Love Is....

Love Is....

Monday, December 3, 2012

Vet School







My buddy had fun going to school with me last week for our LIVE DOG exam quizes....we did really well on them....make a good team!  Everyone loved him and he really loved the attention.  Great dog!










Surrounded by lots of ladies....LOL!













He was exhausted when we got home both nights....one night he ran with me too!  Rough life!  :)

Sunday, December 2, 2012

~*BLesSinGs*~

Don't forget to stop and laugh!

First and foremost, I am THANKFUL!  I have been so overly blessed through these last 12 weeks of my first semester of vet school.  For those of you who know me, you know that I am very independent and I do not like to ask for help.  I simply had to put this aside.  Those same people also know that I have been on my  knees humbled this semester of vet school where I am seeking to fulfill a lifelong dream.  My transition from working the past 3 years to going back to school (and I mean SERIOUS school), has been extremely difficult for me to do.  Every Friday we have exams and almost every Friday, I have failed exam after exam after exam.  It has been exhausting.  Over Thanksgiving break, I was able to fully and totally focus on studying several hours each day uninterrupted which proved successful and extremely rewarding last week with excellent grades!  It feels so good!  I was able to celebrate last night with two of my best friends here, Melissa and  Nick.  It is these two classmates who are going to encourage me and drag me to our graduation together.


Heath has been my biggest fan through all these ups and downs!  It has truly been an emotional roller coaster and he has followed me through it all.  He has prayed with me each night for strength and faith as well as for praises for the little things in life.  He reminds me that life is good and no matter what, God has a plan for me to use me where I am needed.  No matter what happens this semester, I know that I have given it my best and will never regret this decision to come here.

All the faculty and staff have also been supportive with their review sessions and continual words of encouragement through the weeks that always seem to fly by.  I have found a wonderful study buddy, Cassie, to quiz each other and talk about concepts out loud.

I know there are so many people in Western Nebraska and back in Illinois praying for me and I want to thank you all for that.  I have learned to trust God, no matter what!  Thank you for believing in me!

*PRAISES*BLESSINGS*THANKSGIVING*

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Thanksgiving At School

Last Friday we had a get together at our house.  It was wonderful way to celebrate life's blessings with new found friends.



Monday, November 19, 2012

Gram and Gramps

I had the wonderful opportunity to visit with my Granny and Grandpa yesterday with my Mama.  We went over there after church.  They are such a beautiful couple!  They have been married almost 75 years and to see Grandpa by her bedside yesterday holding hands was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!  I love them!


Tuesday, November 13, 2012

*Vet School Swim Team*


I was honored to be a part of the vet school swim team for an intramural meet last night.  It was my first swim meet and it was alot of fun!  I swam an open 50 yard freestyle and a 200 yard freestyle relay.  I got 36 seconds something in the open and our relay won!  Go girls!

This is my "Race of the Month" for November which is awesome because it is local and FREE!  :)


Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Weekend

This was a wonderful and much needed weekend!



 Fall Hike Along the River Trail



Celebrated Nick's Birthday!


I had the wonderful privilege of shaking Dr. Temple Grandin's hand today after a lecture she gave here at K-State!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Great Weekend

I had a wonderful, relaxing weekend!  Got to meet a colleague/friend for coffee, go to a bonfire, take 2 yoga classes, go to church, and take pictures for a family.

Bonfire Night with Nick and Melissa, my buddies!


Beautiful Fall in Kansas!


Can you see it!?  It's a cow....we made for Bovine Club baking fundraiser!


Fun photo shoot of my roomie, her dogs, and her man!




Photo shoot of my friend from vet school and her beautiful family!





Monday, October 22, 2012

Good but Rough Day

Today, I received a nice scholarship, a Merck Manual (vet book) through a drawing, and I got to talk with some very successful veterinarians!  3 positive things!


Day ended with whipped cream from the can, some serious chocolate gelato, and a bubble bath with candles.....LOL!  Monday nights in Kansas!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Weekend Fun


A couple of weekends ago, Bovine Club went to the trap range.  Nick won with 73 out of 75!

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Schedule for Today


5:30 am alarm
6:15 am bike to school
6:45 am at school prepare with classmates
9 am class
Noon mentor lunch
1pm gross anatomy lab
3:30 pm interview for Rural Kansas Scholarship
4 pm micro anatomy review
5 pm bake cake for Bovine Club
6 pm study
7:30 pm swim workout
8:30 pm shower/supper
9 pm group viewing of Duck Commander...LOL

Saturday, October 6, 2012

*October*


Life has continued at the new 'normal' pace for the last 6 weeks.  I'm still alive and going!  Healthy and training.  I have my Monument Half Marathon this coming weekend in Nebraska with Katie and Corey!  So pumped about it!  We don't have any tests this upcoming week!  PRAISES!  Time to be used extremely wisely to catch up!

REWIND:






1.  One day a couple of weeks ago, the transformer caught fire and we studied in the dark upon returning  to the house from Walmart with our new marker board.







2.  It's FALL...the leaves are changing!  YAY!  I didn't have trees last fall in Nebraska!  So exciting!  :)











3.  Birds are starting to fly......









3.  A typical Thursday Night:  we drop our bookbags at the door, totally checked out for the week, but have umpteen hours of studying left....LOL!  :)











4.  Granny sent us flowers....my favorite combination!  :)







5.  I get notes in the mail everyday!  :)

I hope everyone has a great weekend and week!

~Until then, I will be studying!~

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Middle of the Week

I was not able to finish my workout last night, but good news is that I was able to finish my workout today, this morning!  I am in the library now getting ready to study for the evening.  We just got out of Gross Anatomy lab where we are diving into the thorax and learning all veins, arteries, nerves, etc....all the really important, hard to locate stuff.  Challenged daily by the rigorous schedule, I am constantly reminded by friends and family how blessed I am.  I can do all things who Him who strengthens me.  ~Philippians 4:13.

