4 months and 1 MS comprehensive exam later...

As you know, it's been a WHILE since I've posted. Lots of things have passed in these past 4 months and summer has come and, officially (as of today), gone. It's quite unbelievable...and so very sad. I love the summer so much for so many reasons...sunshine, beach, blue skies, warmth, beach, cookouts, long days, vacations, beach...

This summer, however, was sort of a different story; not quite the sun-shiney, happy summer season. My Master's Comprehensive Exam was scheduled for the end of August this summer. My BIG test on pretty much anything I've learned in the classes that I've taken during the past 2 years of studying at ODU. Yes, scary. Very. Scary. Studying was certainly not the most fun thing to do during the summer... I had a very hard time focusing early in the summer with the small amount of time I had while I was teaching in the Anatomy & Physiology exam in May & June. July was then filled with our annual beach trip, out of town visitors, having a little fun, and attempting to re-focus my efforts in studying. July flew by and I instantly and majorly felt the pressure for effective, quality studying to prepare at the beginning of August.

August was filled with library and coffee shop visits, freaking out, hours and hours of reading, thinking of the possible outcomes of my exam, reviewing potential exam material, more studying, becoming overwhelmed, and reading the Bible and praying fervently to the God who created all of the intricacies of the human body that I was studying. (Do you know how amazing kidney and cardiac physiology are? I know that are so very amazing and that only a Divine Creator could ever dream of and form such functional and purposeful, complex cells, tissues, organs, organ systems along with their the perfect coordination to allow us to function as we do. Amazing, I tell you.) :) Not only is he Creator, but He is my Comforter and my Friend, too. Reminding myself and being reminded that He cares for us always and in everything is a truth that carried me through my anxious thoughts and through my exam.

This was certainly one of the most challenging obstacles of my life emotionally, physically, academically, spiritually. I cried (...and cried and cried), I became tired of and from crying and mentally focusing for such long periods of time, I prayed, cried some more, read and prayed again. For some reason, I'm not super (*understatement) at coping with stress or with overwhelming situations and as a result...I cry. I think this very undesired emotional response was amplified exponentially by my anxiety: the unexpected and infinite possibilities questions my professors could ask me, the uncertainty of my focusing/studying the right material, longing for the test to be over, on top of the magnitude my performance had on the entire exam and therefore finishing the MS degree I had started all played into my thoughts. It seemed there wasn't a single moment that passed where I wasn't worrying, studying, or praying in August.

All I can really say is how thankful I am for my God and His placing such encouraging people, mentors, friends, and family during this entire process. I've never read and prayed his Word more specifically or as often as I had during this month and have come to realize how important this way of praying is. I am so very thankful to our Creator for providing exactly what I needed throughout my studying, in my growth and dependence on Him, and especially for His provision during my exam.

I praise God that this part of my life is over with and that my professors were gracious enough to grant me passing grades on all of the sections of my comprehensive exam! With the successful completion of this exam, hopefully I will be finishing my degree either this December or in May; I'm just waiting on credits and paper work to be approved by the University.

Thank you to all of you who encouraged, listened, and prayed to help me through this. <3

new addition...to our dinner repertoire!

I came across this recipe for Chili Chicken and Basil a while ago and I've wanted to try ever since! Robert & I both really love Thai food and I hoped this recipe was as easy and as yummy as the website claimed. The only things I did differently than what was in the recipe was making 2 servings, leaving out the fish sauce (couldn't find it at the store), and doubling..ok...tripling...the recommended garlic. :) We made some Jasmine rice along with the main dish--SO yummy. (I don't think it would have been as delicious if we used regular white or brown rice.) This dinner ranked pretty high for the both of us in the "let's make this again" pile! I'm so excited to have another yummy chicken dish in our recipe box!

Cilantro Harvest!

About 2 weeks ago Robert and I used some of our fresh cilantro for the first time in a lazy Sunday night dinner--egg quesadillas. The cilantro was so yummy, I could've just had a cilantro quesadilla. :) I had a hard time keeping my cilantro last year and am hoping it sticks around and stays healthy longer this summer than last. It's the perfect addition to so many dishes; so much bang for it's buck! mmm...sooo yummy! :)

Strawberry Cream Cake!

My mother is quite the woman...the best hostess and cook and baker and funny lady and most lovely and godly woman I've ever encountered and I've always wanted (and still want) to be just like her. :)

In hopes to show her an ounce of the grace and loveliness of what's she taught me (still working on that... ;) ) , starting last year I began inviting my parents over for a special Mother's Day dinner to honor her. Cooking for her is sort of weird being that she's done it for me all of my life and does it so well---it takes me much more thought, planning, time and all-out effort to orchestrate a fancy meal for such a talented lady but it is worth all of that and more for her.

This year I made a Martha Stewart dinner (like last year, too, actually) with Almond-Crusted Chicken, Orzo with Peas and Mint, and Strawberry Cream Cake! The chicken and the orzo were both pretty good. I felt they could've used a bit more flavor (nothing a little garlic or onion powder or butter probably couldn't help), but I would be willing to make either of the dishes again in the future sometime. As for the dessert, I've always wanted to make some sort of layered cake...I've owned round baking pans for almost 3 years now and have never attempted. This year, I finally found a recipe that sounded easy enough to experiment with my pans, super yummy, seasonally appropriate (mmm strawberries), and something I just knew my mom would love! The made-from-scratch cake, whipped cream, and juicy fresh strawberries ended up being the perfect end tp a sweet, special day honoring the sweetest, most special mother ever! :)

Mother's Day Flowers

For the past couple years, I've taken an early morning trip the day before Mother's day to Norfolk Wholesale Florist for Mother's Day flower arrangement inspiration and supplies. I buy several bunches of flowers to put them all together in special arrangements for the sweet ladies in our lives. I made an extra bouqet for one of Robert's grandmas, "Grandnini." Grandnini was in the hospital during Mother's Day weekend and we went to visit and brought her these flowers to cheer her up. :) This year I found pretty pink roses, daisies, irises, carnations, and some baby's breath and purple filler-type flowers--very bright and very springy--just the way I like it!

Orchid Conservatory

At the end of April, ODU's Orchid Conservatory arranged hundreds upons hundreds of their orchid plants that were in bloom. The green house is such a sweet-smelling, warm, and happy place. :) I had never taken advantage of the conservatory until this winter when some friends and I stopped in. It's the perfect place to stop in on the way to and from getting coffee in the winter! :)

While there are many plants in the conservatory you could find and purchase at Home Depot or Lowe's, there are SO many from different states, countries, and continents. Some plants look like spiders, slippers, daffodils, or fancy, dressed up blooms complete with sparkles and frilly ruffles. Here are a few of my favorites!

Robert took me to the circus and didn't leave me there!

It had been at least 15ish years since I'd been to the circus...for Robert, it had been longer! After we saw the elephant parade when the circus came to town, I wanted to go so badly. I suppose Robert read my mind when he asked if I wanted to go the Sunday afternoon when Ringling Brothers were in town! It was the best break for me at the beginning of the height of my end-of-semester work. :)

Several things were the same from what we could remember--elephants, confetti, tigers, tight rope walkers, motorcycles on highwires, strong men and bendy people. Some acts were the same with a few tweaks--we never remembered an attempt at a quadruple somersault on the trapeze and we could only remember about 5 motorcyles in the ball of steel--not like 10. :)