Changes

Here are some pictures of the new furniture that now resides in my living room! It is amazing and I love it...plus, I really love not sitting on the floor anymore. As I blog, Jack is sleeping at the end of the couch and I am laying completely sprawled out in comfortable bliss. :)

I have been very bored with my hair lately. This is no surprise; it happens every now and again. Usually when this happens, I go to the salon and get my color freshened up or get a trim, then I'm good again. This time, I did something drastic. Drastic for me that is. I chopped and cut and slashed my hair. My hair is shorter than it has ever been (at least since I was like 10). My hair is full of layers and my hair is darker than it has ever been (ever!). I love it! It is very cute, very fun and just the change I needed to not be bored anymore. Below are some pictures for your enjoyment! :)

Little Jack Bear and I are still loving the new house. Slowly but surely it is becoming what I envision in my mind. It will get to the point where it is perfect soon enough. Until then, we will continue to fall more in love with it each and every day. :)

Little Jack Bear sleeping on the new couch. :)

God is spending a little more time on me these days

I knew my time would come. A time when I would look around and have accomplished some of my major goals. A time when I would look around and not want for anything. A time when I would be completely happy, content and satisfied with the direction my life was taking. That time has come. :)

It's interviewing season...
So, I have officially begun interviewing for jobs in the local area. I had one interview a few days ago and am waiting to hear back on my verdict (do they want to hire me or not?). I also have a BIG interview on Monday. I say "BIG" because this is the important one to me. I have faith that God will lead me to where He wants me to go, so I'm not too worried about any of my interviews. All I can do is my best and wait to see what happens.

Grad school is going by so quickly...
I have been evaluating where my master's degree is taking me. I have been talking with my graduate advisor A LOT about what the next few years will hold for me. She is absolutely brilliant and I am so lucky to have her as a mentor. She knows my intentions of getting a PhD and is going above and beyond to help me accomplish this goal. I will be taking 12 hours of master's classes this summer plus beginning a research project and tutoring a few students in reading and writing. Sounds like a good summer, right? Then, in the fall, I will continue working on my research for credit as an independent study. These are the kinds of opportunities I have been wanting and they are finally happening. These opportunities will help give me the skills I need to help students in the future as I continue my PhD (which I will be starting in Fall 2011!).

The house is amazing...
Jack and I are loving the new house! We have been having many friends over for dinners, movies and studying, and so far, everyone else loves the house as well. I have begun to hang pictures and decorations on the walls and it is really beginning to feel more like me and more like home. I was able to quickly sell the old furniture in my living room and bought some great new couches and tables (that will be here next week!). Little by little the house is coming together. It will take a little more time to make it completely the way I want it, but that's ok with me.

Jack is growing so fast...
He is up to 4 pounds now (he weighed only 2 pounds when I got him one month ago). He is about to be 3 months old and is learning so quickly. Potty training is going ok...but he still has a lot to learn, sadly. He has mastered "sit" and we are working on "here", "stay" and leash training now. He is also getting very good at fetch! He is so sweet and I've found the best reward for him is to go crazy when he does something good. I tell him how good he is being and hug him and pet him and he LOVES it! Hopefully, he will be potty trained soon. :)

Everything else in life is going great as well. I am almost done with my first official semester of grad school and feel like I've done well. A job is in my near future (I can feel it). Jack is great company and such a joy to have around. Marathon training is going well and I'm planning to run my first 5K in about a week. Wish me luck. There should be many changes in my life in the next few months...can't wait to see what God has in store for me.

-Tracey

I'm coming home...

I AM A HOME OWNER!! WHOOP!

Ok, now that I have that out of my system, I can discuss this historic event in my life. I have purchased a house! :) Wow, this is such a big step. My family was so wonderful and helped me move in to my new house over Easter weekend. Now, I'm just trying to get settled, unpack my stuff and make the house feel like "me". I'm contemplating purchasing some new furniture for the living room and can't wait to add my personality touches to the house. Pictures will be coming soon, don't worry.

Besides the excitement of the house, I have been enjoying being a puppy parent to my sweet little guy, Jack. He will officially be moving to the new house this weekend and I could not be more excited to have him here. He is such a sweet little guy and makes me so happy to have him around. Right now, he's a great snuggler. We enjoy watching movies, reading or taking naps together. :)

The next few things on my agenda are interviews for a job, saving money, finishing my graduate classes for this semester and gearing up for a summer full of work and school. I have realized that I will be finishing my master's degree next August...meaning I could theoretically start my PhD in the Fall of 2011. Wow, that's so soon and it gives me butterflies to think about.

My family, friends and mentors deserve some thanks for everything they have done to help me the past few weeks. Thanks for the support!

Overall, and as usual, there are so many great things going on in my life that I can't begin to describe them all. All I can do is thank God every day for the blessings and work he continues to do in my life. He is so good and deserves all of the glory.

-Tracey

P.S. Enjoy the picture of my sweet baby with his Easter bunny.