Extreme Exhaustion! 18+ hours days.......

I like living a busy life; I choose to be involved in church, with friends, civilly engaged, all sorts of volunteer work, school, and family. With all that said this last week has been extremely exhausting. I decided to go through a training course that is 40 hours long. When all is said and done I will be a volunteer rape advocate counselor. I have an organization that I will be volunteering for who paid for my training. I will also be volunteering on Sundays in their small domestic violence shelter. I personally think taking 18 credit hours this semester and working 20-30 hours a week is draining all by it self. With the 20 hours of training this week alone and not to mention homework..... I am so so so tired and drained. I hope I am not sounding like I am complaining, not at all. I just realized this training has taken an emotional toll on me. It can be hard at times to know the nitty gritty details and the ins and outs of these awful cases and how the the justice systems are lacking. It was an eye opener too.... and things need to change. Our Justice systems are mainly for the perpetrator and until recently, now the victims have rights in the courtroom, thats a story for another day. I had no idea on the protocol of a reported rape in this area. If any rape is reported then an advocate is called no matter the day or time. A victim has the right to know what help they can receive in the recovery process and they need an advocate to help them. They will no longer be the same and under no condition does anybody deserve to go through that! We are encouraged to have self-help and not allow the training to drain is emotionally, physically, psychologically; this feels like my self-help. Getting everything out that can be out is helpful. The specific things we talk about are strictly confidential and so in no way would I share information about the people we talk about, and no one would want to hear about these horrible acts. I am driven to help people in all types of situations. Many move to a community and search for ways their community can help them; I truly believe that we need to find out how we can help our communities and give back to them. Giving back should not be contingent on whether the community did something for me or not. Give back freely and the time that you need the community most for support, they will be there.

3 AM wake up call!

We are still in Lava and this time I am on my laptop. I managed to use someone else's internet. I have the funnies story. Last night I slept with my mom at our hotel because my dad is not here. My 2 year old niece joined us but I made a bed on a cot near us. At 3AM this morning she started freak'n out because she wants her I-pod. No she does not have her very own; it is my mom's. Non the less, she wanted to watch the Incredibles, I was trying to help her find the I-pod; anything to quiet a screaming 2 year old. She then told me very truthfully, "I am not talking to you, I am talking to grandma." She is articulate, demanding, super cute 2 year old. I was happy to pass the buck to my mom at 3AM! It made me giggle when I felt better this afternoon and I shared a good laugh with the family too!

Life without my hubby=boredom

Well my sweet husband is out of town for 6 days.... It wouldn't be as bad if he had cell phone connection out in the middle of the desert. He is out with the university for a class. I miss the little bugger. I came up the top 10 reasons why derrick should not leave me for six days again.
1. I don't like missing him! I Have been sad.
2. So I'm not completely bored.
3. I have had to heat up my own bean bags to keep my feet warm at night.
4. Our bank accout has seen better days.
5. I need more sleep.
6. Hate feeling unsafe at night. (lots of noises)
7. I miss having a ride to work, I have had to walk.
8. I want someone to talk to.
9. He makes laugh constantly.
10. Wishing I was with him!
As you can tell Im super boared, actually I am in Lava Hot Springs with my family for the weekend. I have a migraine and have not gotten out of bed. My sister brought me exedrine migraine but it has not kicked in... I look forward to going on this trip every year. Last night I bathed the little kiddies and then jumped in the shower myself. I went to bed with my hair wet and my sister has already tried to take a picture of me. Wet hair, naturally frizzy, and i tossed n turned due to the headache; what a sight! I'm on my mom's iPhone so excuse my bad blog entry. I'm looking forward to tomorrow, not only is my sweetheart coming home but I am going out with my sweet Bateman girls! We have not done anything for a long time! Dinner and a movie! I'm not picky on what we do,we just have so much fun together. More giggles then humanly possible; I call it medicine for life!

Forever Christmas

I am pretty sure we are suppose to always have Christmas in our hearts all year long..... Now that is possible when you visit my blog! I can't remember how I put it on there and so I can't take it off.

These past little while has flown by. I have stayed busy with work and school. I am happy to say I have given up a job that could have been super fun but in the long run it gave me so much stress. I am down to one regular 30 hr a week job and a weekly babysitting job I do just for fun. I will start training in a few weeks for a rape advocacy volunteer position. I will work with the local YCC and take calls at night and on weekends. There are many on staff and so I will take my turn with the rest of them. A rape advocate is called when a person is raped and checks into the ER. It is their responsibility to stay with the victim and help them in anyway they can. They also have to document and ask questions. This will be a new experience for me. I question myself if I really want to know the nitty details of my neighborhood? I live blissfully ignorant sometime! Advocates require 40 hours of training....... That will be a challenge for 2 weeks of my life!

I don't mean to be mushy.... but I have a very sweet husband. I am not a morning person, never have been and I'm afraid I never will be. I don't mind I like my sleep! I have started this new exercise  in the morning routine without getting up way early. My sweet hubby helps me accomplish this! 6am comes early; I am on the elliptical, yoga matt, trampoline. 6:30 I am in the shower and meanwhile my husband finds my shoes, makes breakfast, gathers any clothes I may need. 6:55 He drives me to work! I could not get my day off if he did not help me out. I feel a little spoiled but I never forget to thank him! What a sweetie! He exercises with me too! Although if only you could be a fly on the wall when I an up that early.... I'm not so coordinated! We tease each other about that every morning! It seems odd but I have more energy on less sleep!