This afternoon UIS hosted an orientation for the counseling program’s incoming cohort. They had sent out an email to current students looking for volunteers to be part of a panel. Five of us came today to be part of the Q & A session. Jane was there, along with another student who I am familiar with from classes. It was fun to share and be there.

I love the start of new school years. I am so ready for school to be done though, kind of. I still can’t believe it has taken me this long but the more I’ve done it this way, the more I appreciate being able to go slower and take in more experiences. Besides internship, the classes I have left are Research Methods, Foundations of Clinical Mental Health, and Sexual Dysfunction and Family Violence.

My energy levels are still very low since the wedding. Laura’s mom and I got together for tea yesterday afternoon and she said that she too had just been resting and sleeping. It always surprises me and simultaneously comforts to me to hear I’m not the only one who experiences life like this at times. I wouldn’t have expected it to be another way.

Laura seems to be feeling better. Ethan says she seemed almost back to normal which I can hardly imagine. She was invited to participate in the cross country camp social events but had been too sick to do so that was disappointing. One other teammate was also married this summer and the wife has reached out to Laura which is nice. They both still have two years left of college.

There’s a singles retreat going on here at camp over the weekend. There were 20-something young men and 5 young women. I was glad to hear so many had registered and also surprised to see so many of them were guys. When you’ve been married since early on you really have no context for what it’s even like to be without a life partner.

So hopefully someone there can find a person who is special. Matchmaking is not supposed to be the intent but I can’t imagine it not being on most if not all of their minds. While they were playing kickball the kids were cleaning up the kitchen. We made pizza tonight for supper and made it work with only two. The four kids were there which was nice. I know we talked but I can’t remember.