Graduation and EXTRA Time

YAY!!!! WAHOO!!!! I've done it. I've finally completed my Bachelors of Science in Family Studies and Human Services (with an 'emphasis' in Coflict Resolution).

Now what do I do? Well, since I've been asked this question numerous times over the past couple days, and even weeks, I'm going to tell you. I plan to continue my education. I'm sure this is not new news. I've blogged about my dreams of continuing my education a few times in the past. I'm hoping to do so online via Creighton's Masters in Negotiation and Dispute Resolution program. See recent news about the application process here. I will find out more soon, and then find out if I have been accepted in August. I am very much a planner so waiting that long may be excruiating. I'll deal with it by staying busy, as usual.

Second question answered: Will this mean that I receive a raise or a promotion? NOPE. Not happening. My job doesn't work that way. This was just a stepping stone for me to get to the point that I could start my masters. Once I have a masters I plan to change jobs, hopefully. I love my job and my boss but I hope to work more directly with conflict resolution on campus. Right now I envision myself, someday, working in the School of Family Studies and Human Services as an instructor and somehow helping to assistant/associate direct/coordinate the conflict resolution program. However, there are a few different options for working in higher education conflict resolution so if other opportunities present themselves I may consider them.

Ok, so on to the next question I have been answsering non-stop. What will I do with all the extra time that I will have now that I have graduated? SERIOUSLY? What extra time? I never had time to take classes in the first place! I MADE the time to work my butt off after my children were asleep at night, on weekends, and any other time (lunches/slow evenings) that I had. I worked HARD to make time. It was never easy. So now, now that I have all this "free time," I plan to return to normal life. I plan to spend even more time with my husband and children, who really haven't missed out on time with me anyway because of my excellent time management skills, and spend a bit more time keeping the house clean. Yes, alas, I must do better at keeping my house cleaner. It annoys me that I haven't been making time to do that. Oh well, it's waited. Also, this summer we will have a LOT of time spent at baseball practices and games. Then, if all goes well, I will start the online masters program. See? NO EXTRA TIME!

Now to cook dinner (oh yeah, I'm cooking more again, too) and get Shane to his first baseball practice of the summer. I think I will take time to read while he practices and Logan plays with AJ nearby.

My Weekend and Upcoming Week

Not too much fun to tell about, but I did spend two days in Lawrence at a mediation training on Thursday and Friday. It was about domestic violence and mediation. Many people will say that you can't mediate a case that involves DV but the group that sponsored the trainings did a good job of proving otherwise. The sponsoring group was the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence. Read their webpage for more information. They do A LOT of good stuff. These trainings really opened my eyes to the helping relationships and resources available to victims. I hope to never need to mediate such a case, but I feel that given the right training and tools, which I received last week, I could probably do so in the right situation. Obviously not every case can be mediated.

I got to see a couple friends Thurday and Friday, too. I stayed the night with Heather and Jeff on Thursday night after Heather and I enjoyed some yummy bbq ribs at a local bbq joint we'd never heard of but another friend had recommended to me. I'll definately have to go there again! Now I'm back to my normal life, if it can be called normal. :)

Saturday I was asked to take pictures of an extended family. Group pictures seem to be my specialty lately. I'm not sure how that happened. Below is one picture of some VERY cute little guys who happen to be my friend Mandi's little (or not so little) family. She couldn't be there because she was in Utah with her mom for General Conference (big church meeting that is broadcast worldwide twice a year) and a college reunion but I enjoyed catching up with her husband, Gene, and meeting his side of the family. *I'll have the CD to you soon! I'm ordering it tonight if my internet wants to cooperate.*



I have a family portrait session coming up in two weeks and another extended family session either Nov 1, Dec 5, or Dec 12 (depending on which weekend they can all be together). I also have a couple more families looking at dates in the next month or two. I absolutely love getting paid to do something I enjoy so much! The fact that they are willing to pay me makes it even more fun than me doing it just for fun.

Speaking of portraits, my friend Rik, who also does a lot of photography and has started his own side business as well (much more than I do) took pictures of us in August. Go here to see a few of those. I plan to order some soon. We are very happy with the results. It was a fun session and not even Shaun complained!

Well, I'm supposed to be doing homework and studying. Guess I should get back to that. Take care!

Chaos, Complexity, and Conflict

No, I'm not describing my life, although those words could...

This week, June 5-7, I attending the International Conference on Chaos, Complexity, and Conflict at the Creighton University School of Law in Omaha, Nebraska. This was the first conference I've ever attended so I was quite excited. About a week before the conference we (my boss and I) noticed that the conference information had changed slightly. The agenda had changed from a "Marriage Ceremony" themed agenda, which didn't matter much to me although it had made it sound more fun. The speaker materials were very much scientific and analytical, which was not what we expected at all. After a conversation with one of the conference planners, we decided to go ahead with attending. Due to the busyness of our office with the annual salary recommendations for faculty and unclassified staff, my boss was not able to get away for the conference. Instead, Pam Foster from the Office of Affirmative Action was able to take her place.

