So I don't forget

Note to self.....

Figure out how you can blend your love of cooking and counseling. Just like music therapy, I know that there is something therapeutic about cooking/baking. Maybe I could have parent workshops one day titled Counseling and Cookies with Ms. Stewart:)

Also, I have been feeling this huge tug on my soul lately about specializing in counseling children who have terminally ill siblings, or siblings who have passed away. This little, special niche of people is SO important to me, because I am one.....and I think and know that this group sometimes gets overlooked but that they REALLY could use someone to listen to their concerns and fears.

In 2011....

Here is what I already know about the upcoming year 2011....I am not a psychic and neither do I believe in them.....I just know these things:)

In 2011......
people I love and respect will pass away
people who are my friends will have babies and get married and start dating....some will stay together and some will break up
I will turn 26 years old
I will laugh a lot and smile hard and love this life that God has given me
I will cry and have hurt feelings and still love this life that God has given me
I will make new friends and acquaintances
I will get to travel
I will get more in shape (I hope!)
I will budget and get my finances in order (oh yes please!)

Now with all of that said I will say this.....2011 is a completely unknown entity. Sure, I know some things but they are so tiny compared to what I have no idea about. The key is to hold fast to God, have faith and grace, love my family and friends, and be the very best Sabrina Maude Stewart that I can be.....that should not be too hard ( I am kidding) it will probably take me 365 days to kind of get it right!

Disney Magic

Here is a little sneak peek into our Disney Christmas. I tell you, there is nothing like Disney to get this 25 year old feeling like a care free, innocent little girl. Jaw dropping fireworks....delicious and expensive snacks...millions of Christmas lights....rides.....it was just about perfect. I also have to note that after MANY Disney trips we are kind of Disney experts. I also have to say that after all of these years the magic is still there because on each trip we always have a new experience!!

I have some Eeyore moments sometimes;)

Oh how I LOVE these adorable gingerbread people!

Breakfast time at the Animal Kingdom safari.

We had the BEST seats for the Christmas parade!!!

Downtown Disney is always great and a wonderful spot for Orlando reunions:)

Shooting Star

This time last week I was in Kansas having a ball.....now I am home in Jacksonville and heading to Orlando. That is a blessing in itself, that I have had the opportunity to travel.

In Kansas one evening I glimpsed a shooting star. It is only the 2nd one I have ever seen! And I love them because they are always a surprise....you never know when they are going to flash across the sky.

Life is full of surprises....and as usual some are amazing and some are shattering. This year has been surprising. But for some reason a part of me feels as if next year, 2011, holds A LOT more surprises. (I think I feel excited about that.)

One mark of my maturity in Christ is me seeing and acknowledging him more and more. He truly is everywhere and in everything. A healthy family is a blessing. My friends and their unending support is a blessing (This UGA transition has been many things and I was strengthened by their support and care). UGA and my future profession are blessings. My church family especially at Chaffee Road is a blessing and a glimpse into what heaven must be like.

That shooting star reminded me that God is great and surprising. I however am not....I do many of the things that I have done for a while. I sometimes respond with old emotions to new situatations. I HATE to be disappointed (I don't know if that will ever change...SIGH)....and yet the surprise is that in the midst of it all God is using me. He is growing me and helping me and surprising me with his good will in my life.

One thing I know...I have 4 more months left of being 25 and a brand new year ahead....may I be open to the surprises....even if it means letting go.....even if it means stretching. May I be strong enough to deal with my life (hahaha that sounds so melodramatic and interesting!)  

We want to believe

 During this season more than any other I feel as if all humankind wants to believe. In what you are probably asking?
My answer is in EVERYTHING!


Anxious Floridian kiddies wait hopefully for cold rain that could turn into snow.

Adults watch the news and are angered by senseless holiday crimes... because really, who does that at Christmas....any other time of the year it's normal.

Families get together and share new joys and old memories...and we want to believe that some habits have changed.... sometimes they do and sometimes they don't.

People enter sweepstakes and raffles... because if you are ever going to win a trip for 4 to Hawaii, it would be at Christmas:)

Churches are filled with folks with all types of beliefs...the happy part is that they come to worship....the gut wrenching part is that they want to believe that a few times a year is enough to build a lasting relationship with our God.

I want to believe that the wishes and prayers that have yet been unfulfilled will suddenly be worked out before the New Year.



I enjoy this time of the year! So many things seem possible in my innocent and sometimes too trusting heart. I hope that everyone will have a marvelous Christmas with family and friends, creating memories of all the magnificent things that you want to believe in!

Kansas Travels

Hi,
 I am back from my first ever flying winter trip (Yay me...I used to be scared of Christmas travels and the airport!). Kansas was just wonderful! I will post more details later but I wanted to check in quickly.

