:: i have been praying about and working towards law school for the fall.
:: i was accepted into florida coastal, but it is SUPER EXPENSIVE.
:: my housing option that would make that somewhat affordable has fallen through.
:: i have been put on a wait list for fsu, and will find out if i am in anywhere from monday to august 24 (5 days before classes start!)
:: i have to put a nonrefundable $400 deposit for my spot at florida coastal down by june 15.
so there you go. i am trying not to freak out, but not doing a very good job at it. would you mind praying for me? i am feeling the need for clarity, wisdom, and peace, and finding those things very hard to find.
BLARG.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
2011 Fruit of the Summer!
If you happened to be lucky enough to attend this year's Fruit of the Summer Reveal Celebration, you enjoyed your first taste of what promises to be a delicious season- the Summer of the Peach! Peach Bellini's were a great way to kick it off. (For those who would like to re-live the moment, you too can enjoy Peach Bellini's simply by mixing champagne and Peach nectar. Thanks, Judith!)
The whole point of picking a Fruit of the Summer is to enjoy and learn how to integrate the particular fruit into your life. So be sure to try a few new recipes, and use it as a great excuse to spend more time with friends. Please, if you come across something great, do share! I will be trying out new dishes and posting them on the blog, so stay tuned. In the meantime, I have been enjoying Chobani Peach Greek Yogurt that I picked up at Publix before leaving St. Augustine (Sadly, the closest Publix to me is Chattanooga, which is 2.5 hours away). If you have never tried Greek Yogurt, pick some up. IT IS AMAZING. Not as sweet, quite a bit thicker, and containing WAY more protein than regular yogurt, Greek Yogurt has become my breakfast staple. I can barely eat the regular kind now! I like to mix in a little Bare Naked granola for some crunch. :)
How have you been enjoying the peach?
The whole point of picking a Fruit of the Summer is to enjoy and learn how to integrate the particular fruit into your life. So be sure to try a few new recipes, and use it as a great excuse to spend more time with friends. Please, if you come across something great, do share! I will be trying out new dishes and posting them on the blog, so stay tuned. In the meantime, I have been enjoying Chobani Peach Greek Yogurt that I picked up at Publix before leaving St. Augustine (Sadly, the closest Publix to me is Chattanooga, which is 2.5 hours away). If you have never tried Greek Yogurt, pick some up. IT IS AMAZING. Not as sweet, quite a bit thicker, and containing WAY more protein than regular yogurt, Greek Yogurt has become my breakfast staple. I can barely eat the regular kind now! I like to mix in a little Bare Naked granola for some crunch. :)
How have you been enjoying the peach?
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Good News!
I have been accepted to law school! I have been applying to schools all over the place, and have been anxiously awaiting word. I didn't get in to a couple of places, but it was ok because they were random schools that I applied to just because there were no fees.
Honestly, even though I wasn't sad about these particular schools, I kind of started freaking out. What if I didn't get in anywhere? I had no Plan B. I just knew that I couldn't stay here another year, both because I didn't want to lose my Florida state residency and because working 7 days a week and not having a church community is KILLING me.
A couple of weeks ago I decided to apply to Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville. I hadn't really thought about it because they do not have the dual degree programs that I want. I ultimately decided to because the first year at the state schools I looked at I would just take law courses anyway, and it is easier to transfer into state programs than to get in initially. I figured it would be a good "insurance" policy, if I got in, that is.
Well, I did! And I was offered a substantial scholarship as well. I am still waiting to hear from FSU, but at least I know now that even if FSU turns me down for this year, I have a spot in law school! And better yet, it is a law school very close to many of my favorite people!
I am really excited, but also really overwhelmed. I am about to commit to a path that is, frankly, pretty scary. But I definitely feel called to this, and am eager to begin.
Meanwhile, I will be in St. Augustine next weekend! I arrive late Thursday night and will leave Monday morning. Yay! I CANNOT WAIT to hug every one of those Sivyers (even you, Steve!) and to worship with my Coquina family. Rumor has it that Judith is planning a soiree, and the 2011 Fruit of the Summer just may be revealed...
Honestly, even though I wasn't sad about these particular schools, I kind of started freaking out. What if I didn't get in anywhere? I had no Plan B. I just knew that I couldn't stay here another year, both because I didn't want to lose my Florida state residency and because working 7 days a week and not having a church community is KILLING me.
