Well, I had vowed to update this more often...low and behold, 6 months later! Sorry folks. It has been an interesting ride but I am glad to report I am still on the move!
Where to start....but it only makes sense to pick up where I had left off.
Work and School
This summer was as busy as usual with summer orientation and welcoming all the incoming students and their parents to the UO. Because it was going to be busy with work and I was down right tired, I decided to delay taking my comprehensive exams until fall term and take a moment to breath. I had pushed myself extremely hard between working full time, taking classes full time and conducting a pilot study for my dissertation. I accomplished much- 3 publications, a pilot for my dissertation, accolades at work- but I was crashing and needed to just be for a while. I also switched dissertation advisors since my advisor was retiring and needed to forge a new relationship with him. I did take the first two parts of the three part comprehensive exam during the beginning of fall term. I will take the last part of the exam in early January. If all goes well, then I should advance to candidacy sometime in February or March (depending on when they get to grading). This "slow down" has turned into something I am so glad to have fallen into. I will now have more opportunity to interview students for my study, more time to learn the research process and a better chance at remaining sane!
Summer Visits and Trips
John and I had a great time visiting with folks over the summer. We went out to Hannibal, MO for our biennual Swayze Family Reunion! It was a blast, as usual, to get together with everyone. My entire immediate family was there, in addition to the 50 or so extended family members. We did it up right with the Swayze Olympics as the theme, complete with family style olympic games at a park. I have always enjoyed the Swayze Family Reunions since I can remember them. My grandmother (Mom as I call her) is one of 13 siblings who have kept us all together. There were only four of the original 13 able to attend, but their legacy is so strong. Catching up with all my cousins, aunts/uncles, great aunts/uncles, grandmother- all priceless.
We had several visitors and were so glad to host them in our house and beautiful Oregon. My Mom came out in September and we had loads of fun just being together. In addition, our friend Pat Morrison and his girlfriend Melissa came on a whirlwind tour of the Pacific Northwest from Toronto. They made a stop in Eugene for a couple of days and we were so glad to see Pat and meet Melissa! A few weeks later, my dear friend Paige came out for a visit from Texas. This was her first trip out and we had a great time touring around Eugene. We were lucky to have visits from folks and we LOVE to have people stay and see the beautiful scenery! Taking reservations at Hotel Duncan for next summer- get your reservations in today!
Promotion
John got some really great news this fall! As a result of all the hard work he has done in not only expanding the Holden Leadership Center, but also as a result of his fundraising efforts he got a HUGE promotion! In addition to his position as Director of the Holden Leadership Center he is also now the Director of Development for Student Affairs. So that he can assume his new responsibilities, his office has grown considerably in staff. I am so proud of him and all he has accomplished. In just three years he turned a dream into reality and then some.
Family
I have spent alot of time with my family over the last couple of months. It hasn't exactly been a cake walk for everyone. We have had 2 major events occur in October. First, my grandmother (who I call Mom :) ) was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was scheduled for a full masectomy and had it in November. I am glad to say that she is recovering well, but we keep her in our hearts and thoughts every day. She is one of the most influential women in my life, along side my mother and my sister. These three women mean the most to me and inspire me in every aspect of my life. I'm glad that Mom is beating this cancer and we continue to pray for her strength and healing. In addition to Mom's breast cancer, we also had a tragic death in the family.
Amelia Dale Stevens- In Memoriam
Well, based on my last post you all know that Angie got married. She and Chad were also pregnant with their first child and due mid-December. They had their daughter, Amelia Dale, about five weeks early on October 28, 2008. She appeared healthy and Chad and Angie loved her with all their hearts- changing diapers, cooing, cuddling. Two days after Amelia was born, she came down with a terrible case of pneumonia and was transferred to Cook Children's Hospital in Ft. Worth. Her tiny little body wasn't able to fight off the infection that had taken over her little organs. On November 2, 2008 our tiniest angel passed away. She is always in our hearts and watching over us. This has been, by far, the most difficult thing that I have experienced. I also know that what I feel can never come close to what my sister and Chad are going through. I am so moved by their grace and love for each other and for each of us.
Thanksgiving
John and I were so excited to head north to visit close friends for Thanksgiving this year. We made plans to travel up to Seattle to visit Aimee and AJ for Thanksgiving Day. Then we would travel on up to Victoria, BC to spend the weekend with Geoff and Kelly. (Aimee has quickly become a life-long friend as we have taken the journey through the doctoral program together. AJ is a step ahead of us and is already Dr. Peper! Geoff is John's fraternity brother and they have been close friends for years now. He and his wife Kelly are newly married and just had their first child together. This was our first chance to meet their son, Max!) The trip up was interesting to say the least. We left the house at 4am on Thanksgiving Day to drive up to Seattle. At about 7am and 1 hour from Aimee and AJ's house, John turns to me and says, "Did you grab our passports?" Yeah- neither one of us had our passports to cross into Canada the next day. So, AJ and John got in the car and drove to Portland to meet a friend with our passports. Aimee and I got to catch up and drink wine! We had a great Thanksgiving dinner when the guys got back. The next morning, John and I boarded the ferry to Victoria (or Vic as we all say). On the way there we were so excited to see Orca Whales in the bay of Puget Sound. Our arrival to Vic was welcomed by Geoff and Max. We were able to visit with Kelly and Geoff and catch up. We stayed in the Fairmont Empress Hotel one night and ate at Earl's (hehe, I took a picture with the sign and sent it to Earl) that night downtown. Vic is such a beautiful place and we always enjoy our time there. Thanksgiving was fun and it was so good to be around close friends and have the opportunity to catch up in person!
In the end...
While the last couple of months have provided many personal challenges for me. It has also been a time when I have been so, so, so grateful for how close my family is to each other. How we dive in and take care of each other. It has taught me a lesson- nothing means more than family and dear friends. While work and school have been so intensely busy, neither can replace those that I love so much. New Year's Resolution- BALANCE!
I hope your holiday is full of friendship, love and laughter. John and I are headed to Texas on Christmas Eve and will stay through New Years. We wish you all the best in the New Year!
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