Shake Ur Tailfeathers...It's Thursday!

Thursday came this week with much anticipation!  Aside from work on Friday, it's my Friday to classes.  Thursday means I don't have to think (too hard) about classes or homework for a few days. 

I'm not sure what it was about this week, but classmates in my cohort felt the same way this week.  We're about half way through the semester already and we're at the point in the semester where we need a break - desperately!  However, no break until Thanksgiving.

I'm caught up in a dilemma.  One that I have to be careful in how I wrap my head around, so as not to turn a positive thing into an unhealthy thing.  This is where I would like some of your input and advice.

I'm wanting to lose weight - dun dun dun.... Maybe not so much lose weight as get back into a workout routine which has completely fallen to the wayside with school and work.

I realize that this is not necessarily "positive body image" talk, but it's the truth.  However, I DO want to achieve this in a healthy manner.  My problem is not necessarily motivation, but my full schedule.  By 8pm, I'm not really feeling motivated to workout.  Mornings are a little bit more flexible but often dark out still. (Also with the pending cold weather coming, running outside will not be an option).

I would like a treadmill in our apartment, but I'm not sure I can get away with that as we are on the second floor.

In the meantime, I am trying to go back on my gluten and dairy free diet.  Last time I was on this diet for medical purposes, I felt great!  I am starting to believe that my body really does respond better without those additives. 

So the basic problem is that I literally run out of time at the end of the day when classes and work are over.  Then there's always homework.  I need an hour where I can devote just to being "active".  (And not just walking up and down the stairs of the CHHS.)

Thoughts??

A Year Ago...

I cannot even fathom that October 1st is this Friday already.  My mind will just not allow me to believe it!  I feel like, a year ago, so many things were different.  I don't feel like it was a whole year ago already?? 

A year ago, Luke and I were watching the trees change from the warmth of our small and cozy apartment in Coldwater.  Today, I'm watching the trees change colors from the 2nd floor of the CHHS building at WMU. 

A year ago, I was working my tail off at the clinic, dreaming about the day I'd be working as an OT.  Today, I'm working my tail off on homework so that I can pass my boards and become an OT.

A year ago, I was about 20 pounds lighter.  Today, I'm struggling to find time to work out and trying not to stress *which is inevitably happening* because we all know what cortisol does to your body!

As I write this, I think...I should be doing something productive right now! But the truth is, I need this time.  I need to be able to blog, vent and reflect.  I need this time to focus on "me" for a change of pace, regroup and relax. 

I feel incredibly blessed to be where we are, just one year later.  There are clearly some areas that need to be improved.  Then there are those things that I feel that I'm achieving just fine.  Regardless, it is the end of September and we are celebrating Harvest Season.  This is my favorite time of the year.  I'm just amazed at how fast it got here again. 

I guess I better get going...much to do. :)

Week 3 = Exhaustion

It's only Tuesday and I feel like the week is unending.  Although, I have a big test on Thursday and I'm not quite ready for Thursday to be here yet - I just feel like it should be already.  There has been no real particular reason either.  Things have been going pretty good this week - just learning to retain a TON of information.  Maybe that's the problem.  Maybe I feel like I have a whole week of new information in my head already and it's only Tuesday. I bet that's it...

Luke, on the other hand, has had a rough couple of weeks.  Yes, last week was rough for both of us, but it ended well for me and Luke ended up really sick.  He has been pushing himself so much lately.  I feel somewhat guilty...I leave after him and get home before him.  Between work and classes, he spends about 12 hours a week at home (not sleeping and sleep only accounts for about 35 hours a week).  Work has been incredibly difficult lately for him, as the job of a manager can be somewhat of a challenge.  School has been a challenge as well, Chemistry and Physics.  Needless to say, Luke is burning both ends of the candle. 

As one can tell, managing life, grad school, work and more school - it's been a challenge and we will BOTH be happy when this season is over.  In the meantime, we're gonna keep pressing onward and ask for your prayers.

Have a blessed rest of the week!

~The Butters'

Faithfulness

I feel like I finally have time to sit and blog...although not much exciting happened this week.
Luke and I have been crazy busy with school and work - and I don't foresee that ending until we are both done with school.

So instead of boring you with the reality of my life right now with the daily details, I decided I would blog about God's faithfulness this week.