A couple of weeks ago I decided to apply to Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville. I hadn't really thought about it because they do not have the dual degree programs that I want. I ultimately decided to because the first year at the state schools I looked at I would just take law courses anyway, and it is easier to transfer into state programs than to get in initially. I figured it would be a good "insurance" policy, if I got in, that is.
Well, I did! And I was offered a substantial scholarship as well. I am still waiting to hear from FSU, but at least I know now that even if FSU turns me down for this year, I have a spot in law school! And better yet, it is a law school very close to many of my favorite people!
I am really excited, but also really overwhelmed. I am about to commit to a path that is, frankly, pretty scary. But I definitely feel called to this, and am eager to begin.
Meanwhile, I will be in St. Augustine next weekend! I arrive late Thursday night and will leave Monday morning. Yay! I CANNOT WAIT to hug every one of those Sivyers (even you, Steve!) and to worship with my Coquina family. Rumor has it that Judith is planning a soiree, and the 2011 Fruit of the Summer just may be revealed...
Thursday, April 7, 2011
My burst of creativity for the year
So, we all know that I am not very artistic. I tend to be the idea person, and I surround myself with people who can actually make it happen. There is just some disconnect between my head and my hands, much to my dismay. So when something I have an idea about actually come to fruition by my own efforts, I get pretty excited about it. Thus, I present to you: MY BULLETIN BOARD.
This is even more funny than usual because one of my biggest fears about the year I taught third grade was having to put up bulletin boards! Luckily, I had the amazing Brittany and Emily to help me out then, but here at the Boys and Girls Club, I am on my own. We meet in a church, so what I do to the walls is a bit limited. I only have one small actual bulletin board that is attached to the wall with hooks, so I have created a couple of "fake" ones, just the paper attached to the wall with tape. The illusion is remarkable. ;)
I had one giant wall that was screaming for something, but I just couldn't figure out what. The staff and I had training in Knoxville last month at a club, and one of the rooms had a couple of clocks on the wall showing what time it is in other major cities, and I thought, "Hey, I could do that even better!" So here is what I came up with:
I know it is a bit blurry, but you can see the idea. I put up two maps, one U.S. and one World, and then lined the clocks along the top. I have to say, I am pretty proud of my title:
:)
The times I have are L.A., Chicago, New York, London, Baghdad, Beijing, and Sydney. When the kids first came in and saw it, their minds were totally blown. "What do you mean it is night in China? That is ridiculous!" said one first grader.
So there you go. My artistic zenith for the year.
Meanwhile, I sent of my first completed application to George Mason University in Arlington last week. Eeep!
And yes, the ticking clocks do DRIVE ME CRAZY. When I am in here alone working, I have to crank music up so I don't hear them. :)
This is even more funny than usual because one of my biggest fears about the year I taught third grade was having to put up bulletin boards! Luckily, I had the amazing Brittany and Emily to help me out then, but here at the Boys and Girls Club, I am on my own. We meet in a church, so what I do to the walls is a bit limited. I only have one small actual bulletin board that is attached to the wall with hooks, so I have created a couple of "fake" ones, just the paper attached to the wall with tape. The illusion is remarkable. ;)
I had one giant wall that was screaming for something, but I just couldn't figure out what. The staff and I had training in Knoxville last month at a club, and one of the rooms had a couple of clocks on the wall showing what time it is in other major cities, and I thought, "Hey, I could do that even better!" So here is what I came up with:
I know it is a bit blurry, but you can see the idea. I put up two maps, one U.S. and one World, and then lined the clocks along the top. I have to say, I am pretty proud of my title:
:)
The times I have are L.A., Chicago, New York, London, Baghdad, Beijing, and Sydney. When the kids first came in and saw it, their minds were totally blown. "What do you mean it is night in China? That is ridiculous!" said one first grader.
So there you go. My artistic zenith for the year.
Meanwhile, I sent of my first completed application to George Mason University in Arlington last week. Eeep!
And yes, the ticking clocks do DRIVE ME CRAZY. When I am in here alone working, I have to crank music up so I don't hear them. :)
Friday, March 11, 2011
I am a big 'ol nerd.
And I am ok with it.
