Master's Thesis (#1 on 101 list) - CHECK!

So one of the reasons that I have been completely MIA from the blogging, facebook, and real-life world lately is that I have been working like crazy to get some things finished with grad school. On April 26, I finally defended my Master's thesis!!! So I finally have my Master's degree. I don't really talk much about school stuff on here (because this blog is a hobby and an escape from all that!), but I'm working towards my PhD in clinical psychology (with my focus on child psychology). I've actually been done with classes for 2 semesters - just still working on my research & clinical hours, which is no small task. Finishing the thesis has been a long hard road... I won't even go in to all the drama! But it's finally DONE!! So glad to have that weight off of my shoulders!

After my defense presentation, Cullen and I headed to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants (where we filmed this video and this video in years past) to celebrate!!

I was so glad to have a few of my grad school friends there to celebrate too! The picture is of me with Dessie - whose wedding I'm in in ~1 month! - and Annie. Another friend, Trista, was there too, but she left before we got a picture! Cullen was more than happy to have the "significant others" of these girls there too so that he had some guys who understood what he had been dealing with as I worked to get this finished!

Cullen has been so incredibly amazing and supportive throughout this whole process. I honestly don't know how I would have made it through without him to encourage me and keep me going when I've felt defeated. He has seen more of the "I can't do this." "I'm going to quit." "What did I get myself into??" moments than anyone else. And he's kept me grounded so well throughout it all. He deserved to celebrate as much as I did!! Although, I think I might have made him crazy in the process... haha :-)

Soooo, what's next??? This is the question I've been asked a million times lately! Well, getting my Master's doesn't mean I'm finished. It just means I've gotten past the first major hurdle. Next on the agenda: I have to present my proposal for my dissertation study by June 30 so that I can apply for internship this fall. Researching for and writing a proposal, getting it approved, and presenting it in about 8 weeks is a pretty ambitious goal. For comparison... it took me just a little over a YEAR to do my thesis proposal. But I really want to get on with this so that I can apply for internship. For internship we will have to move away for a year. And we don't want to have any babies until we get back. So we want to get on with this process so that we can have those babies before we get much older!! So this very crazy 8 week goal is my explanation for my (more than usual) absence from blogging, facebooking, etc etc for the next little while. Any prayers are appreciated!! Sorry I'm not more fun and exciting lately! I have lots of fun stuff to blog about, just can't take the time to do it right now. Although it makes me crazy at times, as Cullen and I keep saying "we're doing it for the kids!" :-)