Double Delight!

I am happy to report two great blogging firsts for me. First, this is my 150th post. Who knew I had so much to say and share (just kidding....I am a talker!)? Also, yesterday was the one year anniversary or birthday of this Teach.Read.Cook.Learn blog!!! I am so excited about that. Has a year ever been full of SO many changes and new opportunities? What will year 2 hold I wonder?

                                                                        *beauty from here
I love this blog. I love it even when I think I am the only one who reads it. I love it when I add pictures....I love it when I just type. I love that my friend helped bring my vision to life, and now her own blog is growing in well deserved popularity.

The year has seen my move from comfort and passion to growth and delight. It has seen Sabrina at 24 and 25, and Sabrina the new car owner, and Sabrina the moving lady, and Sabrina the girl who is random.

Cheers to my life and the blog that I use to share it with you. Cheers to more fun, living, grace, and joy. Cheers to creativity and the friends who take time to read about the life of little 'ol Sabrina Maude Stewart!

Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday to you (the best, blessed, mama in my world!)

Happy Birthday to you ( a woman of contentment, simplicity, and joy)

Happy Birthday dear mama ( Betty Laverne Miles Stewart)

Happy Birthday to you ( I love you dearly, and sincerely!!!)

Fitness Goals

I am going to just unload all of my current fitness goals in one post. There are a lot of them....but I am hoping I can hit most of them....or maybe some of them. That would be good for me!

Limit the sweets and reward myself with Yoforia (once a week).

Exercise 3 days a week ( I have 2 weekly sessions set up with a fitness group...so I just need to add in 1 more day.)

Eat more fruits and veggies daily ( I made a little tally mark chart to help me see this one.)

Don't buy any new clothes at my current size. ( This is budget and fitness combined!!)

Say NO to soda....maybe except Diet Dr. Pepper! Order water when I go out to eat.

Go out to eat less...sooooo hard for me!!!!

Whew!

Retreat Part 2

My weekend was soooo many things.
It was
needed
hard
hilarious
strength
illuminating
tearful and cheerful

Being on a retreat with my cohort (who I love and am inspired by!) and my professors (who I respect and am inspired by!) was in some ways surreal. We were able to bond and heal in ways that just would not have been possible if not for that set apart time, in that set apart place.

I was reminded of my strength. I was reminded that I am TOO hard on myself. I was reminded that people are struggling all around me and I need to care about that. I was reminded that God truly brought me to this place in my life for a reason. I learned that life is hard and people can be just destructive to others....yet we have resilience and love and coping skills that we are not even aware of.

I am too thankful for words for my precious and unique life. Sabrina is really a good person, she is growing and maturing and having to let things go each and everyday. But all of that is natural, it is a part of the process and I am learning that trusting the process brings joy. That being in the moments is what it is all about.

May I remember to support my cohort. May I open myself to more love in my life and more learning. May I grow in grace and always remember that my health is a blessing.

On a random note- The bonding over 90's pop music, the laughter over Taboo, the joy of being with friends was priceless.

Retreat Part 1

" It is the bread of my art and the water of my spiritual life
That remind me always to reach for what is highest
Within my capacities and in my demands of myself and others;
not for what is perfect, but for what is the best possible."
Audre Lorde

At the closing of our Counseling Theories class this Fall my professor gave each member of our class a different quote that she hand selected for each of us. Mine is above and I treasure it! After a class full of personal revelations and sharing, this quote showed me that she got me...and all of my Sabrinaness.

This weekend I get the opportunity to go Retreating with my 10 wonderful and different cohort members and my 6 major professors. Yep....UGA you were the perfect choice for me:)

Dedication

But Ruth said:
“ Entreat me not to leave you,

Or to turn back from following after you;

For wherever you go, I will go;

And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;

Your people shall be my people,

And your God, my God.

17 Where you die, I will die,

And there will I be buried.

