Fish Faces

This might be a cheesy post to some of you out there. To which I say: I don't care! ;)

There are days where I think I am not going to be able to handle this crazy schedule: 

Let's not forget all the homework on top of that.

There are days I think I've seriously overcommited myself.

But then there are days, like today, that I realize I wouldn't trade a thing on that schedule for the world (or that extra hour of sleep). Someone told me earlier today that they thought I had significantly overcommitted myself and that I should drop some of my "Chase hours".  Because while I have my set 8 hours a week with him, there are also many other times I inevitably end up watching him. 

But here's the thing. Watching Chase means:

• I get to help out and support Kara
• I get to spend time with him regularly and get to be a very active part of his life. (Kara told me the other day she feels like I'm his third parent. I prefer cool older cousin). 
• He has healing powers...I swear it. Baby therapy to the extreme (is that a thing?) 
• He brings people in and allows me to have conversations with them..And he helps them heal. (click that for a video of Chase helping bring that joy he brings). 
  
• He makes me step back and think about things and reminds me not to stress out. He also has a way of making me think about what's actually important. It's so easy to get stressed out because I have to do this project or fill out this worksheet, but then Chase helps to remind me that ultimately I'm doing this work for the kids I will one day have the incredible opportunity to work with. Oh how i long for that day!
• He's teaching me to be patient. He's teaching me how to love- really love. He's teaching me that sometimes it's okay to take baby steps. 
• And so much more.

So yes. We have days where I want to pull my hair out because he ripped my homework (Professor Harkema...I swear. The baby tore it up!) or because he managed to pull every single shirt I own out of my dresser when I turned my back for less than a minute. But we also have days, most days I would say, where there is an overflow of laughter that fills this room from top to bottom. Days where everything is perfect. Days like today, where we sit and cuddle, laugh, run up and down the hall, and practice signing words back and forth. He takes me away from school and stress (mostly) and I get to spend time doing what I love to do. What I'm meant to do. 

So maybe it's crazy. Maybe I am overcommitted. But I am happy. And I am blessed. And the Lord is teaching me more about himself as I continue to have to rely on him to give me strength to be able to do all the things I do. 

Does anything else really matter?

Playing Catch Up

This past week back at Trin has been a whirlwind of adventures, excitement, tears(happy and sad), unspeakable joy, and reunions. 

Probably one of the most joyous moments of this week was when I walked out of my friend Lori's room to see Lette sitting at her kitchen table. Tears filled my eyes as I ran to hug her and joy filled my heart as I realized, "she's here..really here." I saw Lette when she first got back from Ecuador, but only for a short time before leaving for Christmas break. So to see her and to realize that we wouldn't be saying goodbye for some time as the most wonderful feeling. I love having her back here.

The beginning of this week was both exciting and challenging. I spent a TON of time with Chase on Tuesday and Wednesday (probably somewhere around 15 hours total). It was wonderful- but exhausting. He was really not feeling well on Wednesday, which basically meant all he wanted was to be held- by me. He didn't want anything to do with anyone else, except Kara once she came back. 

This picture basically sums up our day.

Some of the more exciting moments of this week:

• Tea with Lette. She came over on Tuesday night for a few hours and we just sat and drank tea, somewhat caught up on life, looked through Ecuador pictures, and just enjoyed being together. I am SO happy she is back. Sometimes it still amazes me that she's right down the hall. :) Anyways, these two hours together were precious, and it was sooooo wonderful to be able to spend that time with her.
• Coffee with Kaity. On Wednesday morning Kaity and I went to the Panini XpressO coffee house right down the road from Trinity and enjoyed time together, with no homework to do and no distractions. It was pure bliss. We planned set times we can see each other each week throughout the semester, drank wonderful coffee, and she celebrated with me a mini personal victory (I take the mini victories for everything they are these days). 
• Classes starting. I know, a weird highlight. But having all of the education majors back together again was fabulous. We definitely have a core group- Kari, Kathryn, Brie, Jaclyn, Jessica, Alyssa, and myself, and it was WONDERFUL to be together again. That's why classes were exciting. I'm already seeing how relationships this semester are going to be grown and shaped, and that also excites me.

I've also gotten to spend some pretty quality time with Caroline and Lori, which is really really exciting for me. We really haven't done anything but hang out and chat about the most random things, but it's wonderful to spend time around them again. 

