Graduation

I am sitting on my couch trying to soak in the idea that I graduate in about 20 hours with my Master's Degree. Who thought this day would come??

UPDATE

I know it's been terribly long since I have blogged last...I will try to get better about this (PROMISE)!!! I have been working full-time, volunteering 5-8 hours a week of free counseling services, and spending time with new friends. This semester has zoomed with excitement: I have finished all of my graduate school classes, I have finished volunteering as a counselor, I have a beautiful new job possibility, I passed my National Counselors Examination, and I graduate in 13 days.

I even have a new, super fancy official signature,

Melissa Vermillion, MA, LPC-I, NBCC

Tomorrow

I just realized that tomorrow I will work a 13 hour day. I will work intakes in the morning and then see 3 of my clients out in Madisonville. Then I will come back to do 3 counseling sessions at 5, 6, and 7 PM. Then discipleship time with Jenn. I will be gone from my apartment for about 15.5 hours tomorrow. SOOOO long story short, I'm in bed about to be turning off the lights.

LA LA LA!!!

Life thus far is insanely busy. I am in the middle of my clocking my internship hours which is difficult because it requires a lot of paperwork. I turned in my final paper of my grad school career this evening, and I danced all the way to my car. Well not really danced, but I definitely thought about it. Also, I realized that I have 5 more classes before I am DONE, DONE, DONE with school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My job has an additional role added on to my position, and that includes monitoring individuals who move from the state supported living center to the community. This has added many extra meeting to my job and a mountain of paperwork. It's been a challenge to keep up with the meetings and keep on track for my other work duties. I feel like with my job I have bitten off more than I can chew (don't get me wrong I love my job), but it's difficult because some people in my office don't understand I've had more responsibilities placed on me. I'm trying to keep a positive attitude about the extra responsibilities because I like it, but it would be greatly appreciated if some people in the office recognized that role.

Please pray for me because I'm extremely drained physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Happy Update!

I know many people have asked about the job...Do I like it? Do I have a typical day? Am I stressed out? How's that whole school thing going? What are my plans?

1. Yes, I like my job. I like it so much now that I'm done training and actually able to do my job.

2. No, I don't have a typical day. It depends...some days I can be in the office, out of the office, seeing clients, or combo.

3. I'm not too stressed, but making it through each day then each week.

4. Oh school, it's a pain in my side. I took one online class this summer and one seminar. I got ALL A'S, but what else is new with school. I registered from my NCE, National Counselor's Examination. I take it on October 16th, and yes I am studying. Yes, you can pray a LOT for me!!!!! Please pray, I'm trying to find a supervisor at my job, and it's cutting it kinda close. I have to get it all together in a week, register for supervision class, pay for my last semester of school. Then God willing I will graduate in December.

5. My plans are up in the air. I plan to stay at my job for a while at least till May. I would love to do private practice work with children, shocker I know ;).

Delightful

Yesterday, Payton and Travis got married and it was "DELIGHTFUL!!!" The wedding was at Barr Mansion in Austin, and Payton was beautiful (nothing new there). It was rather HOT outside, even for a 7 PM wedding. The reception was cool and the food was delicious. I can't wait to hear about her new life with Travis in...about a week!!!!

Apartment

Here's the second bedroom, and the office. It's the bed I slept in my last two years in high school. Now it's my bed!! I love it so much, missed it, and now I come in and read on this bed for fun. I remember may great conversations with friends on this bed :).

Here's my favorite picture from undergrad. Susie, Laura, and me freezing at Lake Bryan. It was a Phillies retreat and we were too cold and wimps....so we left!!!!

Here's my bedroom....I have re-done some of the pictures on the wall since I first moved in. I have also "lost" some lets just say "not so cute decorations that were given to me." My taste is for the most part traditional, but some people don't share my taste...so those gifts were "lost."

I have to say this might be my favorite part of my apartment. I LOVE fireplaces with real wood burning fires. It's going to be an amazing fall and winter time.....I know it's months away, but a girl can pray. Can't she????!!!??

My "contained" cross wall. I have to be honest I got this idea from Sara Moffitt who has a much, much larger wall on her living room. It's SO PRECIOUS!!! I had to give it a shot and I love my kitchen!!

Saturday before the BIG MOVE

Olivia and I driving to Research Park to feed the Duckies there dinner.

Momo's camera provided great entertainment for a two-year-old-princess.

