Statistically challenged

Tonight's agenda = crash course in experimental statistics. Exam tomorrow at 9:30 am, with homework assignment in tow. Even though I'm only taking two classes, it seems I'm focusing completely on one (genetics) and not the other (statistics). It's not that statistics is difficult for me, it's that it SEEMS difficult. I'm pretty sure they make the material purposely convoluted. Or maybe they're just expecting I would actually remember something from my first exp. stats class. Psh, what were they thinking?!

One redeeming factor for the evening... an entire bag of Starburst REDS! Many thanks to my good friend Hibes, who knows how much I *love* Starburst 'FaveREDS' because I pretty much ate an entire bag of them on my plane ride to Israel last summer. So hooray for brain food whilst I attempt to recall - neigh, master! - this wonderfully convoluted though ultimately understandable statistic mess.

I'll spread my wings, and learn how to fly

It's been a few weeks since I posted anything. [Obviously.] I've started to write a few different blogs over the weeks, but they were all so desperately about school, and I am *trying* to make an effort to not talk SO much about work [i.e. school]. I mean, really, there's only so many times someone wants to hear about how much work I have to do in the lab or that I'm studying for another difficult exam. So I'll sum that up by saying that I've held on for dear life as these last two weeks have zoomed by, full of the stuff that school work is full of. On the other hand, my life is desperately caught up in graduate school right now, so how can I expect to have anything else to talk about? In this light, I would like to mention some of the more interesting happenings in the last few weeks.

First - afternoons on the "5-acre lots" collecting samples. This occurs about once a week at present. My favorite part of these dates on the farm? The view! As I turn the sharp left onto the gravel road leading to the farm, a breath-taking landscape unfurls complete with rolling pastures, mountains in the background, and (for the past two weeks, anyway) beautiful, clear blue skies. In fact, last week I was so absorbed in thoughts about what needed to be done, that when I made the turn, the view actually took my breath away. It's simply glorious.

The second thing I want to share is a little less obvious perhaps, and a bit more obscure. But it ranks in comparison with that beautiful view. It's the feeling I get sometimes when I'm sitting in my molecular genetics course. That may sound strange at first, like how could I possibly compare a breath-taking landscape with sitting in class - learning?! And though I have a much deeper discourse brewing inside me on the subject, I'll suffice to say that science IS beautiful. It's miraculous and marvelous. And, as strange as it may sound, I get the feeling that this class glorifies God. The incredible processes we describe, the intricate workings of our beings, are so "beautiful and wonderfully made" that my heart cannot help but stand in awe of the author of life Himself.

Don't stop me now ... I'm having a ball

So, I have never been particularly thrilled about the thought of using coupons. All the work to clip them, just to save a few dollars, never seemed worth the hassle. So we shopped at our local "Always Low Price" store, and tried to keep our list to cheap items - pasta, potatoes, canned goods, generic brand items, etc.

When my sister told me that she'd saved thousands (yes, you read that correctly!) of dollars over the year couponing, I was a bit skeptical but definitely curious. And then she introduced me to Southern Savers - a site that makes budget shopping MUCH easier. It was very compelling, and hubby was convinced we should give it a shot (graduate student salaries and student loans are enough to convince anyone!). The parts I loved: the site explained how to NOT spend a ton of time clipping coupons (file the inserts!), and this works because every week store deals are posted right on the site with corresponding coupons listed next to the sale item (because, the key to saving big is pairing coupons with items that are on sale). Southern Savers does the hard work for you! For beginners, they recommend picking one grocery store and one drugstore (because it can get VERY overwhelming). Mine are Bilo and CVS.

I wish I had my totals up to date so I could tell you how much we've saved (and spent) so far this year. I can quote from my receipts that for Bilo we've saved 141.58 (before coupons) so far this year and for CVS we'ved saved 109.74.

Now, what really got me started on this whole story, was today's shopping trip at CVS! It's taken a few weeks to really get the hang of the CVS deals, but I gotta say, when you do, it's crazy awesome! Instead of going through the details, I'll just give the over view: at regular CVS price, today's purchases would have cost $63.58; however, MY subtotal (before tax) was a whopping 3.43!!! (After taxes, 6.03.) AND they gave me a coupon for $2 off my next purchase. So, yeah, I basically paid FOUR DOLLARS for everything you see in the photograph below,

Including: three boxes of 100 count Lipton tea bags, two jars of Ragu, three jars of peanut butter, five sticks of deoderant, a bottle of shampoo and conditioner, a huge bottle of body wash, and a bottle a Maalox. Wow! I LOVE this!

