Playing Catch Up

So it's been a while - although I feel like I had a decent reason for silence.

Something that I've been praying for, for a long while now, has happened - I have a new job!  Thanks be to God!

I did not want to write about it before I told my company, and then my last week at work just somehow ended up being more hectic than I anticipated.

A few weeks ago a girl I went to grad school with sent me a FB message asking if I was still searching for a job - and if I was, she had a position she was given permission to share with me, as the job had not been posted yet.

It was a Child and Family Therapist position.  I emailed my resume and the director asked me to come in for an interview.  I was not in the least bit excited, or even nervous for that matter.  I had reached a point of desolation in my job hunt.  I felt hopeless and just felt like this would be another interview I would go on, have hope spring up, just to be dashed out again.  I even left the interview feeling like it had gone badly.

This is also after I had had phone interviews with Project Rachel and a Pastoral Counseling agency.  I really wanted the position with the Pastoral Counseling agency - but they told me they would get back to me in a week...and I never heard from them.

Well, one week after my interview, and after my references had emailed me to let me know they had spoken with the director and given me a "glowing review" (thank you!!!) I got the call offering me the position.

It's a pay raise, a closer/easier commute, they pay for CEUs, I get my own office (what, what!) ... basically it is night and day from my old job.  As soon as I accepted I felt this huge weight lifted off of my shoulders.  It felt like the "old" me was coming back - even Chris mentioned how much happier I've seemed since I got the news.

Ironically (or rather, God has a great sense of humor) both Project Rachel and the Pastoral Counseling agency called me for second interviews literally days after I accepted this position.  Which caused me to doubt - but ultimately, I believe that this is the position that I am meant to be in for this time.  He put this job in my lap - with Project Rachel I wouldn't have gotten my hours to get my license, and with the Pastoral Counseling agency I would still be driving into the city every day and facing city traffic, something I wanted to get rid of.

Bottom line - I am so. incredibly. Thankful.  I am thankful for any and all prayers that have been said for me.  I am thankful for this new position.  I am thankful that I will be able to help our family more financially.  I am so thankful to my family and friends - especially my incredibly supportive husband - for helping me through the tough moments.  I am thankful for whatever lessons I learned for my old job and thankful for this opportunity to continue on my journey as a counselor.

It was hard to tell my supervisor and co-workers I was leaving (they were never the problem) and I will miss the awesome conversations we would have, but they were all happy for me (and asked me to keep an eye out for positions for them).  Telling my clients was the hardest.  Many of my clients I have worked with since their first year at the school.  I could tell some of them were holding back tears as I told them, and I often heard that it wasn't "fair" that I was leaving.  It broke my heart.  But good-byes are a part of life, and I often remember being told my previous supervisors that terminating with clients is an opportunity for counselors to teach their clients that not all good-byes need to be bad.  As I told my clients, I left the school with many good memories and am hoping that they will have learned something from me, and will have good memories as well.  I think this is the hardest part of being a counselor - I care about my clients, but inevitably, at one point or another, termination is necessary.  I still think about and worry about some of my clients, but ultimately I know they are in good hands.  And that's the beauty of Pastoral Counseling.  I pray for my clients - because let's fact it, who could be a better counselor that God.  He truly knows what's best for each of us.


I still have more "update" posts - unpublished WIWS posts and my latest crochet projects - but I don't want to overwhelm you all *wink*

Happy Friday!

Five Favorites: Sick as a Dog edition

So, since I've been sick as a dog (where did that saying even come from?) since Friday, I figured it'd be worthwhile to list my 5 favorite items for while you're sick.

1. Kleenex with lotion/aloe  and "Sneeze Shield".  I don't really know if they shielded anyone from my sneezes...but after the havoc wreaked on my nose from non lotion-ed Kleenex, these were a God send.  And ooo pretty box!

2. Emergen-C.  I have one of the worst immune systems...ever.  If there is a cold, flu, virus, bacteria, you name it, I'll get it.  So this is [should be] a staple in our house.  Ok, really it only seems to show up when I feel like I"m starting to get sick, or am already in the midst of my illness misery.  Does it work?  I don't really know.  Does it psych me out and make it believe it works?  Yes indeedy!