Olivia actually took this picture, all by herself, before we left the Park Hudson Parking lot. We had a slumber party the Saturday before Momo moved apartments. It was a blast, I can't wait to have another slumber party with Olivia.

SO CLOSE!!!

It's almost moving day, that's right. I have another 5.5 hours at work then a full night (yes, no more procrastinating) OF PACKING!! Yeah, packing isn't my favorite thing....I like it more than the grocery store which I desperately need to hit the grocery store.

The movers come Friday morning @ 8 AM....WOOHOO!!!!! I'm excited to have the process done. I'm super excited because my MOST precious friend from college, I met her the first day of classes is coming to CS to help me decorate on Saturday. WHOOP!!!!! I'm beyond excited to spend time with her and to have her opinions while I am decorating. She is precious to me and I can't wait.

Pray for great rest tonight (tomorrow will be a long shot) and less stress!!!

Sorry So LONG!!!

Alright I'm officially the world's best slacker blogger. It's been almost 2 months since my new post. That's right I have been working as a FULL TIME EMPLOYEE FOR 2, TWO, DOS, MONTHS!!!!!

I have finished training and been on my own for 5+ weeks!! I like my job. There is never a DULL day, I have some great stories, weird clients, and great co-workers. It's been an adjustment period, that's for sure.

I'm taking an online ethics class in summer 2 (not as exciting as it sounds) and a 1 day seminar. Then I take my last supervision class this fall and I will graduate. ALSO, I registered for my National Counselor Examination in October. I'm about to start studying any day now.

BIG NEWS: I am MOVING, MOVING, MOVING, MOVING, on Friday morning at 8 AM!!!! Tonight I'm packing, doing laundry, studying, reading, packing, studying, packing, and desperately looking for more motivation for packing. I'm really excited about moving and decorating a new place!!!!! I will post pics soon after things are decorated!!

J.O.B.

I start my first real job tomorrow, and I am so scared. PLEASE PRAY FOR ME!!

Semester DONE

My semester has come to a close and things have been a whirlwind of studying, presenting, testing, teaching, crying, and learning. Even with all of the crazyiness going on my perfect 4.0 GPA remains entact! PTL!!!!!

Madness Update!

So these past couple of weeks have been a little insane...I finished leading Bible Study for my senior girls and it was the sweetest moment to watch my girls speak Truth into the 8th grade girls.

My classes are finished for the semester!! I have to continue seeing clients these next two Thursday evenings. Then I am DONE for the summer!!!

Also, I have a job interview Thursday morning @ 8 AM!! Please, please PRAY it works and they offer me the position because I really need a full-time job.

Picture says it ALL

Truest picture of what a Discipleship relationship looks like, walking through life together.

Through the ups and downs of life, many tears, sleepless nights, prayful moments, sonic Dr. Peppers, movie nights, research park amazing talks, pranks and scaring people, late night target shopping trips, countless sleepovers, some more tears, and ENDLESS moments of joyous laughter. Words cannot express how Katherine has changed my life!!!!!!!!!

Life is almost restful!

Well....I finished my transcription. Now I am working on my final case study and presentation that is due on Monday night. It's exciting to now that this is the LAST THING I HAVE DUE FOR THE SEMESTER!! I still have not found out about my test results for my comprehensive finals grade, so I am praying I will find out on Monday!

WHOOP!!!!!

Comps almost here!!

Well....I have survived (almost). I will take my comprehensive finals Thursday @ 1 PM.

If you read this please, please pray for me. I study non-stop. Right now I am taking a break and will start studying again very soon!!

Update from Blue Baker...Yummy

Well I have spent 12 or so hours studying @ my favorite place Friday and Saturday. I know it's really excessive, but it's necessary. I am stuck here again today for another 6-8 hours of studying.

GREAT NEWS....I only have 1, yes 1 class left to hardcore study. Then I still have 12 more to review, read, memorize, love, adore, and know. I felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders after I realized 1, ONE, UNO, 1, 1 more class left. PLT

On another note, I had a really bad night last night. I had a great friend who always know the words to say to me. It was just not great, and I am praying on some big decisions in my life right now (internship or job, class schedule, and youth leader decisions). Please join me with praying!!

Comps....**SIGH****

Right now many of my favorite things including: babysitting, hanging out with my girls, watching TV, and sleeping are taking a severe backseat to my comphrensive finals. On April 8th, I take finals over all the classes I have taken during my 2 years as a graduate student. This is insane and I have a ton of informaiton to memorize, believe, know, understand, and bleed.

