Ups and Downs

I completely feel like I'm on a roller coaster ride of emotions lately. I haven't even blogged in a week! I was going to try and be good about it, but recently it's been quite difficult because I just do not have the time (or motivation). I seriously need more hours in the day and a boost of energy. One moment I'm feeling great and things are going really well, and the next I'm ready to burst into tears. I admit, I am struggling.

Like I said, this past week has been really up and down. I've had a couple very good days at the high school... talking to lots of kids, one right after another, and even though they do not do well academically, they are all bright, well-spoken, and quite sweet. I am trying to keep them motivated and continue to push them to get through the next month of school. I guess maybe when you are constantly energizing and encouraging others, it gets hard to do the same for yourself. I try to give 110% to school and my internship, which I think has taken a toll on my physical, emotional, and mental well-being, I have not much left for me. I just heard of this book entitled, "The Joy Diet" which I'm going to buy with one of my graduation gift cards after school today. It's supposed to be really uplifting and helpful. I'll keep ya posted :)

Middle school is all about the 6th grade drama at the moment, but it is full of lots of laughs. I love being with my supervisor, fellow interns, and hilarious students. They are quite draining, but I have so many funny stories that I get to take with me each day. I need to start writing them all down in order to look back on years from now.

SoOoOoo ready to be done with summer school already! 6 hours a week is ROUGH. Now I need to push push push to complete my 8 assignments and all my forms/filing for the state. This is going to take a good amount of time and is a tedious process, but I'm so incredibly close to being done. Goal date to be finished with everything= June 22, start getting ready to celebrate peoples! I keep saying that graduation was probably the proudest moment of my life, but June 22nd is going to be the happiest.

I have to say though, I couldn't be more fortunate to have an amazing support system to help me through... ie Kevin, my parents, and fellow classmates. Kevin has been the best, making me dinners, listening to my complaints, and having more patience with my mood swings then I could have ever asked for. My parents have been great helping out with my errands and such that I have no time during the day (business hours) to ever get done. And then my classmates/friends... man if you could hear and see us sometimes, we have a bond now I don't think anyone else could quite understand. I love everyone in my life more than words can say.

I just try to remember that even though I'm in a tough place/funk, I need to be strong and keep going. I am incredibly blessed. Especially with all of the tornadoes and other incidents, wars, etc going on all over the world, I am sooooooooo lucky to live where I do, have what I have, and mainly love and be loved. My heart and thoughts go out to those in real need right now.

Now just 2 more interning days to get through and the big highlight... Lake Havasu for the weekend! I am extremely excited for our mini vacay. We are staying in a huge house on the lake with lots of friends and a boat. Also, we are celebrating 3 birthdays along with the holiday! Happy Birthday to Kevin's brother Travis, and our good friends Beth and Damien. I am SUPER anxious to get there and begin the partay!

After the weekend it will be major CRUNCH time. No more fun until the work is done.

Happy Early Memorial Day Weekend!!!

Inspirational Quotes

While taking a break from interning today (well I was actually multitasking/waiting for students), I was browsing some blogs and found some great quotes that I found very fitting for my state of mind. Thought I'd share:

"Anyone can give up, it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that’s true strength."

"It is only when you witness something truly inhuman that you discover what being human really means." (I unfortunately see this almost everyday as a counselor)

I am not the silly romantic you think
I don’t want the heavens or the shooting stars
I don’t want gemstones or gold
I have those things already
I want a steady hand, a kind soul
I want to fall asleep, and wake, knowing my heart is safe
I want to love and be loved

I just want to...