And now I am off to do homework. Because reality has started setting in, and I have a WHOLE lot to do. Yay! 

Until next time.

Pure Contentment

That is what I felt as I drove up to Trinity this past Monday evening. I'll get to that in a moment.

The last time I blogged I had just returned from a wonderful trip up to Trin. That was on Friday. Friday evening I went with Max to his basketball game, which was actually really fun. We sat behind a couple who had a child with special needs, so I was totally in my element. Saturday we just spent time relaxing as a family and hanging out together. Sunday morning I met up with Anna for coffee before heading to church, played Catan with my family, and then massively cleaned my room. Monday I spent the morning with my neighbor girls, who by the way are beyond adorable, played games with the fam-bam, and then headed up to Trinity around 9pm. 

As soon as I had arrived at Trinity and dropped my bags off in my room, I headed down to Molly's room where a group of girls were watching The Incredibles. There were around ten of us in there and it was super fun! When the movie was over we spent a pretty significant amount of time just talking and laughing. It was so great to be back there with everyone. 

Tuesday was an all around fabulous day. I hung out with the little man all morning, from 9am to 1pm, hung out with Melissa for a little bit, spent some time with Kara, and then I went to Roseland with Heather, which was a blast! We had SO much fun with all of the kids and it was SO good to see their smiling faces back there. I also had a pretty major break through with one of the girls, which was SUPER encouraging and exciting.

Heather and I booked it out of there at 6:15 so that we could make it back to Trinity in time to go see Frozen with our floor. It was a blast! Molly took a trin-van full of girls to see the movie. $5 and FREE popcorn. And by the way, if you haven't seen Frozen, GO SEE IT. Right now. Seriously. And if you can't go see it, at least listen to this song.

Wednesday once again I spent the day with Chase. I had him from 10:30am-1:30pm and then again from 3pm-4pm. Then I FINALLY had the opportunity to spend solid time with Molly. What a blessing that girl is. I really enjoy the times that we get to spend together, just us.

I'll write about today tomorrow, because it deserves more justice then my absolutely exhausted self can do tonight. 

Until then, peace out friends.

A Visit to Trinity

This past Wednesday- Friday I went up and spent at Trinity. I didn't realize how ready I was to be back at school until I was there. Wednesday I spent the day unpacking, getting stuff organized, and visiting with many people. Alyssa came to Trinity to visit me and we hung out for most of the afternoon, then I spent solid time with Lori and Brittany just talking and laughing (I've missed those girls like crazy), and then I spent the rest of the evening in Molly's room playing games with other girls from the floor. There were about twelve of us there, and it was SUPER fun!

Thursday I spent the morning with CHASE! Oh my goodness. It was so good to see him. As soon as he saw me walking to Kara's office he got really excited and was calling for me. Chase is signing a LOT now. He can sign please, thank you, more, apple, eat, yes, and no. He's also starting to talk a lot more, which is adorable. Thursday I heard him say, "Emmy", "I'm done", "Up", "Ball", "Cup", and "Shoot" (I quickly realized now I have to watch what I say...woops to that one). He also got a hair cut. Here's a visual for you all who aren't back at Trin yet.

The rest of Thursday afternoon I spent hanging out with Melissa. We made food, watched Gilmore Girls, and just caught up. Lots of things in our room changed over break without us knowing- the major change being that Kylie moved out without telling any of us. We got to the room on Wednesday and were shocked to find all of her stuff gone. 

Thursday night I spent over two hours talking with Ashley. It was fabulous. You know you have a true friend when you can talk about anything and know there will never be any judgement from the other person. The conversations that we had were truth filled and I think very needed for us both. I am really thankful for Ashley and for the way that the Lord has healed our friendship over this past semester. 

Friday morning I once again spent with Chase. It was great. He attacked me with kisses, modeled for me, and then we ran around so much he eventually fell asleep on me. Perfect morning right there.

After Kara picked up Chase, it was time to head home so I could make it in time for Max's basketball game. That was fun, but my heart is definitely ready to be back at Trinity. But for now, I am going to enjoy my time at home with my family. 

New Design!

I am having way too much fun over here! I have been working for the past hour on redesigning the major elements of my blog...(what else is there to do when you are snowed in and your family is watching some creepy movie called Wolverine?). Enjoy and let me know what you think!!! :)