We're half way there

Hello Friends! I've finally decided to make my blog "public." That is, notify my friends and family that it exists. I've been back and forth on this decision a bit, as I feel that I temper my writing based on the people I think are reading it. However, I am going to try my best to be honest and unabashedly true to myself here. You are welcome to join me as I endeavor to log my thoughts and stories through this process called graduate school, and more generally - life. It is also my desire to review significant stories from the past, so important details can be shared and remembered (and to these I welcome much input, as my memory can be faulty at times!).

I am on a journey, to follow God and be faithful to His calling in my life. He's done so much in my life, it's really time to give Him credit for it all. And I want this blog to reflect that as much as anything.

So here's to the thrills, romance, and adventure - both past and present; to acknowledging Him in all my ways; and to sharing it all with you. Welcome!

What's the story morning glory

It has been such a good week. Perhaps this sounds strange after my last entry, but it's not really. It's true, it has been a busy busy week and the looming stresses have been fairly large. But I also want to acknowledge that there has been an ABUNDANCE of peace. Thursday, after I worked on a manuscript all day, I was convinced I'd be dreaming about it that night (I often dream about work when I've been so absorbed in it). Instead, I slept SO soundly (and dreamlessly!) that I woke up with a start around 4am, certain I'd overslept. (This is one of my favorite things - because then I get to go back to sleep knowing I have a few more hours to rest!) The same thing happened the next night. I had to get up at 5:30 this morning to make it to work (yep, on a Saturday!), and again, I slept so soundly and restfully that when I woke up (at 5:30... in the A. M...), I thought to myself - someone must be praying for my rest! Now, I don't know whether anyone is or not; that's not really the point. The point is that this peace and rest is supernatural. The joy - yes, JOY - that I had at 6 o'clock this morning as I left for work, was beyond me. (Anyone who knows me, knows that I am NOT a morning person!)

And as I drove to work, I thought about how easy it is to complain about having to work so much (take my last blog, for example). I even almost put up a Facebook status bemoaning the fact that I was up at 5:30 on a Saturday (I did still mention it, but was careful not to complain). Because, the truth is, I'm glad to be here. I'm glad I got to go to work today. (In fact, that's another story about that!) I'm happy to be where I am. And, yes, there is a lot to do. And, yes, I'm being stretched and challenged greater than I'd imagined. But I'm ENJOYING it. I'm excited about the character and the growth that's taking place within me. And I want more than anything to get through this - not just alive - but thriving.

And I just wanted to take this meager blogspace to say that instead of giving in to the social norm of complaining about every little requirement, I want to acknowledge that wonderful things are taking place. So, here's to God - to His peace, His strength, His wisdom, His impeccable timing - I couldn't do it without Him!

I'm not crazy, I'm just a little... well, crazy.

Whew! These past two weeks have been crazy, with no end in sight. It's starting to sink in what [PhD] grad school really looks like. Which is starting to look like me struggling to keep my sanity. Five and half months down, thirty-nine and half to go. I can do anything for... four years? Okay, maybe that mantra has lost its magic (it's supposed to go "I can do anything for... two weeks, a few months, [insert sane amount of time here].) It's okay. I kind of like being half-crazy. And, maybe, if I'm lucky, I'll be fully crazy by the time I'm done! (Sarcasm, of course.) (I think.)

So much "To-Do"

I've spent the last hour making a to-do list, staring at that to-do list, prioritizing the to-do list, talking to people about what needs to be on the to-do list... but not actually DOING anything on that list.

I'm overly overwhelmed. And even that feels like an understatement. My brain feels so heavy, my eyes are coming unfocused. I'm trying to break it down, organize it, schedule it... which somewhat helps with the overwhelmed feeling. Until I realized I still haven't DONE anything.

Okay, so this is where I re-focus and try to "remember what I know." *Big deep breath*

And as I begin to think, what comes to mind? This weekend's service, of course! Sunday morning Pastor shared on Proverbs 3:5-6. (Which btw, is where the name for this blog came from.) What he focused on, though, was trusting. Believing God. "Trust in the Lord with ALL of your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Right now, my own understanding is not happy; it is screaming that this is too much to figure out, too much to do, that I am incapable of what is needed to get this job done. BUT the TRUTH (which we also heard about this weekend) is that "I CAN do all things through Christ that gives me strength."

I'm thankful for God's truth that - even if it doesn't feel like it - really is more solid and true than the momentary stress. I can look to Him in these moments and know that He WILL see me through. He has before; He will again. He called me here, and it is His grace that will see me through.

And now, to get some of this done...