Catchin' Up

So two weeks ago I graduated with my Master's in counseling from Grace College. I didn't really graduate though because I still had to take a summer class. I took the class but I'm still not really finished because I have to write a Research paper! Which I've not had any time to start as of yet. Awesome. I didn't walk in the graduation so don't be expecting any pictures. To some this is unheard of...to those who know me well it's not really all that surprising. I have already graduated twice and in my mind the three minutes of walking across the stage does not make my accomplishment any more significant. Instead it's stressful....trying to fit that weird hat on top of my curly hair, trying not to trip walking up on stage, spending lots of time sitting in an itchy gown through a graduation that is boring.....and my close friends had already graduated last year. So...I got a program with my name in it....I have my hood, my cap, my gown.....good enough. Now all I need is to write the paper and get my diploma. I have never been the girl who goes back to visit her high school teachers, or who goes to college homecomings, and I am apparently not one to walk in her master's graduation! My church small group did throw me a party. Thanks to my amazing accountability partner Kirsten. She's quite the event planner and I was utterly and completely surprised when we went to her house for lunch to find that they had planned a cook out. THAT was how I enjoyed celebrating.... relaxed, good food, all our young married friends, and an icecream cake.

Lee's mom quite cleverly got me a money tree plant for graduation along with a green bill. I'm really looking forward to when the money starts growing as I will more quickly be able to pay off all my loans. So far I haven't seen any new bills, but I'm crossing my fingers, and checking daily. I'm hoping it's a $100 bill tree not a $1 bill tree. Should it begin to produce an over abundance I will most definitely share!

My mom got me a sweet

work bag. My cheapie one from Target just bit the dust this past week. This is a Swiss Army bag, and is quite a bit more sturdy and luxurious. It has a pink and green lining that makes me happy every time I open the bag. Because I am a nerd I debated whether or not to start using it with only two weeks of school left. I thought, "Maybe I should save it to be my new bag for the start of next year." My previous bag's strap just riped off so moving into it now won out. I'm really excited to carry it on Monday. I'll look like a woman who has her master's now for SURE! This weekend Lee was supposed to have class and so I'd invited my mom and sister up to spend a girls day and to see Toby. They arrived Friday evening, we watched movies and just caught up. Saturday morning Lee's class got cancelled and so we ended up being able to spend the day all together. We went for breakfast, showed Miriam the Zimmer buildings (she has an interview on Thurs.), and then went to Cerulean for some sushi. Lee headed off golfing with the guys and we went to Pottery By-You to use a gift card I'd been holding onto. We had a BLAST. It was so fun, we worked on our little projects while catching up on all the things that are going on in our lives. I'm indeed blessed to have a mom and sister that I just truly enjoy spending quality time with. I really miss seeing them. Living so far apart does not make it easy.

Here are the peices we painted. Miriams photo is fuzzy (SORRY MIM)....

It looks like a little flower. Green bottom, pink petals, yellow inside...with a lil' lady bug on the edge.

Mom made a post it note holder for her desk in the hospital's new colors.

I made a chips and dip plate with a cute little chili pepper in the center! After painting we took Toby for a walk on the bike trails, cooked out, and on a whim attempted to locate a Nintendo Wii to buy. Would you believe that there was not one in any store we called in a 50 mile radius? Crazy. So we got ice cream instead. Today my mom and sister got to meet some of our small group friends at church. We then went out for lunch with my accountability partner Kirsten and her hubby. Soon after Mom and Mim headed towards home.

My guys (Lee and Toby) are relaxing watching the Red Sox on tv while I try to get as many "productive" things checked off my list as I can. Taa...da. We are now caught up in blog land!