I have been a wayward child,
I have acted out,
I have questioned sovereignty,
and had my share of doubts,
And though sometimes,
my prayers feel like they're bouncing off the sky,
the hand that holds won't let me go,
and is the reason why
I will stumble, I will fall down
But I will not be moved
I will make mistakes, I will face heartache,
But I will not be moved
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand,
I will not be moved
Bitterness has plagued my heart,
many times before,
My life has been like broken glass,
and I have kept the score
of all my shattered dreams,
and though it seemed,
that I was far too gone,
my brokenness helped me to see,
it's grace I'm standing on.
I will stumble, I will fall down
But I will not be moved
I will make mistakes, I will face heartache,
But I will not be moved
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand,
I will not be moved
Oh the chaos in my life,
has been a badge I've worn,
and though I have been torn,
I will not be moved
I will not be moved
I will make mistakes, I will face heartache,
But I will not be moved
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand,
I will not be moved
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Become a better writer!
Here are some valuable tips to teach the kids on how to become better writers:
Avoid clichés like the plague – their old hat.
Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are unnecessary.
Do NOT use a foreign word when there is an adequate English quid pro quo.
Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
Don’t repeat yourself, or say again for the fiftieth time what you have said before.
Be more or less specific (depending on what you mean too say)
Proffread to see if ewe have mispelled words or left any words out that you meant include.
Avoid clichés like the plague – their old hat.
Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are unnecessary.
Do NOT use a foreign word when there is an adequate English quid pro quo.
Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
Don’t repeat yourself, or say again for the fiftieth time what you have said before.
Be more or less specific (depending on what you mean too say)
Proffread to see if ewe have mispelled words or left any words out that you meant include.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Love this song
"I Choose" by India Arie
Because you never know where life is gonna take you
and you can't change where you've been.
But today, I have the opportunity to choose.
[Verse 1:]
Here am I now looking at 30 and I got so much to say.
I gotta get this off of my chest, I gotta let it go today.
I was always too concerned about what everybody would think.
But I can't live for everybody, I gotta live my life for me.
I pitched a fork in the road of my life and ain't nothing gonna happen unless I decide.
[Chorus:]
(And I choose) to be the best that I can be.
(I choose) to be authentic in everything I do.
My past don't dictate who I am. I choose.
[Verse 2:]
I done been through some painful things I thought that I would never make it through.
Filled up with shame from the top of my head to the soles of my shoes.
I put myself in so many chaotic circumstances, but by the grace of God I've been given so many second chances.
But today I decided to let it all go. I'm dropping these bags, I'm making room for my joy.
[Chorus:]
(And I choose) to be the best that I can be.
(I choose) to be authentic in everything I do.
My past don't dictate who I am. I choose.
[Bridge:]
Because you never know where life is gonna take you and you can't change where you've been.
But today, I have the opportunity to choose.
release the guilt about why things happen they way they did cuz life is gone do what it do.
And everyday, I have the opportunity to choose.
[Verse 3:]
From this day forward I'm going to be exactly who I am.
I don't need to change the way that I live just to get a man. (NO!)
I even had a talk with my mama and I told her the day I'm grown,
"from this day forward, every decision I make will be my own." And hey!
[Chorus:]
(And I choose) to be the best that I can be.
(I choose) to be courageous in everything I do.
My past don't dictate who I am. I choose.
(And I choose) to be the best that I can be.
(I choose) to be authentic in everything I do.
My past don't dictate who I am. I choose.
[Bridge:]
Because you never know where life is gonna take you and you can't change where you've been.
But today, I have the opportunity to choose.
release the guilt about why things happen they way they did cuz life is gone do what it do.
And everyday, I have the opportunity to choose.
Because you never know where life is gonna take you
and you can't change where you've been.
But today, I have the opportunity to choose.
[Verse 1:]
Here am I now looking at 30 and I got so much to say.
I gotta get this off of my chest, I gotta let it go today.
I was always too concerned about what everybody would think.
But I can't live for everybody, I gotta live my life for me.
I pitched a fork in the road of my life and ain't nothing gonna happen unless I decide.
[Chorus:]
(And I choose) to be the best that I can be.
(I choose) to be authentic in everything I do.
My past don't dictate who I am. I choose.
[Verse 2:]
I done been through some painful things I thought that I would never make it through.
