They say that catching up...is...hard to do-o!

...but I'm getting there!!! I was gone from school for a week and missed quizzes, notes, etc. Don't get me wrong, I would not take that week back for anything, but it is difficult to catch up. I also came back to practicum and had a MOUNTAIN of paperwork to do!! It's all good. Why? I'm Superkristi!! Well, not really, but I was able to catch up. ^_^
Also, this is my first free weekend in ONE MONTH. I am psyched!! Those who know me know that I love people and would much rather be in a room surrounded by people than being at home, by myself, ALONE. I can be alone for a time, but then I have the biggest urge to be with others just to hear them speak. Not this weekend. I am going to work on 4 papers in utter solitude, with occasional breaks every once in a while so I'm not driven mad. I don't like to be alone too much, but this will be a good weekend for the cause--school!!
I must say, though, that part of catching up is getting me into the Christmas spirit. At first, I was not ready to hear Christmas music because it was reminding me of all the catching up to do and all the stuff that needs done beforehand. This monrning, though, I was in the grocery store and looked up at a TV just in time to see my favorite scene from "White Christmas"--where Danny Kaye and (what's her name--Mom, you know!!) dance together for the first time. I love that song!! They are so graceful. When I see that movie for the first time, I know it's time for Christmas!! What a special movie.
Thanksgiving will be spent this year with Bryan's family. 2 of the family members are vegetarians, so we will be eating some stuff without meat, but I am excited about this Vegetable Gratin recipe that I found in a magazine. I'm dying to try it out because it looks wonderful, has Asiago cheese and polenta in it, which is a type of grainy starch, and Bryan loves polenta. Here's hoping I do it justice! At any rate, it will be a good time had by all.
Pictures to come...^_^
Love to all!!

God is not a crutch!

He is so much more than that! God gets us through everything. I'm reading this book, "Darkness is my Only Companion," which is about the struggle of a woman with Bipolar Disorder. Anyone who knows about Bipolar Disorder knows that this struggle is intense. It's not just the transition from manic--excessive energy, irritability, lack of ability to sleep, to depressive--lack of energy, feeling pain. The pills people have to take make it difficult, going through the symptoms. I am so grateful for these people who have improved upon the medication that people with Bipolar Disorder have to take, and yet it is still far from easy. Although I do not know this personally, I feel with this woman in her book, and I encourage counselors, therapists, and people with Bipolar Disorder to read this book.
Why is the title of this blog "God is not a crutch!"? So many people that don't understand Christianity think of God that way. God is love that people do not understand, which is one of the reasons He is so beautiful. Any difficulty I have in my life can be maintained, even if it ends in death, because that is not the final end. I want people to know that God is there.
This book is also important, though, because the author, Kathryn Greene-McCreight, is candid about her thoughts and feelings toward those "comforting" Bible verses. Although they are comforting, pain does not go away just because you understand pain. I used to think you could explain away anything, but I was naive. I am less naive now, after experiencing other people's suffering. I still have a lot to learn, but I do know that anything difficult I have or will experienced would be a million times worse without the presence of God in my life. I know that not everybody will read and believe in God, but He extends His love to all who will take it. Thank you, God for loving me, wrapping your arms around me, and giving me hope that I will be with you someday. In the meantime, I am here to do your work and encourage others, hopefully bringing them to you as well.

The Mom and I...and custard pie

Mom has been the dutiful daughter, taking care of Mamaw and Papaw wherever she can, teaching 2 classes, taking care of me while I'm here, doing her job--basically, she's superwoman. ^_^ I've been having fun with her.
The other day, she asked me what we should get for dinner, and I immediately said "Chicken Pot Pie!!" knowing that she would have enough crust left over for our little custard pie, as well. Yummy!!! So that's what we did.
I wanted to put a picture up of us smiling, but we were against a yellow wall, so we look a tad jaundiced. Oh, well. Here's a cute picture of her on the phone as well. ^_^ She's talking to my brother. What a great Mom!!!

I'm home!

It is so good to be here. I know I'm here because of a deeply sad event, Papaw and his cancer, but I must say that I am so relieved to see my family. I have gotten my family cup filled already, and it's only MONDAY. I still have one week to fit in as much family as I can. So far I've seen Mom, Aunt Donna, Mamaw, Papaw, Kreg, Keleigh, Tara, I finally got to meet Peter, and I get to see Rachel, Casey, and Abby tomorrow. Yea!
On the down side, a difficult thing is to see Papaw's face. He is in pain, and I wish I could take it away. He is no longer on a morphine drip--they give him morphine orally and in liquid form, when he asks for it. Earlier today, the nurse asked him on a scale from 1-10 where his pain was, and he said 5-6. Tara and I decided that a 5-6 for him is about a 9-10 for most people. We can't take away his pain like we wish, but we can make him smile, on occasion. He has the best smile, just the way Great-Grandma Curtis used to. Laura Reeder came over and made him smile today, and I just had to put this picture up.
I'm missing school for a coupla days too, so I'm working on a paper while I'm here too, but I'm definitely not skipping out on family to do that. The less I soak them up while I'm here, the more I have to miss them until I come home again in May!! Dumb airline prices.
So here I am, soaking up as much Curtis clan as possible. I love us so much!! One of my favorite parts of this time was being able to sing with Aunt Donna and Mom 2 days in a row: fun songs with Mom while she was on the piano on Saturday night, and great church songs the next day at church. We even sang "Victory In Jesus" at night church. That was special. Here's to a great man and a great woman who got together, not knowing that they would raise 4 God-fearing children, 12 God-fearing grandchildren, and 13 (some on the way) great-grandchildren! ^_^ What a crew.