Jessie's Journeys: December 2010

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Grad School Applications

Goal number one for break before the New Year arrives?
Apply to two grad schools - IUPUI and Robert's Wesleyan

The first week of break I got two emails from grad schools
The first came from Asbury University:

The second from Dominican University:

And I said "HA! You've gotta be kidding me? The first week of break and they're at it already!?!?" It made it much worse that those emails came from schools I'm not even applying to! Then I promised myself I'd work on the applications the next week... this week... So after writing a little here and there I was almost finished with the first one. I got online to finish it (Robert's Wesleyan) this evening and got this message on their website.

Isn't that just perfect!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Christmas Break

Christmas break finally arrived.

It started with a social work Christmas party
I love these people <3>

My friend Bonaventure Dusabimana graduated.
Jewel and I met his family at Bob Evan's to celebrate.

Family Christmas with the Ache's (mom's side)

Grandma, mom & I partnered to make the meal.

And Jewel's Christmas with Jeff & Joni, Leah & Mallory
Dad always gets us a matching gift.

These pajama pants sure beat the BRIGHT yellow fleeces we got one year!

I won the "World's Largest Stocking" in a drawing.

It was full of 10 year old boy toys, so I donated it to the Salvation Army.

Snow, snow & more snow

Jewel left for Cambodia on Tuesday afternoon.

After 36 hours of travel she'll arrive Thursday (1:30am our time).

Please pray for her as she's on her way now.

Lots of quality skype time with my sweet Wayne

Up & Coming:
Christmas Eve with Jeff, Joni, Leah & Mallory, then off to the "Reed Gathering"
Christmas day with Dad, Mom & Grandma
Speaking at youth group next Wednesday
Spending time in Indy with Joni & the girls
And... and... that's all the plans for now :)

I'm writing this blog as a break from writing research papers and autobiographical statements, and gathering reference letters and transcripts to apply for grad schools. My goal over break is to apply to two grad schools - Roberts Wesleyan College (Rochester, NY) and IUPUI (Indianapolis). RWC is my first choice and IUPUI is my back-up plan. Really, it is no fun, blah.

Oh, and early Merry Christmas!

Friday, December 10, 2010

One Busy Martha

A few days ago I read the story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10. It still resonates in my as I'm trying to figure out how to live out the application.

Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:38-42).

Mary and Martha are sisters with two very different personalities. Jewel and I are sisters with two very different personalities. I can definitely relate to Martha more than Mary. I wish this wasn't so, I wish I was more like Mary. In an essay I read (http://www.religioustolerance.org/kumasi01.htm) it calls this the the "Martha Syndrome and Mary solution". Martha is the one that's distracted; worried about getting her tasks done in a timely manner, always making preparations and thinking about the future. She's probably also a "people-pleaser" trying so hard that she puts her own needs aside. She can't sit down to enjoy whatever is going on. Mary is content, settling in to enjoy the fellowship. People are more important than time and tasks. She would rather hear from the Lord than accomplish her own tasks. And I'm more like Martha??? Yikes.

How can I get past the busyness of this time of the year to make sure I'm focusing on what's most important? Studying & finals, friends graduating, "moving" home, Christmas parties & preparations, shopping, grad school applications, and beginning an intense full-time internship.. it seems like the tasks, requirements, and activities never end. I don't think that just because my personality ('Type-A', shocker I know, haha) is bent towards Martha is an excuse. How do I stop being caught up in accomplishing my tasks when my tasks in-and-of themselves aren't bad? I'd like to say I have the right priorities, just not enough hours in the day, however that's a lame excuse. I need to cut something out, but what? I don't want this to be just something to help me through finals, but more of a lifestyle change. How do I slow down?

Friday, December 3, 2010

The Scream

"The Scream"

That's about all I have to say about that...

Finals are in 10 days and in 13 days I will be done.

Grad school applications should be completed & mailed out in 6 weeks.

I probably don't have enough meal swipes left for the rest of the semester.

Tuesday I have to pay $65 for fingerprinting and a background check, with no paycheck.

I'm not complaining, at least I don't mean to be. I'll make it. God will give me strength, focus, motivation & resources. I believe it. My faith is being stretched.