The time has finally come. I am leaving Springfield, MO for good. I'll begin packing up the apartment here in a little bit, I'll drive home tomorrow, and I will stay there. I don't have to worry about getting back here on time for a class, session, lesson, or whatever. And it feels pretty good.
I had my last MT session for Drury yesterday. I turned in my keys and didn't look back! I will admit that I'm going to miss all of my clients. I worked with some really great people. This was the first time that I actually had the same clients for over 5 months. I really got to know them and see significant progress. I will definitely miss them and the families I worked with, as well as my colleagues.
But now it's time for me to move on. For those of you that don't know, I am in the process of starting my own private practice. It's been hard to work on it since I've been in MO and I want to start the practice in AR, but I've made some progress here and there. I at least own my business name: Music Therapy of Northwest Arkansas (MTNWA for short). I've set up a website, Facebook page, and Twitter account for said business. I've worked on all of the start-up documents. And I've met a great lady from my church at home, and along with a couple other people, we're working on getting an office/clinic together.
I'm really excited about the next few months. I'll actually be home and able to get things rolling. I can get all my PR stuff ordered (business cards, flyers, etc.), I can attend more of the group meetings for the clinic, and I can really make my presence known in the NWA area. These next few months are gonna be nerve-wrecking as well. On top of getting all the private practice stuff set up, I'm going to Super Summer for both JV and senior high, and my family and I have to move my sister out to LA at the beginning of August. It will be a busy summer to say the least!
I'm no amazing blogger in the least, so it will probably get even worse now. But check on the MTNWA website for updates about the business!
http://musictherapynwa.com
Me
Friday, May 25, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Spring Break 2012
Ok, so since I'm not in school anymore, I guess I technically don't get a Spring Break. But I took one anyway! I originally had plans to go to Florida with a few friends, but that all fell through. So since I had already cancelled sessions and lessons for the week, I decided to go home for the week.
Last year, I went skiing with the youth group from my church at home. This year I stayed home all week...and it was glorious. Since mom found out I would be home for so long, we decided it would be a good time to paint my bedroom. I have wanted my room painted for years now. Mom being the funny person she is, she had practically repainted every other room in the house EXCEPT MINE. The time had finally come. Here are some pics of my room right as it got underway.
We started the project Wednesday night. We got all the furniture moved out and put on the first coat. You'd be surprised how much it took to cover up all the yellow! Thursday we put on the final coat and painted the trim and doors. Friday we managed to get the room put back together, and mom put a new stain on the furniture. And here's the finished product!
Last year, I went skiing with the youth group from my church at home. This year I stayed home all week...and it was glorious. Since mom found out I would be home for so long, we decided it would be a good time to paint my bedroom. I have wanted my room painted for years now. Mom being the funny person she is, she had practically repainted every other room in the house EXCEPT MINE. The time had finally come. Here are some pics of my room right as it got underway.
My room was a pale yellow, but it was so bright in the morning! And here you can see our 3 final contestants for the new color. Which one did we pick???
We moved out most of the furniture, except for the bed (which is a beast to move) and the tv. No sense in painting in silence!
We started the project Wednesday night. We got all the furniture moved out and put on the first coat. You'd be surprised how much it took to cover up all the yellow! Thursday we put on the final coat and painted the trim and doors. Friday we managed to get the room put back together, and mom put a new stain on the furniture. And here's the finished product!
I don't know if you can tell, but we went with the green color. I was a little worried at first; it looked like army green, but it dried with a little more brown tones. We also rearranged the furniture a bit.
My "new" tv...thanks to my bro!
We bought those new little cubey things! Mom loves Lowe's too much, and I love her for that!
I love my room! We boxed up all the old things (3rd grade science fair pic and medal, all my high school medals, OM stuff...it was so sad how old all the pics were in my room) and are working on getting new stuff in there. I completely forgot to get a before and after shot of my closet. Let's just say I was on the verge of being a hoarder. I cleaned out folders and papers I had from senior year of high school. That's over 7 years of papers!!! Ridiculous, I know. I haven't started on the clothes yet; that will be a project in the near future.
The fam also got some new furniture for downstairs! We had a couch and chair from my great-grandmother's house. They were big and bulky; tan scratchy material with orange pineapples on it. I wish I was kidding. They weren't so bad after we put covers on them, but they were still kinda uncomfortable. So mom and my bro found some great replacements!
