Fast Track: January - March

Yes, I have failed at blogging...again.  I am still amazed at the fact that we are more than half way through the month of March already!?!!??!?! - Yes, that is a lot of question marks and exclamation points. Yes, I am that amazed.

I have had good intentions all year long to blog...but like usual, I have found other things to occupy my time with.  It's not that I don't enjoy blogging, it's just that it requires time and energy. Both of which I seem to have little of lately.  So...let me break it down to you in the revised, shortened (much shorter) version of the last couple months.

January: It was a Happy New Year; the beginning of not one, but TWO fieldwork clinics; missing my husband; Jillian Michaels began kicking my butt (again) in her new CD, "Ripped in 30;" the Packers let me down by losing to the Giants; struggling to find a routine to my new, and crazy schedule; missing my husband some more; will this blizzard please stop kind of month.

February: It was a "love my cousins, but I can wait for kids - for, like, a long time;" Happy SuperBowl Sunday - Go Giants (even though you beat my team); 'finally got my hair done;' Happy Valentine's Day from the greatest hubby ever!; Jillian Michaels continues to kick my butt in advanced levels; I miss my husband again; evaluation - evaluation - evaluation; reports; histories; research; learning new assessments; "what my husband isn't coming home this weekend!?"; I really miss my husband; is it Spring Break yet?; I got my first speeding ticket; seriously, is it Spring Break yet?? kind of month.

March: It has been, so far a,  ahhh - Spring Break!; chatting up with friends on the beach; sun, sun, sun; oh look - there's my routine!; goodbye 10lbs; Jillian Michaels can bring it!; 80s in Michigan, in March: Yes, please!; flat tire detour; St. Patrick's Day - what?; so excited for the Hunger Games movie, yes I am a nerd; and the beginning of my Happiness Project; oh look I found my energy button! kind of month - thus far!

Any clarification? :)

 Toes in the sand...not a worry in the world...

Beachin' It! in Florida on Spring Break 12'

Happy Valentine's Day from my creative and adorable husband!

Creative Things

I am addicted to Pinterest. The end. (If you haven't checked out Pinterest yet, you must!)


I am convinced that I would love a life full of being a stay at home mom and "craft making and blogging".  (This ultimately depresses Luke and I as we have spent tens of thousands of dollars on my master's degree.)  The truth is, I'd like to think that I can do it all.  Be a stay at home mom, crafter and blogger and occupational therapist.  I mean, is that too much to ask for?  I love photography, writing, cooking, baking, sewing, scrapbooking, AND providing therapy for people.


There has to be a way for me to be able to do it all right? Maybe not.


But the point is, I'm reminded of how much I miss my crafty side. I feel that school has drained all the creativity out of my bones since I've started this master's program.  In fact, after following other blogs, I'm reminded how boring mine is.  I don't blog "pin it" worthy posts/pictures/ideas.  I just don't.  It's not that I wouldn't like to. It's just that I don't simply have the time....OR I fill that time with other things. 


I love my Wednesdays.  I have the mornings to myself.  Well...to exercise and work on homework.  But being that I got all of my homework for the week caught up (so far) I gave myself this morning to indulge in blogging and reading blogs.  I have thoroughly enjoyed it.  Made a little breakfast, drank a little coffee (ok, maybe a lot of coffee) and watched a little news (nothing of which I found to be news worthy, just depressing). These are the mornings that I think, "I could totally be a blogger/crafter for a living."

So, in leu of feeling crafty this morning, the least I can do is share my favorite blogs with you.


One of my favorite blogs for delicious recipes is How Sweet It Is - you've gotta visit it at least once (but chances are you'll be hooked after that)!  I've also stumbled upon She's (kinda) Crafty - she posts really cute ideas and encourages me to be more crafty myself.  Then there's Papervine with all the "scrapbooky" like things. Way fun! I will try to remember to share blogs with you that I come across that I find worthy of sharing.


Go out there and find your crafty side (or re-ignite) - whichever is appropriate for you!
All in all - have a great Wednesday!

One of my new favorites of Addie and I. Thought I would share. - Thanks Kellie!

2011 - Reflection

Good bye 2011, Hello 2012!

Hard to believe it's the last day of 2011 already, even though I recall saying this same phrase (just insert appropriate year) every New Year's Eve.  Yet, it is truer today as it was last year.  I find that I enjoy NYE.  I find myself reflecting on the past year and I am able to see change.  Change is good.  It's also a good time to thank God for another amazing year. 

When I think "2011" I think about a whirlwind and unexpected turns along the way.  Who would have thought that Luke and I would both be in graduate school and living in different states?  Not this girl! Yet, it is true and we are making it; fulfilling our dreams, one day at a time. 

We also celebrated our second anniversary as "Mr. &Mrs." We spent the day on the beach in South Haven soaking up the sun and watching the yachts sail in and out of the harbor.  Being close to Lake Michigan has been glorious - this girl loves the water!