One of the ways my nerdiness manifests itself is through listening to podcasts. And I listen to a LOT of podcasts. I love it! I've got some British humor (The Bugle and The Ricky Gervais Podcast), some politics (NPR: It's All Politics and Meet the Press), some economics (Freakonomics and NPR: Planet Money), some culture (Relevant Podcast and NPR: All Songs Considered), some religion (Tony Campolo Podcast and On Being with Krista Tippett [Relevant fits here too]), and even some general miscellany (Stuff You Should Know, This American Life, WNYC's Radiolab, and The Moth). I even listen to debates (Intelligence Squared UK and Intelligence Squared US)! And they are all amazing!
(Before you worry that I spend all of my time glued to my iPod, I pick and choose episodes of a few of these. I do have a life. Unfortunately.)
So today I was listening to On Being with Krista Tippett (formerly Speaking of Faith, for all of my fellow NPR nerds out there) and she was conducting an interview with Civil Rights leader Dr. Vincent Harding. The title of the show was "Civility, History, and Hope", which immediately intrigued me because this is something that I have been really concerned about in this current political climate. It is really sad to me to see people who claim to be followers of Christ who are so vitriolic and spew such hatred for our elected leaders. I get not being happy with what is happening. I get wanting someone to not hold an office. I get even passionately opposing someone's views. But what I do not get is the rage and the personal attacks against individuals, specifically the President. I am living at the moment in a bastion of conservatism, so I hear a lot of flat out crazy and mean things. Stuff I would never ever allow a kid in my classroom to say about another kid, so why should we be saying it about the President? Last time I read through the red letters in the Bible, Jesus never bashed the authorities (who he KNEW WERE GOING TO KILL HIM) or compared anyone to Hitler. If you are so mad about it, pray pray pray for him, not just at him. It is amazing how God softens your heart when you pray for someone.
Wow, did not mean to go on a rant there. Sorry!
Anyway, this episode was great. If you have some free time, or need something to listen to while you drive, this is a worthy download. Dr. Harding talks a lot about the importance of story and encouraging youth to seek out the wisdom of elders, all in the goal of creating the "beloved community" that Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke so often of. You can get it on iTunes, or at http://being.publicradio.org/programs/2011/civility-history-hope/ . There were a couple of specific things that really stood out to me:
:: We are absolutely amateurs at this matter of building a democratic nation made up of many, many peoples, of many kinds, from many connections and convictions and from many experiences. And to know how, after all the pain that we have caused each other, to carry on democratic conversation that in a sense invites us to hear each other's best arguments and best contributions so that we can then figure out how do we put these things together to create a more perfect union.
:: [On comparing the political climate of the 1960's and today] My sense is that, in the '60s, there was probably a larger kind of canopy of hope that we could see and we could identify and that people could name and focus on. Now we are in particular spots, locations, sometimes seemingly isolated, but I feel that there are points, focal situations, where that is still available and where people are operating from that.
So I think that it is not simply the matter of hope or no hope. I have a feeling that one of the deeper transformations that's going on now is that for the white community of America, there is this uncertainty growing about its own role, its own control, its own capacity to name the realities, that it has moved into a realm of uncertainty that it did not allow itself to face before.
And I think that that's the place that we are in and that's even more the reason why we've got to figure out what was King talking about when he was seeing the possibility of a beloved community and recognized that maybe for some of us that cannot come until some of us realize that we must give up what we thought was only ours in the building of a beloved nation. Can there be a beloved nation? Why don't we try and see?
Mmmm. Especially that last paragraph. "We must give up what we thought was only ours in the building of a beloved nation."
This struck me as being about so much more than race, and so much more than just a renewing of civility in America. This is Kingdom work. I am encouraged to know many Christians who are doing this with their lives, and hope and pray pray pray that more will join.
(This post serves both as a pondering point and as a recommendation for several new podcasts. Happy listening!)
One of the ways my nerdiness manifests itself is through listening to podcasts. And I listen to a LOT of podcasts. I love it! I've got some British humor (The Bugle and The Ricky Gervais Podcast), some politics (NPR: It's All Politics and Meet the Press), some economics (Freakonomics and NPR: Planet Money), some culture (Relevant Podcast and NPR: All Songs Considered), some religion (Tony Campolo Podcast and On Being with Krista Tippett [Relevant fits here too]), and even some general miscellany (Stuff You Should Know, This American Life, WNYC's Radiolab, and The Moth). I even listen to debates (Intelligence Squared UK and Intelligence Squared US)! And they are all amazing!
(Before you worry that I spend all of my time glued to my iPod, I pick and choose episodes of a few of these. I do have a life. Unfortunately.)