Sleeeeeeeeeppppyy

I've been soooo tired and in a funk this week. Not sure exactly what my problem is.... I guess with all the graduation festivities and then being cooped up sick at home for a week has gotten me a little off track. Emotions have been and are in full force, but I know I just need to get myself back to normal! All week I've had no motivation and felt extremely sleepy even though I haven't been going to bed all that late. I need a vacation! At least today I get out of my internship a few hours early (due to testing) and then I need to go home and clean my apartment. Fun stuff. But I am looking forward to a visit from my Aunt and Uncle tonight (they are in town from Texas). We are planning on going to dinner with my parents and Kevin; I'm excited for them to meet him! Anyway, I'm trying to get myself out of this blah state... gotta get back to exercising, eating better, and I want my energy level to go back up. I think it's just really difficult graduating, and then going back to interning and knowing I have so many more papers to write, definitely counting down 'til the end of June, I know I can do it! I plan on getting a head start on things this weekend. Anyway, hope everyone is having a good week so far... I can't believe it's been raining here the past few days, I'm ready for hot summer weather! Oh and pictures of the race will be coming soon... I haven't put them on my computer yet from my camera, I have to get to it. Send some motivation and energy my way pllleeeassseeeee.

Master's Degree Graduation (and party)

It's been awhile, yes I know. I was soooo sick for the week after graduation and ended up taking the entire time off to rest and get better. Unfortunately, I am still somewhat sick (I know it's been a week and a half now), but I'm slowly getting back to normal. I guess it's just very difficult when you have so much going on. After 3 days laid up in my apartment (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) it was off to El Centro on Friday for one of Kevin's truck races. He finished the entire race and I am extremely proud of him for toughing out the 200 miles! However, that post and all the details/pictures will be for next time. Right now I want to post my graduation and party pictures. Looking back, the day still seems like a blur and I can't believe it went by so quickly. Again, it was one of the best and most memorable days of my entire life and I can't thank everyone enough for EVERYTHING. It was amazing. Here are some of the highlights.

Graduation:

Amy Erin Schlumberger, Master of Arts in Counseling

School of Education Grads

With my dear Melissa

Melissa, Me, Torrey, Aisha

Walking in the procession line

Accepting my "diploma" (which I will not get until a few months from now)

Trying not to lose my dang cap!

With my boyfriend (the awesome photographer)

Party:

Cheers to grad! Couldn't have gotten through the past year without him

My cousin Melanie and her daughter Hadley

With sweet Hadley

Damien, Beth, Madeline, Travis

Neighbor Chelsea- I babysat her all her life and now she's in college... time flies!

With Keri from work

Melissa again :)

Kevin's mama Linda made the sweetest toast to me

The party... all looooove

Miss Heller and my papa

Graduation cake

Blowing out the candles... my wish= a job!?!?!

My best friend and best guy

Congrats to me!!

For some reason I don't have any pictures from the party with both of my parents! Not sure how that happened... but as I said the time went by so fast and it was a whirlwind of emotions. I have tons and tons more pics, but felt these were the best that captured my special day.

Now it's back to interning and today I start summer school (2 times a week, 4-7pm Monday and Wednesday). UGH! I am soooo burnt out and let me say how incredibly difficult it is to attend graduation and then not be completely done. I have 200 more interning hours to complete in order to obtain my credential and 6 weeks to do them in. Not to mention, I have 8 final assignments to do by June 24th. I think this will probably be the hardest month and a half of my graduate school career. I'm so ready to be finished, this is just my last home stretch. After this, I can conquer anything! We do have a few fun short trips coming up, which lessen my weekends for school time, but at least give me something to look forward to. As usual, time is flying and I'm just doing my best to hold on. :)

Happy Monday!

XOXO

Sicky Sick

I have SO much to report about the last 4 days. Unfortunately I did catch a bad sickness last Thursday, but I pushed through and still had an incredibly amazing graduation. It seriously was one of the absolute best days of my entire life. I could not have asked for a more beautiful and memorable weekend, full of family, friends, and just all around love. I am truly one of the luckiest girls in the world. Thank you especially to my parents for everything they did and all the people who shared the day with me. I will make a full report later... but as of now I need to rest and get better. I walked into my internship early this morning and my supervisor took one look at me and said, "GO HOME!" Now operation 'Get Amy Well' is in full swing (meds, juice, tea, etc.) because we are off to the desert this weekend for one of Kevin's off-road racing events and I want to be healthy and able to party! Here are a couple of teaser pics until I have the energy to really post.

Please send well wishes my way!