My "intense" intensive

So I guess they call this class an intensive not only because we are in the classroom for almost eight hours a day for five day straight but because of all of the intense, powerful emotions that I have felt this week. Wow, where do I begin in explaining all of the wonderful moments that I have experienced this week. First of all, this is a group counseling class. We are learning how to lead therapy groups but we are also experiencing the power of being a member of a group. The University doesn't want to send out a bunch of therapistsout into the world that have deep issues to face so we are participating in group therapy ourselves this week. I have never been to counseling so this has all been new to me. My small group consists of five members. We are all so very different. There is a southern baptist minister, an air force linguist who is morman, one African American woman with five children, and one very thoughtful and quiet young man. This group couldn't be more different, ranging in ages from 25-45 and coming from all over the US...North Carolina, Georgia, California, and Delaware. Despite our great differences, we have gotten to know each other on a level deeper than most relationships that I have had for years. I have learned so much about myself personally, so much about God, and soooo much about the counseling professsion. There are have been several intense, emotional days that have been enlightening to me and to everyone in the class. I feel like the lessons that I have taken from this week will stick with me for the rest of my life and hopefully will make me a better person. I could write a 10 page blog entry on all of the wonderful things I have witnessed and learned here. Really good stuff if you ever want to have a long conversation with me:) I'm ready to get back home and see my precious Caroline and my sweet husband Tony but I will really hate for this classroom experience to end. It has been so refreshing to see other students and interact with others on my same path as I do most of my work on the computer at home. Lynchburg, Virginia is really a beautiful place if you ever want a visit! It's been a very special week. I have to thank Tony and my parents for caring for our precious daughter this week so that I could have the opportunity to come here! I know it is a lot to work and take care of a very energized toddler for a week! Thank you so much!

Check this out!!!

So my first day at Liberty is going well. My day started at 4:45 am and I was on the way to Virginia by 5:30am. The drive this morning was smooth and I saw a beautiful sunrise! My class has been so interesting and I have met a lot of really cool people. The class is called counseling 512: group counseling and process. We are learning how to lead all kinds of therapy groups but we are also participating in them. It has been fun but I suspect it will get emotional during the week. I just love it...I know I am majoring in something that totally facinates me! Thanks to my big bro Jason who let me borrow his laptop I can check my e-mail, update my blog, and CHECK OUT the awesome pictures that Lindsey Turner took of Tony, Caroline, and myself on Sunday. If you want a sneak peak of some of them go to her blog (which you can link up to from this page...click on her page, Lindsey Turner photography, from my friends blogs section to the left on this page). I have a heavy load of homework so I better get to it!

Back to School

Well my time has come to go to Liberty University for a week long "intensive" class. I'm sure it will be a fast and a new, fun, educational experience for me. However, I just about get sick to my stomach when I think about leaving Caroline and Tony for a week. I know she and Tony will have a great day together tomorrow (Memorial Day) and that she will have fun all week with my parents and others who will be watching her. I just know that I will miss her so very much and I don't want her to be confused about where "the momma" has gone. I will have to do this a few more times over the course of my master's degree so I'd better get used to it but the first time is always the hardest. Nothing but family time after this week! Wish me luck!

Sweet Caroline's latest stats

For those of you who don't get to see Caroline much I thought I'd update you on her latest and greatest! Weighing in at a whole 25 lbs, 19 and 1/2 month old Caroline is landing in the 50th percentile for all of her measurements at the dr. office. Her pediatrician called her "tall and skinny" which Tony and I both laughed at as neither one of us have ever been referred to as tall or skinny. She's walking, running, and loves to jump. Her favorite thing to do is talk (imagine that...ha) and her vocabulary is amazing...but so are her fits! Tony and I figure that she has a vocabulary like a two year old and she also has tantrums like a two year old. She is speaking in simple sentences ("I like that toy" ,"That's Daddy's car", etc) and can say several pretty big words (sailboat, vitamin, firetruck, airplane, remote, strawberries, pinecone, etc.). I know, I know...I'm a proud parent:) ha.
She still loves the backyardigans, her stuffed animal "Pinky", going outside as she asks us to "go outside" everytime we are inside, my parents dog madison, and playing in her playhouse which she calls "ding-dong" because of the doorbell on it:) She has added some new favorites here recently that include:
*driving the car- she loves to get in my parked car and walk around the seat, play with the steering wheel, and push all of the buttons.
*anything sweet- the child wakes up talking about suckers and cake...she loves them!!!
*coloring with crayons
*Daddy's boat- she loves the boat and she doesn't mind wearing her life jacket...thank goodness
*feeding Madison "cookies"- Caroline goes and gets dog bones for my parents dog everytime she goes over there and then follows Madison and watches her eat it. She gets so excited b/c Madie likes it so much.
*her "Choo-choo" book - Caroline loves for me to read her choo-choo book which is THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD. She squeals at the part that says " I think I can, I think I can" it's so very cute!

Mother's Day in Key West

Erin, the beautiful bride! Mollie and Candice...sooo happy to be in Key West Parasailing with my BFF... what a great time!
Here we go...it was Candice's first time! She loved it!
And a drink or two with lunch! So good!



My dear friend Erin Bronson (now Erin Phillips:) got married in Key West this past weekend in Key West, FL. It was a gorgeous weekend and a beautiful wedding! Tony stayed at home with Caroline because the thought of putting her on an airplane is terrifying. She has a great set of lungs on her and the people on the plane probably wouldn't like us too much:) ha! I had a wonderful date for the weekend...my best friend Candice. We ate great food, had many wonderful drinks, went parasailing, took night swims, shopped, laughed, and just had a wonderful weekend attending all of Josh and Erin's fun wedding activities! I did make it back to Greensboro in time to spend some time with my precious family on mother's day. When I arrived in Key West there were beautiful flowers and chocolate in my room waiting to greet me (From Tony and Caroline). What a fun weekend. Congrats Erin and Josh!

Our bathroom

Due to a number of unforeseen events (a mirror crashing to the floor, tile chipping, and our linen cabinet door falling off of the hinges) we have had to hasten our master bathroom remodeling plans to the present...and WHAT A PRESENT it will be when it's finished! I have to say, it has not been the easiest process as I had quite the time finding people to do the job. I called two remodeling companies and one of the two told me that any master bathroom remodel would start (thats right I said START) at $25,000! Let me assure you that our remodeling plans have cost a fraction of that ridiculous price and it's going to look like a brand spanking new bathroom! But right now it is completely gutted...the countertops are gone, the floor is down to plywood subflooring, the shower is nothing more than a bunch of exposed pipes and 2 x 4's, the toliet has been uprooted and hauled to another room, and I couldn't be happier! Our bedroom and Caroline's nursery are both upstairs so our middle of the night bathroom trips are a long haul downstairs but will be well worth it when all of the work is complete! I'll post pics in the next week or two! I'll have some before and after shots that will put HGTV to shame! ha! And by the way, I have an excellent tile guy and electrician if anyone needs a number!