Here's our new couch! It's got recliners on both ends.
And here's our new recliner! Of course it rocks too...quite comfy.
And here are the new pillows to go with it all! Yay!
Sooooo...my "Spring Break" was full of DIY projects, cleaning up around the house, and family time. It was a much-needed break away from Springfield. I was able to chat a little more about future possibilities for the private practice, got to hang out with friends, eat at all my favorite places, and was just plain lazy. It was fantastic. Now I only have a little over 2 months before I move back to AR for good. The time is a flyin'!
Random update on the whole private practice thing: it is near IMPOSSIBLE to pick a name for my business. I am just stumped. I think of a name, throw it out at people, and it gets rejected. I think of another one, and I end up not liking it myself. I feel that this is the first big step I need to make. Once I think of a name, I can register the business name, fill out all the necessary paperwork, make business cards and a website, and really start to market myself. So I'm sort of at a standstill for now. Hopefully I can really get things rolling here in the next few weeks. And I'm currently looking at different office possibilities with a lady from church. We'll see how that goes!
I hope everyone else is having a good March! Until next time!
Monday, February 20, 2012
A Weekend of Ups & Downs
So I don't really do posts like this, and it may not stay up for long. But there has been a lot going on these past few days: lots of emotions, lots of words said, and lots of thoughts to think.
I suppose everything started to get rocky around Wednesday. One of my friends had invited me to go to the Rock & Worship Roadshow with him and his college group. They had one extra ticket, and out of the friend group he felt that I would be the one that wanted to go the most. Well, one of our other friends in the group found out he was not invited, and threw a little temper tantrum. Now, I know it was a joke, so I just shrugged it off. And I shrugged it off again the next day. And the next day. And then that night, I had had enough.
Let me just preface this next part of the story by saying, I WAS NOT MAD AT THE FINAL JOKE. My friends make jokes like it all the time, and I'm used to things like that being said about me and the rest of us. The joke just happened to be the detonator to a situation that was bound to blow up eventually. But again, I WAS NOT MAD AT THE FINAL JOKE.
So, back to the story...Friday night/Saturday morning, this said friend made a joke to one of my other friends about me. I did not appreciate it, and it was just the final piece of the puzzle in my head. This friend has a tendency to take jokes that he makes too far. Some have been piling up for a few months now, and I had had enough. So I lost it...over text. First mistake there; never ever EVER start a fight via text. It will never end well. Anyways, the joke was made, and I confronted him in the possibly worst way possible. I completely lost it. I was text screaming, calling him names, and saying things I shouldn't have. And of course he can't tell if I'm joking about being mad or not, since all of this stemmed from him joking about being mad about the concert. I finally get frustrated enough that I just stop trying to talk about it around 3am.
Next day, everyone in our friend group is talking to each other about this situation. Except for the fact that he won't speak to me, and I won't speak to him. Everyone is talking to me about it or to him about it, but we can't talk to each other. I tried to talk to my best girl friend here about it, and I completely broke down. I could barely get three sentences out without just breaking into furious tears. I was so frustrated and upset, and I knew that I could never get my feelings across to him about all of this that I just cried. And I NEVER cry! Except at a really cheesy chick flick...or an adorable animal...but that's neither here nor there.
So, after a day of sitting on this hot mess, I decide to write him a letter. I attempt to explain that I'm not just mad at the joke, I'm mad about his attitude toward me and how he treats me. I basically tell him that I deserve a better friend than what he has been lately, and if things can't change, I'm going to have to walk away. I apologized for going off on him via text at 2am and that I left him confused about the whole thing. And I sent him this letter. I know, it's probably a cowardly thing to do, but I really feel it was the only way for me to be able to get all of those feelings and thoughts across to him.
After all this, I am exhausted; physically, mentally, emotionally, you name it. It is exhausting trying to be an adult! I prayed to God that night that he would restore joy to my soul; remind me about the good in life; give me something to keep going through these next couple of months. Sunday morning, I get a text from not one, but TWO of my best friends telling me they were both in town. I was able to spend the day with Stephen and Mandee and of course my cosmic twin Brittany. We went to eat, went bowling, played N64...it was just the perfect end to a terrible weekend. It really lifted my spirits. Bottom line, GOD IS AWESOME! He totally has my back.
