I need to blog more often, so lets start with NOW. Thanks and gig 'em :)
This past week has been quite a crazy ride. For those who aren't aware, I work for KPMG as an auditor, and my client is Anadarko Petroleum so I work out in the Woodlands every day... shopping anyone?) Tuesday morning I went downtown to get a free flu shot and drove back out to the Woodlands around 10ish - so far so good. The guys (I am the only girl out there) made an understandable amount of fun at the fact that I would drive all that way just to get a shot that will inject me with sickness. I assured them that I would NOT get sick, because I was Cheryl... the girl who NEVER gets sick. Sure enough, around 2 pm my stomach starts to hurt and the numbers on my spreadsheet are looking a little fuzzy. I stuck it out until 6, refusing to tell the guys that I felt like absolute crap. I would NOT be "that girl" right after I had gloated about my superior health. So I drove home in misery and immediately crawled in my big fabulous bed where I proceeded to call my mother 6 times over the next 3 hours to whine about my stomach. Calling your mom when you're sick is something I think you just can't grow out of. Anyways - at 9 pm I decided enough was enough and drove myself (much to my mothers chagrin) to the emergency room at Methodist Hospital. Of course, the parents met me there, and we sat in the waiting room for the next 5 hours. My only source of amusement during that time was watching my mother nearly lose it when the kid across from us blared "Crank that Soulja Boy" from his computer for the 50th (literally) time. Talk about a song to have on repeat. Anyways - long story marginally shorter - after they took blood, x-rays, did a CAT scan, and performed all of the other ER essentials I was informed I had severe appendicitis and I was being admitted for emergency surgery to have my appendix taken out! I spent a day or so in the hospital, where I was visited by some of the most fabulous people I know, and I've been taking it easy in Kingwood ever since!
I'm going back to my apartment today and going back to work tomorrow, but the few days of rest have been amazing. I mean, I was sore for 90% of it, but I just laid around and read a book! God is good at giving our bodies a rest when it's needed I suppose :)
It's been so long since I caught everyone up on my life... I'll have to update everyone over the next week or so, so keep checking back! I'll post some footage of the new apartment soon if anyone is interested!
I love you guys - keep me updated on your lives as well!
Cher
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Sitting alone in a hotel...
Hey friends. It's 11:55pm and I'm sitting alone in the Hampton Inn in Waco. I'm here to take my third and biggest CPA exam... here's praying I can pass this bad boy. I will just deflate if I find out I have to study all over again. This whole CPA exam crap seems like some cruel right of passage for all people crazy enough to attempt accounting as a major. There are moments when I really want to ask myself what I was thinking... but then I get over it and realize that I am SO an accountant and I really do enjoy this stuff. It's amazing how God builds some of us with the desires to do the even seemingly mundane jobs. (Seemingly being the operative word... this job is much better than it sounds.)
Here's a quick shout out to my super amazing couldn't do this without him friend Nathan Smith! He's coming tomorrow to meet me for lunch before my exam to give me a pre-game prep talk. He already took it and passed it, so that will be encouraging... plus I can't spend time with him without laughing my head off - so that will be a much needed stress reliever I'm sure. He even had the forethought to pick a place for lunch that was "light" so I could avoid having... er... stomach problems during my exam. What a friend :) Or maybe he just knows me too well.
I need to go to bed and just let the studying go. I have studied some today... played some today. I have become frighteningly good at the whole "denial" thing. I can actually sit here with books in my lap and surf the net and manage to suppress the feelings of panic and guilt. But then the clock strikes midnight and the sinking comes. It's bedtime - and I did not use today's time to it's best potential. Why do I do this? So what's my solution... guilt blogging.
I sign on blogger real quick and give you all the skinny on what it feels like to sit alone in a hotel room the night before an exam feeling somewhat prepared - knowing I could be more prepared. I half want to scream and get mad at myself, I half want to crawl in bed and forget the whole thing. I figure an hour or two more of studying won't add THAT much to my knowledge base and probably just make me groggy tomorrow during game time. Do you like my logic? This is how my brain works at 12:06 at night when I'm tired, but surprisingly alert due to a grande white chocolate mocha I just downed.