Thursday- Pam and I left Manhattan, with me driving a university car, about 2:30 pm. After an uneventful drive, we arrived in Omaha and were checked into the Embassy Suites and relaxing by 6:00 pm. At 6:30 we attended the reception and opening presentations of the conference. It was very nice and a good introduction to the topics. My favorite parts of the entire conference were the interactive sessions. I seem to learn best this way and I much prefer it to lectures. The evening ended about 9:30 or so. What a long day to start off with! Too tired to enjoy the exercise room or pool, hot tub, or sauna, we went right to bed.

Friday- After sleeping in a bit, the morning started off with a quick complimentary breakfast at the hotel and then a shuttle ride to the Creighton Student Union for a full day of the conference. Another light breakfast was offered with time to mingle, and then it was time to get down to business. Then ensued the hardest, most scientific and analytical portions of the conference. Complexity science is definitely NOT my area! Two presenters explained the field and their research. I was lost almost all morning. After an OK boxed lunch, the afternoon went better for me. The explanations about the information presented earlier in the day helped me to understand a bit more of it. Due to the severe weather throughout the Midwest, one of the presenters was unable to make it to do his presentation. So, instead there was some improvization on the part of the conference planners and we did some improv exercises which helped me to more understand a couple of the complexity constructs that had been presented. We also had "break out sessions" and "table top" conversations on different issues in the fields of conflict resolution and complexity. I chose to start my own group during the open session of table top conversations because the others didn't interest me. I hosted a conversation on Conflict Resolution in Academia- Personnel Issues. That gathered a very full table! I think those at the table learned more from me about K-State's practices than I learned from them, but it was an enlightening discussion which I very much enjoyed hosting. I also gained ideas of what K-State can do to better in relation to our practices using our ombudspersons' experiences in conflict resolution and moving forward with what they have learned from their time as part-time ombudspersons and analysing the data they gather from the conflicts in which they assist. I hope to become more involved in this part of conflict resolution at K-State in the future.

After the afternoon portion, we were shuttled back to the hotel to change and have a break (about 30 minutes) and then were shuttled to the zoo! We had a chance to wander through the rainforest and then had a nice catered dinner buffet and another presentation/discussion. Again, the evening ended around 9:30. This time, fully energized after the good food, I was awake enough to spend about an hour and a half in the pool area. I spent time in both the sauna and the hot tub alternatively, while reading a good book. It was very relaxing. Afterward I noticed a small group from the conference talking in one of the lobby's sitting areas. So, I went up to my room, changed, and went back down to talk. Most of the conversation was about the topics of the conference so again, I felt that I was learning more. After all but one other person had retired for the evening, my new friend Serge and I had time just to sit and chat. We talked about what we do for work, about our families, and our studies (Serge Loode is a PhD student and a research assistant at the Peace and Conflict Studies Center at the University of Queensland, Australia). We also had the opportunity to talk a little about cultural difference, mostly accents and what we call different things. It was 1:15 am when we decided we'd better go back to our rooms and sleep. We'd enjoyed the conversation so much that time had flown by.

Saturday- Saturday morning started off nicely. I met a few of my new acquaintances for breakfast (this time having time for the cook-to-order breakfast). We had nice light conversation and then checked out of the hotel and again boarded the shuttle to Creighton. The morning session was good with some table-top conversations and a "world cafe." This was all rather enjoyable and I was much more comfortable with what I was learning. The only frustrating part was that we were told to pick a conflict to discuss with only a few seconds to decide on one. So, the conversations we had about our topics, using the "new language" which we didn't really understand, wasn't so productive for most. It would have been helpful if they'd given us the chance to think on a conflict overnight and then also given us a sheet of printed definitions for the 17 conflict constructs which we were to use in explaining our conflict in a "new language." Overall, it was a nice morning. The conference ended at 12:30 and we were again shuttled to the hotel. Serge, Pam, and I had a nice lunch at an Italian bistro-type restaurant down the street about a block from our hotel and got to know each other a little more. The day ended with a long 3 1/2 hour ride back to Manhattan. We arrived back to the motor pool building about 6:30 pm.

After returning home my family and I went to dinner with our neighbors at Los Portillos (not by my suggestion although it is our favorite Mexican in Manhattan). Then I came home and quickly went to sleep. Today, I'm giving a talk on "Standing Strong in the World" at church. Tomorrow I start my Summer courses (stats, human needs, and social organization). Ugh...life goes on. The boys also have t-ball and baseball during June and July so this is just the beginning of a long summer!

*Click the title of this post for more information on the conference.*