Filled up with shame from the top of my head to the soles of my shoes.
I put myself in so many chaotic circumstances, but by the grace of God I've been given so many second chances.
But today I decided to let it all go. I'm dropping these bags, I'm making room for my joy.
[Chorus:]
(And I choose) to be the best that I can be.
(I choose) to be authentic in everything I do.
My past don't dictate who I am. I choose.
[Bridge:]
Because you never know where life is gonna take you and you can't change where you've been.
But today, I have the opportunity to choose.
release the guilt about why things happen they way they did cuz life is gone do what it do.
And everyday, I have the opportunity to choose.
[Verse 3:]
From this day forward I'm going to be exactly who I am.
I don't need to change the way that I live just to get a man. (NO!)
I even had a talk with my mama and I told her the day I'm grown,
"from this day forward, every decision I make will be my own." And hey!
[Chorus:]
(And I choose) to be the best that I can be.
(I choose) to be courageous in everything I do.
My past don't dictate who I am. I choose.
(And I choose) to be the best that I can be.
(I choose) to be authentic in everything I do.
My past don't dictate who I am. I choose.
[Bridge:]
Because you never know where life is gonna take you and you can't change where you've been.
But today, I have the opportunity to choose.
release the guilt about why things happen they way they did cuz life is gone do what it do.
And everyday, I have the opportunity to choose.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
If a dog was the teacher...
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
my evening
looking at formant transitions, measuring vowels and voiceless stops, and measuring frequency...I'm ready for this part of my life to be over, but am grateful for the opportunity this work has given me in terms of learning and publications
A "WICKED" weekend
FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD
PRACTICING MY POPULARITY SKILLS, TRYING TO LEARN FROM GLINDA
ME AND TWO OF MY BROS
CROSSED EYES
THE LADIES
THE LADIES AGAIN
MOM AND JONATHAN - SO CUTE
Friday, April 10, 2009
Experiment Week 2 update
funniest quote this week (besides those uttered by our wonderful amazing inspiring participants):
S. (a research assistant) knocked on the door to relieve C. (another research assistant) who was participating in the CIAT (constraint-induced aphasia therapy) language games
C. says "Aw man..."
I loved it - she wanted to hang out more....loved it...we are having so much fun
I had a rough couple of days this week - A camera died on me, ~30 minutes of treatment went unrecorded, a tape was corrupted, etc. Roughness. Those things impact my research of course. But in the end, they are just a footnote in a document. The big picture is that therapy went great despite it all, participants made improvment, and we are having an impact. Who cares about the rest? It is important to remember I am doing this - not for a publication, not even for graduation requirements, but to help people, to change lives. Blips on the radar screen don't compare to #2 grabbing my hand and putting it to his face to say thank you, #0 bringing treats and buying us drinks everyday to express his gratitude, #1 making great strides and working hard on every sentence, and seeing #4 even make improvements despite how high functioning she is, and cheer us on, and cheat at games ;)
There is always drama in my life, in my family. Dramatic events have occurred recently that have definitely thrown a curveball - some handle it well, others don't. I keep asking myself - self, why aren't you more worried about this? self, why aren't you more upset about this? self, why aren't you stressed about this? Have you become unfeeling, emotionless?
Searching for the answer has led to this conclusion - I care, and deeply so. But I am honored, blessed to work with people every day who, in return for my therapeutic services, give me perspective and joy. For the most part, none of them can return to work, they are restricted to communicating with 1-2 people who will take the time to try and talk to them, they no longer talk on the phone or get on the computer, most avoid going out to eat or other recreation and leisure activities b/c they aren't designed for people who have difficulty communicating, many can't read or write anymore, some can't walk, spouses have left, friends and family avoid, etc....Those are real problems. And they are hopeful and motivated and generous despite it all, and a joy to have in my life. Perspective.
Love it. Love what I do. Love them. Love life.
