What We Fail to Notice

Think about this quote in terms of life change:

The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to notice. And because we fail to notice what we don't notice, there is little we can do to change; until we notice how failing to notice shapes our thoughts and deeds. --Daniel Goleman

It begs the question: How can you begin to notice what you fail to notice? Or to put it another way, how can you begin to see your blindness?

Thoughts?

This Semester's Fun

You were starting to think I only had picture updates, right?

So here's what I'm thinking about the blog this year. My school schedule is very full time, but I'd love to use the blog to process snippets of information, new ideas, quotes, and questions I'm asking myself throughout my studies. If you want to follow along, here are the classes and books I'm reading this semester--

God & His Word- (I really liked this prof! He is just what you'd (or at least I'd) expect a good theology prof to be. Spent the whole first class talking about how to read a book and think reflectively about what you read. Might sound boring-- it was excellent!)

Proper Confidence- Lesslie Newbigin
Epic of Eden- The Epic of Eden
Far as the Curse is Found- Michael Williams
The Mission of God- Christopher Wright
Creation Regained- Al Wolters

Intro to Counseling- this is the one class I haven't had; it meets for the first time today. This prof, Dr. Richard Winter, first got his MD, spent years at L'Abri in Switzerland... then became a counseling prof. I'm sure there's details I'm missing, but very unique combination! Very intrigued by all the angels he is hitting- medicine, spirituality, counseling...love the combo.

Pastor’s Guide to Psychological Disorders and Treatments- Johnson/Johnson
Strategic Pastoral Counseling- Benner
Healing Path- Allender
Perfecting Ourselves to Death- Winter
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality- Scazzero

Marriage & Family Counseling- (this class is taught by Dr. Dan Zink, who has his own counseling practice. I could tell in class 1-- I'm really going to like this guy's style. Very life application and story oriented; very heart-engaging and wise.)

Extraordinary Relationships- R. Gilbert
Hold Me Tight- Sue Johnson
Take Back Your Marriage- W. Doherty
Safe Haven Marriage- A. Hart & S Hart Morris
What am I Feeling?- J. Gottman
A Family Genogram Workbook- I Galindo

Educational & Psychological Measurements- (this class is about the purpose and how to of using assessment tests to guide you as a counselor in learning about clients. After being exposed to LEAF and with all the assessment tools we use in our company, I'm really excited to learn about these tools... aside from the mathematical statistics part! This prof is in his 70's and has been an LPC all his life. So perfect for this class- he is actually passionate about the development of tests.)

Essentials of Testing & Assessment: A Practical Guide for Counselors- Neukrug

Sense and Sexuality- (this class is a weekend course in October so I don't know much about it yet.)

Sexuality and Holy Longing, McMinn
Soul Virgins, Rosenau/Wilson

If any of these topics/books/readings, etc... interest you, join in the discussion!

So excited to dive in!

First Day of School!

Last Thursday the 17th, K & E started school... K in 2nd grade and Ellie in Kindergarten.



















Up the hill to the bus stop...



















I wasn't the only sentimental momma with a camera at the bus stop, either!

Summer Pictures IV

Forgot this fun one-- Jim & I met my sister and her husband Tim in-between Athens and Arlington one evening for dinner. We picked the city in the middle and then googled what restaurants it had; We had 2 to choose from: the Crandall Cotton Gin, or Napolis 3 Italian restaurant. The Napolis 3 was a surprisingly tasty place! If you're ever in the area, check it out! Great food, plenty of laughter... but no wine. Random factoid: Did you know it's a law in Crandall (all of Texas, anybody know?) that you can't serve alcohol within 200 feet of a church?

Summer Pictures III- Grant's Farm

My birthday (36!) happened to be just a few days after we moved in. We decided it was a necessity to put the unpacking on pause and experience our first forage into local culture: Grant's Farm. Ulysses S. Grant, that is. The outing was a short one, with highs and humidity rivaling any August day in Texas, but worth it!

Here's Grant's actual cabin:












Ellie wasn't so sure what she thought of these critters-- they were not meek and mild.













They were downright aggressive!













I know you can't tell by this picture, but this guy was on the move-- clocking speeds up to 1mph!












Grant's Farm is owned by the Anheuser-Busch company, thus the parrot's loyal pose.












K & E recommend the "fun pass" when you go: 2 milk bottles to feed the goats, 1 carousel ride, and a free drink, for $5. A bargain! Great family fun day.