3. You guys.  This tea.  Is the shiznit.  Could I brew a cup of chamomile tea and just add some honey?  Yes, yes I could.  But this is honey VANILLA Chamomile...and Celestial Seasonings was kind enough to put all of that delicious in one little tea bag.  I can't even tell you how many cups of this I've had this week.  And each one was a hot, steaming cup of wonderful.

4. Netflix...or any other way you can binge watch TV shows.  My show of choice this week was Doctor Who...well, really I've been watching for a while...but I basically watched season 5 and most of 6 this week.  Don't judge, I couldn't move from the couch.  This image is fitting too since I'm still in the "I miss the old Doctor" aka David Tennant but "Hey, this new Doctor is kind of cool...ok, I like him" phase of Doctor regeneration.

5. Last, but not least...Carmex.  When you cannot breathe out of your nose, you become a mouth breather.  When you become a mouth breather, your lips become chapped at an alarming rate.  When your lips become chapped at an alarming rate, they start to crack and bleed and bury you further into your misery.  Don't let chapped lips bury your further into your misery.  Get a good chapstick. [Yes, that was based off the DirectTV commericals...and yes, it was just as lame]  Carmex for me is a miracle worker.  Put it on over night, by the time I wake up my lips are no longer a desert.  Maybe warn your husbands before kissing them though, Chris often complains I'm "goopy"

What are your favorite things when you're sick?  Go see Hallie @ Moxie Wife for more Five Favorites!

[I don't have any affiliate links...I just linked to Amazon for convenience.  Buy wherever you like!]

What I Wore Sunday

So this is a little late...but hey, better late than never.

I struggle big time coming up with winter outfits...far too many times I wear jeans and a long sweater (my way of justifying wearing jeans to church - if I cover my behind) and boots.  boh-ring..

Rosie always posts the cutest outfits for WIWS, and often she's mentioned that she "winterized" a skirt or dress from summer/spring.  So, she inspired me, and I give to you...my "winterized" What I Wore Sunday outfit (I think it worked...if not, let me know so I don't wear it again *wink*)

Yup, those are still Christmas decorations due to a. I love when our house is decorated and it makes me sad taking them down and b. storage in our house is very limited and the boxes for our decorations are at my parents...and I haven't been able to go get them yet.

Anyway - the shirt: a gift - I believe it's from Macy's

                      skirt - thrifted from 2nd Ave

                      boots and tights are old...can't even remember where they're from

Sunday's homily was fantastic.  The one big thing I left with, was when our priest was talking about how we can't pick and choose what we like and don't like about Catholicism.  We can't say, "Oh, I like this bible passage and that one...but those other ones?  Yea, I'll pass" (my wording, not his)  Which made me think, well yes, Christianity is not meant to be an easy road.  It's a daily lesson in putting aside our selfish ways and picking up our crosses and following Christ.

When I was in school I wrote an essay comparing my walk of faith to Robert Frost's poem The Road Not Taken [you can read the whole thing here]

"Two roads diverged in a wood and I-

I took the one less traveled by,

and that has made all the difference."

When you think about it, Christianity is that "road less traveled by."  The "un-popular" way, the "going against the tide" etc. etc.

And for me, it certainly has made all the difference.

I hope you all have a wonderful week!  Go check out the ladies of FLAP for more WIWS

7 Quick Takes - Half of which are about BBC television

It's not Friday anymore...but Happy Weekend!  Joining Jen at Conversion Diary for some more Quick Takes...head on over there to check out more Quick Takes

1. The fact that Sherlock comes back tomorrow night has been forefront in my mind this weekend. I must know how he pulled it off (that was my way of not writing any spoilers)! I'm so used to watching it on Netflix that I know I'm going to struggle with having to wait a week between episodes...I could go all "we're such a consumerist society, we're even used to having out TV shows/episodes On Demand we can't even wait between episodes any more" but...I won't *wink*

Look at those baby blues!

