TULSA

Maybe, just maybe I'll be able to turn over a new blogging leaf, now that school is over. Praise the Lord about that! This is a much overdue update, and be warned - fairly long. :)
The whirlwind called my life has finally quit spinning so much and the dust is starting to settle. T and I have both been making a lot of wind/weather kind of metephorical statements. Weird. So now that the dust is settling, I've been catching up on sleep and taking a much needed break from I guess everything! I wish I could back up and cover I guess the past month, and really the past couple of years! But anyway, the last month has included, finishing school, finals, graduation, Mom, Dad, Tricia, David, Holly, Aaron, Maddy, and Rachel coming for gradutaiton!, going to Breax Bridge, Lafayette, and Avery Island, LA with Mom and Dad, going to friend, Melissa's wedding in Gulfport, MS with friend Kari, coming back and packing up, and hanging out with friends until June 1. Crazy. I'm so so thankful for the good friends I made in Monroe, both in the MFT program and at White's Ferry Rd.
I moved to Tulsa last Tuesday. David had brought a huge load with him when he came down grad. weekend and then my friends Linda and Ryan took some furniture with them on their way to Iowa, so with my car loaded down and my friend Tennille's car slightly loaded we headed north. Tennille's sister and brother-in-law live here, so we've been able to hang out a couple of times since she's been here this week. I'm living with one of my brother's friends, Gentry, until Aug. 1. She needed a roomate for a couple of months till her friend moves in. Her place is great! It's the upstairs of a two story house that's been turned into a 2 bdrm, 2 bthrm apt. Everything is new and nice. And best of all, she has a washer and dryer!! I've been loving that. It's also walking distance to a cool little area called Brookside. I'm a 5-10 min. walk from a coffee shop called Shades of Brown, which is where I am now. :) Also I'm within walking distance of a really nice walk/run/biking trail right next to the river (the Red River maybe? can't remember) Back to living situation - I've started looking for another place already and although cost of living is cheaper here than Monroe, I may have to settle for not getting what I want (washer & dryer, more than one bdrm, and not being in an apt. complex) due to cost. Good ole finances. Anyway, I guess I can do anything for a year.
It's already been great being in the same town as Dave. We've eaten together several times and he happened to be preaching on Sun. so that was nice to get to hear him. He did an excellent job talking about envy. His college group and other people I've met at church have been welcoming and friendly.
The reason I moved here in the first place is that my friends Kevin and Lindsey Nieman work at the Christian Counseling Center here. They moved here about a year ago to start it. Lindsey was in the MFT program a year ahead of me and they worked at the White's Ferry Road counseling center before coming here. Now they're at the point where they're ready to bring someone else on, so here I am. It just so happens that the church under which they started the counseling center is the same one David was hired by - Park Plaza church of Christ. Kind of interesting. I won't be able to start practicing for a little while yet -- maybe July or August. I have to submit this huge licensure application to the state licensing board before I'm allowed to practice. Before I can submit, I have to have an approved supervisor (who will eventually be Kevin). Hopefully I will be meeting with a guy this week to talk about him supervising me. I knew it was going to be expensive, but when I heard the actual amount, it was like getting punched in the face. Kind of. It will be in the upper $300s per month. Bleah. This only lasts for 2 years, but still - that's a lot. In the meantime, I'll start doing receptionist work at the couns. center because the present receptionist is about to go on maternity leave. It will be good to have an income again. Looking at and thinking and praying about picking up another part-time or temp job until I can start practicing. Part of my reason for not, though is that I'm planning to travel some. June. 15th, I'll go to Dallas, 16th - fly to W.Virginia and go to the new cabin!, 23rd -come back to Dallas and hang out with Tricia and Mom, and go to Ethan and Jenna's wedding! 27th - back to Tulsa and hopefully immediately began the receptionist work. Then end of July and beginning of Aug. is Red Mountain. Can I get a what what?!
Besides all that, enjoying not being in school, exercising, and exploring Tulsa is on the docket for the summer. A couple of good friends from Monroe have moved to northern Arkansas, so may try to meet them to camp. And of course you guys should come visit me here! Maybe it would be better after I have my own place. Kind of feel like a guest where I am now, but seriously I hope you guys will all visit. Tulsa is a cool place and besides Daegu, the biggest city I've ever lived in.
I think that's about all the update I've got at the moment.