The week has been physically, emotionally and spiritually draining.  I think the majority of it had to do with the fact that I was not feeling well in the beginning of the week and not sleeping.  No sleep always equates to more stress.  I have been spiritually frustrated this week; asking God to take the pain away, to allow sleep and calm my nerves.  All these things I know God is capable of doing, however, I did not feel any relief or peace for that matter.  It was not until Tuesday night did I recognize what God was doing...

He was teaching me a lesson (I feel like I could sometimes live without the weekly lessons from God as they always cause stress in the beginning).  Anyway - a verse popped into my head on the way home from the doctor's on Tuesday; it was the verse about how Jesus knows our pain, everything we feel He has felt too.  So I replied, "Ok Jesus, you feel my pain.  You know how this is affecting me emotionally, physically, with school, work, etc.  I also know you're capable of taking it away.  I know you will heal me.  Please help me to be patient with Your will."

Then I really, truly had to believe that!  It's hard - but I'm dealing with it.  God also provided peace for me Tuesday night from my wonderful neighbor Cindy.  Moving from stable spiritual supporters and being thrown into the middle of the "big city" as my mother-in-law calls it, God has provided a friend in Christ right next door.  She is such a blessing and encouragement.  While Luke is a wonderful support and encourager, sometimes us girls just need our girls. ;)

Come Wednesday - it was not easier, but God was still faithful.  I had to hand over my struggles back over to God and He took them and said, "I will make this so much easier for you - but you have to have faith."  I was feeling so overwhelmed and as if I didn't know if I was the right fit for my program and everything else I am trying to accomplish.  - Wait, it gets better...

This morning; I was getting ready to leave for class and I felt this tug on my heart that sounded like this, "Please, give me five minutes this morning.  I have wonderful news for you. Five minutes before you leave, please."  So I went back into the bedroom, grabbed my devotional and opened it up for today and started reading scripture;

"For we have become fellows with Christ and share in all He has for us, if only we hold our first newborn confidence and original assured expectation firm and unshaken to the end." Hebrews 3:14

Well, I don't know how He could make it any clearer.  "Really God? Okay, I will obey and finish what I have started, what You have blessed me with in ability and opportunity.  I will carry out these next two years to glorify You so that I may glorify You in the years to come in this profession You have called me to."

I am so thankful I listened to God this morning and read that devotional.  I needed it to have successful day and stress free day.  I know I can always go back to this as well when things get hard.  He has begun a good work in me to glorify Him.  There is now NO doubt that this is His will for my life right now. 

He didn't promise us it would be easy, but He did promise us He would carry our burdens and see us through if we allow Him to.

I have found my peace I've been searching for this week. :)

Life as a Grad Student: Week 1

My first week of grad school is officially over with. It went very well. I did, however, find that by Thursday night I was EXHAUSTED! Friday, I didn’t have class, but we met with an insurance guy (we officially our under health insurance now!) and then I had work the rest of the day. As I got home from work at 5:30, I said to myself, “Whew, what a week. This is gonna take me some time to get reacquainted with classes and work again.” Then I realized it wasn’t even a full week yet! Eghh…


Never the less, I am really enjoying my classes. Interestingly enough, my toughest class is also my favorite class. Neurology is the toughest course that OTs will be enrolled in. (This is said by the professors and the past students). I have found in just two days of classes that they are right. Yet, I am so fascinated by the material that I find myself wanting to dive more and more into the material. I’m such a nerd…The second greatest thing about the master’s program is that all of my classes intertwine together; which definitely helps with comprehension of a topic and studying. Again, I know I’m a nerd…but I can’t help it.

Luke started classes this week as well. He’s taking Chem2 and Physics1 at KVCC four nights a week. Monday thru Thursday he doesn’t get home to late. Thursday nights are his latest night, he doesn’t get home until about 9:30pm. It makes spending time together a little difficult. However, we decided that Friday night would be a date night.

He worked late Friday and didn’t get home until 8:30pm, but when he did get home he surprised me with a dozen red roses. He’s such a sweetheart! Then we went over to Bennigan’s for dinner. We came home, spent some time together and then got back to work on homework and such.

The sweetness didn’t stop there – he woke up early this morning to do some work from home (blechh!) and let me sleep in. When I woke up at 9:00am this morning, he had coffee going, dishes done and starting breakfast!! Can you say, “Husband of the Year Award”!!!?? Especially for the coffee – he’s never made a pot of coffee before and it taste DELICIOUS! - I’m drinking it now!

While we are both very busy with school, work and life right now, we are both very blessed. I count myself very blessed to have Luke as my husband. He helps me out with stuff so much and is my best friend!