I am meeting with 2 professors regarding my last test, a learning specialist to learn how to study at this pace, and the financial aid office to make sure I am on the right track early!

We are getting rain again!  Yay!  Praise God!  It was actually a really fun ride to class this morning!  I just brought my clothes with me and changed at school which was perfect!

Feeling good and ready for the evening to begin!  Workout done, leftover lunch for supper, my computer,  my water bottle, and a sweatshirt!

Monday, September 24, 2012

Wow

Ok, well, I have 3 more tests down, 1 major breakdown done, and several more miles in since we last talked.  It's been an incredibly crazy week.  I ran 10 miles last Sunday and then had a really rough day on Monday.  I had 3 back-to-back lectures that were extremely challenging.  The 4th lecture of the morning was on financial health which pretty much threw me over my breaking point.  It was our 2nd lecture on finances and with my morning, I just got really upset.  It was a very bad day and those who know me, know that is not like me.  So, I went home at lunch and talked with my roommates and I talked to Heath.  I got back and finished my day off.  The next morning, my buddy Nick asked how I was doing and wow, did he get an answer I'm pretty sure he wasn't expecting.  Poor guy.  He was so supportive as were my roomies and Heath.  I made it a point to talk with several people, including our assistant dean and a practicing woman veterinarian.  I have since set up an appointment with the financial solution office on campus for this Friday at 1 pm.  This all helped alot.  Slowly progressing through the week, I continued running.  I had the wonderful opportunity to run with Melissa on Wednesday morning and open up to her about this as well.  It was a great run!  Very much so multitasking, which I have found is a necessity while in veterinary school.  I was running, talking with a friend, studying, and getting Briggsy out that beautiful fall morning!  Yay!


We got through 1 exam on Tuesday and 2 Friday and then got to go to a catfish fry at Nick's.  It was wonderful!  As exhausted as most of us were, we were still able to get together and talk outside while Bruce played the guitar.  I even got to dance under the stars!

I was able to gain focus all day on Saturday so I studied for our upcoming exam.  It was an absolutely wonderful, refreshing, relaxing Saturday!  I pretty much sat outside on our patio with my book and note cards and just booked it!

Yesterday, I had the wonderful privilege of going to church with Nick and Melissa.  It was absolutely wonderful.  To be surrounded by these two is so awesome, it is these guys that will get me to graduation.  Thank you for that!


Then, to continue an already amazing Sunday, I got to have lunch with Heath's brother's family.  This is a picture of Mr. Elijah, their youngest.  

After that, I was able to find a new cool place to run Briggs and we ran, alot.  I just heard from my running partner, Morgan, who did AWESOME this weekend in her September race!  Also, Katie and Corey ran their first marathon this weekend!  I am anxiously to hear how it went!  So proud!


Saturday, September 15, 2012

Schedules

Friday Schedule

9 Test
11 Clinic
12:30 Call Hall ICE CREAM
1 Ag Health homework at the library
2 Cadavier-didn't happen, had to finish homework before review
3 Micro Review at school
5 Bike home and walk with Briggs
6:30 Clean house
8 Thinking about bed
10 BED

Saturday Schedule-trying to stick to it
7 Slept-In
8 Made breakfast
8:30 Nap
10 Melissa's to study Ag Health-worked on homework due next Saturday
Noon lunch at Melissa's
3 Bike home
4 Microanatomy catch up-Test in 2 weeks
5:30 Dog Park
6:45 5 mile run with Briggs
8 Shower/Supper/Briggs' bath
8:30 Micro
10 BED

Sunday-guessing it will go something like this
7:30 10 mile run with Briggs
9:30 Shower and get ready for church
10 Scholarship Opportunities
11Church with Melissa
1 Lunch, get organized
2 Nap
4 Bovine Reproduction-Test Tuesday
7 Watch Gross Anatomy Muscle videos for Test on Friday (lab and lecture-2 tests!
10 Try to be in BED

**Note to self.....when to get groceries?  LOL!!**  :)

Friday, September 14, 2012

Pictures


About a month ago, I decided to try to get this photo printed. I tried for a long time to find a place that would print panoramas.  So, I finally came to the conclusion of "Go BIG or Go Home!  LOL!  Instead of printing a normal, regular sized one, I decided (with a little encouragement from a friend) to make it 1 foot by 6 feet!  When Heath received it rolled up on his doorstep, I think he was a little shocked at the size.  Before I knew it, he had it up on his office wall in Bridgeport.  I got the picture below in a text today while at school!  I am so happy that he likes it!  He actually had to build a backboard/support system for the back in order to stretch the canvas over it.  I'm super impressed and look forward to seeing it in real life!  :)


Wednesday, September 12, 2012

~Beautiful Morning~

And so it begins...finally time to put my triathlon training aside for a while and begin distance running again.  My next big race is a Half Marathon in Western Nebraska in October.  I just found out this morning that my best friend and her boyfriend will be running it with me!  AWESOME!


I hand an amazing run this morning.  I got a nice little shower as I started out then ran into the sunrise.  A b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l. b.l.e.s.s.i.n.g!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Beginning a New Week


We are hitting the ground running this week with another Physio exam on Friday.  I got to do some Yoga last night to relax and also made my first pot of beans in honor of bean harvest!   I am really missing my small town of Western Nebraska right now as they are starting to receive beans already!

I am starting my half marathon training for my October race in Gering, Nebraska!  It is the first year of this race and I really look forward to it!  The timing is perfect because we do not have any exams on that Friday-a very rare occasion!  God is GREAT!