where did I learn to type anyway....proofread yikes!

Sorry about that last post it's a bit of a mess

Balancing the scales of life

I would be very surprised to discover that I'm the only one struggling with the many areas of life that constantly duke it out to be a high priority in everyday life. Sometimes it's easier than others but now I'm all askew. It's lame feel spread thin because you want to have close friendships or a social life while the back of my mind is reminding me that I should be focusing on school or learning my German diction for an upcoming lesson, or a multitude of other things. I love the comment in Lord of the Rings when Bilbo says he feels "thin like butter spread over too much toast" It's a great analogy for the constant mediocrity I feel when I try to do it all at once. I really want a healthy balance and what I get is frustration when I have a bad lesson, or test for playing with friends or watching a movie, which is much more important to me now anyway. I shouldn't fret too much. It's really not worth it to get all worked up over. I do look forward to the day when I can really enjoy an activity, whatever it may be, even when I have something more pressing to take care of. All I can say is Amen for friends and Amen for the good days when I can feel good and confident for choosing one way or the other.

I can hardly wait.....

I can't even believe it! Nicole and I are going to be parents! We are both very excited and hopeful that everything in the coming months will go smoothly. It's amazing to me that we created life and I can hardly wait to see this little person we get to love and teach and take care of. I'm excited to be stretched as a parent, a spouse, a son, and a friend. I know I'll probably need to remember I said that somewhere down the road when I'm hanging on by a thread trying to finish grad school and Nicole is very pregnant, or the baby has come and we haven't slept at all. It's so new to think that we get to have a family. I am so excited and a bit scared. I found myself journaling about my fears and really laying them down at the feet of God, about the health of the baby, Nicole, our financial status. There could be so many easy things to focus on that could take us away from the joys of preparing for this major change. I also spent time writing a letter to my baby. I asked he/she what they were like. It's a bit odd sounding but I'm very excited to meet this little person. Nicole is going to be an amazing mom and she says the same about me, which I am encouraged by. I happy that my parents are excited for us, too. I'm really glad that my parents and brother come to visit in November. We never get to see each other enough. Who knows maybe they'll fall in love with Eugene? It could happen. For now I am happy, content and excited to be a dad. I can hardly wait...

Practically midterm!

I can hardly believe how fast fall term has flown by. Nicole has been very busy in her new job yet she is loving the kids and their families she works with. I have been involved in a full load of classes in my second year of graduate school. It keeps me busy, need I say more. We have survived by occasional game nights, TV nights, scrapbooking (Nicole), and our Tuesday night small group. We are both anticipating change within the next year and perhaps starting a family and it is still my plan to pursue my new career passion of academic librarianship. Hopefully, we might find a house within a year as well too!

Graduate school Year 2 day 1

How! I survived the first day back to school. It really hasn't been much of a break with the Italian course I took so I'm not too excited that summer is gone. I took GRE's last Friday and the prophecy was fulfilled, I'm terrible at standardized tests no matter how much studying I do or money I throw at training for higher scores. Math is basically the bane of my existence. I don't care about it at all. Needless to say I didn't do so hot and I'm a little worried if I do submit my GRE scores to University of Washington for admission they might laugh. At least University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne doesn't require GRE's if you have maintained a high GPA through college, so I have that going for me. I can really get into this blog thing what a great relief, huh? It isn't for sure yet but I am hopeful that I will be able to stay in Italiano 201 SO I can finish this Spring term. It will be a crazy year but very possible! As you can see I added my two favorite shows to the top of this blog. Yes, I am officially and old man!! I love History detectives and Antiques Roadshow! They are the coolest ever! Also, diet coke with Lime is climbing the charts! Nicole, my lover for life, is off at Bible study so I get to blog, prep for tomorrow, and start studying. Agh, so much school!

September trip 2007

Ah,
Well I survived a super rigorous Italian course over the Summer term. I went into it with the wrong attitude and it really was a lot of fun. I'm excited to continue learning the language and more about the Italian culture. My wife Nicole and I had a great time with my family in Monterey, CA this past weekend. It really was fun. I only wish my siblings and I could've pitched in more. Dad always seems burdened by spending money even if he can afford things. I look forward to Christmas this year with them all. I have to mention that I have discovered another fantastic Library Science program via University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne. The program there is a fairly expensive but it is much shorter that the program at University of Washington.

Sooo tired of school!

I guess it's a great thing I have the opportunity to come back to school for a master's degree BUT it is a lot of work. I'm seriously drained and don't have much left to get through 2 more weeks of this constant grammar and vocab in Italian. Last night I watched a great newer movie called "Teh Painted Veil" with Naomi Watts and Edward Norton. I totally recommend it to those, who like me, love a good drama. It's a love story of sorts in the early 20th century in China during a Cholera outbreak.
Nicole is back after a quick and crazy trip to Boise, Idaho to visit her pappy in the hospital. She is worried how he will take to the drastic life change that must occur now that he doesn't have a colon. But she did come back to me and I am soooo glad. I'm anxious to see my family and it has been way too long since that has happened. They were going to come up to Eugene for Nicole's graduation but Mom was very sick, in and out of the hospital, the week prior to graduation. I think it's been 10 months! Too long!
I'm feeling quite contemplative today. I'm not so sure going to library school is a high priority of mine now. I love the idea of being a librarian. But i think I want to try it on first, maybe get a library job to see if it fits before I commit to a long term and very arduous program. God is totally in control of that now, I'm not going to worry about it. Off to work I go.....