 I survived some FRIGID temps, that made me appreciate FL and GA a lot more:) I had 5 fabulous days with my sweet friend Stacey and her welcoming family. There was snow and I was excited! I wore layers like a true Northerner....yep thermal tops and bottoms;)

 The airport was full of people traveling to see family and it made me excited to get to see mine so soon. I can pretty much tell that I won't ever be moving across country...too far from my roots.

 Before I hit the bed a shirt I saw said.... "Just when the caterpillar was going to give up on life, it turned into a butterfly." I stopped right there in the busy Detroit airport and reread that one and I just can't get it out of my tired head. I have been that caterpillar....and I have had butterfly moments that make it all worth it:)   

Excerpt from a prayer

My prayers are definitely personal and also I think pretty personable. Here is an excerpt from my prayer today...I share it not because it is special but because it so easy for me to forget to pray for those whose lives are dark and dreary. I get specific about the great things but sort of gloss over the bad.

"God please bless and help the sad, depressed, angry, sick, and tired. Lord there are those who need you who are weary, mad, confused, and hurting. There are people mourning, addicted, and hurting in ways I cannot even imagine. And God especially be with those in abusive situations whether it be sexual, physical, verbal or emotional…above all God I plead for the children in these situations!”

"My God please bring light, help, happiness and joy to those who are needy. May the people who feel alone find amazing peace and comfort in you and your people. Thank You God my life…I am blessed and favored to know you and love you!"

Busy Bee

Currently I am quite the busy bee. However, there are plenty of good things mixed with my busyness (spelled correctly according to Microsoft Word).

If you dropped by my lil apartment you would find me doing a mixture of the following:

Writing my last paper for the Fall semester

Packing for cold Kansas City

Mailing Christmas cards far and near

Running errands all over Athens and even Atlanta

Listening to Pandora ALL the TIME

Applying for an assistantship ( Fall 2011-Spring 2012 which seems so far away!)

Cleaning every nook and cranny

A random assortment of things

Yeah, it's kind of hectic....but soon I will be leaving on a jet plane to visit my friend Stacey (Sunday). Then leaving in a Stewart family car caravan to head to my favorite place, Orlando and Disney!!!!!

Tears

 I can only speak for me when I say that tears are refreshing. They remind me that I am not superwoman. That I have weak places. That this heart is still soft and capable of being moved by emotions.

 I have never cried happy tears, though I have laughed so hard I have cried....I don't even know if they are the same thing:)

 I don't really like to cry....but I need to cry sometimes, if that makes any sense. This 25th year has been a good one...I am blessed and happy, but I have cried over transitions, new things, old things, movies, and just life in general.

Lately I have had to make some frustrating and difficult choices, I can only hope that I have done and am doing the right thing. Connected with my post a few days ago, I am seeing that part of me letting go of the past and moving on involves some tears. I don't think I am getting these words out exactly right...but this blog has and will never be perfect (though I hope to keep it honest) and for that I am thankful:)

I ADORE this!!!!

Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough... It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again," to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again," to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike: it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.
G.K. Chesterton

Looking Back...

My sister Melanie is always teasing me about how I like to remember old times and think about the past.

She is right, I do look back a lot.....and I am not exactly sure if it is a good or bad thing. I do know that if you look back too much you can fall into the trap of painting experiences with a rose colored brush.



This Fall semester has been another growing experience. I am thankful for UGA and my cohort experience in the School Counseling Masters program. Getting involved with the Grandparents raising Grandchildren group was eye opening. Mentoring a 4th grader made me feel complete. Learning about counseling theories showed me how much I don't know....and how much "stuff" I carry around and even sometimes put on other people. Church is a different experience, by that I mean that in each of my moves I have seen or maybe focused on a different part of God's character. No matter what, I know that it has grown my faith to move and change churches and adjust to different styles as long as they are all based in truth and love.



Looking back on the semester I feel....

proud, tired, confused, happy, worried, careful, ambitious, hopeful, scared, nervous, and content.



PS- Here's to one more final and then a Winter break filled with travel and family:)

PPS- GO NOLES!!!!!!!!

Press replay over and over

It's Friday and I have survived a pretty difficult week of graduate school. Whew and I truly Thank God for bringing me to today!!!

Another way I got through was replaying the following songs....if you know me I can obsessive over a song....so I won't even share how many times I have played each song in the past week.
Pink- Glitter in the Air
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Glee- Umbrella/Singing in the Rain mash-up

Cee-Lo- Forget You and the Glee version is not bad either
Flo-Rida- Club can't Handle Me
Pandora- Christmas Song radio station


To all a happy and relaxed weekend filled with the things you love!

My Christmas List

All I want for Christmas 2010 is......

UGA Snuggie (Mel got me this early...Thank You!!)

Lily Pulitizer 2010-2011 planner

Princess and the Frog DVD

Twilight Eclipse DVD

Vera Bradley (I have 2 favorite patterns...and a new purse and wallet would be perfect!)

 

Video Camera