This is one major thing I've found changed about me during college. I still have a strong work ethic and will to succeed... but when it gets down to crunch time - I have become suprisingly mellow over the last few years. I used to panic, cry, get very angry and upset after 10pm, especially the evening before major tests, etc. Late night intense conversations were pointless with me. Now, I still wouldn't recommend it, but I have learned to accept that "what happens happens" and no amount of stressing or pulling hair is going to change that. If I have to retake an exam, I retake it... what is the harm in the big picture of life?
So what DOES happen now after 10pm? You are the prime witness. I get a little philosophic and decide to share my musings with the world via blogger. Hmmm...
Any prayers tomorrow would be greatly appreciated! Love you all - I'm going to bed now. Maybe a continental breakfast and a shower at 8 am will help me refocus and get my spirits up.
Cher
Here's a quick shout out to my super amazing couldn't do this without him friend Nathan Smith! He's coming tomorrow to meet me for lunch before my exam to give me a pre-game prep talk. He already took it and passed it, so that will be encouraging... plus I can't spend time with him without laughing my head off - so that will be a much needed stress reliever I'm sure. He even had the forethought to pick a place for lunch that was "light" so I could avoid having... er... stomach problems during my exam. What a friend :) Or maybe he just knows me too well.
I need to go to bed and just let the studying go. I have studied some today... played some today. I have become frighteningly good at the whole "denial" thing. I can actually sit here with books in my lap and surf the net and manage to suppress the feelings of panic and guilt. But then the clock strikes midnight and the sinking comes. It's bedtime - and I did not use today's time to it's best potential. Why do I do this? So what's my solution... guilt blogging.
I sign on blogger real quick and give you all the skinny on what it feels like to sit alone in a hotel room the night before an exam feeling somewhat prepared - knowing I could be more prepared. I half want to scream and get mad at myself, I half want to crawl in bed and forget the whole thing. I figure an hour or two more of studying won't add THAT much to my knowledge base and probably just make me groggy tomorrow during game time. Do you like my logic? This is how my brain works at 12:06 at night when I'm tired, but surprisingly alert due to a grande white chocolate mocha I just downed.
This is one major thing I've found changed about me during college. I still have a strong work ethic and will to succeed... but when it gets down to crunch time - I have become suprisingly mellow over the last few years. I used to panic, cry, get very angry and upset after 10pm, especially the evening before major tests, etc. Late night intense conversations were pointless with me. Now, I still wouldn't recommend it, but I have learned to accept that "what happens happens" and no amount of stressing or pulling hair is going to change that. If I have to retake an exam, I retake it... what is the harm in the big picture of life?
So what DOES happen now after 10pm? You are the prime witness. I get a little philosophic and decide to share my musings with the world via blogger. Hmmm...
Any prayers tomorrow would be greatly appreciated! Love you all - I'm going to bed now. Maybe a continental breakfast and a shower at 8 am will help me refocus and get my spirits up.
Cher
Monday, July 9, 2007
East Asia and such...
I'm home!! East Asia was just as amazing as I expected it to be, and thanks to everyone who prayed for the team! We couldn't have done it without you! I believe 11 students came to know Christ and another 80 or so expressed interest in learning more and will continue meeting with the permanent staff that works over there. I'm not sure exactly what all I can say about it in a public forum, so if you are interested in the details let me know and I'll email them to ya!
The biggest shock involved with leaving the country for six weeks and having limited opportunities to call home is realizing that life goes on without you. By the time I arrived home my sister had changed colleges, got a car and a new boyfriend, my grandmother fell and fractured her ribs resulting in her moving in with our family for an indefinite amount of time, various friends of mine had relationships begin and end, and an assortment of other things that I suppose just couldn't wait on me to return. Well, it's a good thing that God is so soverign and is taking care of things with or without me :)
Today's post is short... I'm tired and sore from playing Wii for hours on end at Kris and Patrick's. If you need a good Wii tennis partner I'm your girl :)
Talk to you all soon!
