Good Tuesday

I had a good day yesterday. I spent the day taking care of a bunch of stuff I had been putting off - registration, GPSGA stuff, etc. I met my cousin Annie at lunch in Blackwell...we ate at a yummy Mexican food restaurant and caught up with each other. It was a relaxing lunch. Last night, I went with most of the lifegroup to the Pita Pit for dinner. It was a good break for all the girls who are right in the middle of their finals. I enjoyed the laughter and stories. I can't wait to see all these girls after the break!

Mission Accomplished: Proposal

So I got done with my proposal yesterday and passed my PhD candidacy exam. I never want to have to go through that whole process again; I think it was the most difficult thing I've ever done. The oral exam part was scary and difficult; I'm glad it's over. Now I just need to finish my research and write my dissertation...hmmm....ha!
These are some pictures of Josh and me after the ordeal. Like my suit? Courtesy of April Stephens' fashion advice and shopping expert...and my spring break last year!
Last night, Josh and I went to our small group's Christmas party. We had a good time playing Dirty Santa using a card game called George. It was a nice relaxing night.

Family Fun

Josh's mom and stepdad and our niece came to visit us this past weekend. We had a good time with them. We had Christmas together (even Santa left us kids presents on the porch!) and played Conga (a Cranium game) Friday night. Saturday, we took care of a few things. Jack, Josh's stepdad, was great - he figured out what was wrong with our dryer, fixed our back door, and got our wireless internet working. He's so handy and helpful. Josh and him smoked a turkey on Saturday so we still have some great smoked turkey. I ate a turkey leg Saturday night. I felt like I was a the State Fair. Ha!
After going to church on Sunday and watching Ice Age The Meltdown, and playing lots of games with my niece; they went home. It was a nice weekend.

The Big Snow 2006

Well, our first snow of the year was exciting! I loved it! Wednesday night, the temperature dropped and the newscasters said it was going to be a big snow. School got canceled Thursday and Friday from all the ice and snow we got. I hadn't seen snow like this in Oklahoma since January of 2000, my first winter in Oklahoma at OC (where two days of school was canceled then too). Thursday the snow began to fall. Newman liked it of course...it was like icecubes from Heaven. Padme went outside just to be outside with all of us. I don't think she was thrilled about it all like the rest of us.

Josh's Winter Barbeque

Thursday afternoon, Josh decided he wanted to grill outside. It was starting to snow, but it wasn't too bad...when he started. By the end of it, the wind was blowing and there was A LOT of ice and snow. Ice built up along our sliding door frame where we couldn't shut the door. Josh used his handy steamer (courtesy of my dad giving into an info-commercial on TV last year)to melt the ice and get our door shut. We haven't reopened since then. Notice Newman braved the cold to be by the food. The food was great! We had pork chops and chicken and vegetables..all on the grill. yummy!

Friday Morning

The morning of December 1 was a winter wonderland outside. There was so much snow! And it was beautiful outstide. We couldn't get the truck out, but Josh got the car out finally. Josh took me to breakfast that morning at IHOP, and then after I found out my proposal got canceled, we played outside.

Snowdog

Josh and I built a snowdog...Newman thinking it was another dog eating his snow came over and took it down.

Dogs + Snow = FUN

Here's some fun ones of us playing with the dogs in the snow.

An Update: Wichita, Turkey Day, Bedlam, and Proposal

I've had a good past couple of weeks. About 2-3 weekends ago, Josh and me went up to Wichita and saw some of my family. We had a good time talking and laughing with my aunt, uncle, cousins, and Mamaw.
Thanksgiving was quick but fun. It was good to catch up with family and spend time with my 5-year-old niece. She said the Pledge of Allegiance, sang the Star-Spangled Banner, said the Oklahoma pledge, and some of her "expectations" from school. She also got to stay with her May May (me) and Big Josh for a night at Josh's dad and his wife's house one night. So with go-carting, hot-tubbing, a family feud game, and making s'mores and singing around a campfire, I'd say my Thanksgiving was pretty good. Oh yeah, I also had GREAT food.
This past weekend was Bedlam...we lost, but it was still a good game. The pictures are us after the game showing off our faceart. Go Pokes!
Today I had my practice proposal presentation for my reserch group and advisor. I survived it...now I have to prepare and survive Friday. It's almost over! Keep on praying!

The Countdown has Started...

No I'm not talking about Christmas. I'm talking about my proposal and oral exam coming up soon. It's always on my mind. My facebook status says that I am either working on or thinking about or dreaming about my proposal.
I did a practice today for some of friends from my department. It was great to get feedback and suggestions from my peers. I feel like even though I have such a large amount of work to still do (mainly just reading and pondering the chemistry of EVERYTHING), I have direction. I know what areas I need to read up on.
Of course, while all this is going on, I'm still trying to balance everything else. Josh has been great and taken care of mostly everything around the house. With Thanksgiving break, I'll get some time to relax and time to read and study, too. The hardest part is balancing all of this with my relationship with God. I am working hard at still going to church and doing my bible studies, but when my thoughts are so saturated with proposal thoughts, I really question if it's all worth it. When I graduate, I know that it'll be worth having a ph.d, but I never want to do graduate work again. It's difficult keeping God first in your life and in your thoughts and in your actions when all your mind is saying, "Work on the proposal!" My comfort though is that I know all of this is in His hands. Whatever happens, I know I'll be okay. Of course though, I've been praying that I pass. : )

Padme's Surgery

So about a week ago, Padme had hip surgery. She has hip displacia, very advanced (of course we picked the mutt out of the litter that has a rare case of advanced displacia). She'll have the other hip done after Christmas. After Newman's ordeal this past summer, I was dreading having another dog go through the recovery. Padme has done great though. I guess this surgery is a lot easier of a recovery than putting a pin through a femur. She gets to lay on the couch on a blanket currently since she's "sick"...you can see her shaved leg in the one with her post-surgery treat.

Lifegroup and S'mores

Tuesday nights I attend Lifegroup with a great group of girls. It's always so uplifting and encouraging...and fun! Different girls take turns presenting the lesson so I get to hear some different ideas and thoughts. After our devo, it's easy to stick around, visit, and laugh.
Chancey brought her s'more maker and five of us stayed late and made s'mores. The marshmellows really do get roasted; way better than the microwave method. Seungeun (pronouncd Sing'in) is from Korea and had never made s'mores. I'm glad we introduced this nutrition graduate student to a delicious (but unhealthy) snack! Lauren is the one in the picture "choking" (I think that's what she was doing). Cassie hosts our lifegroup at her apartment each week.

Small Group

Last Monday night our small group from church helped with the Fall Festival that is held at our church and put on by the Rainbow School. We had a good time. Josh and I took care of the bowling booth...by the 217th time of resetting up the pins I was tired! haha
We really enjoy our small group...everyone is so encouraging and fun. This is a picture of mostly everybody in our group; we were missing a few people.

More Pics

Josh's cousin sent me a few more pics so I wanted to share..aren't the kids adorable??