So first off, let's see I went to my first professional conference. The Infant Toddler Mental Health Coalition was held in Chandler, AZ and had a very prestigious infant development specialist as the key note speaker. Our professors are ga ga for this guy and his wife's work, so it was fun to meet and listen to the person whose books we are reading and whose attachment theory we are being trained in. The conference itself was pretty interesting. I attended two breakout sessions on identifying traumatic abuse and the adult attachment findings. Overall, I enjoyed getting to meet people in the field that I am going into and being able to see what things are on the top of the agenda regarding infant and toddler intervention, and all of the possibilities that hold for me in my chosen career. I have never been surrounded by people who have the same particular interest in the things that I have deemed so important in my life, so it was fun to share my passion with others who hold the same passions.
School is going pretty well. I started my internship finally, a few weeks ago and am working at a child developmental lab. For the majority of my time, I am just doing child care, but I was also assigned to help observe and collect data, as well as participate in therapies for a young preschooler who has language delays in both English and his native language. I am excited about this new aspect of my internship. I was resentful at first that I had to settle for working in child care again as my intership, after all I had left Fort Collins, to move here and gain more knowledge about infants and toddlers, yet I was again working with preschoolers in a child care center, which I could have been doing in Fort Collins without ever having to move. But now that I have a specific child to focus on and collect data on, especially one with language delays, the process of going to work is now more purposeful. I am still hoping to do an internship next semester working with infants though, and hopefully teenage mothers and fathers. I am praying that a position will open up for me and that I will be able to do both.
Socially things are picking up. A friend of mine that I met at a failed attempt to join a Bible study, is now my new "let's try something new" buddy. She is up for anything which is great. We went rock climbing a few weeks ago, and have agreed to try something new together at least two weekends out of the month. We also tried this brewery that serves Arizona Peach Ale...it is fabulous! I also went to Ballet Under the Stars this weekend with my neighbor. The great thing about Arizona is the weather is very consistent. If this was Colorado, we would have had to prepare for rain, snow and whatever else, but here you just know, it's going to be nice. They planned this whole free evening of watching ballet on blankets in the park. So we got classy and bought fancy cheeses to watch ballet.
Everytime I watch a ballet it makes me miss training, not so much ballet, but just putting in hours on top of hours at the studio and doing the one thing that you are so passionate about. I don't regret not continuing dancing, I think the time I spent not pursuing dancing and doing other things (volleyball, swimming and such) has made me the more rounded individual that I am with tons of memories and great friends. However, as I was watching I started realizing that I am a professional of very little things, but I have experienced a lot. Not a bad thing, I just tend to try a lot of things, but I don't go on to pursue becoming a professional, or expert of one or a few things. I don't regret not pursuing dance at all, I know that my passion lies elsewhere, but oh how life would be different.
Other news, I will be returning to my beloved Fort Collins in two weekends!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited to be surrounded by the people I love and miss, and I will get to see my sister and parents which means...added Bonus! There is just something about knowing I get to go back and see the faces that know me and love me, and that we already have a foundation based on love and living life together that just gets my blood a pumpin'! That stupid theme song from Cheers literally brings tears to my eyes everytime it comes on..ok not really, but I can totally relate..."I want to be where everybody knows my name."
My attitude about being here has improved a lot though. The bus no longer scares me, I am more comfortable trying things and going here and there by myself. God is providing and I know he's got my back... (in the words of my dad). One cool God provides moment...parking at ASU not only is a pain but is also expensive, however on days that I work more than 5 hours I prefer to drive to campus. So there is this parking lot that a church allows students to park in for $5 all day, which is a steal here, but it is pretty much always full by the time I get there. So I decided that I was just going to ask God for a parking space the night before in my prayers and fully trust that he would provide. The next day I got to the lot and pulled in, fully trusting that God had a spot just for me... the guy that mans the lot and collects money came up to my car and I had my $5 bill in my hand ready to hand it over for my God picked space. However, instead of saying, "yes right this way," he said,"I'm full, no parking." Wait, what? God picked my spot out I just know it! So disheartened I put my car in gear and prepared to turn around, but......right that moment the brake lights on the car in the space right in front of me lit up and....a spot!!!!!! I rolled my window down again and yelled, "SIR? SIR? Can I have that spot?" Surprised, he follwed my gaze and saw the empty spot. Pointing the way I follwed the man to my God picked spot, gave thanks to my Father and paid my money! God provides....I should also mention that catty corner to the space I had taken was an empty spot, but whatever, I digress :)
Here are a few fun pictures that Madeline took this summer in the blaring heat...
Love Love!
