Current Events!

     Last weekend, my friend Lauren and I went to a local Christmas parade. It was unusually warm for this time of year and I got a slight sunburn! It was nice being outside on such a pretty day and we got to see a few fun floats before we left early for lunch!

I love to hear the bands play in a parade!
And the Grinch was my favorite!

     This weekend, Becky, Elizabeth, and I were able to go to a local "Christmas lights extravaganza." I've never seen so many inflatables or lights in one place. We had a great time!

We found Frosty!

Christmas Fun!
Please notice Santa is in the outhouse. So random!!

Thankful Thursdays---Laughter and Tears

     I really have so much to be thankful for! I wasn't really sure what I wanted to write about tonight, but it just dawned on me: laughter and tears. I know, I know laughter is a given. It is fun-everyone loves it! Laughter is good for the soul! But tears? Who is ever thankful for tears? God has taught me that He is with me during hard times that causes the hurt and tears. He understands pain and He teaches me in ways I can never fully understand or imagine. Sometimes He allows hard things to happen so we can get to know Him in ways we never would have otherwise. So that is why I am thankful for tears. Because I get to trust in and grow closer to my Savior. {I would like to note that this is not easy at all and I'm not good at it, but He continually helps me with it.} He is completely worth getting to know, even in the hard times! Laughter is fun but God uses tears to develop our relationship with Him. That is so amazing to me. I am thankful for both. 

Thankful Thursdays---Happy Thanksgiving!!!

     Happy Thanksgiving!!!

     Today, I am very thankful that my Daddy was released from the hospital! He has been there all week and I know he is glad to be home. I am glad to have them back too! I am also thankful for my family. I love them very much and look forward to our postponed turkey day on Saturday! Maybe by then our famous chef (Daddy) will feel more up to cooking and eating. Blessings to all!!!

ASHA 2012: Evidence of Excellence

     Last week, my friend Becky and I had the opportunity to attend the annual American Speech-Language Hearing Association Convention. This year it was located in Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia World Congress Center. The theme was Evidence of Excellence. Thursday morning's opening ceremony featured Maya Angelou as the keynote speaker. She recited several of her poems and told stories of her childhood. She was very positive and inspiring. The rest of the activities included attending several sessions of our choosing to earn continuing education units. I attended sessions relating to autism, pediatric voice therapy, vocabulary building, dysphagia, etc. I really enjoyed most of the sessions and learned several new ideas I look forward to implementing in my therapy sessions! 
     On Friday evening, the main event was the presentation of the Annie Glenn Award to congresswoman Gabby Giffords. I heard John Glenn, Annie Glenn, Mark Kelly, and Gabby Giffords speak. It was very inspiring and touching to hear their stories and words of encouragement to us as speech-language pathologists. Annie Glenn had difficulty with stuttering her entire life. This affected her life in every way. Her husband stated that she could not even make a phone call or read to her children. She received intensive therapy at Hollins University. Her husband said she called him for the first time and that for the first time ever he heard her say more than four words without stuttering. They then introduced Gabby Giffords who was able to walk on stage with assistance from her husband. She said, "People with aphasia get better. I'm getting better." It was a very touching moment. I think we all walked out  feeling validated in our chosen profession.
     I really enjoyed going to the convention. It was fun and exhausting at the same time, ha. The Congress Center is huge and we traversed it back and forth for two and a half days! It was an excellent opportunity for continued learning and networking with other SLPs. There were so many people there from all over the U.S. and it was interesting to talk to them. I look forward to attending future ASHA Conventions!

Peace Up A-Town!

Maya Angelou

How much fun is the Super Duper Store??? A SLP's dream ha!

Very pretty building downtown

I forgot to mention that we got to meet my cousin Melody for dinner at Mary Mac's Tea Room! So fun and delicious!

Good times

Evidence of Excellence :)

Thankful Thursdays---Effie

     I am very thankful for my little dog, Effie! She is a sweetheart. I never thought a four-legged animal could be such a wonderful companion! She makes me laugh and gives me someone to talk to even though she doesn't talk back. {Well, she does in a sense. She barks back when I get on to her, lol.} She has her own fun personality and does some funny things. She makes me happy and things aren't quite the same when she is gone. She also helped me become more outgoing and is a fabulous walking partner! There's no telling how many miles we have walked together. I was very hesitant to get her at first but I am soooooo glad I did! If you are on the fence about whether or not to get a dog, just go ahead and take the plunge and get one. You won't regret it!

Hardships of the Single Girl

     Two posts in one day? Wasn't in my plan for today, but neither was my having my car break down. Yes, that's right. The car is kaput. For now at least. And let me just say, there is nothing more frustrating and hard for a single girl than having car problems. It's hard not having someone to depend on to help. Someone who will fix the problem or help you get the problem fixed. Of course there are people who can help, but sometimes that feels like such an inconvenience. It's times like this that a single girl wants a special guy in her life that will come to her assistance. It wouldn't feel like asking for an inconvenience then. It would just be getting help from the person who wants to take care of you and help you no matter what. At least that's the way I imagine it would be. As for now, I don't have that. So, when I have car trouble, I feel helpless. When I'm in the middle of it I have these thoughts and feel this way. In the end, I know I will be ok and it will work out. God has taken care of me every time I have been in these situations. I may not have received help from that special someone, but He has provided people to help me when I needed it. 

Thankful Thursdays---Friends

     I am so thankful for all my friends, past and present! Since the time I was a little girl, I have always had a hard time making friends. I used to be extremely shy. Some would probably say that I still am, but believe me, I have come a loooooong way! Honestly, I'm just really quiet until I get to know people a little. Once that happens, it is hard to get me to stop talking, lol :)
      Anyway, God has certainly blessed me with friends in each of the stages of my life. When I graduated from high school, I started working while I went to a community college. I became friends with my coworkers. They taught me how to be silly and have fun (and still work hard at the same time) We literally had a party every chance we got. But, after two years, it was time for me to move on to a four year college.
      When I moved out own my own, I was still working and going to school. I didn't really know anyone in this new town and I really needed some friends. So, I prayed for God to send me some. He answered my prayers! A few girls from church reached out to me and took me in so to speak. I also became friends with another girl that was in my American Sign Language class. I loved hanging out with these girls and was truly thankful that I had people to enjoy college life with. As time went on, my friends from church got married and busy with life and my other friendship dissolved.
     Once again, I really needed some friends in my life. Well, God came through again! One of the married girls had a friend move to town and we became best friends. We were able to "build" a group of 6 friends for our grad school years. To say we had a lot of fun and trying times together would be an understatement! 
     After college, I moved to my current location where I have extended family nearby but didn't really know anyone else in the area. After two long, lonely years of not knowing anyone here, I decided to get my dog, Effie. Last year was such a fun year! I got to meet tons of people at my apartment just because I had Effie as an icebreaker. Some of those people I will truly never forget. So, I got used to talking to strangers and inadvertently became more outgoing. This was the reason I was able to meet my current group of SLP friends. Seriously. Through a couple of connections, I was able to introduce myself to a couple of these girls. Before, I probably would have been uncomfortable doing that.
     It is truly amazing how God works! The other day I was thinking about all of this and something dawned on me.....One of those friends from college was the connection to my best friend now who was the connection to one of my SLP friends here who introduced me to the other girls here. Whew! That was a mouthful!!! I know this was confusing and vague without naming people but I hope this post makes at least a little sense. Basically, I am thankful for all my friends, past and present! There have definitely been lots of fun times and a few heartbreaking times through these relationships, but God has used each of these friendships to provide for me, teach me, challenge me, and encourage me. The way He works simply amazes me!