SEU Counseling Greece Trip

Okay, so where do I begin?? Being honest, I don’t really know what to write. I had been anticipating this blog day for a while now. It always seemed so much easier doing my own personal ones, or going in late to see if we had any missed days that needed to be covered, then enjoying putting something together. For me, it becomes more difficult when it’s graded or when something is expected of me. Like—how much creativity do I have? How do I not offend anyone? How do I make sure to cross every “t” and dot every “i”? Is it going to be good enough?? AM I enough??? I know we’re here to enjoy and learn. We’re here to grow and change. We’re here to know that we are not alone—and it’s okay to stumble, trip, fall, and even face plant. The goal is to get back up and know who your village is. And as the posts have shown, there is always a mention of family, village, and growth. And that’s exactly what we’re doing. We’re taking a huge slice of humble pie. So as my people-pleasing self eagerly anti...

     Traveling to Greece has been remarkable as visiting Europe was on my bucket list. I've learned about Greek history, Christian history, and the healing power of beach days all in one trip. Initially, I didn't expect any spiritual challenges or lessons because the purpose of this journey is academic, but God is good, and always finds a way to communicate love to his children. Today, I visited a chapel and encountered God in a way that sealed the message he was sending me as I could feel the spirit of tenderness all around. He simply said, "stop hiding from me," and freedom enveloped me.     Human nature falls prey to shame easily. Adam and Eve prove this in Genesis when they hide in shame after sin. The beauty in that story is that our all-knowing God knew they sinned, yet still called to them and wanted to see them. He was not afraid to confront their mistake and address their feelings about each other. This story highlights the importance of acknowledging w...

I am originally from the south, and especially back when I was growing up, women were pretty much expected to graduate from high school, get married, have kids and run the home.  I remember my grandparents asking me if I was planning to be an old maid when I was 22 or so because I wasn't yet married.  If you asked me when I was a kid, I would have said I wanted to be a wife and a mom and I never really had any career aspirations.  It also felt like in the south that people talked a lot about leaving a legacy and that legacy was largely left through your children and how they would impact the world. Fast forward all of these years later, and I have a doctorate, a career, and I am not married nor do I have any kids.  There is a lot of story in those years for me to be here in this place, but that story is not necessary for this blog. :)  Rather, I would like to share what I have learned about family and legacy. I have discovered that I am my own family unit. ...

Poros, We Love You

  Evia Island - Greece C o l o r I s l a n d Hey cats and kitten, today was a good day. We took a trip to Evia Island. Let’s just say I swam; I swam like no one’s business. I didn’t forget my snorkel gear and I wasn’t afraid to use it. I remember the last time I snorkeled. Oh my, it was June 2024. It has been a full year already. Where has the time gone? 8:30 am I started my day walking over to the local AB grocery to get more Euros. Surprise! Surprise! The store was closed. I walked in, unknown to me, the store was in disarray. Lettuce and vegetables thrown on the floor, shelves were emptied. A store attendant walked over to me and said, “store closed, sorry.” I asked what time the store would open. She replied, “closed all day.” I walked off and went to my favorite breakfast spot, EVERST . I grabbed two turkey sandwiches & a muffin chocolate chip to go. I successfully made it to breakfast at the college before everyone left. I mingled and ate. There was a small dance break...