another hoop to jump through...

so, er, i'm a little afraid to tell you guys 'cuz i'm afraid i'm going to fail, but at this point, my need for prayer supersedes my pride...

my defense is on for next week. as much as i'm glad it's moving forward (and all that drama resolved), i'm getting a bit nervous. i've been working on it over the holidays, but i don't think i'm quite ready...so next wednesday (the 11th) at 3:00 p.m., could you guys pray for me - that my committee members would be gracious and allow me to move forward with my dissertation. er, you guys could even pray for me before then, if you really wanted to. yikes, this is the next step...

i dunno if you guys remember last year, around this time, my taking the qualifying exam...this is kinda similar...and once again, i need to do the best i can to prepare and leave the rest in God's very capable hands. so for the most part, when i stop at that thought, i'm okay...but if i think about it more, then i get nervous.

to update you guys on my laptop situation (not that you guys asked for an update, but just 'cuz)...so i waited a few days 'cuz i thought that it got delivered while campus was "closed" last week, and it might take a little while for the package to actually get to my department office from the loading dock (don't ask me why...this is what i was told). but today i called, and the secretary who took care of my order told me it still hadn't come, so i asked her to check the delivery status and whatnot. turns out, it was sent out december 17th, but ups doesn't know where it is...greeeat. i think this is happening just so i really, really appreciate my laptop when i get it, 'cuz everytime i'm disappointed, i want it more and more. first the "printer," now this...i dunno if this is standard dell/ups service, but i'm not happy with them right now...'nuf said. well...maybe there's someone else out there, making good use of my laptop and/or printer, or the cash they got from selling it. at any rate, dell has sent out a replacement, so hopefully i'll get that before i graduate. ;p seriously, it's all good...i'll eventually get it, right? so no complaints...