The Virtual Apimpment

It's fun to read everyone's updates, and I'm adding one of my own. Like Jake, I feel that my own life is boring, but Erik tells me it's not, so I will share with the rest of you. I just realized that both Erik and I are doing this at the same time- so you'll probably all get to read the same stories twice, but oh well.
It has been fun being home owners. The mortgage part is not as fun, but coming home to an entire house with multiple rooms and open space has been wonderful. I feel very spoiled to have all of this, and I know that we are incredibly blessed to have been able to buy this home. There are lots of little projects we need to work on now, but even that is kind of fun.
Work has been exhausting lately. I've been in the adoption unit for about six months now, but I kept several of my cases where the biological parents are still involved, and we are nearing the point where their rights will be terminated and I will start working on adoptions for those kids, which can be an emotionally trying time. It also seems that I have some kind of bad effect on all of the new families I got to work with, when kids are in homes that are supposed to be potentially adoptive. In several cases, when I have gone out to meet with the family and explain the adoption process, they have told me they don't want to adopt and what the child out of their home asap. Fun! And by fun I mean incredibly stressful- but the good news is that I am finally getting to work on a handful of adoptions that are actually going well!
We've been spending a lot of time with family, and next weekend we're heading up to my hometown for the Relay for Life event. It has a special meaning for me, because family friends of ours started a team in memory of my mom, and this year it has a special meaning for Erik too, so it will be good to see friends and camp out on the lawn of my old high school.
For fun, I've been going to Karaoke just about every week. Usually I go alone, which sounds lame (and it could very well be) but it has been fun because no one I know actually has to hear me.
I'm also planning on going to grad school in the fall. I'm either going to Temple or Widener (I haven't made up my mind yet) to the Harrisburg program. I'll be working full-time and going to school part-time which should make for an interesting 2 years, but my work is paying for it, so I will do my best not to complain. I'll be getting my Masters Degree in Social Work, which hopefully will allow me to do jobs I will really love in the future- after I "repay" my time at the Agency, so I'll be there for at least three more years.
Erik and I also wanted to extend an invitation to you to come visit- but apparently he's writing about that, so I won't make you read it twice. Also, remember that if you are coming to Homecoming this year, you are more than welcome here, and we actually have room this year!!!
I miss you all!