The LORD do so to me, and more also,

If anything but death parts you and me.” Ruth 1:16-17

What a truly humble and beautiful statement to start out my week. I had not read Ruth in quite a while and I was struck by these touching words:)

Children's Books are in the Air

Last week we spent a fabulous 30 minutes in class discussing and reading our all time favorite children's books (shout out to The Mrs. Piggle Wiggle Treasury).

Then a friend's blog mentioned one of my fondest childhood memories.....going to the public library (insert thundering applause).

After that one of my favorite news sites had an article about the newly crowned Newbery and Caldecott children's book winners.

It seems like children's books are just in the air this week:)

PS- If you click here you can find the complete list for any books that have ever won a Newbery award!

WHAT A Week!

Gooood Morning and a very Happy Friday to everyone:)

 Well I definitely picked the right year to come to UGA. The snowstorm or our own personal snowmageddon has been nuts. However, I did want to get the true Georgia experience...and I am getting that for sure:) Many local public school have been closed ALL WEEK! I can't even imagine the stress that caused for some parents and some children.....being forced to be together and still for prolonged periods of time....GASP! ( I am kidding, but you would be surprised how lots of families avoid real contact with each other through overbooked schedules and lack of meaningful communication).

I am back to the grind...and I will admit it tired me out yesterday. You have to get readjusted to being back in school. Here are some highlights of this upcoming Spring semester 2011.

Cohort and Professors Retreat ( I am on the planning committee for this!)
Starting Practicum once a week at Decatur High School.
Taking 4 classes....Expressive Arts in Counseling, Groups, Careers, and Practicum.
Exercise classes twice a week at the UGA gym.
Maybe presenting a professional poster at a Diversity conference.
Helping host a graduation party.
Having my 26th birthday ( low key but cute).
Working with the student athletes.
To sum it up nicely....teaching, reading, cooking, and learning:)

Having Time

Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't
own it, but you can use it. You can't keep
it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it
you can never get it back.” Harvey MacKay

Two....yes I did say, TWO snow days in a row press home the pleasant feeling of having time.

When I hold up my life mirror against these two days I realize that this having time thing is just blissful.

Sleeping well AND Taking time for a nap.

Talking to God in prayer AND Daily Bible readings.

Eating three meals a day AND Having time for a snack or dessert:)

Watching hilarious TV AND Reading chapters of books.

Thinking about the future in a purposeful way AND Experiencing the current day in all its glory.

Getting on Facebook more than I should AND Singing to my favorite songs on You Tube.

See, on a typical day I usually only have time to do half of these things. There is no room for the AND.....but today there is....and so I will do both this AND that and enjoy the moments.

“Life is all about timing... the unreachable becomes reachable, the unavailable become available, the unattainable... attainable. Have the patience, wait it out It's all about timing.” Stacey Charter

5 Senses: Snow

See- Delicate white snow flakes falling heavily and then lightly through the dark night air.

Hear- Nothing, except a few gusts of wind that blew the snow even harder.

Taste- Just like frozen water. Sort of like that really fine crushed ice.

Feel- Cold, soft, new, perfect, amazing!

Smell- I got nothing for the smell....and that's OK:)

I saw my first ever snowfall last night. I was the only one out in it at first and it was amazing and reminded me of God. I woke up this morning to snow covering everything!! It is ironic that the first day of the Spring semester would turn into a UGA snow day with the University closed!

What I will read in 2011

Looking ahead (one of my favorite activities) to the rest of 2011 I started thinking about what I will read.

I LOVE TO READ!!!! I hope that emotion got translated across the world wide web;)

Whether it be spiritual, academic, pure fluff or a mix of the three, I am all ready to snuggle up and get going.

With an impending GA snowstorm coming (my first EVER!!! eeekkkk!) I might get to read more than I thought tomorrow, if classes are cancelled.


In 2011 I plan on reading.....

The Bible in chronological order (This is guided by a study in my church home in Jacksonville) Its already been insightful.

Textbooks on Group Counseling, Career Counseling, and Expressive Arts in Counseling.


Recommendations from the always available NPR book lists.

An assortment of feel good books that make me laugh and smile. (Including rereading the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle Treasury!!!!)

I will probably read a self help book/pamphlet or two along the way.

