Finally on our way

Well, with a bit of frustration and bad attitude because of waiting...we finally got our collaborative project approved. We had originally planned on being able to start our group the 1st of September, but due to some...pickiness...on the behalf of the Research Committee, our hopes were squelched until this week. That's okay, because the Lord has it all in control. I will conduct my first group today and I have six girls who are wanting to participate. We won't have all our data and final results before the Idaho Counseling Association Conference in January (where we are to disseminate our project), but at least we will get in a good chunk of work done before that time. Yehaw!!!

God know what we need

You know, it's funny how sometimes we forget about time and how it's flown. It's hard to believe that on the 21st it will be 5 years since my mom went home to Jesus. In some ways it seems as though she's been gone a life time, especially when my heart aches to talk to her. Other times it seems like it can't be that long that she's been gone. The funny thing is...God likes to send me reminders of her. On my computer I have a file that has pictures that I scanned of my mom when she was young all the way up through my childhood and beyond. It is not in my screensaver file. It is a completely separate file...yet.....yesterday....the pictures in that file started appearing on my screen saver. I'd be in the room and look over and there was a picture of my mom and I on the screen saver. What a warm and wonderful feeling that brought to me. A reminder....of my mom and the relationship we shared...of the relationship I miss so at times. And then I'm reminded that I have the opportunity to have that relationship with my daughter...to cherish the times we have together for we don't know what tomorrow brings. I say all this to remind you that God sends us what we need when we need it. I needed a reminder of my mom and the good side of our relationship..especially as the 5 year anniversary approaches. The Lord is good!!!!

No understanding

As a counselor, I wonder how best to get people through grief. Lately, I've wondered about getting through mine. This time of year is usually a bit rough..especially with five year anniversary of my mom's Homecoming coming up on the 21st...but it's more so this year due to the fact that many people around me have died due to cancer. I'm having such a time trying to wrap my brain around the "why" of it all. I'm sure that clients have the same question. I'm just not sure how to answer it. I can't even answer it for myself. I guess I say all this because I don't understand why so many people I know and care about have died from cancer. I know it's a sickness in our world that is unpredicatable and is here because of the fall of man, but it's still so hard sometimes to say "that's life". This is just the continuing struggle I go through as a counselor in training. How do I counsel those in grief? How do I help them find the answers they are searching for when I can't see to find them myself at times. I know God is is control and my fleshly body and brain cannot comprehend the bigger plan. But praise God that He does and that someday the answers will make sense. I'm just fortunate to know that I have a Savior who loves me and died for me and that when my time comes, and my work here is done, I will be going HOME and standing in the presence of a Mighty God who understands my fleshly struggles.