S. (a research assistant) knocked on the door to relieve C. (another research assistant) who was participating in the CIAT (constraint-induced aphasia therapy) language games
C. says "Aw man..."
I loved it - she wanted to hang out more....loved it...we are having so much fun
I had a rough couple of days this week - A camera died on me, ~30 minutes of treatment went unrecorded, a tape was corrupted, etc. Roughness. Those things impact my research of course. But in the end, they are just a footnote in a document. The big picture is that therapy went great despite it all, participants made improvment, and we are having an impact. Who cares about the rest? It is important to remember I am doing this - not for a publication, not even for graduation requirements, but to help people, to change lives. Blips on the radar screen don't compare to #2 grabbing my hand and putting it to his face to say thank you, #0 bringing treats and buying us drinks everyday to express his gratitude, #1 making great strides and working hard on every sentence, and seeing #4 even make improvements despite how high functioning she is, and cheer us on, and cheat at games ;)
There is always drama in my life, in my family. Dramatic events have occurred recently that have definitely thrown a curveball - some handle it well, others don't. I keep asking myself - self, why aren't you more worried about this? self, why aren't you more upset about this? self, why aren't you stressed about this? Have you become unfeeling, emotionless?
Searching for the answer has led to this conclusion - I care, and deeply so. But I am honored, blessed to work with people every day who, in return for my therapeutic services, give me perspective and joy. For the most part, none of them can return to work, they are restricted to communicating with 1-2 people who will take the time to try and talk to them, they no longer talk on the phone or get on the computer, most avoid going out to eat or other recreation and leisure activities b/c they aren't designed for people who have difficulty communicating, many can't read or write anymore, some can't walk, spouses have left, friends and family avoid, etc....Those are real problems. And they are hopeful and motivated and generous despite it all, and a joy to have in my life. Perspective.
Love it. Love what I do. Love them. Love life.
Monday, April 06, 2009
Sunday, April 05, 2009
1 week down, more to go
Last week, I worked 87 hours in 5 days. Besides being so thankful for a wonderful week of experimentation, all I can say is "Oh my neck. Oh my back. Oh my neck and my back."
I'm exhilarated, amazed, exhausted, fulfilled, stressed, .... all at the same time. Its an interesting time for me.
I'm exhilarated, amazed, exhausted, fulfilled, stressed, .... all at the same time. Its an interesting time for me.
Friday, March 20, 2009
frailty
The sentence that keeps running through my head right now is "All that is not faith is sin." So, I must be sinning up a storm, because I'm worried. And worry is not faith. Therefore, worry is sin, right?
I'm worried that I won't find that 1 more participant. I'm worried that my experiment isn't going to start or finish in time. I then worry that I won't graduate in August. And then I worry that I'll lose my job at UofSC. And that we'll be homeless and jobless.
Doom. Despair. Worry. Sin.
Yet, even as that sentence of unknown origin plays like a broken record in my head, I realize what a sentence of condemnation it is. Basically it says - you suck for being human, for having moments of frailty. But that is not what God is about - there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1). And as a believer, I believe that he understands my concerns, that he is big enough for me to have a little doubt and worry here and there...he is just waiting for me to reach out and take his hand, the one he has been holding out for me the whole time, so he can guide me once again on this particular journey.
I'm worried that I won't find that 1 more participant. I'm worried that my experiment isn't going to start or finish in time. I then worry that I won't graduate in August. And then I worry that I'll lose my job at UofSC. And that we'll be homeless and jobless.
Doom. Despair. Worry. Sin.
Yet, even as that sentence of unknown origin plays like a broken record in my head, I realize what a sentence of condemnation it is. Basically it says - you suck for being human, for having moments of frailty. But that is not what God is about - there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1). And as a believer, I believe that he understands my concerns, that he is big enough for me to have a little doubt and worry here and there...he is just waiting for me to reach out and take his hand, the one he has been holding out for me the whole time, so he can guide me once again on this particular journey.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
What is my personality color?
According to a facebook quiz:
Personality Color = Blue
If you are blue, you are outgoing with your friends, but not so much around new people. You like to chill and go with the flow of things. Sometimes you can become a little bossy. You are an awesome friend and care about their feelings.
Personality Color = Blue
If you are blue, you are outgoing with your friends, but not so much around new people. You like to chill and go with the flow of things. Sometimes you can become a little bossy. You are an awesome friend and care about their feelings.
Monday, March 02, 2009
Snow in Athens
Those were just a few pictures of the damage. Our house is surrounded by 800 million trees, give or take a few, and the arrival of the winter storm brought on the falling of some very large limbs and branches.