Looking back on all of this, there is so much I would have done differently. I would have tried to confront said friend earlier about how I feel about our friendship. I would not have started it over text. I would have somehow found the composure to talk about all of this in person. Maybe this whole situation is God's way of saying "You're time in Springfield is most definitely done. It's time for you to move on to bigger and better things. I promise there are people out there that can love you and accept you for who you are without any regrets or compromises." It just sucks to think that the few friends I had left here are possibly gone from my life now.
I don't know how things will turn out between me and said friend. I'm not sure that we can be friends anymore, which sucks, because we really did all have a good time together...when it was good. Maybe there will be some way to mend all of this and make these next few months great. Maybe I will just have Brittany left from this group, which for now is more than enough. Brittany has been awesome through this whole thing, and I'm feel so bad that she got caught in the middle of all this. But no matter what, I know God's hand is in all of this. I'm daily praying for his guidance about all of this, and about my future. I just know I have to be patient and wait for his decision. I feel like I've done all I can for now. And now it's time to wait.
Wow...this was a longer rant than expected. So sorry! I doubt that anyone will read this, but I had to get it off my chest one last time. Maybe it will serve as a learning tool for me in the future, a reminder of what to do in situations like this. Oh well. Until next time!
I suppose everything started to get rocky around Wednesday. One of my friends had invited me to go to the Rock & Worship Roadshow with him and his college group. They had one extra ticket, and out of the friend group he felt that I would be the one that wanted to go the most. Well, one of our other friends in the group found out he was not invited, and threw a little temper tantrum. Now, I know it was a joke, so I just shrugged it off. And I shrugged it off again the next day. And the next day. And then that night, I had had enough.
Let me just preface this next part of the story by saying, I WAS NOT MAD AT THE FINAL JOKE. My friends make jokes like it all the time, and I'm used to things like that being said about me and the rest of us. The joke just happened to be the detonator to a situation that was bound to blow up eventually. But again, I WAS NOT MAD AT THE FINAL JOKE.
So, back to the story...Friday night/Saturday morning, this said friend made a joke to one of my other friends about me. I did not appreciate it, and it was just the final piece of the puzzle in my head. This friend has a tendency to take jokes that he makes too far. Some have been piling up for a few months now, and I had had enough. So I lost it...over text. First mistake there; never ever EVER start a fight via text. It will never end well. Anyways, the joke was made, and I confronted him in the possibly worst way possible. I completely lost it. I was text screaming, calling him names, and saying things I shouldn't have. And of course he can't tell if I'm joking about being mad or not, since all of this stemmed from him joking about being mad about the concert. I finally get frustrated enough that I just stop trying to talk about it around 3am.
Next day, everyone in our friend group is talking to each other about this situation. Except for the fact that he won't speak to me, and I won't speak to him. Everyone is talking to me about it or to him about it, but we can't talk to each other. I tried to talk to my best girl friend here about it, and I completely broke down. I could barely get three sentences out without just breaking into furious tears. I was so frustrated and upset, and I knew that I could never get my feelings across to him about all of this that I just cried. And I NEVER cry! Except at a really cheesy chick flick...or an adorable animal...but that's neither here nor there.
So, after a day of sitting on this hot mess, I decide to write him a letter. I attempt to explain that I'm not just mad at the joke, I'm mad about his attitude toward me and how he treats me. I basically tell him that I deserve a better friend than what he has been lately, and if things can't change, I'm going to have to walk away. I apologized for going off on him via text at 2am and that I left him confused about the whole thing. And I sent him this letter. I know, it's probably a cowardly thing to do, but I really feel it was the only way for me to be able to get all of those feelings and thoughts across to him.
After all this, I am exhausted; physically, mentally, emotionally, you name it. It is exhausting trying to be an adult! I prayed to God that night that he would restore joy to my soul; remind me about the good in life; give me something to keep going through these next couple of months. Sunday morning, I get a text from not one, but TWO of my best friends telling me they were both in town. I was able to spend the day with Stephen and Mandee and of course my cosmic twin Brittany. We went to eat, went bowling, played N64...it was just the perfect end to a terrible weekend. It really lifted my spirits. Bottom line, GOD IS AWESOME! He totally has my back.
