One More Reason...

...to love Grad School.  I'm allowed to bring my coffee with me inside the library.

Jealous?

If you're actually making money during your day instead of paying out, I wouldn't be terribly jealous.  On the other hand...there are certain "perks" to be a student at times! (sorry, it made me chuckle...!)

What a Week

This is me reading a book I want to cite in my big hairy paper due THURSDAY!  Also this week will be a small paper due on Wednesday, possible presentation Wednesday (might get pushed to next Wednesday (please oh please sweet Jesus)), and a horribly hairy Theo IV test.  There is of course regular class work that hasn't gone away either-gulp!  I'll get to that maybe Friday morning, but there are plenty of goodies due next week too.  Is this like mid-term time?  It might be...

Please hurry, Easter Break.  I want you.

Drum Roll Please!

Okay everyone, it is now Wednesday night.  And from the above pictures, I'm sure you've guessed what's happened (if you've been following my blog...).  Yes, that's right-it's "Open-Your-Small-Group-Care-Package-Night"!!!

My delightful box of goodies has kept me occupied for about the last 45 minutes.  I've shaken things, tasted things, read things, laughed at things, and nearly teared up over it all.  Leave it to my favorite Small Group Women, my very best friends, to make sure that I am cared for and feel loved.  And beyond my Small Group, I know a couple other special people contributed to the box, so a special thanks goes to Rene, Jeremy, and BobCat too!  (I find myself grateful Bob didn't feel the need to express his love with a mouse foot or hairball...)

I have a smile on face tonight-my Wednesday Night Blues are nowhere to be found.  Stresses about classes, missing friends and "home", worrying about papers and tests, exhaustion from being in the same classroom for over six hours straight...  None of those are with me tonight, but instead I have the encouraging words of those that love me to close out my day.

Thank you, my sweet, sweet friends.  Thank you for standing by me, even when I'm busy.  Thank you for listening to my woes and worries.  Thank you for supporting me as I pursue career track number two.  Thank you for encouraging me as I follow God's will.  Thank you for your optimism.  Most importantly, thank you for being the friends that I can tuck in my heart and love as myself.  You four are precious to me, and I treasure you dearly.  

Self Injury

I have a class where I am doing a paper, a presentation, and developing a short teaching series on the topic of Self Injury.  I'm just doing a little informal research and have a couple polls on the right hand side-please vote.  

I am also interested in hearing any stories you may wish to share.  I would like to hear about:

-Any relationship you've had with someone who self injures

If you Self Injure, or have in the past, please tell me:

-History of abuse, if any

-Any addictions concurrent to, prior to, or after Self Injury

-What your relationships looked like with your friends, family, God

-Any other disorders that were present (PTSD, Depression, Bi-Polar, Schizophrenia, Borderline Personality, etc)

-Age of onset and length of duration

-Did you dissociate?

-Were you suicidal or develop suicidal ideations?

-Description of how you felt immediately prior injuring, during the act, and afterward

-Was it methodical and planned, or spontaneous?

-Frequency of injuring

-What kept you coming back to Self Injury?

-How long has it been since you've last injured yourself?

-How often do you have the desire to harm yourself?

-What were some of the reasons you quit, if you have?

-What would you like people to know about Self Injury?

For people interested in responding, please don't let that list of questions scare you away-don't feel like you need to answer everyone of them or that they need to be long answers.  Please make your comments post as anonymous if you answer any of the questions.

Thank you for your input!

Timmery

What's Going On Here?

Sunday after church, in the process of loaning me her umbrella, Sarah turned to me and said:

"So I have a package for you.  You going to be around tomorrow?  Around lunch time?"

Package?!  For me?!  My first response was "is it like an Easter thing, or...?"  She said it wasn't, but didn't fill in any of my blanks.  

So I made myself available around noon Monday afternoon and Sarah called to ask if she could bring over the package.  I have to say, it all seems a little mysterious to me, but a fun mysterious.

Sarah brought me the above package-a brown paper wrapped box with a red ribbon and a tag that is signed by Lissa, Nadia, Tiffany, and Sarah with the words "Because we love you!" written on it.  How great is that?  

Oh, it gets better.  Sarah gave me the instructions that I was NOT to open it until Wednesday night.  (I did, however, give it a good shake!)  Apparently, a few weeks ago I mentioned how Wednesday nights are probably the hardest night of the week for me.  I'm away from home, just sat through two days of classes (and Wednesday classes are a little wretched sometimes), and I tend to have Theology class worries, and homework seems impossible-basically I'm a mess.  I call it "The Wednesday Night Blues."  Leave it to my small group to remember this and send a care package with me this week!  

I wonder what's in it?

Stay tuned-tomorrow night I can open it!