Summer Pictures II- San Antonio & the coast

OK, don't actually have any pictures from San Antonio, I realized. Think I took less pics this summer, because now that we live in the US, it felt like-- it won't be another year or two before I see you all again! Anyhow, another summer highlight was our family weekend at the coast.

In my mind, the fishing trip day is the bare minimum essential of the trip. I'm not a gifted fisher-woman or anything-- there are just so many fun childhood memories that I can't not come along. Me and my bro:



















Tim (my sister's husband) and nephew Ethan



















Beautiful sunrise that morning!













Plenty of girlie dancing performances...














...and little cousin Aubrey gets her groove on too!















Fun at the beach...






































Wish I'd taken a few more-- best part of the beach afternoon was the family project hermit crab wave pool. We all contributed and collected probably 70ish hermit crabs and made a little habitat for them... i.e., imprisoned them for a few hours. Any of you guys get a shot of that?

Missing China

Alas has come the sad day when I looked to the side of my blog and realized, it still says I live in Asia. Having some sad missing Asia moments today, but it's time to change the blog. No more "China time zone" app. No need to put a new one, because you all know what time it is here.

But can I tell you three fun China things I've found--

#1. Lu Lu's Chinese restaurant. Awesome Chinese food rivaling our fav restaurant in Beijing. Fun family night discovery when we drove down to the "China town" here in STL.

#2. Olive Farmer's market, which is really not a farmer's market, but a Chinese food market. I haven't been to it yet, but I'm told it has ALL the ingredients we need for HOT POT...

and # 3. Hot Pot friends! I've met another mom here in the counseling program who has also lived in China, and she and her hubby also LOVE spicy hot pot. It's a date!

Summer Pictures I- Athens & Dallas

Yeah- I finally found the camera cable in a random box. The house is mostly unpacked, but we had a bit of leakage in the basement during a big rain overnight a few nights ago, so we are going to have to completely re-work the office downstairs and all the books. But I think we're doing pretty well-- today marks 3 weeks in our new home!

Pictures of the house to come soon. But for now-- catching up on the summer. Here are the pics from Athens and Dallas:

We spent a lovely evening with GG & Da at a friend's cabin, fishing, enjoying BBQ, and watching the sunset out on the porch. I believe it also was this night that we gave the "go ahead" to our realtor and accepted the seller's contract on our current house.

This little pond was filled with young trout and it was a great try-me fishing experience for the girls.



















I love Ellie's cutie-patootie-look-at-my-fish pose :)































Another highlight from Athens was blueberry picking! Never done it in my life!






































Look at all them-there berries!!














A girl's got to have her new summer shoes.
















The girls spent a lot of time at "Da's store"-- Da (Jim's dad) owns a Feed & Fertilizer store, but as far as the girls are concerned, the most important feature is the goodies in the front. K plans to turn it into a candy factory one day.



















Happy Anniversary GG & Da- this pic taken on their #42!



















We also took a day trip to Dallas to meet little baby cousin Andrew!



















Swimming in the pool with Dingo












































More to post tomorrow!

Settling In...

I haven't quit on the blog!

Profound and meditative thoughts have been at an all-time low in our transition, but don't give up on me-- at least I'm about to have access to other people's great thoughts as soon as I start my program!

On the picture front-- But the camera/PC cord hasn't turned up in the unpacking, so I'm stuck on getting summer pictures onto the blog until that is found :(

Bullet point update:

-Girls start school tomorrow! They are so excited. Mommy is too. I think this is going to be a great year for them!

-China shipment to arrive on Wednesday! Yeah for the final influx of unpacking!

-Mommy's school starts next week. According to the girls, all I need is a pink backpack and a cool lunch bag, and I'm ready to go :) Ordered my books online tonight... Factoid: in 10 out of 15 textbooks, Amazon was cheaper than the seminary's bookstore.

-Ellie had an "asthma event" over the weekend-- Not willing to say she has asthma, but we ended up in a pediatric clinic with breathing treatments and came home with a nebulizer for more. Prednisone and the whole bit. She's getting better... unfortunately her family history is stacked against her!

-Yeah for the public library! This place is awesome. Of all the places I missed having in Asia, I'm probably most excited about access to the library. I love finding great children's literature-- Reading books to the girls is one of my favorite things in the world!

OK... more to come when I find the camera cord!

Quick Update...

I have so many pictures to post that I'm sure my mother-in-law has given up on me, but TOMORROW is the road trip to Saint Louis!! Tomorrow night sleeping for the first night in our new house! Three cheers for the the beginning of the end of transition!