Why Regent University?

Regent University offered a unique perspective in undergraduate studies. Christ-centered leadership and biblically centered classes develop students professionally and personally. The campus is beautiful, and I soon found that my professors and my fellow students exuded enthusiasm and dedication to the Lord and their educational pursuits. Classmates prayed with me and for me; studying became a group effort towards excellence and not just another homework assignment.

Why Online Learning?

I was 21 when I started the online learning program at Regent University. I had the opportunity to dual-enroll in a local college while in high school, so my associates degree was partially complete when I graduated in 2002. I hit the ground running by working full time after graduating from high school, attending night classes to finish my associates degree. I guess I got used to the schedule, and when it came time to find a university to transfer to, I knew I'd want a flexible format that would allow me to continue in my professional endeavors.

Why A Business Degree?

My degree is in Organizational Leadership and Management. I chose this concentration because of the unique mix of business strategy and leadership development. In choosing a degree program I wanted one that would emphasize the "people" part of organizations and their strategic development. Some degree programs focus primarily on the financial and strategic side of business development, but Regent stressed the importance of the organization's people and the effectiveness of biblical leadership.

Business Degree

Maybe We're Not Meant To Be.

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Dear, dear Starbucks. You're like a sad lover, coming back again and again. Convinced that next time will be better, next time you'll "change," next time you do whatever it is you think we want from you.






"Don't you love me? Can't we try again? Next time I won't come on so strong. Next time I won't cost $5.40. Next time I'll play Fair Trade. It'll be different this time, I promise. This time, I'll go wherever you want to go... you pick. Next time I'll make you breakfast sandwiches. I'm desperate. I'll do anything. Even grind myself into instant microparticles and let myself be carried in a handy little pouch."

Starbucks, VIA(r) is a wonderful breakthrough for you. I wish you all the best. But it just won't work out between us.

I'm just not that into instant coffee.

No Comment.

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Comments from just ten minutes of watching Fox news tonight:

1) Blagojevich looks like a puppy who got caught pooping on the rug.
2) Christian Bale: Oh, you bad, bad boy.
3) Tommy Lee Jones' helicopter pilot's groping habits while flying should not be considered "breaking news."
4) Mike Phelps: Oh, you bad, bad boy.
5) John Edwards: Oh, you bad, bad boy.


Sheesh. I think I'll turn it off and read a book.

Thoughts of Note.

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"We never own people or their feelings. They are on loan to us from God. With that in mind, we should think fondly on the times they were in our lives, and treat the absences as returning them to Him, and not as losses."









Feeling Thankful.

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I don't know... maybe the rain makes me think deep thoughts. It rained downtown today, and I guess this post is just about how my day was. It's not very deep. I started to think about how thankful I am, and especially now that God has opened my eyes again to the beauty and the blessings that I have in my life.

I'm thankful that I have a beautiful office. I have a skylight that looks down two stories; my office is the only one directly under it. When it rains it pitter patters on the glass and yet I don't get sleepy. Rather, my creative side comes out and I get maddd amounts of work done! And it's cold out. Cold enough to leave my bedroom window open; when I sleep, part of my arm stays out of the blankets, and I love that cold breeze that I can feel. I had lunch at my favorite French restaurant; the cafe has windows on three sides, and it was so enchanting to watch the people come and go in the rain. Such drab colors, though! I commented to my lunch companion that Floridians are never prepared for cold weather, and it shows: Most people looked like they dragged their jackets and coats from the back of their closets. That is when it is super fun to wear my bright, fire-red jacket. Tomorrow I am wearing a bright green shirt with a peacock on it, and my gold tall boots! There are only a few days out of the year that it is cold enough to wear them.

The day went by fast. I'm learning some new things and having some new challenges. My job has changed, somewhat, and I cannot help but feel that the new challenges are stretching me in ways I've never felt before, and in a good way. As I write this, my sweet little fluffy dog jumped in bed next to me. She is somewhat perturbed because she got into my purse and was starting to chew a piece of Orbit White gum before I told her to spit it out.

I'm thankful that God has been faithful to me, coming and picking me up when I thought He wasn't hearing me. I'm thankful that I have a future, wherever I will be. I'm thankful that I still believe in the things that have been so harshly hidden, and although I cannot see what lies ahead, I know I am stronger because of this. I must believe that whatever has been given to me, whatever has been taken away, was maybe never mine in the first place.