If you read this....PLEASE PRAY for my study time to be productive, me to sleep as much as possible (haha yeah right), and to remember all of the information I study. I am really excited tomorrow because one of my senior girls begged to hang out and study together. WOOHOO, I get to do ministry and study with my senior girls!!!!

OK.....NO MORE BLOGGING. GOT TO STUDY NOW!!!

Ski Trip Part 2!!

I hope you enjoyed some of the pictures I took. This was my first and probably my last ski trip with the GBC Youth Group. These kids were amazing, wonderful, and incredible to spend 5 days with them.

Friday: We left Grace around 7:15 and arrived in Frisco, Colorado Saturday around 3:30ish. That's right we drove through the night on a chartered bus. Some of the nights' events were the sophomore girls making a tent, and inviting various people to come talk to them under the tent; the aweful movie Lord of the Rings 1 and 2 (worst part of the bus ride), Sarah scaring the new bus driver, and me getting motion sickness (yuck). Checked into our hotel, showered, ate dinner, and then leaders lead devotionals for the kids. We all had an early bedtime due to exhaustion!!

Sunday: First full day of Skiing....All new ski kids went to ski school for the morning and spent the rest of the day skiing. All experienced or 2nd time skiers hit the moutain to ski for the day!! All the girls' rooms ordered delicious pizza and watched Disney Channel. Then leaders lead devotionals (the kids got to choose between 3 devos each night Topics: Fellowship with Believers, Peace and Patience, and Fruits of the Spirit)!

Monday: Second full day of Skiing...Many of the experienced skiers spent the morning skiing with the beginners. It was a day full of major wipe outs: One leader ran into a tree, one girl hit a direction sign, one girl took out another skier, and several went off into the powder. I am praising God because the amount of extreme wipe outs we had with NO INJURIES. That night the entire 4th smelled of Icy-Hot, and leaders lead our last Devos. Then we had an Epic Game of MAFIA!!!

Tuesday: Third and last day of Skiing....Hit the slopes for most of the morning. Kids came back staggered so they could change, and load up the bus. We ate dinner before getting on the bus around 5:30. Then we set off for the longest ride back to College Station, TX or Home Sweet HOME!! We drove through the night and arrived earlier than expected back home. I can proudly say we came home with 1 swollen ankle and NO INJURIES!!!! However, we do have many kids and leaders who can barely move any part of their bodies.

It was such a Blessing to spend time with 40 youth kids and 10 leaders. Our only job was to protect our kids and spend time investing in their lives (plus having a carving it up out on the slopes)!!!! All of our kids had a great time out on the moutain, and I know we will all sleep well tonight :).

Ski Trip!!

We woke up in New Mexico to SNOW!!!!















Saturday morning Yoga on the McDonald's playground!!











Stretch it out girls before we get back on the bus for another 7 hours!












First day on the slopes it snowed all day, and the winds were about 20 miles per hour. BURRRRRR














Phillies.....That's how we Roll!!
















Second and Third day on the slopes were beautiful.












Copper Moutain was amazing!!













EPIC: MAFIA GAME w/ the most intense leaders and youth kids ever!













Liz and I trying to partner up in Mafia. Didn't work out so well!












Bubble blowing contest, and Sarah won!!














Liz and I with Sarah's Bear!!

SPRING BREAK!!

It's my last official Spring Break and I am so EXCITED....GBC Youth Group is going skiing, and I am one of the leaders going skiing. We will ski in Copper Moutain Colorado with 40 youth kids, WHOOP!!!!!!

See ya later; hopefully with NO broken bones and no more illness in my system!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blogger Slacker

I know that I promised an update soon (about 3 weeks ago). Sorry for the slacking in the update department. Currently I am taking a break from studying at my all-time favorite place Blue Baker (just completed 2 treatment plans and 1 study guide for my comprehensive finals)! That probably sounds like a lot to accomplish, but I still have so much to do when it comes to school.

I feel as if I have so much school work to do that I don't know where to begin with my assignments, reading, and studying. I guess this is a constant struggle for a grad student!