Cheryl
The biggest shock involved with leaving the country for six weeks and having limited opportunities to call home is realizing that life goes on without you. By the time I arrived home my sister had changed colleges, got a car and a new boyfriend, my grandmother fell and fractured her ribs resulting in her moving in with our family for an indefinite amount of time, various friends of mine had relationships begin and end, and an assortment of other things that I suppose just couldn't wait on me to return. Well, it's a good thing that God is so soverign and is taking care of things with or without me :)
Today's post is short... I'm tired and sore from playing Wii for hours on end at Kris and Patrick's. If you need a good Wii tennis partner I'm your girl :)
Talk to you all soon!
Cheryl
Friday, May 11, 2007
I'm graduating today!! YAY!
It's graduation morning!!! If you count pre-school, this makes 19 years of school finally drawing to a close!! Can you tell I'm excited? I am sitting here in my cap just for fun (as you can see from the photo, taken about 2 minutes ago with my cell phone.) Mom, dad, and Lo are coming up around 3 to kick off the festivities. Then tomorrow I am moving back home... wow! What a quick change. 5 years has FLOWN by, but I'm excited to keep going and discover what God has in store for me next!
I'll miss everyone here in CS but I refuse to get TOO mushy and upset... because I plan on keeping up with all of you.
Love love love!!!
Cher
Monday, May 7, 2007
Coffee and Cookies...
It's all a girl really needs to gain a little perspective on life! I went out for coffee with an amazing friend last night and we had some major girl talk time. I'm pretty sure every patron at Starbucks now thinks we are undoubtedly crazy! Things got loud at points. There was definitely a point where our thoughts could only be conveyed by standing and demonstrating. I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall last night.
Then cookies - after two failed attempts to go see a late showing of Spiderman 3 we settled on brake and bake cookies from HEB. Two midnight episodes of Fresh Prince and 3 oatmeal macadamia nut cookies later, I was feeling good and ready to go to sleep.
Thanks for the fun night LB... you make me smile :) I was having a rough week, but I'm feeling better now!
Much Love - Cher
Then cookies - after two failed attempts to go see a late showing of Spiderman 3 we settled on brake and bake cookies from HEB. Two midnight episodes of Fresh Prince and 3 oatmeal macadamia nut cookies later, I was feeling good and ready to go to sleep.
Thanks for the fun night LB... you make me smile :) I was having a rough week, but I'm feeling better now!
Much Love - Cher
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Kinks in the Plan
Warning. Vague pensive thoughts ahead.
Today I have had cause to think a lot about my future and the things that I allow to come into my life and potentially affect that future. Somewhere along the line I decided on a way I wanted my future to be and I have successfully deflected every little thing that has threatened to alter that future in any way, shape, or form. I thought this was mature. I thought this was wise. Know yourself, know your plans, and be very goal oriented. Make the most of your future - in short - DON'T SCREW UP THE PLAN.
But today I had a slightly jarring realization... could it possibly be that I have been so committed to "the plan" that I was too afraid to let certain good things come into my life, simply because they threatened the future of the plan? WHAT IF life doesn't work like that. Well, I know it doesn't actually. We have to be open to the good things God brings into our lives. Sometimes that requires chance. Always it requires faith and trust.
I have always considered myself an optimist, but when it comes to matters of the heart... and the central features of "the plan" I find myself being decidedly pessimistic. I take this new curveball thrown into the mix and start to pick it apart piece by piece. I lay out the good, I lay out the not so good, and I weigh the parts against each other. I think I'm realizing, though, that I put way too much weight on the not so good. When one or two details seem to threaten the plan in a negative way, I begin the downward spiral. I become a pessimist concerning the situation and it's eventual acceptance into my life is most likely doomed. Is this how God has called me to live?
I struggle to understand the balance between fear and wisdom. When I am evaluating a situation, how much of my evaluation is healthy wisdom - discerning that something might be a good or poor fit for me. The scarier question - how much of my evaluation is simply fear - fear of the unknown, fear of lifestyle change, fear of having to exert any effort to make the plan workable. At which point is the line crossed? How am I ever supposed to know?!