2011 also brought the exciting and challenging opportunity for Luke as he has began his first semester of graduate school in Findlay, Ohio in August. 

I cannot recall much more exciting news for 2011 as (in my mind) it has been full of schooling, work and more schooling.  It has gone by very fast, and has been very full of studying, papers, clinicals, exams and practicals; for both of us. 

I am thoroughly excited for 2012. We are preparing for another quick paced year, but a year full of more transitions.  I will be finishing up my coursework at WMU in Kalamazoo and then transition into fieldwork full time (July - December).  We will also be planning on moving in the spring again and transition to not only a new home, but a new state as well.  (Yes, we will officially become residents of the Buckeye state).  I will also transition from being a graduate student in the classroom to a graduate of graduate school and working as a professional in the field of occupational therapy. 

Prospectively, this seems like a lot already planned for 2012.  I cannot wait to see what God has in store for us.

From our home to yours - Happy New Year! May you take time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the new!

~The Butters'

A Merry Christmas Weekend

Christmas has come and gone and now we are awaiting the arrival of 2012! 

Our many many Christmas' were wonderful! Luke got home on the 16th of December (after having been gone since Thanksgiving Break) and we hit the ground running with Christmas Parties beginning on the 17th.  I have definitely fallen behind on blogging about our family Christmas' AND taking pictures...oops.  This is the first week since Luke has been home that we're able to take time and just relax.  I feel like I've forgotten the meaning of relaxing lately...life does that to you doesn't it? 

Either way, the 17th was Christmas with the Butters and we had a great time! It's not very often that all the Butters Boys get together with all of us wives and the two grandchildren.  It was an enjoyable day followed by another amazing day.

On Sunday, we were honored to be apart of our God Daughter's dedication at church.  Followed by lunch with great friends.  It is so easy to see that this little girl is a blessing to many!  - Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of this either...shame shame shame.  What was I thinking?? (Oh, right, that I'd rather be holding this precious little angel instead of taking pictures.) :)

In between a few hours at work and last minute Christmas shopping, my best friend (who will be moving to Florida shortly) was able to make a little visit before Christmas.  When the two of us get together, you can bet there is going to be laughter and good times!

The rest of the week left some room for Luke and I to celebrate our own Christmas together before we hit the road to celebrate Christmas with my side of the family; with 3 different sub-family celebrations!

Friday, my grandmother was discharged from the rehab center to home - where we also celebrated Christmas with my mom's side of the family there - The Gafkjen's.  We all brought a pizza.  Yup, we had pizza for Christmas.  Unconventional - yes.  Delicious - yes.  Brilliant Idea - yes! Zero preparation and almost nothing to clean up except a few pizza boxes!  It made the most sense to do this with my grandma's transition back home.  This Christmas too, was a great party.  Lots of visiting, chatting and reminiscing. 

Saturday, after spending the entire morning going into town and gathering some last minute items and things for my grandmother, Luke and I spent some time with my grandmother at her house - as the transition process back home requires a few days and help from family.  By mid-afternoon, we were baking again and getting ready for Christmas with my immediate family before heading over to my Aunt and Uncle's place for Christmas with my Dad's side of the family - The Bregg's.  By the end of Saturday night - we were ready to crash.  But - I had to at least attempt to watch the Grinch before heading to bed...as I've adopted this tradition for myself.  I think Evan, Luke and I lasted about 15 minutes into the movie.  (Poor sister had to be to work by 6am the next day and went right to bed). 

Christmas Day - Santa brought stockings for all of us kids: Danielle, Evan, Luke and myself. (My parents family is quickly growing and Dad is finally getting boys!) Then Mom made her Christmas tradition breakfast; but only myself, Luke, Mom and Dad were there to eat it.

The rest of the day, Mom and I were at Grandma's house helping her move furniture around and 'modifying' her home as best as possible (my OT skills have definitely been put to practice the last few weeks and it's amazing how things have started to come natural to me).  Other than that, Christmas Day was pretty low key.  Luke and I went over to the Todd's to watch the Packers beat the Bears (GO PACK GO)!

All in all, it was a great Christmas weekend - full of lots of different activities.  Monday, we all got together and built a ramp for Grandma for accessibility. In the process of the craziness of the last five days, I acquired a cold and ran a small fever last night.  But I am feeling rested and much better this morning.

Whew...that was exhausting just writing about it all!
Regardless of the craziness and stress that the Holidays can bring sometimes, we hope ya'll had a memorable and joyous Christmas.  As Luke likes to remind me; we have family to visit and much to be thankful for! 

Merry 'Late' Christmas and if rest and relaxation were not available to you and yours this past weekend, may you be able to get a little 'R &R' this week as you gear up for the New Year. 

I have a feeling that 2012 is going to be another great year!

~The Butters'
(and sorry for not posting any pictures...I failed at taking pictures this year.)

"The Most Frantic Time of the Year!"

