Awake

Amber L. Himes, Licensed Massage Therapist #14056

I told you this week would be good. ^_^

P = L.M.T.

I know I'm having a good week when...

1. I take my practical exam for my Oregon massage license and I clap for myself in glee when the examiner declares that my exam is now over.
2. I get the title to my car in the mail signifying a loan paid off.
3. My landlord calls me offering me a short term lease for significantly less than the month-to-month rate that I was going to have to pay this summer.
4. I get a promotion and a raise at my day job.
5. On the fourth day after I take my practical exam, I get a letter in the mail declaring that I PASSED!!!!1!! (92%...ah yeah baby.)
6. That same day, I put my license application in the mail.

Now all I have to wait is for the next good week to happen.

New Music Discoveries

I've found some new-to-me music on that crazy myspace site all the kids are talking about. So I thought I'd pass a few along...

• Sera Cahoone from Seattle. Really dig that song "Last Time."
• Iron and Wine. "Jezebel" is my favorite so far.
• The Album Leaf—ambient/electronica genre. Great coding tunes. Some tunes might work for massage sessions too.
• McKenzie Stubbert from Springfield, Oregon. The Stubberts and the Himeses go waaaaay back, that's how I knew about his music and why I started listening to music on myspace in the first place.
• Ehren Ebbage, found via McKenzie's page, from Eugene. My favorites are "Bury That Feeling" and "Not Right Now."
• Alexis Stevens from L.A. Some days I'll just listen to the four songs on her profile all afternoon. "Princess" and "Once Again" are particular favorites.
• El Perro Del Mar. Have you heard "God Knows" yet? It's a classic.

What have you discovered in the music world lately?

A day of grace

I took my practical exam yesterday--the most fun I've had in an exam yet. (Yes, I am aware that I am VERY strange.) I was so giddy and happy afterwards (hopefully due to the fact that I did well and not due to a self-delusional state). I feel good about the exam. I feel good because it's good to know that massage therapists in Oregon have to take that exam. It was difficult, but if you were well-prepared (in school, etc.) it wasn't tricky. I also feel good because even with the mistakes I made, they weren't catastrophic or endangering. :) And that's really all that matters.

I went to my morning trigger point class after my exam. (My hour or so exam was at 8:15am in Salem, giving me plenty of time to get back to Portland by 11:30am.) I was greeted by smiles, encouragement, lots of "how-did-it-gos", hugs and even a high-five. I am so thankful for this community in which I have the priviledge of belonging.

I am reflecting also on my own personal journey this past year or so, especially regarding touch. I remember when I enrolled telling my friend that I knew this would be a year of healing and growth for me personally. I said that I think this could be the year where scars fade and function returns. In anatomy we learn that after the red puffy tissue fills in the cut, the next tissue that moves in restores the shape that was before the injury. If all goes well, the functional tissue takes up residence, re-animating the injured area. I have found the journey of the heart to move along similar pathways. The heart breaks and you feel the injury acutely, the pain all over, the swelling of cried-out eyes and after a few days, you start to fill in the cracks in your heart with whatever will fit there. Anything to stop the bleeding. Other people, other places, other tasks--anything other than the thing that broke the heart in the first place. That stuff fills it in, but after days, weeks, months, years of this, the heart still doesn't function like it should.

But maybe after a while, some act of grace drops in unexpectedly, delivered by the unlikliest of messengers, coming out of nowhere, cutting in with the sharpest of intentions, at the precisely the right time and place. And by some act of grace, I recognized it. It was like an old friend. So, of course I would follow; of course I would see where it led.

And it led here. To this time and place—and I didn't even realize until yesterday, when I was in trigger point class yesterday morning after my practical. We were working deep into the abdomen, me, on the table, as relaxed as could be, happy to have finished my exam, and just then, an epiphany. I finally realized my heart was functioning again, my soul more wholly energized again. Not creeped out. Not overprotective. Not overly vigilant. Not moody. Not remorseful. Not regretful.

Just happy. That's all. Just happy.

So I feel good about the practical exam. I feel good about my day yesterday. I feel good about my life. I feel good about this journey.

Today I'm tired, worn out and a little sore (I really need a massage). But underneath it all, I can hear it. I can hear the sound of my heart functioning; the sound of grace coursing through my soul.

A Bible study series on DVD to check out

I was poking around my alma mater's website last night and discovered a Bible study on DVD series featuring a couple of Biola/Talbot profs. (I had Dr. Wilkins for New Testament Survey—one of my favorite classes.) Anyway, I haven't met Matt Williams, who's the general editor for the series, but he sure looks like One Smart Cookie, that's for certain. The links on this press release page go to Zondervan's website where the DVDs may be purchased. They also have very well put-together videos on the website introducing the DVDs. (Mac users: to play WMV files in QuickTime, download this.) Looks like they've made an effort to introduce elements of cultural and historical context to enable the student to examine the biblical narrative with greater understanding. It strikes me as a very inspiring study. I'm looking forward to diving into it.

Biola Scholars Featured in Bible Study DVD

I think I'm gonna start out with The Parables of Jesus. Have to wait 'til next month's paycheck though. :)

If there's interest, I'd be happy to start a message board on sleepyheadcity.com so that we could participate in a discussion together about this (or other) studies. Might be fun. Leave a comment if you think you'd be interested.

Happy Thursday!

(P.S. Survived midterms. Good grief am I ready to be done with school. I love the content but I'm so tired of taking exams!!!)

Phase 1 Complete

I passed my national! Phase 1 is complete!

1. Phase 1: Pass Written exam for Oregon (National Certifying Exam for Massage and Bodywork)
2. Phase 2: Pass the Oregon Practical (Oregon Board of Massage Therapists Practical Exam)
3. Phase 3: Pass the Oregon Massage Law Exam
4. Phase 4: Get my license in the mail