So today I was listening to On Being with Krista Tippett (formerly Speaking of Faith, for all of my fellow NPR nerds out there) and she was conducting an interview with Civil Rights leader Dr. Vincent Harding. The title of the show was "Civility, History, and Hope", which immediately intrigued me because this is something that I have been really concerned about in this current political climate. It is really sad to me to see people who claim to be followers of Christ who are so vitriolic and spew such hatred for our elected leaders. I get not being happy with what is happening. I get wanting someone to not hold an office. I get even passionately opposing someone's views. But what I do not get is the rage and the personal attacks against individuals, specifically the President. I am living at the moment in a bastion of conservatism, so I hear a lot of flat out crazy and mean things. Stuff I would never ever allow a kid in my classroom to say about another kid, so why should we be saying it about the President? Last time I read through the red letters in the Bible, Jesus never bashed the authorities (who he KNEW WERE GOING TO KILL HIM) or compared anyone to Hitler. If you are so mad about it, pray pray pray for him, not just at him. It is amazing how God softens your heart when you pray for someone.
Wow, did not mean to go on a rant there. Sorry!
Anyway, this episode was great. If you have some free time, or need something to listen to while you drive, this is a worthy download. Dr. Harding talks a lot about the importance of story and encouraging youth to seek out the wisdom of elders, all in the goal of creating the "beloved community" that Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke so often of. You can get it on iTunes, or at http://being.publicradio.org/programs/2011/civility-history-hope/ . There were a couple of specific things that really stood out to me:
:: We are absolutely amateurs at this matter of building a democratic nation made up of many, many peoples, of many kinds, from many connections and convictions and from many experiences. And to know how, after all the pain that we have caused each other, to carry on democratic conversation that in a sense invites us to hear each other's best arguments and best contributions so that we can then figure out how do we put these things together to create a more perfect union.
:: [On comparing the political climate of the 1960's and today] My sense is that, in the '60s, there was probably a larger kind of canopy of hope that we could see and we could identify and that people could name and focus on. Now we are in particular spots, locations, sometimes seemingly isolated, but I feel that there are points, focal situations, where that is still available and where people are operating from that.
So I think that it is not simply the matter of hope or no hope. I have a feeling that one of the deeper transformations that's going on now is that for the white community of America, there is this uncertainty growing about its own role, its own control, its own capacity to name the realities, that it has moved into a realm of uncertainty that it did not allow itself to face before.
And I think that that's the place that we are in and that's even more the reason why we've got to figure out what was King talking about when he was seeing the possibility of a beloved community and recognized that maybe for some of us that cannot come until some of us realize that we must give up what we thought was only ours in the building of a beloved nation. Can there be a beloved nation? Why don't we try and see?
Mmmm. Especially that last paragraph. "We must give up what we thought was only ours in the building of a beloved nation."
This struck me as being about so much more than race, and so much more than just a renewing of civility in America. This is Kingdom work. I am encouraged to know many Christians who are doing this with their lives, and hope and pray pray pray that more will join.
(This post serves both as a pondering point and as a recommendation for several new podcasts. Happy listening!)
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Drum Roll Please...
So... I got my score! I got a 158, which for this test was in the 75th percentile. I am not terribly pleased, but I am not terribly upset either. Let me break it down:
Good: The 75th percentile is the cut-off for a lot of scholarships, and it certainly is not a shabby score. I have already received emails from several schools who think I may be a good fit with my score, my GPA, and my demographic info. So that's good. Also, a 158 means that at FSU, I won't have to take the GRE, which is HUGE. And for someone who has been out of school for 4 years and hasn't taken a standardized test in longer than that, not too shabby.
Bad: This score doesn't really set me apart from others. I was really hoping to break 160. I probably won't get into UF with this score, which is the school closest to St. Augustine. :(
So, a mixed bag. More good than bad though, so I am ok with it. Now I am working on my essays and finishing up my applications. More to come later...
Good: The 75th percentile is the cut-off for a lot of scholarships, and it certainly is not a shabby score. I have already received emails from several schools who think I may be a good fit with my score, my GPA, and my demographic info. So that's good. Also, a 158 means that at FSU, I won't have to take the GRE, which is HUGE. And for someone who has been out of school for 4 years and hasn't taken a standardized test in longer than that, not too shabby.
