Big and hairy

I'm home!  Saturday's drive was long, but not as boring as usual.  Sun, wind, rain, snow, and elk.  Wait...what?

Tomorrow is the beginning of a VERY exciting couple of days!  I can't wait to share later!

Grace and peace,

Hilary

I'm still here, I promise!

I have to say, I'm a little intimidated by this blank page on my no-longer-familiar blog processor.  I have been so laden with writing assignments that I've come to look at that field of white with distaste and fear of a long night ahead of me.  And I'll give you fair warning: I'm so sick of editing papers.  Don't judge me for typos or grammar and punctuation faux pas.

I've finished my first term of graduate school.  One down, 5 more to go.  Only 18 months stand between me and the end of my official academic journey, but 18 is kind of a big number, so maybe I'll just stop putting it that way.

I love my (college student services administration) program.  I love the material I'm learning.  I love my cohort.  I do not love the homework.  I miss writing because I want to write--I usually love it!  But when I have to put a citation at the end of every sentence and perfectly format the header and title page, it just sucks the joy out of it for me.  It's not natural for me to constantly check to make sure I'm writing in the active voice and switch back and forth between my APA style guide and my Word document.

But here I am, now.  Finished for a few weeks!  And I am proud of myself.  I never doubted whether I can do grad school, but I definitely doubted the worth at a few moments.  There was a paper or two which caused me to stay up later than I care to admit, and I may have only skimmed a lot of the reading.  But I'm already getting a grasp on the CSSA competencies, and I've mapped out a rough idea of my classes and internships for the next 5 quarters.  And guess who got a 4.0.  That's right.  Go ahead and click on that sucker to make it big.  ;)  I'll savor it while it lasts.

There were so many wonderful things to happen in the second half of fall term since I last wrote.  

I've developed deeper friendships with people who I believe will be pretty solid folks in my life.  

I've laughed until I cried.  

I've played long nights of Settlers of Catan.  

I've gotten into the habit of cooking lots on Sundays so I can pack my lunches for the week.

I've come to tolerate (and maybe even appreciate) raw tomatoes.

I've spent a wonderful Thanksgiving at home with Aunt Glory from London and extended family from Central California whom I haven't seen since I was 12 or 13.

I've started working with the Otters' (2nd and 3rd graders) Sunday school class during my church's first service.

I've hiked the Trail of Ten Falls loop.

I've maintained the important friendships across oceans and several states.

I've frozen on the top of Mt. Bachelor and enjoyed a cider at Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon.

I've gone swing dancing and learned the basics of country western dancing.

I've fallen even more for this beautiful state (need I remind you that I don't have to pump my own gas here?).

On the Trail of Ten Falls in Silver Falls State Park

My favorite fall

White elephant gift exchange

Raking elderly church members' yards with my Otters

Otters in the Sunday school room

Stunning sunrise on the way to Mt. Bachelor

Trying to keep warm and smile

Cold, but together--with 3 of my cohort-mates

Warming up at Deschutes Brewery in Bend

I am so excited to see what the next term (and beyond!) have in store for me.  Everyone has told me that the first term in CSSA is the hardest.  I wouldn't exactly call my course load for winter term less than challenging, but I hope I'll find time to keep this blog alive.  I would hate to forget again how much I really can enjoy writing.

Grace and peace and Merry Christmas!

Hilary