The gifts that keep on giving

So yesterday was my birthday, and I was overwhelmed by how many people remembered and wished me well on my big 2-8. Thanks to modern technology, I received a lot of texts, facebook messages, and phone calls in addition to in-person well-wishes. I felt very, very loved so thanks to everyone! I'd like to give a shout out to my friends Gates and Melissa for giving me my first birthday wish by text message at 7:05am. That's dedication people. Jamie was still in bed but she gets the award for last in person wish award, and only person to wish me happy birthday by white board.

Last weekend I also helped celebrate my honorary nephew Quin's birthday who turned 3. Birthdays are so much fun when you are kids. It's like the best thing ever in the world for them. You definitely lose that as an adult. Anyway, my cousin Rochelle was there with her kids and with my birthday coming up the anticipation (at least in my mind) was building over what kind of gift Rochelle would get me this year. Over the years we have been cousins/friends there has been many "thoughtful" gifts given by her to me (she's much more creative than me in this realm). I'll recap some of the most memorable here:

-for my 17th (probably) birthday, receiving a male beta fish that we promptly overfed and killed. Luckly Petsmart had a 7 day money-back guarantee on fish, so Rochelle told me we should freeze it and bring it back. I remember slapping it on the counter in a ziplog baggie and demanding a refund. They gave me a female beta fish (which look different) and it lived for 3 years. I named it Xena. My mom had to begrudingly take care of it while I was in college.
-for my 22nd birthday/graduation from college, receiving a bread maker. I was pretty stoked about it but then lost steam when I realized it actually took many hours to bake. At that time, if it couldn't be microwaved, I couldn't handle it.
-for my 26th (roughly) birthday, receiving warm socks imported from like Scotland or something and a pink diamond studded watch. I never got so many compliments as I did with that watch. I lost it in Minnesota about a year ago and was pretty sad. I still have the socks and they were very appreciated especially in Kenya last summer when it was freezing in our house.
-for my 27th birthday, receive an electronic jar opener. I've used it twice. It's pretty powerful.
-this year, I got a Starbucks gift card. More functional than creative, but still much appreciated. Frappicino here I come!!

My first bike accident

After owning my bike for two months, I finally had my first bike accident yesterday. It's sort of like a right of passage, especially knowing so many brave survival stories of bike experts in my life of people that have gone before me like Stephen Tynes, Angie, Kate, and Courtney.

My accident, in a nutshell, consisted of me flying over my handbars and sliding, on my face mostly, on somebody's front lawn until my momentum finally ceased. Did anyone witness it?

Ohhhhhh yeah.

All in all though, I left my accident largely unharmed. I had to spit out some grass that was in my mouth and ice up my nose a bit when I got home. I know I had to of scared the crap out of the dad and his two kids who witnessed the whole thing and were the big reason I ended up in the grass anyways. I was trying to avoid running into them on the sidewalk we shared. When I sat up and declared "that's why I wear a helmet" and they realized I wasn't bleeding or anything, they could close their mouths that were gaping open in surprise and move on with their bike ride. Probably too everyone who was driving on Chamblee-Tucker road about 4:45pm yesterday got a pretty good chuckle!

But that's ok though. I'm a seasoned bike rider now.

Plus, I got a compliment on my bike by the kids' dad, who thought it was pretty awesome. I was definitely proud to say: "Oh thanks. And I got it at Target."

I can't do this alone

On Thursday mornings I have two rounds of supervision which focus on the client I see on Tuesday nights through my school's Hope Counseling Center. I can have up to four clients but right now most people just have one. It usually picks up in the fall I've heard, so we'll see if I get someone new. Currently, my client gets a lot of attention because it's only her I have to focus on in my supervision times.

From 8:30-9:30am I meet with Terry who is my individual supervisor, followed by a 10:00-11:30 class of group supervision with six students and a PSI professor. Yesterday was my turn to do a case presentation for the group which included a devotional, playing 15 minutes of tape from the last session, and explaining my treatment plans and goals for future sessions utilizing a major counseling theory. I was kind of nervous about it, especially about the tape. As a beginning therapist, you never feel confident playing tape for your supervisor, even though you know it will be worth it. The whole thing ended up being so awesome though. I gained about 6 new sights about my client which included new suggestions of things to ask and try. Plus, everyone encouraged me and said I did a great job. I was the first one to do mine this semester so I was a little uncertain about that as well. It was so helpful but I am also glad it's over with!

Here's some of my favorite bits of advice I've gotten, mostly from Terry, thus far:
-you will never really harm your client (advice given as I moan over something I said that I thought was stupid)
-the relationship you have with your client is always more important than the techniques you chose to employ.
-as long as someone is alive, there's hope for change.
-if a theme/comment is important, it will come up again in the future (this advice is good when I feel afraid that I missed a chance to say something in session)
-trust your instincts.