2. So, the site that I got this picture from is an article about the character of Sherlock possibly being on the Autism spectrum!  Yes!  Every time I watch the show I "diagnose" him with ASD.  I have a special place in my heart for client's on the spectrum - while I was getting my Masters I worked with an agency as an in-home therapist working with children on the spectrum.  I loved it.  Check out the article here

3. Keeping with the TV show theme, after hearing so much about it, and reading the recommendation of a few different bloggers, I caved and started watching Doctor Who.  I am currently on the David Tennant Doctor (um, yum) aka Season 2.  I enjoyed season 1, but I'm enjoying season 2 waaay more.  And no, it's not because I'm shallow and enjoying watching David (although, I do), I just find myself laughing out loud more often this season.  So I'm going to go ahead and add my own recommendations to the many other Doctor Who lovers - it's a great mix of lovers who don't know they're in love, time/space continuum, aliens, and British accents.  It's fantastic!  (watch The Doctor - you'll get that)

I mean, he wears Chuck's...what's not to love?!

4. [Change of Pace] I haven't heard anything from Project Rachel...which is kind of a bummer because I would have really loved to work for them.  I have, however, heard from Pastoral Counseling and Care Ministries.  I have a phone interview with them next Thursday.  Prayers, as always, welcome!

5.  Chris and I live in a 2 bedroom townhouse.  I love our home, but it's always been a thought in the back of my mind that if God blesses us with children, we'll lose our guest room.  In our basement we have a huuge sectional sofa from Chris' bachelor days.  It's a super comfy couch, with three recliners and cup holders (perfect for a cold beer).  Our basement room is not large - it's a good size, don't get me wrong - but this couch takes up a ton of space.  Chris somehow managed to sell the couch to one of his coworkers this week.  He's a bachelor and was looking for a sectional for his apartment - Chris offered to sell him ours and he took the offer.  So this weekend we're heading out to scope MLK day sales for a new sleeper sofa to solve the space and lack of sleeping space for guests issue.

6. Next week is the March for Life in DC.  I have gone in past years and loved the entire experience.  Sadly, I won't be able to be there this year, but I'll be there in spirit and prayer for sure.  Is anyone going?  Post lots of pictures!

7. I linked up for Theme Thursday this week and posted this and got lots of wonderful feedback!  Thank you!  I'll post pictures of the finished product (which will hopefully be done sometime this weekend/early next week).  I'm considering posting it on my Etsy shop, but it would take me months to make for someone who ordered it and I don't know if that would be a deterrent for buyers...

Happy Weekend everyone :-)

Theme Thursday #2

I feel like I should be hash-tagging this...instead of #tbt -  #tt...amiright?  No?  Ok, moving on.


So, this is only my second time linking up with Cari for Theme Thursday...because I'm lame.  But today's theme is craft/ing/y/ilicious ... seriously, how could I pass this up??  This whole blog was essentially started because of crafting!

What you are viewing in the form of poorly lit basement phone photos is a baby blanket I am alllllmost finished making for a dear friend's baby who is due next month!  Not your average baby blanket colors, right?  When my friend first found out she was pregnant she had said she wanted to do a rainbow theme for the nursery.  She changed her mind and she and her husband ended up basing the nursery on this wall decal:

My thought was to sort of combine the two ideas, my goal being to incorporate the colors of the wall decal into the blanket.  I followed this pattern and LOVED it (see the caps?).  The texture is fantastic, I don't know why, but I love baby blankets with texture.  I just get an image of baby tummy time and the baby playing with all the texture on the blanket  - I swear I'm not creepy...  All that's left now is a couple more rows and then the border...I can't decide what I want to do with the border/what color to make it.  My initial thought was to do the cream color for the border...but now that I'm looking at the wall decal again I'm wondering if maybe a gray would work?  Hmm I don't know.  Feel free to weigh in if you'd like.  And offer up some prayers for my friend, her husband, and their little baby boy! 

What is Marriage?

Some of you may have already seen this, but I just came upon it and wanted to share.  I thought it was beautiful.  Plus, I love Jason Evert, so...enjoy :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47LaozR2NCs&list=PLqhxRU_hZjzt7vHqbxZHr5O0eJkZITi1o

A Return to 7 QTs in which I recap everything

I can't remember the last time I linked up with Conversion Diary for 7 Quick Takes, so I'm glad to be back!  This may be a little all over the place so I apologize in advance

1.  I have yet to upload photos/do a recap of the holidays - but they went a little something like this.  Drive to NJ Christmas Eve.  Go to mass.  Go to neighborhood party.  Sleep.  Wake up Christmas morning, relax, let dog out to run around in backyard.  Dog is about to come in from back yard and his paw is bleeding profusely.  Look more closely - one toenail is missing from paw.  Drive dog to emergency vet - large sum of money later - dog is in a cone and his paw is well wrapped.  Open presents.  Laugh over events of the day.  Drive back to MD.  That's the abridged version.  You're welcome :-)  Christmas was great and it was really nice being able to spend the holiday with Chris' family - even after my worries about missing out on my traditions.