More tomorrow. I have an idea, and I just might write a book about it :)


Thoughts of Note.

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"We never own people or their feelings. They are on loan to us from God. With that in mind, we should think fondly on the times they were in our lives, and treat the absences as returning them to Him, and not as losses."

Ok, Fine, a Post. :)

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Yes, yes, I'm ok, dear readers. Thank you for your emails of concern. Physically, I've caught the bug again, and I've been sick since Thursday night. I don't know why and I don't know what it is, but hopefully it will subside soon with 3 hour intervals of Zicam (Thank you, D.) and Echinacea (spelling?) and fish oils (eww!) and my favorite, Bee Pollen.


Dad is doing well. He and mom are moving to Jacksonville shortly to start his treatment. I say "moving" loosely because, happily, they will be returning on the weekends. Please continue to keep him in your prayers, above all that the cancer will be gone swiftly.

So I suppose in a few days it will be very quiet around here. And that is a funny thing, because quiet is what I've been searching for, but not because I don't want anyone around. I'm searching more for that inner quiet that has somehow become a static radio, scanning through the stations and refusing to settle on just one. I have so many distractions: Relationships that need to be built and tended to, projects to start on, applications to finish, a to-do list a mile long and yet far too short.

I think if I had a giant white board across my bedroom walls one side would read "to-do" and the other side would read "should be doing," and if I may be so bold I just might put a white board on the floor that would say "should have done- or should not have done," so that every morning when as I got dressed or got on my knees to pray it would be wiped clean. And of course the ceiling would be low enough to write, every day, "Will Be, God willing."

Thursday J. and I took a rented convertible over to Bartow. I cannot tell you why I had to go there, only that I feared for my safety somewhat so I was happy J. was able to accompany me. This took most of Thursday, as I had to wait awhile for my turn. Too late for us to return to work, he and I returned to Tampa and faced rainy weather- a perfect waste of a nice convertible! Nevertheless, we spent the evening at "our" Panera Bread over soup and sandwiches and of course coffee, waxing nostalgic on the way life is and will be soon. I say "our" Panera loosely because during the LSAT class we would make a mad dash over there to get something to eat during the short lunch break. I admit we drive out of our way to go to that one rather than have sandwiches at the SOHO one.

An observation worth noting is the amount of impatience that is present in Tampa these days. Yes, we are hosting the game on Sunday. Yes, Gasparilla is only a week away. Yes, the economy is disappointing. But is this really a reason for everyone to walk around with ashes on their faces, and so downcast? When we were in Panera John and I looked around, and I tell you he and I were the only ones smiling. But we were the only ones toasty-warm next to the bagel toaster, so maybe that's why. And we had a convertible for the day.

I know I didn't even make it a week without writing. I wanted to wait at least a week, but what can I say? I miss it. I am doing fine, really! I have heard that if you refuse to give your body rest, your body will make you take it in the form of illness. From previous posts you can probably gather that my health has not been good over the past few months. I have had not one, but two flu bugs in January alone. I have a skin condition that I've never had before that doesn't want to clear up. I turn in much earlier than I used to. The only improvement is that I am finally, finally sleeping again. I get tired, fall asleep, and stay asleep. Blessedly.

Recently, I have been blessed to have fellow believers express concern and offer kind words and encouragement. For that I am grateful. I'm doing some research into a retreat center that offers a place of solitude for prayer, fasting, and generally spiritual rest. I feel like I've been in a library, and in order to be a good, busy librarian I've been shelving books without reading them, because there are just too many people and things that "need" my attention. (I say "need" because I've not been entrusting them to Him, and not because I feel people or relationships are unimportant.) I'm far too busy to read books! I had been shelving the books until later, later, later... and one day, that bookshelf couldn't hold anymore books and fell over. And when I looked at the mess of piles sitting around, I picked up the first book I could find... and it was labeled Prayer. Under that book was "God's Word." Under that one, subsequently scattered and laying partly open, "Godly counsel," "Forgiveness," and "Kindness and Gentleness," among many others.

And in a pile, there on the floor, I know I need to get started picking them up and reading them before I put them somewhere besides a high bookcase.
Maybe this metaphor doesn't mean very much to anyone but me.

I'm going to rest now but hope to write again soon. Have a wonderful Sunday!