Yet another singleness thought

I think one of the hardest things about being single is how permanent it feels to the one who is in it. In a very real way it feels like it will always be this way. However, every else besides the single person believes wholeheartedly the opposite. They might say to me don't worry...you will find someone. He's out there..just be patient. Don't lose hope. But when it's you in your own head you think "this will take a freaking miracle straight from God to get me out of this!! I don't care how hot I am in this red shirt!!"

Things that make me smile

Sometimes thoughout my week I catch myself having the same thoughts over and over again that usually surround the counseling conversations and relationships with people that I interact this week. For me this seems to get me worried, although I want to keep thinking about all these things in hopes that by the time I see the person again I will be more ready. But really, it kind of gets me down and prevents me from the joyful things that happen each day.

I started wondering, in light of this, what makes me smile. This way I have something to direct my thoughts towards when I'm driving home, fresh off of a stressful phone call or situation that will bring some joy and a smile right away. Here's some of the things I came up with:

-my cat's new favorite sleeping place, which for some reason is on the landing on the top of the stairs. When she's sleeping there and you get home and walk through the door, you can look up the stairs and she'll roll over so all you can see is her cute little face. You also can't help but stoop down to pet here on your way to your room.
-getting to counsel an adolencent for the first time, and really liking it and it going well.
-my teacher Deanne Terrell, who's always super southern and genuinely warm to each student.
-"Punchy" and "Margharita" Amy
-getting to see Erica several times over the weekend and making a huge deal out of seeing her like it's been years or something.
-the trees above my back porch
-when my neighbor does not have all of his contracting buddies over all day long working on his house.
-Jamie and Nathan's wedding
-when Jamie tells me an MTW story I can relate to
-my brother's dog who licks the air when there's no one around to lick
-the missionaries I've helped over the years
-the last session with my client when we got to pray together for the first time
-fantasy football
-talking in a ghetto voice
-bible verses from 1 John

I'm sure there are more, but this is a good start to thoughts that I've got to keep on hand.

-

Walk to Mary Katherine's

I think I am adventurous, but maybe not in the normal way you would think of adventure. I'm not really up for bungee jumping, climbing mountains, driving fast cars, etc. But I do like to do find adventure in the everyday.

Yesterday I did this by walking to Mary Katherine's new apartment. Now some of you who read this blog have never been to my house, so I am hoping I can still make this blog relevant.

Mary Katherine (and in three weeks, Matt too) live about...oh..I don't know maybe 1-2 miles away from me on the Pleasantdale access road. It's been a gorgeous weekend here in Atlanta and by Sunday night I had squandered most of it by staying inside and studying and watching the US Open. So I had to get out and get some fresh air. I was going to walk through the neighborhoods, but then I remembered how close MK lived to me. I was already walking when I remembered this. I also wanted to walk for at least an hour. I didn't know exactly which apartment, or what number she lived in, or if she was home, and I'd have to walk on the access road, but I did know how to get there. I figured it would be about a 30 minute walk one way.

I think because of being overseas many times..or...something I don't think walking places is that dangerous. But at least in Atlanta, and especially on Plesantdale Road, it's natural to feel suspicious of walkers. I did see some shifty characters. But most of them where shorter than me, so that's good. By following one walker (at a safe distance), I learned of a shortcut so I wouldn't have to walk on the access road as much. Score.

In case you were wondering the outcome of the story, I found the apartment, but MK was not there. I did find her car, and did what any good friend would do, and put up her windshield wipers so she would be super confused when she came home. I did learn that next time I think I'm going to bike, which would help with the path I had to take through the weeds, and I'm going to call first.

My next adventure is to try the Korean barbeque place by Dave and Ami's house. Man I bet that is good!!!

Fall classes are a hit

I can't believe I'm saying this, but the easiest thing I have going on this semester is my classes. I just really like them, and I especially like my teachers. Even though my school is great and I'm very glad I ended up there, one expectation that can't be fulfilled every time is that I will love my teachers. In fact, I tend to be overly critical, which is unfortunate sometimes. I tend to let my feelings for the teacher dictate how motivated I am to really do well. Not always a good strategy.

One of the things I don't particularly like is doing prayer requests in class. I go to a Christian school, and some teachers feel that having group requests is important. I've had some teachers though (one in particular) where this has gone on for 30 minutes or so, and by then I'm starting to wonder if we're having class or if I'm just paying for the most expensive bible study ever. I have two teachers this semester that are doing prayer requests, but I actually like it. I think it's because they keep it really brief. I am very relieved.

I do have a research methods class this semester, which I've been d-r-e-a-d-i-n-g since my first day at school. I hate research and doing statistics, so the whole thing was just bound to be doomish. However, my teacher is great. He spent like 15 minutes the first day of class asking us about our fears and reasons why people dislike this class so much. He also does a great job going over everything really slowly so even I can understand it. Now it did take me over two hours to do the homework, and I still had to phone a friend. I feel pretty strongly though, that I will survive.