Well…we have another busy weekend ahead of us, but I wanted to get this in before things got crazy again. We’re picking up some new furniture (Yay!), going to Office Max (My favorite office supply store!) and then headed to Bronson to visit the in-laws, pick up the skeet thrower, then headed to my parents’ place to shoot skeet, family reunion, and breakfast with the grandparents on Sunday. All good stuff, but I need to get off of here so I can get some things done.

Have a great weekend!

Labor Day Outing

Here it is, I promised it to ya...I was so tired last night after homework and doing laundry that I went to bed instead of stay up and post pictures.  So I thought I'd take some time this morning to do it before it got too far past Labor Day.

Luke and I went to Muskegon to visit our friends Ben and Suzie.  They will be getting married in October and we're very excited and happy for them.  Out of all of our couple friends, I feel that they are the only set of friends that we could go out fishing with and shoot guns with.  Strange - maybe, but they're things that we all enjoy doing.  We went to a car show, shot skeet (aka; clay pigeons - simple terms; round clay disks), and grilled out.  It was the perfect Labor Day! We had so much fun!  Suzie and I shot the rifles too (and Ben's new hand gun) and for all you men doubters out there - we actually hit our targets too! Girls with guns, don't mess with us! lol

Luke and I have been blessed with wonderful friends.  I am even more happy that Suzie found a wonderful man!  She and I have been friends for the last five years or so and I don't think I could have hand picked a better guy for her! 

So no more delay, below you will find pictures of our Labor Day Outing!

Enjoy!

Back to School

Today was my first day as an official OTS (Occupational Therapy Student).  That's right, I have initials after my name now.  It only took me five years, but I have them none the less.  In two years, those initials will graduate to OTR/L (Occupational Therapist Registered Licensed).  Ahhh, the exciting things to a graduate student.

The day started off a little nerve racking.  The night before I had all of my books ready so I didn't have to worry about it in the morning.  However, my days were mixed up.  Due to the holiday, classes started on Tuesday.  In my head, it felt like a Monday; thus, I packed Monday classes' books.  Thankfully, I got to school an hour before class started.  No sooner had I sat down to relax and get organized before class did I realize that I had all the wrong stuff with me.  Dang!  I first panicked, thinking I was going to be late for class as I ran back out to the parking lot and started back for home (fifteen minutes from school with no traffic - yet it was rush hour for the morning).  I said a quick prayer, "Please God, I'm a total bird brain this morning and I would really appreciate green lights and clear lanes so I can get home and get back in time to find a parking spot and get up to my class on time.  Thank you, Amen."  God is good! Green lights and clear lanes and got to class on time with like 8 minutes to spare!

I found out during orientation today that I am one of twenty-five students to have been chosen for this cohort.  We are a group of twenty-five out of hundreds of applicants to the number one OT program in the state and ranked nationally.  Wow!  I wasn't sure whether or not to feel extremely blessed or extremely nervous...or both??  The counselor then proceeded that statement with, "Let's talk grades, you get a C; academic probation.  You get another C; dropped from the program, no questions asked." 
No pressure or anything...

I'm very excited about starting this program and all the things I am going to learn.  Luke and I have to learn how to carve out time for each other again as we are both taking classes and gone all night during the week.  We have like three hours together Monday thru Thursday in the evenings.  That is, if we don't have to do homework.  I am confident that God is going to provide and work wonders in our lives and in our marriage.

I have a fun Labor Day Outing to post about with pictures, but it's getting late and I'm beat.  Look back tomorrow - Hoping to have them posted by then.

Good night!

Surgical Wisdom...Tooth

So today is the dreaded Tuesday.  I have to have surgery on my mouth to try to get a very difficult wisdom tooth out. 

I know what most of you are probably thinking..."It's just a wisdom tooh, it'll be fine. Everybody gets them pulled."  This is the thing though; I have always been deathly afraid of medical treatments that are even somewhat invasive.  This may not make since to some of you as you know I'm fascinated by medicine and the medical field.  Seeing the procedures done on other people (or animals) is no problem for me.  It's when I know they will be doing those things to me. 

I know, you may think I'm being a complete wimp.  Call it what you will.  But this is something that is so overpowering that I'm afraid to even have children because of this fear.  IV's, anesesthia, incisions, cutting open my gum to pull a tooth out with the possiblitly of removing some jaw bone - yup, all things that scare me (and more).

So as I try to not freak out before my appointment I would greatly appreciate prayer today.  I know that the outcome will be fine and it's a typical procedure but I need to keep my nerves at bay.