I am afraid. I am afraid that I am letting good things pass me by. I am afraid that in my efforts to secure for myself the ideal future, I am forfeiting amazing things in the process... possibly things God has brought into my life. Things that I am looking at, and saying "God, thanks for the effort, but I'm going to have to turn this blessing down. It's just not in the plan. Try again later, maybe next time you'll be a little more on target." OH how I pray this is not what I'm doing!! Lord - forgive me if I am. But the Bible clearly tells me to fear not - to worry about nothing. And I can honestly say I have and am doing the very best I know how. I just pray that God will continue to refine my discernment!
The Bible says that if any man lacks wisdom, he should ask for it. Well, I am asking for it. And by the truckload if that's alright with you God. Lord, help me to embrace your blessings with open arms. Help me to see the positive more than the negative, and not be afraid of a challenge in life.... a kink in the plan. But at the same time, help me understand when my concerns are valid and should be heeded.
It's just been one of those days. But the funny thing was - this was an AMAZING day. But sometimes it is in the midst of amazingness we start to reevaluate things. Maybe it's time for a big reevaluation.
Today I have had cause to think a lot about my future and the things that I allow to come into my life and potentially affect that future. Somewhere along the line I decided on a way I wanted my future to be and I have successfully deflected every little thing that has threatened to alter that future in any way, shape, or form. I thought this was mature. I thought this was wise. Know yourself, know your plans, and be very goal oriented. Make the most of your future - in short - DON'T SCREW UP THE PLAN.
But today I had a slightly jarring realization... could it possibly be that I have been so committed to "the plan" that I was too afraid to let certain good things come into my life, simply because they threatened the future of the plan? WHAT IF life doesn't work like that. Well, I know it doesn't actually. We have to be open to the good things God brings into our lives. Sometimes that requires chance. Always it requires faith and trust.
I have always considered myself an optimist, but when it comes to matters of the heart... and the central features of "the plan" I find myself being decidedly pessimistic. I take this new curveball thrown into the mix and start to pick it apart piece by piece. I lay out the good, I lay out the not so good, and I weigh the parts against each other. I think I'm realizing, though, that I put way too much weight on the not so good. When one or two details seem to threaten the plan in a negative way, I begin the downward spiral. I become a pessimist concerning the situation and it's eventual acceptance into my life is most likely doomed. Is this how God has called me to live?
I struggle to understand the balance between fear and wisdom. When I am evaluating a situation, how much of my evaluation is healthy wisdom - discerning that something might be a good or poor fit for me. The scarier question - how much of my evaluation is simply fear - fear of the unknown, fear of lifestyle change, fear of having to exert any effort to make the plan workable. At which point is the line crossed? How am I ever supposed to know?!
I am afraid. I am afraid that I am letting good things pass me by. I am afraid that in my efforts to secure for myself the ideal future, I am forfeiting amazing things in the process... possibly things God has brought into my life. Things that I am looking at, and saying "God, thanks for the effort, but I'm going to have to turn this blessing down. It's just not in the plan. Try again later, maybe next time you'll be a little more on target." OH how I pray this is not what I'm doing!! Lord - forgive me if I am. But the Bible clearly tells me to fear not - to worry about nothing. And I can honestly say I have and am doing the very best I know how. I just pray that God will continue to refine my discernment!
The Bible says that if any man lacks wisdom, he should ask for it. Well, I am asking for it. And by the truckload if that's alright with you God. Lord, help me to embrace your blessings with open arms. Help me to see the positive more than the negative, and not be afraid of a challenge in life.... a kink in the plan. But at the same time, help me understand when my concerns are valid and should be heeded.
It's just been one of those days. But the funny thing was - this was an AMAZING day. But sometimes it is in the midst of amazingness we start to reevaluate things. Maybe it's time for a big reevaluation.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Aggie Dog
Now that my friends, is one darn cute Aggie. The tent sale had doggie shirts on sale for $5.
Now before you bite my head off for being one of "those dog owners" lets just keep our perspective. For one, she lives with my parents, so I'm sort of like the grandma that gets to spoil her on visits. And I am really not the type to completely frill out her dog - but come on - for $5?! I just couldn't resist. Also, check out the double strand pearl "necklace" I made her for Christmas. Very Barbara Bush, no? What can I say... I love my dog :) Besides, I'm pretty sure that t-shirt came off about 2 seconds after this pic was taken.
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