Bad: This score doesn't really set me apart from others. I was really hoping to break 160. I probably won't get into UF with this score, which is the school closest to St. Augustine. :(
So, a mixed bag. More good than bad though, so I am ok with it. Now I am working on my essays and finishing up my applications. More to come later...
Thursday, March 3, 2011
*Sniff, sniff*
So, I am sick. Is anyone surprised? I didn't go to work today, since supervising kids is pretty much the worst thing to do when one isn't feeling 100%. My Mom is also feeling under the weather, more so than me- she was diagnosed with bronchitis this morning. Dad is in Memphis working, so she and I are taking the opportunity to be lazy and mopey. It is pretty nice.
Things have been pretty busy at both of my jobs lately. I have been averaging 45 kids in my room daily for homework at Club, so my classroom management skills have been exercised thoroughly! Friday and Saturday we have all day training in Knoxville with Clubs from Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina, so hopefully I will pick up some good tips. I really really love the staff I work with. They have been so thoughtful and willing to jump in wherever needed. This is a HUGE BLESSING. I was actually thinking the other day about how I am living what I thought was my "worst case scenario" after coming back from Haiti, and it really could be way way worse.
Bath and Body Works is. I mean, again, it could be way worse, but I am looking forward to being done with it. It's retail, and I am just not a fan. Again, I work with some pretty great girls there as well, so that makes it easier.
As a little plug, the new candles are AMAZING. Way better than Yankee Candles! My new favorite is the Caribbean Salsa:
What a good little corporate shill I am. :)
I get my LSAT score on Monday. Yipes! I am pretty nervous about it. During the test, I thought I did pretty well, and found it easier than most of my preparation material. But of course, that could be a sign that I did really well or a sign that I totally bombed it. We will all find out on Monday. Meanwhile, I am working on finishing up my applications. I am just ready for it all to be done and decided, but I never was great at being patient.
Sad news- I thought I was going to get to come to FL for a few days in May, but I misunderstood the meaning of "The Boys and Girls Club Summer Shut-down." Apparently, that just means that we will have no kids, and that we will be working that whole week. So, just kidding. I am not sure when I will get to come, but you can bet that it will be not very long after Titus Sivyer makes his appearance. :) I am very very excited that I will get to take a couple of days off to celebrate my best buddy Kim's wedding in May, but she has not gotten the memo that she should live in Florida, so the blessed event will take me to Mississippi.
I guess that's all. This isn't very eloquently worded or exciting, but I did want to give a little update. Let me just say that I LOVE HEARING FROM PEOPLE.
HINT, HINT.
*Sniff*
Things have been pretty busy at both of my jobs lately. I have been averaging 45 kids in my room daily for homework at Club, so my classroom management skills have been exercised thoroughly! Friday and Saturday we have all day training in Knoxville with Clubs from Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina, so hopefully I will pick up some good tips. I really really love the staff I work with. They have been so thoughtful and willing to jump in wherever needed. This is a HUGE BLESSING. I was actually thinking the other day about how I am living what I thought was my "worst case scenario" after coming back from Haiti, and it really could be way way worse.
Bath and Body Works is. I mean, again, it could be way worse, but I am looking forward to being done with it. It's retail, and I am just not a fan. Again, I work with some pretty great girls there as well, so that makes it easier.
As a little plug, the new candles are AMAZING. Way better than Yankee Candles! My new favorite is the Caribbean Salsa:
What a good little corporate shill I am. :)
I get my LSAT score on Monday. Yipes! I am pretty nervous about it. During the test, I thought I did pretty well, and found it easier than most of my preparation material. But of course, that could be a sign that I did really well or a sign that I totally bombed it. We will all find out on Monday. Meanwhile, I am working on finishing up my applications. I am just ready for it all to be done and decided, but I never was great at being patient.
Sad news- I thought I was going to get to come to FL for a few days in May, but I misunderstood the meaning of "The Boys and Girls Club Summer Shut-down." Apparently, that just means that we will have no kids, and that we will be working that whole week. So, just kidding. I am not sure when I will get to come, but you can bet that it will be not very long after Titus Sivyer makes his appearance. :) I am very very excited that I will get to take a couple of days off to celebrate my best buddy Kim's wedding in May, but she has not gotten the memo that she should live in Florida, so the blessed event will take me to Mississippi.
I guess that's all. This isn't very eloquently worded or exciting, but I did want to give a little update. Let me just say that I LOVE HEARING FROM PEOPLE.
HINT, HINT.
*Sniff*
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