Life as I know it

Well it's been a bit since my last update. I am back in the grind and still trying to grasp the life of a grad student. I am ecstatic about my research. I could cry just thinking about it. Thanks to my amazing advisor and a little of my own doing I feel like we are on the verge of something awesome. I'm not ready to go completely public with it yet but it involves Appalachia so it is so close to my heart. My other grad level course is amazing. It's a class full of women and it is so nice to look forward to Thursday nights to just get to discuss education with all of them. It's great to have so many perspectives. I'm so glad I'm here at Radford. It was definitely the right choice for me. I've met with the App. Studies department and they were the sweetest. I just wanted to sit and talk with them for days. That's the latest with me.

Drew has been a big support system for my research so far. I am so lucky to have someone who gets as excited as I do about research because to be honest I can be a little obnoxious talking about it. He seems to be enjoying his work and is definitely looking forward to hunting season and oddly so am I. I am sooo ready to have deer meat in the freezer and deer jerky in my mouth! Yum!

Ike has been good, except for his mother trying to unknowingly kill him by giving him treats from China. Thank goodness that freak out has passed. However, he was a little puny last night so I'm hoping that was just a little bug.

Ike and I are gearing up for a trip to Pound in a few weeks when Drew heads to PA to hunt. I'm so excited to go home, it has been a little while. Plus, now I have a new face to visit because my dear friend Kristen gave birth to a beautiful baby boy last week. I was so blessed to be able to go see him when he was born but oh goodness I'm excited to kiss his little cheeks off soon. Things with my friends lives are all changing and moving and it's so exciting to watch! Two of my other friends are expecting, one just bought a new house, and my bestie is considering grad school in NYC. Exciting stuff! Oh and I can't forget my dear friend (who I will not name) is about to find her soul mate. I'm a little bit psychic and I just feel it in my bones. And if she doesn't on her own then I will find him for her via Christian Mingle. hehe

Other changes happening in life don't seem quite as fun. My friend Rachel and I were talking the other day about how certain good things in our lives will never be as they once were. It's hard to be away from loved ones, especially when circumstances aren't great. And even being away from friends poses problems for fear of growing apart. I just have to appreciate what God has for me right now and that is here in Blacksburg/Radford. But I refuse to allow that to harm relationships that are distanced.

Okay, enough rambling. My momma is coming to stay with me for a few days next week while Drew heads out of town for work. I've become a bit of a chicken living in our house out in the country. I was fine when Drew would leave me at the apartment because we had on Offensive Lineman as a neighbor. However, I no longer have that buffer. So, my mom is going to come protect me from the boogy man.

Here is sweet Jackson I get a picture of him every couple of days. I'm wondering if I should send Kristen a picture of me to show to Jackson every few days so he will know me too. Too much?? Yeah, I thought so.