This one is just dang funny!
This past week was a stressful, but good one! There were a few reasons to celebrate! ***WARNING VERY LONG POST***
CELEBRATION REASON #1: I finished my first sewing project! It was hard work and I am glad it is done, but I learned so much. It all began months ago, in March to be exact, after I found out my dear friend Krista was pregnant with baby boy #2 (ok so we didn't know it was a boy at the time, obviously she found out later). Soon after I found out about Krista's pregnancy one of my clients who had just had a baby walked into my office one day with her infant baby wrapped in a beautiful quilt/blanket. I fell in love with it and immediately thought of Krista. I knew I wanted to make one for her; she is such a special person to me and has been the greatest friend. She is like a second sister and I love her and her family so I knew this endeavor would be worth it. So after all these years that is what inspired me to start sewing-thanks Krista! After I had made this decision my mother-in-law and sister-in-law invited me to join a quilt blocking class with them at a local sewing store. The timing was perfect because this helped me get motivated to start the blanket. Thanks to the help of my sister-in-law Stephanie who showed me some darling fabric and my mother-in-law who seriously walked me through the WHOLE process, it is finally done! Ironically the finished project looks nothing like the inspiration quilt/blanket from what I can remember but I am pleased with the way my first project turned out. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU Carolyn for coming to my rescue again, I couldn't have done it without you!
Enjoy Krista and Jakob, I love you!
CELEBRATION REASON #2: This one is the most important of them all! Jakob Matthew Johnson finally arrived on October 7, 2008! I was so excited to see the little man I had made the blanket for and to give it to Krista! Of course Jakob is so sweet and adorable, just like his big brother who he looks a lot alike-I think! Congrats Krista, Kent, and Sawyer on your new family member. We love you.
CELEBRATION REASON #3: I passed my clinical licensing exam!!! Talk about relief. This exam is the last exam a social worker must pass before they enter the field of clinical therapy practice. It is 4 hours long and dreadful. I have been dreading taking this exam since May when I graduated. I spent the whole summer studying for it but have never felt prepared to take it. I was even scheduled to take it in September but then rescheduled my testing appointment until today because I was so fearful and felt so unprepared. After all if you don't pass the exam the first time you have to wait 3 months before you can re-attempt and lets just say the pass rate is not ideal for first attempts. I have been so stressed that earlier this week I even told Sheldon that I was considering rescheduling it again. Luckily, he knocked some sense into me and confronted me on my avoidance. So after approximately 2 weeks of high anxiety-to the point I have been sick to my stomach, intense studying, and sleepless nights (because of both the anxiety and studying) I am finally done! The education chapter of my life has officially closed. No more papers, tests, studying, and school! YIPEE!!!!!!!! I have finally reached one of my major life goals.
I must say however, I know it was not all my doing. Sheldon has been the biggest support of me and my education. He has never treated his education as more important than mine. He has been supportive of my decision to take this journey and at times pushed me through it because he knew it was important to me-cheesy I know but it's true. And most important of all I have my Heavenly Father to thank. I am nothing without him and I know that I only made it to this point because this is what he wanted and expected of me, so he helped me. Thank you to everyone who was so happy for me and expressed care.
Sheldon gave me congratulation flowers, so sweet.
Sheldon and my mother-in-law congratulated me with suprise decorations and a ton of treats, thanks Carolyn.
And my cute little nieces made and hung up a "Good Job" banner. It was so long I couldn't even fit in into one camera frame. Thanks Taylor, Jaedi, Autumn, Kaydee, and Madison!
For a moment I am letting the social worker in me take over blog posting, however this is one of the most important posts I can make. October has been designated as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Despite what some think domestic violence affects people of all races, ages, religions and socioeconomic statuses. Domestic violence scars people physically and emotionally when it doesn't kill. It is likely that you currently know someone who is being affected by domestic violence, most importantly it is possible that someone is a child. It is considered neglect when children witness domestic violence! It is extremely unhealthy and detrimental to a child's development when they witness domestic violence; this is manifested to me on a daily basis with my clients. James Baldwin stated it best when he said 'Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.'
Help promote awareness of domestic violence in your area this month. You should be able to Google "domestic violence awareness month" followed by your state and area to learn about promotion efforts local to you. In Northern Utah there is a 5K in Layton park October 11th and a supplies drive for Safe Harbor Domestic Violence Shelter. I will post detailed information about these events and more.