Looking back on all of this, there is so much I would have done differently. I would have tried to confront said friend earlier about how I feel about our friendship. I would not have started it over text. I would have somehow found the composure to talk about all of this in person. Maybe this whole situation is God's way of saying "You're time in Springfield is most definitely done. It's time for you to move on to bigger and better things. I promise there are people out there that can love you and accept you for who you are without any regrets or compromises." It just sucks to think that the few friends I had left here are possibly gone from my life now.
I don't know how things will turn out between me and said friend. I'm not sure that we can be friends anymore, which sucks, because we really did all have a good time together...when it was good. Maybe there will be some way to mend all of this and make these next few months great. Maybe I will just have Brittany left from this group, which for now is more than enough. Brittany has been awesome through this whole thing, and I'm feel so bad that she got caught in the middle of all this. But no matter what, I know God's hand is in all of this. I'm daily praying for his guidance about all of this, and about my future. I just know I have to be patient and wait for his decision. I feel like I've done all I can for now. And now it's time to wait.
Wow...this was a longer rant than expected. So sorry! I doubt that anyone will read this, but I had to get it off my chest one last time. Maybe it will serve as a learning tool for me in the future, a reminder of what to do in situations like this. Oh well. Until next time!
Monday, January 2, 2012
Greeting the New Year in Style!
Hello one and all! Here's my first post of 2012! Can you believe it?! This past year seemed to fly by. I am so glad to see it gone though. 2012 marks a big new start for me. But more on that later...time to talk holidays!
For Christmas, I was home Friday & Saturday. The fam went to the Christmas Eve service at our church, opened a few presents, put on our jingle jammies (family tradition...we get a new pair of pj pants), and watched A Christmas Story. Sunday morning we finished opening presents and headed back to MO for the big family dinner. We ended up spending the night, then I came back home with mom and the bro for a couple days before heading to Chicago.
Chicago was a BLAST! I was fortunate enough to be invited along by a few of my friends to spend Thurday through Monday at the Trump Hotel and Tower. We had way too much fun. Lots of fine dining, crazy times, and toasting the New Year! Here are a few of the pics from the trip.
For Christmas, I was home Friday & Saturday. The fam went to the Christmas Eve service at our church, opened a few presents, put on our jingle jammies (family tradition...we get a new pair of pj pants), and watched A Christmas Story. Sunday morning we finished opening presents and headed back to MO for the big family dinner. We ended up spending the night, then I came back home with mom and the bro for a couple days before heading to Chicago.
Chicago was a BLAST! I was fortunate enough to be invited along by a few of my friends to spend Thurday through Monday at the Trump Hotel and Tower. We had way too much fun. Lots of fine dining, crazy times, and toasting the New Year! Here are a few of the pics from the trip.
The view from our hotel room
The girls' room
The girls' bathroom...complete with a tv in the mirror
View from the living room
The delicious chocolate-covered strawberries waiting for us when we arrived
My friend Brittany and I getting ready for dinner the first night
Our outfits for New Year's Eve
Goodies waiting for us at Rebar...where we spent New Year's Eve
The boys from the trip! Bobby, Nick, & Zach. They are crazy awesome.
The gang!
Gotta have champagne to toast the New Year!
Big ole sushi boat!
This is one of the many fights between Batman (Bobby) and Bane (Nick). And of course there's Zach.
Our group with the awesome DJ for the night.
And this is what happens when we're told to make crazy faces.
We left this morning to snow and frigid weather outside. Glad to be back in MO where it's a little warmer!
And now here's a little clip of us toasting the New Year!
It has been an awesome holiday season. But I'm glad that the traveling is dying down and I'll be back into a routine. After a couple days in Springfield, I head back home for about a week. Then I'll get back into the swing of weekly sessions and piano lessons. These next 6 months will be interesting for sure. This is the first semester that I'll be out of school. The plan for now is to be in Springfield until June, during which time I plan to figure out how to start my own business. Hopefully by the fall I will have started my own MT private practice in the NW AR area. I've got some great resources to help get me started, and it's a brand new market, so I'm really hopeful!
Well, that's about all I have for now. I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Here's hoping and praying that we all have a great year with many blessings to come! Until next time!
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