At about 9pm last night, our power finally went out. Brent saw what he thought was lightning in the distance, but we found out this morning that it was actually a transformer blowing up. We were curled up by the fire on the futon, half in and out of sleep. I think we were both in that very close to the surface sleep state, when we both heard the very distinct sound of a creaking and breaking tree. We both immediately rolled off the futon and onto the floor - no discussion, no words necessary, no hesitation. It did not land on the house, just very close. Afterwards, and even now, I laugh about that stop-drop-and-roll moment.
Where did the road go?
A view down our street
A view up our street
Mr. Johnny Cash really enjoyed the snow
The sun is out! What a beautiful day!
Me and B
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Dreamers who do
"The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers. But above all, the world needs dreamers who do."
~Sarah Ban Breathnach, Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy, 1996
~Sarah Ban Breathnach, Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy, 1996
Friday, February 27, 2009
fitting quote for my proposal meeting
"Success is 10% inspiration, 90% last-minute changes."
~From a billboard advertisement
~From a billboard advertisement
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Circumstances
People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them.
~G.B. Shaw, Mrs. Warren's Profession, 1893
Very wise words...repeated by Madea, not as eloquently of course, in Madea Goes to Jail. Touched me a bit - take responsibility for your choices, stop blaming others for your circumstances, stop being a victim, etc. Good stuff.
~G.B. Shaw, Mrs. Warren's Profession, 1893
Very wise words...repeated by Madea, not as eloquently of course, in Madea Goes to Jail. Touched me a bit - take responsibility for your choices, stop blaming others for your circumstances, stop being a victim, etc. Good stuff.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
100%
"If a man is called a streetsweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and Earth will pause to say, Here lived a great streetsweeper who did his job well."
~Martin Luther King, Jr.
Its amazing how much impact we can have, even in the "small" things. Even when I was a waitress/bartender, I had the ability to make or break someone's day. When I teach, the amount of care I take to ensure that my students understand the content can affect them in the future. When I sign or sing at church, the effort and preparation and heart I put into it can affect someone's worship.
And whether or not we believe it to be true, people can tell when you are not giving your all, when you are putting forth a half-hearted effort, when you're distracted, etc. I don't want to be described as someone who mostly did my various jobs or callings well, most of the time. I don't want any qualifiers in there at all.
But this is a problem for me, and for others like me - I want to try so many things, want to be good at so many things, want to say yes to everything that anyone asks me so as not to disappoint them, etc. This leads to spreading the self too thin, and I run the risk of only partially giving myself to too many things.
This is where whole-hearted YES and whole-hearted NO answers come in. I am striving to fully say yes, to mean it, to give 100%. And I'm also striving to say no more, to say it whole-heartedly, and to not waver. And I will be great at a few things, instead of mediocre at many.
~Martin Luther King, Jr.
Its amazing how much impact we can have, even in the "small" things. Even when I was a waitress/bartender, I had the ability to make or break someone's day. When I teach, the amount of care I take to ensure that my students understand the content can affect them in the future. When I sign or sing at church, the effort and preparation and heart I put into it can affect someone's worship.
And whether or not we believe it to be true, people can tell when you are not giving your all, when you are putting forth a half-hearted effort, when you're distracted, etc. I don't want to be described as someone who mostly did my various jobs or callings well, most of the time. I don't want any qualifiers in there at all.
But this is a problem for me, and for others like me - I want to try so many things, want to be good at so many things, want to say yes to everything that anyone asks me so as not to disappoint them, etc. This leads to spreading the self too thin, and I run the risk of only partially giving myself to too many things.
This is where whole-hearted YES and whole-hearted NO answers come in. I am striving to fully say yes, to mean it, to give 100%. And I'm also striving to say no more, to say it whole-heartedly, and to not waver. And I will be great at a few things, instead of mediocre at many.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Relaxing after my proposal...
So, I defended my proposal today before my committee. There are a few modifications to make, but nothing to stop me from going forward. Thanks to all of my mentors and profs, and thanks to all of those that came out to celebrate with me this eve!
This is a pic of a little extra "personality" I added to my ppt presentation...I've discovered during my years of teaching that if I add in some relaxation opportunities during lectures that it helps me out in the nerves department big time. So, I created this "I heart plasticity" t-shirt to slow and calm me down. Enjoy!
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