Of course I will be reading blogs, and a variety of online news and entertainment outlets.

Already it is shaping up to be a year of reading pleasure.

What I learned from others in 2010

In this life we are teaching others lessons all the time. They are not usually acknowledged but that does not mean that the lesson is any less important.

From my mama I learned to bask in simple joy. It just does not take much to get her smiling and thanking God.

From my daddy I learned to put your best foot forward in a Godly manner and also take time for true, relaxing vacations.

Melanie taught me to value my health and to not let small things rattle me.

My grandma taught me to treasure family as a precious gift from God:)

Tami taught me that we are responsible for our responses to our decisions...aka we have to sleep in the bed we made and not complain!

Cherika taught me to be calm and at peace and sacrifice for family.

Julie taught me to value my past job at Roberts and to remember teaching for the pure love of the children.

Jennifer reminded me that a Godly attitude change is the golden ticket to a happy, thankful, purposeful life as a Christian woman.

My Aunt V. taught me to be careful of welcoming stress into our lives and then getting upset when it grows into an uncontrollable beast.

Hollywood taught me that more and more the world sees nothing wrong with divorce and that idea is flowing down into everyday society and even more hearwrenchingly sad, the church. Let me stand up and say, divorce is tragic, it is in many cases selfish, and divorce in the church must tear God's heart because it is destroying a union built to reflect his love for his church.

My cohort has shown me that planning, organzing, and being in charge is just me....and I need to go with it as long as I don't get lost in it.

I could go on but that is enough for the present. I look forward to more lessons in 2011.

New Reads

Good Morning,
 I would rate myself a 5 on this whole blog business. I personally love my little blog....but compared with others it's not much....and that is fine:) If you know me you know the face to face version is my best version anyway;)

 Sometimes I do stumble across an inspiring blog that makes me think WOW...and GOOD GRIEF!! I found one of those last night and I am still not done going through the pages of themed parties. The mind boggles at all of this inspiration placed on one site.

For you planning pleasure I present...( insert drumroll)     http://karaspartyideas.blogspot.com/

Untitled

On the eve of my return to Athens I just have to say....

This Christmas vacation was just great! Really, right at the end of the Fall semester I was getting more and more homesick. Now my cup is so full and runneth over and I am ready to head back to GA life.

Today I had breakfast with Becca and we discussed our 13 year old friendship (how did that many years go by, I don't know).

Late last night my daddy and I carried on a Stewart tradition which is late night movies at AMC. (GooooTrue Grit...and those instrumental, pure versions of some beloved hymns were fabulous)

I watched my cousin for a few days and got small glimpses that God is working with him and his angst. No one ever said Senior year was easy.

Of course there was cleaning, and cooking, and chores, and DVR.

One realization was that I could come back to Jacksonville...who knew...I sure didn't. Will I come back? That is for God to show me.

Next week is Day 1 of the Spring semester.....I can't wait:)

Graduate school update

Good Morning and Welcome to 2011. I'm sitting here enjoying leftover New Years sparkling cider:)
As I look back I see that I didn't ever really wrap up my Fall Grad. school thoughts on here. I know/think some of you are interested in that part of my life...along with the other random things I blog about:)


* The Fall was full of hard work but it was worth it in the end....great grades (all the praise given to God)...useful and pertinent knowledge gained.

* I still love my little apartment on the 3rd floor. I have actually had a few offers to move in with friends for next Fall....but I prayerfully decided to stay put.

* This is a BIGGIE!!!! I am applying for an assistantship for next Fall and Spring. It would be a HUGE blessing and help cut my tuition again. They are highly competitive.....but then again so am I;) If you could pray for this please. Interviews are coming up in January. I hope I get one!

* My job mentoring UGA student athletes was wonderful. I am still using my teaching skills just in a different form.

* When school starts back I will be working my school counseling Practicum one day a week at Decatur High School....I am a mixture of nerves, passion, and creativity....and did I mention nerves!!!

Back to the books on January 8th:) I am gonna squeeze the last bit of fun out of my vacation before I leave Florida:)