Joy trumps dread

Whew things have changed drastically over the past week! I started my new internship and I moved into a house! Granted that doesn't sound like DRASTIC changes, but they totally are! My internship is stressful and so is moving! However, my wonderful parents helped me move and I'm all settled now! WOOHOO!

Today during church, I was super bummed because it was Sunday and that means that I have to go to work tomorrow. I have been dreading it since the second day. I believe this is due to the fact I am uncomfortable working with the adult/geriatric population. I know it will get better with time and exprience...but still I DREAD it. So I was standing there doing a "worship wrestle" (e.g. fighting the bad attitude with work and trying to worship) and I decided I desperately NEED an attitude makeover. I was like Alyssa pull it together and get your strength from God...HELLOOO He's totally amazing and His love NEVER fails! I prayed about my circumstance and I will be joyful during this situation! BAM! take that bad attitude!

Then Bruce starts speaking about circumstances and how in Philippians 1:12-20 Paul made gains in christianity (e.g. impacted prison guards and the church) even when he was in prison. I was like WHOA GOD that is STELLAR that Bruce spoke about good/bad circumstances after my worship wrestle experience. God continually shows me how much He cares and knows about little ole me! So basically to wrap this over due blog up: to work through these circumstances we need to pray and allow the Holy Spirit to work! So internship...I'm lifting you up and everything is gonna be FABULOUS!

Note to self:
-be totally open and joyful about my internship.
-Soak up how awesome God is at showing me how He loves me!
-unpack the last 2 boxes---which are currently taunting me.
-buy black spray paint.

na na na na everyday, like my iPods stuck on Replay!

Recently I have not had the best attitude and I believe it has something to do with exhaustion and sleep deprivation. However, that is NO reason to not be constantly sweet and joyful! I was talking to my sister today and she said that even throughout the mundane, everyday circumstances she tries to connect with God. Hmmm yeah that is pretty fantastic! I mean we have to do these things why not ROCK IT OUT with God?!

This also carries over into my internship (which I start on Monday! AH! at a nursing home in lubbock!). My sister just talked about how I can minister to the patient's through a smile or an acknowledgment. I want to be an encouragement to EVERYONE around me including people I work with! ALSO I believe that God has been challenging my faith to get me ready for this environment. Okay, yeah, I'm sure I'll have plenty in the future on that!

So I want that to REPLAY in my head 24/7:whatever I do connect with God and let His JOY shine through me!

P.S. I would like everyone to know I just saw Toy Story 3 and it was super stellar! Go see it...NOW!

P.S.S. My girls left today for their out-of-town internships...let's take a moment to mope and mourn...ok LOOOVE YA!

Note to self:
-Lose my funky exhausted "tude"
-Never throw away toys because they will always be looking for me.
-Go to sleep so I can be ready for my assessment tomorrow.

I challenge you to a duel!

Recently God has totally been challenging me, challenging my beliefs, challenging my faith.

--> i would like to take a moment to define this "faith". How church-ified is that word? I mean faith is believing in the unknown (yes we've all heard this and is actually the first definition that pops in my brain).
hmm...this faith...WHAT does this mean to ME, Alyssa B? This is my new found (and by new I mean this definition just rocked my world) defintion...let me break it down (wicky wicky):
FAITH= begins at believing WHO God says He is and ends when we (i) believe He will do what he promises.
Now check it...Hope is different than faith. Hope is believing something might happen. Faith is being straight up sold out to what you believe. Illustration time! Hope is connected to faith by the promise of God.

Wow...like that is super legit. I love when things that have been buzzing around you head your whole life all of a sudden smack you in the face in a completely new and exciting way! I mean why would I believe in something without actually knowing why...Why do I believe God created the earth? --BEEEECAUSE i have faith He did. Why do I believe God challenges us through difficult times? ---BEEEECAUSE He promises through it all our perseverance and endurance will grow!

God's promises are fantastic and so encouraging. I welcome these challenges! They have reminded me of God's promises that confirm my faith and beliefs. I love that God keeps our relationship SPICY! Never a dull moment with my awesome Father!



Note to self:
-Have complete faith I will dominate and rock out my presentation tomorrow.
-Start running again...geez school and summer speech camps have totally thrown that off.
-NOTE i am not promised tomorrow so I don't want to waste a moment--LIVE OUT THAT FAITH BABY!

To text or NOT to text...that is the question.

Remember the days when texting cost 10 cents.

Remember when you received a text it was rare and exciting.

Yeah those were the days when people still made phone calls and email/intstant messaging/social networking sites were not a way of life. I mean is the fact that our generation is constantly connected to his/her cell phone affecting our pragmatic skills? I am also very guilty of this! Look around the next time you're in public...everyone will be on their cell phone either talking or texting. Last night I was watching a movie with some friends. At the beginning of the movie everyone was texting and someone was even on facebook chat. Also, who hasn't texted someone from across the room? Think about that for a second...how stinkin RIDICULOUS is that?!
I guess this surfaced from the fact I want a special someone that won't text me all the time. Someone that has the guts to call and communicate outside a text. Someone who will stop hiding behind their phone and really get to know me. so BAM there ya go! Charge to you Mr. Prince!

Note to self:
-Reach out to people without text messages!
-tell my sweet tooth to stop craving fattening treats.
-Finish my stinkin project.

sticks and stones

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

--I mean think about that...yeah that is totally NOT true. Someone called me a name today on a social networking site and it hurt. Granted the person apologized and said it was a joke, but the pain is still there. It totally reminded me about the power of words. Words are the equivalent of fire--the damage is irreversible. Yes, the damage can be repaired, there is always a scarred layer. In the bible (i don't know the reference) it says Life and Death are held with in the tongue. I mean I am struggling with that as we speak--controlling my tongue. I think it is SO important to continually strive to control my tongue. Just think of how much words have gotten you in trouble...I know it has gotten me in a bind. I can't even imagine how my words have hurt/destroyed/broken someone's spirit. I just daily pray for help from the Holy Spirit for self-control to control my tongue--only words pleasing to God.

Note to self:
-accept forgiveness even when it's super difficult because of the pain
-do not allow this instance to rob my joy
-have a productive day!

sleeping under a coffee table.

Today was the first day of summer speech camps. I am helping with a camp working with children ranging from ages 3-6. I am absolutely exhausted.

However, I am working with a child that I helped with 2 years ago. It is absolutely AMAZING to see how far he has come. When I initially worked with him, he was barely saying 2 word utterances...NOW he will talk your ear off! He is so charming and sweet! He still have a few language and articulation problems, but he has progressed leaps and bounds in just 2 years! If anything makes what I am doing gratifying--it is being able to see the progress of these clients! SO WORTHWHILE! GO SLPs!

Since working with little nuggets is so tiring, I came home and ate lunch and decided to lay down...under my coffee table. This sounds silly, but I was sitting by it and it was the easiest option. I slept there for an hour. Total win? I think yes!

(ON A SIDE NOTE: a mother approached us today and called us student teachers...I was quite offended (not because being a student teacher is offensive) only because many people don't fully understand what a speech-language pathologist does. Therefore, I charge myself and other SLPs to get the word out! HOLLERRR! Here ya go fellow followers: Speech-language pathology is the treatment for the improvement or cure of communication disorders, including speech, language, and swallowing (bet ya didn't know that was under our scope of practice!) disorders. The term used to describe professionals in this discipline is speech and language pathologist (SLP).

Note to self:
-Drink a lot of coffee to be energized and ready to run after a 5 year old.
-Take naps in my living room more often.
-Play ultimate frizbee more often because it's a blast (and a good work out).