disappointed in myself. I shouldn't be bothered that the class average was 2% above my score, that 17 people in my class scored between 95-100% and that while I am definitely on the high end of things and should be proud, I am always just under average no matter how high that average is. That is a really crappy feeling. So that is what I'm trying to convince myself of, it is supposed to be about individual accomplishment, not comparison to the crowds. So I should be feeling pretty dang good. Now if only my professors and peers felt that way. :(

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

The Miracle Blog

So perhaps I should just start calling my blog 'The Miracle Blog' because right now that is what my life is full of. I really cannot believe the day I am having today....let me change that to week. So in all reality things have been a little on the rough side lately, I've been trying to figure out what to do with my future (meaning this summer and upcoming year)...yeah life as I know it and will know it basically hinges on the next few months. How you ask? Well let me give you the little 411 by going through the last couple of miraculous days.
So....hmmm....where exactly do I start?
Well the end of last week I finally made an appointment with the advisement center so I can finally figure out when I am graduating so I will be able to know if I need to register for classes this coming semester. Pretty much a big deal...at least you would think so.
Sunday
Interesting day for my family...it was the best of times and it was the worst of times. Meaning it started out like hell warmed over but then somehow it ended up being the best day of all of the days for the last little bit. Church was wonderful, weather was beautiful and Andrew and I drew, painted and then we had the funnest and happiest family Sunday dinner outside on the lawn with candles and good company. I ended the day with a blissful smile on my face, can I tell you how often that doesn't happen? ;) (Oh and on an awkward note my mom and aunt had dreams about me marrying a strapping, uncle Dan sized man, so you big, buff guys watch out! jk...I am in no way on the prowl)
In bigger news, I finally feel really good about the Syria expedition. Good enough that I am meeting with my professor and am in a mad dash to try to raise the funds.
Monday
Advisement Center appointment canceled--LAME!!! But they rescheduled for Thursday so they are, in fact, forgiven a bit.
Tuesday
Today I met with my professor extraordinaire and started to set things up for Syria and grad school. She agreed to be my adviser if I get accepted and to guide me along the path of insanity leading to a masters and possible doctorate degree...I worship this woman. She is amazing. I also studied for my New Testament test which I was sure was going to be the death of me…and yet that is the class I just walked out of and guess what!....I SURVIVED! Part of that was because of something that I was studying last night. The studying was in a word, indescribable (very descriptive word eh?). Here is why:
I was studying parables in St. Matthew 21 and came across vs. 19 when Christ came upon a fig tree. I’ll just include the verses in case someone else gets as blown away as I did.
19 And when he saw a fig tree by the road, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And immediately the fig tree withered away.
20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!
21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done
22 And all blessings, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
It was strange, I have never been more spiritually edified by studying for a test. It sounds lame but I felt closer to Christ and quite changed by studying for an exam. That is a definite first.
Wednesday...wait that is today!
Wow, how do I describe today. Well to start off I was studying for my test this morning. I was so nervous but after reading those verses I had a strange calm behind the madness. I prayed before I took the test and I feel that I can honestly say that I did my best and felt that I was blessed to be able to do so.
Another miracle for the day came in the form of a really good friend named Nathan. I posted on Facebook that I needed a job very badly and he emailed me saying that his roommate was wondering if he knew anyone that needed a job and gave me the information so I could apply, which I did, less than an hour ago. I could kiss him, he has been a lifesaver more than once and a really good friend all the time. So I don’t know if I’ll get the job but it is a great opportunity for me.
After I miraculously finished my test I went to submit my resume for the job. I remembered that my old resume was on a USB drive that my computer had not been able to read for months. The USB had been jostled and was lose and so when my computer miraculously recognized it I was amazed. But then it would not read the files on the USB. I had the thought that I should do a search for the documents on it and I was able to access all of the documents on the USB. It really was a miracle.
So today has been miraculous. Today I get the opportunity to go to an osteology workshop for and Egyptian workshop encompassing today, tomorrow and Friday. Miraculously (there’s that word again), the times of the workshops don’t interfere with any classes or meetings. Major blessing.
Well there you go. There are so many other things that I could note but here are the major ones. I’ll have to update more so these won’t be so long. Anyway life is wonderful and God is great!!!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Waaammmme and HOPPY!

No, it is not pronounced wamie, it is lame with a w...wame. That is what I hear every morning from my 2 year old cousin Tyler. I guess it serves me right because I taught him to say it and now every time I see him he shows his love by saying 'hi Allison, WAME!!!'. I absolutely love it. Tyler is also learning his letters. One morning we were sitting at the table eating breakfast together and Tyler points to a Happy Birthday sign and says 'A'. His mum is teaching him the alphabet song and so I thought he was just trying to sing it to me. But then he kept pointing to the wall and saying 'P', 'P', and finally 'Y'. Tyler can now read the word HAPPY. He was so excited about it that he jumped around saying Happy for a good 15 minutes. Except when he says 'happy' it sounds like 'hoppy'. So cute though. Now he and I have a game where he will say happy in a high voice and I will growl happy. Oh...I also taught him to growl ferociously and pretty constantly...may his parents one day forgive me. :) So in honor of my dearest cousin here I some wame and hoppy moments for the week:
- I caught Tyler's poor little coughing cold of death....WAME!!!
- I haven't been in school this entire week because of the coughing cold of death...meaning I'm basically a lifetime behind on homework....WAME!!!
- I could give a million (WAME) bi-products of this cold like the bleeding throat and lungs I've developed but that is gross...and lame. But on to some good things:
- I have finally cleaned all of my clothes and unpacked from my move back from Nevada...thanks to the current inability to go to classes I've had some time on my hands...HOPPY!!!
- I am officially scuba certified!!!...HOPPY!!!
- I am sitting in this corner in my room that is probably the best place in the whole house right now. It has drapes that separate me from the world, relaxing lamps, candles and pillows and a window where I can see the mountains, Utah Lake some really great sunsets...very, very HOPPY!!!
- Also, I know the coughing cold of death is a bit overdone but I think that I'm on the mend. Yesterday was horrific and while I can't seem to stop coughing, at least I'm able to get out of bed for more than and hour at a time...HOPPY!!!
So there you go, some wame and hoppy moments for the week. Now if I can just get my rear in gear and get my grad school applications in and quit scaring myself out of it I can really be hoppy...and happy. :)
love/me.