new game plan

oh my, what a crazy two weeks it's been. it's hard to really explain the stress i feel here. it's basically so much that i can do nothing but cry, even in class, to the point that God gives me a fire alarm in the middle of that class so i can make it through the rest of it (which by the way, i've never been more in need or more thankful for a fire alarm, He is so good).

so as of now, i have spent my entire time here at georgia tech working hard, and doing homework most of the time i have outside of class. sounds good, right? but even this isn't cutting it. so it's time for a new game plan.

GAME PLAN:
one - stay on top of my classes. rather than just doing whatever is due next, i will actually review my lectures i just attended, work the "exercises" teachers suggest, read the supplemental material (textbooks ahh!), and go see the teachers with questions, whether they like it or not. oh, and also do homework. clearly, this will require a lot of discipline and motivation. that's where number two comes in.
two - find some sort of creative outlet. i need something in my life besides school. i am finding that by the end of the week, i've worked so hard that i cannot bring myself to even open a notebook. i'm thinking of taking pictures again (i mean, i am in this beautiful city with all sorts of architecture), cooking, and possibly working on some little home projects from afar. i also am going to start making time to watch my television shows. that may seem silly, but it's something a few evenings a week that i can use to take a mental break.

so anyway, that's my game plan, and it starts tomorrow.

home

i had my first trip home last weekend from georgia tech. it was so good to be with my loved ones, but it made me miss home so much more. and of course, georgia tech couldn't take it easy on me, so i was overloaded with homework, and spent most of my weekend working on all of that. but even so, it was terrific being in a place i love with who i love most. unfortunately i was a picture slacker (unlike i had initially planned), but here's what i took on my weekend home via phone:

my sweet pup missed me and did not like how much homework i had to do. but he made studying at home a million times better!

my incredibly understanding and loving husband took me out for a few coffee/study dates. we also had some amazing misspellings. always fun.

got my hair done and had a much needed manicure and pedicure with mom.

and i just love my JLF. he's so handsome. looking forward to seeing him again in 2 weeks!

..overwhelming..demanding..intense..

i'd have to say that those three words best sum up georgia tech's grad school. if you aren't working continuously, you probably aren't going to get a whole lot of sleep most nights. you have to pace yourself here - get up early, work hard on homework and projects, study for hours, go to classes in between that hard work, don't forget to eat, add a little exercise in there to stay healthy and energized, and then try to get to bed at a reasonable hour. this past week didn't exactly work out that way, so i'm now down with a sinus infection from combination of lack of sleep and stress. i'm working through it though, and still staying motivated and disciplined. i'm trying to get a project done today that's due on tuesday, then start homeworks that are due thursday, then hopefully work ahead for the next week so i can enjoy my weekend home next weekend (which will be the first time i've seen my husband, family, and friends in a month YAY!). 

i have found that starting my days reading the bible and praying have helped tremendously. i definitely have a more positive attitude and i'm more productive. but i'm afraid i am more just going through the motions of reading my set goal for the day, and praying through my list of prayers. i want to dig deeper. i want to know Him better. i want to (taken from psalm 63:1-8) earnestly seek Him, thirst for Him, belong to Him. i want to know and feel that His love is better than life, and i want to glorify Him. i want to praise Him as long as i live, and for my soul to cling to Him and to be satisfied by Him. i want to live for an audience of One - live for what God thinks of me, not how i compare to everyone else.

one of my goals for this week is to stay on top of my schoolwork and to be motivated and disciplined. my goal for my life is to live by His commandments and be overflowing with His love, so that others can see Him through me.

gt week 1

well, i'm here! this week has been pretty quiet. my roommates still haven't moved in, and all i've had are short orientations. now that those are over, i'm just waiting for classes to start and things to pick up. i have used these past few slow days to figure out campus, or at least what's important to me, such as the student center, the gym, my classes, and of course, my dorm. i also accidentally found the football stadium, so that's useful as well :) oh, and i discovered skype. i now have the luxury of taking webcam photos like all the cool kids:

i'm missing my husband, pup, family, church family, and friends very much already, but i know that this is where i am supposed to be right now. as much as i miss home, i'm looking forward to an incredible year.

fast approaching

my year at georgia tech begins in less than a week. i have an incredible peace about being apart from jared.  i truly believe that this will be a year of growth in our marriage.  i'm not necessarily excited about being apart, but i am thrilled to strengthen our marriage and my faith.  classes are going to be tough i'm sure, but i'm so ready for the challenge. this coming year is going to be eye opening and a huge year of positive change for me in every area of my life.

procrastination

i have a feeling this will be the title of many posts to come...

yesterday, i continued to watch 'heroes', and unexpectedly, the show did start to pick up. so it's carried over through today, and i am again completely hooked, which is unfortunate, seeing as i have a test this week for my summer course. not good.

i got my hair done this morning and took my huge bandage off, so i'm feeling like a new woman!  the doctor did a great job with the stitches, and i'm hoping to see the scar heal very nicely.

my husband will be off work soon, and we have an evening of cleaning ahead of us to get ready for our little father's day cookout we are having for my family tomorrow afternoon. so it's officially study time.

all bandaged up

i have learned quite the valuable lesson in the past three months. you probably think it's something to do with marriage. and don't get me wrong, i have learned SO much about being married from my wonderful husband. unfortunately, the biggest lesson i have learned since i've been married is that beautifully bronze skin comes with a price. yesterday i had some basil cell skin cancer removed from just below my nose that i found on my way home from our honeymoon. surgery went great, i am feeling no pain, but i have quite the bandage on my face and swelling in my lip.

beautiful isn't it? :) i have no idea what's below that bandage, but i'll find out tomorrow, wish me luck!

and in case you are curious about the straight hair (and the ridiculous roots) you are seeing, i HAD a hair appointment today, which ended up not actually happening. so not only do i get to see my booboo tomorrow, but i also have a bright and early appointment to get some new color in my hair.

so now, i am spending my afternoon being lazy with my pup and trying to catch up on 'heroes' (i won't lie, i'm losing interest). looking forward to spending the evening with my husband and some friends, who don't mind being seen with me and this awesome bandage :)