Poor pup

2. We had a New Years party - probably our last - it was fun but I definitely feel like I'm getting too old to be staying up til midnight (read: 3 a.m.).  Anyway, it was amusing to hear all of our friends joke with us that 2014 should be the year of a baby for Chris and I.  Although my friend who is getting married in September loudly protested that I need to fit into a bridesmaid dress haha  It was also funny/random that a woman I went to grad school with sent me a message yesterday saying she had had a dream in which she was visiting me in the hospital after I had a baby.  Whoa.  As I said in my response "from your lips (dream) to God's ears"

Two of my best friends from high school

3. When I was in grad school, one of my professors asked me why I wasn't going on to get my PhD.  I took this as a compliment, but responded that I had gone straight into grad school after undergrad without a break...and boy did I need a break from tests, papers, textbooks etc.  Yesterday though I totally thought of research I would love to do for a dissertation - something along the lines of "The Effects of Christian principles on school behavior of middle school students"  There may be tons of research on this already but I could possibly find an avenue that hasn't been looked at yet.  I'm just noticing at the school where I work, a lot of the students that I know are religious, their parents take them to church, etc. get into a lot less trouble (no, they're not perfect) than the ones who I know aren't religious.  Just interesting.  Maybe I will go back to school....(no, probably not)

4. Do you ever sit down to type something and then don't?  I've been doing that a lot recently.  I may start writing something and then delete it because I'm worried it'll be taken the wrong way, or will be to controversial, or this friend or that friend might get insulted when I didn't mean for it to be insulting.  I think waaay too much about all of that when I'm writing a post - which is probably why I've been silent for a bit.  I'm still...finding my voice I guess you could say.

5. I've loved reading all of the "word" of 2014 posts and see what Saints were generated from the Saint Name Generator.  I got Saint Damian - twice.  No joke.  Clicked it once, got St. Damian (patron of physicians and surgeons).  Clicked a second time, got St. Damien (patron of those with HIV and AIDS).  I'm thinking I should start praying more for doctors.
When I think about a word for 2014...I've had a rough time settling on something.  My go to is Hope.  "Hope does not disappoint" Romans 5:5  I have hope that 2014 will bring a better, more fulfilling job.  I have hope that 2014 will be the year our family grows.  I have hope that 2014 will be a good year for my sister and her family.  I have hope that God will leads us where we need to be.  I have hope that He will give us the strength to keep going - to accept His will even when it is difficult to do so.  I have hope.

At least I thought this would be my word...read on (the anticipation, I know)

6. This feast of the Epiphany was really special for me - although I'm not really sure why.  I recently discovered that my name (Tiffany - in case you've somehow missed that *wink*) is derived from the word epiphany.  So I've sort of taken the feast of the Epiphany as my name day (because there is no saint Tiffany...yet - as my mother likes to remind me).  Chris and I went to mass at a Church that is not our parish, but one we frequent because of their many mass times.  When I walked in, the way the church was decorated took my breath away - these pictures don't do it justice

And then the homily.  I had been in a "funk" (for lack of a better word) the entire weekend.  I was feeling really down and kind of depressed - about a few different things.  The homily talked about finding our own star to lead us to Christ, and the different people in our lives who help us follow our star are our own magi.  Sometimes we may follow on star thinking "this is it" but we need to change direction.  I think that's where I am...in a "I need to change direction."  But the magi in my life have been pretty fantastic :-)  As I was walking to receive communion, I was suddenly out of my "funk" and thinking about how ungrateful I've been for all of the blessings in my life.  All I've been focusing on is what's "missing,"  what I still "need" and "want."  I thanked God for everything He's blessed me with, and apologized for not being more grateful.  And BAM!  That's my real word for 2014 - GRATITIUDE.

7.  And I will leave you with this.  I saw this last night on Simcha's blog.  I cried from laughing so hard.

Go Check it Out.  Or I'll just leave it here for your convenience

Happy Friday everyone!  Go check out Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes!