High Five for Friday

This week has been crazy.  In a nutshell it involved diagnostic reports, treatment plans, case studies, lesson plans, clinicals, classes, and homework.  Also, a tiny bit of eating and sleeping squeezed in there somewhere.  And one great night out with Luke and JC.

Since this week was insane, and I kind of feel like I'm losing my sanity as well, I thought it would be great to focus on the good things from this past week.

1. Spending a fall Saturday morning at home alone, sipping coffee and making breakfast while my Frank Sinatra Pandora station floats through the kitchen.  Then curling up in a blanket, and watching a few episodes of Parenthood, the best show ever.  Oh, and munching on candy corn and peanuts -- the best combination since chocolate and peanut butter.

(This picture is right-side-up on my computer, and when I upload it to blogger it's suddenly upside down.  Drives. Me. Crazy!  Oh well, you get the idea.

2. This little weirdo always hangs out on my lap when I have a rare moment to sit.  She's definitely sticking her tongue out at me.

 3. Autumn leaves.  I just wish they would stick around a little longer...

4. Knowing that after this week, I am officially more than halfway done with the semester.  I had my first gigantic school-related breakdown this weekend.  I was a mess.  Sobbing uncontrollably, just feeling completely overwhelmed and worried that I am not good enough, and that I can't handle the pressure and responsibility.  The good news is, I don't have to be good enough.  Praise God for that, because He is the strength in my weakness!  I had a meeting with my academic adviser on Tuesday and she said this to me, without me indicating at all that I had had a major freak out over the weekend: "Now I just want to warn you that almost every student I talk to has a major breakdown right around this point in the semester.  They have their breakdown, they get past it, and then it all gets easier and easier as you get closer and closer to graduating.  I also want to tell you that everyone always thinks they are alone in this, but I want you to know that it really is everyone.  And it does get easier."  I'm paraphrasing a bit, but that was exactly what I needed to hear.  After our meeting, I went down to the grad room and talked to a couple of people, and they were both talking about the fact that they had breakdowns over the weekend too!  They vocalized every one of my fears, and it was nice to know I'm not alone.  We all talked and encouraged one another, and I think we all felt much better afterward. The timing of those conversations may have been coincidence...but I think not.  And seriously...someone should do a psychological or sociological study on students in grad school for speech pathology.  The findings would be interesting, and probably terrifying.

5. It's the weekend!  And I have no plans whatsoever!  (Besides working on a research project, but I'm blissfully in denial about that right now).  I declare this weekend a time to REST and not feel guilty about it.

"Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." ~Matthew 11:28