We received our first two Christmas cards in the mail today.  This makes me go into a small panic; "Ahh, I still have to do our Christmas cards!"

Bare with me as I turn that classic Christmas tune from, "The most wonderful time of the year..." into "The most frantic time of the year!"

My goal was to work on the cards over Thanksgiving break so that I could mail them out the first week of December (knowing I would be busy as the month progressed).  It seems I have overshot that goal.  I am still working on them.  It has been hard finding time to work on them when I have been occupied with studying for my final exam and final projects.  We did, however, get the Christmas Tree and decorations set up the day before Thanksgiving (I knew we would be too busy traveling over break to put it up any other time).  It was also important to me that Luke and I did this together.  He has yet to come home since Thanksgiving break; his finals are far more intense than mine and has been occupied in Findlay, OH since. 

I am [he is too] anticipating his homecoming on the 16th of this month (only 9 more days!)

In addition to the normal Christmas panic (yes, Christmas shopping - the little bit we have to do, wrapping, cards and baking still remains!), my grandmother fell last week and I spent the entire weekend at the hospital with her.  Talk about physically and emotionally draining!  Needless to say, nothing was achieved the past weekend, other than making sure my grandmother was taken good care of.  She has since then been transferred to a rehab center where my sister and cousin both work as CNAs.  We are praying she makes a speedy recovery.

In the midst of all the things I have yet to cross off my "To Do List" - I still managed to make time to blog.  Blog - Check! (at least I achieved one thing on this list today!)

I am preparing for my last two classes of the semester this week and then tying up loose ends next week. It is hard to believe that another semester has flown by!

 Despite all things; we're making it! One day at a time!

My desk - It seems to have been taken over by notes and papers!

The Butters' tradition of picking out a new ornament every year: This year we chose one that said "Celebrate 2011"  - as we have much to celebrate and be thankful for this year!

Our 2011 Christmas Tree

Before Luke left for Ohio, he surprised me with this beautiful Poinsettia.

Thankful for Relationships: Near and Far

My 5 week "Writer's Block" has ended. Let's call it a sabbatical, if you will. Time that I took to get some things figured out.  It was impossible for me to blog about life when I was frustrated and confused by most of what I was dealing with at the time; so I needed to take a break.
The last 5 months have been eye-opening, in a weird, unplanned, kind of way.

Being in a town without your family, your closest friends and your BEST [Luke] friend is much harder than what I thought it would be.  For as long as I could remember, I wanted to "go-away" and experience life by myself. I was taking nobody with me, but my dog.  I could do it and I didn't need anybody; that's what I made myself believe.  Little did I know that it was going to take a Divine intervention to show me that I did, in fact, need people in my life. - Go figure! ;)

After all, how do you know you don't need people when you're blessed to have them there all along?

This embedded idea of not needing people in my life only caused a constant battle in some of my relationships.  Some of my closest, most important, relationships.  I prayed that this conflict within myself would go away.

Be careful what you pray for...

This is where the Divine intervention comes in. God opened a door and closed many others.  I found myself in a situation where I was all by myself.  In the last 5 weeks I have hesitantly come to the conclusion that I need these relationships in my life and do not enjoy being away from them. Not one bit.  Being alone was tearing me apart on the inside.
Yet, I had to find a compromise.

You see, dependence can be just as detrimental as independence if there is not a happy medium. (This too was part of my 5 week sabbatical learning process).

I came to realize that God blessed us with relationships because we need people to help bear the weight of this world. To lift us up. To give us a purpose. We are not designed to be alone. Yet (key word here) - He created us to be strong and enduring so that we could bear the weight of the world on our own when called to.

God showed me three things in the past 5 weeks.  (Well, it was more like the last 2 weeks because it took me a few weeks to figure it out what I needed to focus on). 

1.) I need relationships in my life. I need to feel close to the people I love and care about.  2.) But I am strong enough to endure this time alone right now.  Satan will try to tell me I am not, but God tells me different.  3.) He tells me I am never alone.

Ahh...the revelation of finding peace in being alone, but alone WITH God.

I could go on here...but I won't.  I will let you fill in the rest with your own thoughts and ideas about this. May you find peace, fullness and meaning in your relationships, together and apart.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I know I am very thankful for the time I got to spend with loved ones this weekend, for time with my husband, and for God's grace and mercy.

Writer's Block

Again, I have found myself lacking on the blogging...  My desire to write comes in spurts.  Sometimes I find myself full of ideas to write about, other times I find myself lacking any sort of creative cell in my body.

Today is one of those days.  I'm blogging because I have let too much time go by without blogging, but I'm struggling to find a good subject to write about it.  I have many hobbies, many ideas about many subjects...yet when it comes to writing in this blog, I draw a complete blank.  How is that so?  It does not make any sort of sense.  I think my problem is I'm afraid that I will bore my readers with my random thoughts, ambitions and life events. 

So, this is my blog tonight.  Short and pointless. This is what us writer's call, "writer's block."