Other news, I had an internship offer in Bryan that fell threw this week. My on-site supervisor must have her LPC license for a minimum of 2 years, and when I begin in May she will have her license about 18 months (my advisor would not bend the rule). We talked Thursday morning, and he told me to find another site. I am honestly looking at taking a full-time job in May (like May 1st) which terrifies me to no end! I have no idea what the Lord has planned for my life and my internship. The plan is still to stay here in B/CS, but I will have to go where I get an offer. I love everything about this town from Grace, to my kids, to youth group girls, to A&M!!!! So I will keep you updated when ever my decision is official and papers are signed.....Feel free to ask questions whenever about the internship ordeal because I often get distracted/forget to update!!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE LORD'S WILL IN MY LIFE!!!!!

Still here....

I know it's been a while since I have updated on my life. These past few weeks have been insane with some nuts and cherry on top. I found out due to scheduling conflicts I will not be graduating in August but December. My advisor dropped this bombshell on me, and to be honest I am OK with delaying graduation.

I have my first interview for an internship this coming Tuesday @ 3:30 PM with Twin City Mission....please pray for me!! I am excited.

I promise to update everything more, but for right now Allison is here and we are taking a ROADTRIP TO BASTROP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Teenage Filled Weekend

This past weekend was great...I spent the weekend with Liz and Kat while their parents went hunting and "shooting" photos!! It was an entertaining, exciting, and exhausting weekend with 2 teenagers!! Friday night consisted of listening to music on a boom box and computer with the TV (more than a little ADHD going on there)!!!! This entertain lasted about 2 hours of listening to music, Internet, and television madness....hahahahaha!!!! Then I asked, "I wonder if Aaron Carter made a music video of this song." Liz and Kat jumped to the computer saying...."I will find it on youtube." That's when an awesome dance party broke out in the kitchen around 12:30 AM!!!!!!!!! At one point during the dance party Liz states, "This is so fun we never get to do this!" That statement made the whole weekend for me because as a youth leader I LOOOOOOOOVE being able to do fun, cool, and hilarious things kids don't/won't do with their parents!!!!!!!! Then someone (Kat) said lets watch a movie, and someone (me) else said, OK!

Saturday we slept in late, and then went ice skating, ate SPOONS, and began watching Indiana Jones 1, 2, 3 (this is what happens why I said we can do anything you girls want to tonight)!! Laser tag was supposed to be thrown in there, but we ran out of money (or we really wanted SPOONS more)! No worries, I won't make that mistake again!!

Sunday, Kat and I went to church! Then around noon Liz, Kat, and I laid down on the pull-out-couch watching Indiana Jones 2 and 3, followed by Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Neither of the girls napped, but I definitely took advantage of the napping process (at one point in the napping process I woke up with 5 blankets on me)!! Sunday was wonderful because I was too exhausted to move, think, breathe.....So lying on the couch and just watching movies with the girls was sweet!!!! The greatest part of the weekend happened when the garage door opened, AND the parents were H.O.M.E.

Now after spending the day with ZERO KIDS OR TEENS....I am off to enjoy a night hanging with friends and watch THE BACHELOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OH New Year's Resolutions!

After listening to many different stories of hearing of the inevitable New Year's Resolution! Well I decided to cave and make a resolution......BUT I have decided to keep tracking with some changes I have made this fall semester.

1. I have been extremely diligent with spending quality time with God. I will continue journaling which is something that became apart of my life this past spring!! Becoming a youth leader has challenged my faith more than ever in my life, I rely on prayer more than anything! I can honestly say that I LOVE IT!!!

2. Running a 5K, Allison and I began training for our 5K this past fall. Then school, youth leader, working, and life happened....Needless to say the training fell apart. I started back almost a week ago, and I am up to running (OK slow jogging 2.5 miles)!! These next couples of weeks I will increase to 3 miles, and decrease my time!

3. Devote more time to myself...This fall I return to an old pattern of serving too much, over committing, giving too much, and running myself ragged. Now this will be my biggest challenged in the Spring, but thankfully I have a dear friend (Allison) who will hold accountable to me time!!!

4. Many times in the fall I felt completely overwhelmed with emotions and out of control (if you know me this is NOT a normal character quality). I taking many tangible steps to resolve this problem, and one specific lady at Grace who is helping me out (haven't even met her yet)!!

5. School: Finish classes in the Spring, get an internship, graduate in August, get a J.O.B.!!!!!!!!!!!!! My life will drastically change in the next 7 months, and I am choosing to trust my GOD with MY future (WOW, that's a hard phrase to even type)!!