Did I ever tell you how happy this makes me?

[feeding Annie some well deserved carrots after my lesson]

What is Christmas?

It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.

Christmas break is coming and I could not be more ready. Stop day is this week and christmas break is so close yet so far! I can't wait to be home with my family and enjoy the christmas holiday. It is my favorite time of year. With most people in such a wonderful mood, lights every where, and christmas songs on every radio station. I hope all of you are enjoying this season as much as I am. Happy Holidays!

Happy 4th Birthday Logan!

You are loved more than you will ever know.

11.30.09

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire,

If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something

For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.

During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations

Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge

Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes

They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary

Because it means you made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.

A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also

thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles and they

can become your blessings.

...Fulton...Columbia...St. Louis...Fulton...Columbia...

Going, going, going. That is all I have been doing here lately. To be honest, in the past three weeks I have probably stayed at my own place about three times. I have been driving back and forth from Columbia to Fulton and then back again. It feels like the closest thing I have to home while I am away at school and I feel safe there. Colin's parents have graciously let me stay at their house the past couple of weeks because without going in to details. I flat out don't feel safe where I live. My roommates, some in particular, do not have the same life style as I do (are dishes that hard to at least rinse out) and to add on top of it, I have learned rather quickly that the neighborhood leaves something to be desired. So rather than feel uncomfortable I just pack a small bag and head to Fulton. I don't get frustrated there and can actually get some studying done. Here, at my place, all I want to do is clean up. Though on the other hand, I refuse to clean up after other people especially wash their dishes. At some point in time they need to take some responsibility for themselves and I am not going to step in the way of that.

Speaking of Fulton and Colin, things are rather confusing. About two months ago, Colin and I broke up for very necessary reasons. That right there could be its own blog so I won't go in to that. Well, in the time that Colin and I were broken up Adam decided that he missed me and wanted to be with me. I fell for it and believed him and then randomly I did not hear from him for four weeks. In that time, Colin and I went to dinner, began to hang out again, and worked through things. I felt that if Adam truly cared he would have found it in him to say something. Anything. But he didn't and now I have moved past all of that. I am truly happy with Colin and am very much looking forward to what the future has in store for us. They always say that you have found the right guy when you see qualities of your dad within them. I can't agree with this more. Colin treats me just how my dad would want me to be treated and if you know me at all you know that means more to me than anything. My daddy is my #1 guy. If he doesn't approve then there is no other option.

There is more with Colin. We are looking for a house for him and maybe one day me too. It has been very hard. There is a certain budget that Colin can't go over and since I have no permanent job and am not going to put anything in to a house until I am married to whomever that will be, I can't help with the finance part. The only part I can help out with is looking for houses, going on visitis with him, and ultimately giving him my approval. That also raises another issue. When Colin moves out and is in his own house, will I be able to stay with him? Yes, I am nineteen years old and can make my own decisions but I hate doing things my parents don't approve of and to be honest I have no clue how they would feel about it. No, I would not move in but I would like to stay there. I suppose I will worry about that when the time comes. So far there are two houses we are looking in to. Both are in Tebbetts, MO and are right next to our best friends Josh and Lauren. The best part about looking for houses there is Lauren and I could car pool to Columbia since we both work at Landmark Bank. On the days I go to school, I would drop her off at work or vice versa. Plus, the four of us spend so much time together any way that I think it could be a lot of fun. So we'll see. I try not to get my hopes up.

Some of you may be wondering where Tebbetts, MO is. Well lets just say this, it is a town of grain elevators, a population of 762, where the main road is a two lane highway that is rarely traveled and some times floods when the river gets too high, it sits right between Jefferson City and Mokane, and if you want more than a drink at the local bar or a gallon of milk, you have to travel to Jefferson City or to Fulton. To me, it is heaven. Growing up in St. Louis, I didn't know exactly what "country" was. Part of my family lived in Sullivan so I kind of knew but nothing like this. It is a place where "going out" means having a bonfire or just hanging out at a friends house. That is just the thing I love to do. Tebbetts along with Mokane and Hams Prairie have some what become home to me. It is where many of my friends are and where I like to spend a lot of my time.

I think that pretty much catches my blog up to where I am in life. I wish I had pictures to share but I just have not been taking any. Thanksgiving is coming up in three short days and I will be sure to take some pictures of family and friends. Have a happy holiday and enjoy some delicious food!

Hugs!

Well hello again my blogging friends. It has been quite a long time since I have been on here to ramble on about my life as a college student. Not much has changed since the last time I was on here. My last blog talked about how I am now registered in the national bone marrow bank. When I got my cotten swabs in the mail my hands were shaking. I knew I was making a great decision by joining but it was such a big decision. I've been wanting to do it for so long and just in the time I put that package in the mail and sent off and processed. Since then, nothing has happened. I got an email saying that they had recieved my cheek swabs and that they would be going through processing. Now, I wait.

School is kicking my butt. To say the very least. How did something that use to come so easily to me is now all of a sudden feeling impossible? I started my first ultrasound class a few weeks ago and so far I have enjoyed it. I have gone to observe the present ultrasound students in lab as they practice ultrasound. It is actually kind of neat how the class works. First, the instructor shows them where and how to find the image and how many pictures you need on that specific organ. For example, the pancreas and the gall bladder are two of the hardest organs to get an image of in the human body, for ultrasound anyway. First, you must find the pancreas and take one image of the head, another of the body, a transverse image, one of the tail, and so on and so forth. Once the instructor shows you all of this, you split up in to two groups and practice on one another. Sounds a little funny doesn't it? I was a little shocked as well but how else are you supposed to practice ultrasound? At this point, I am just hoping that 1. I get in to the program when I apply in February and 2. that I will like it because if I don't, I am going to hate myself for taking all these ridiculous hard classes!

Something that I am very excited to talk about is the fact that on this past Tuesday, November 2nd I had my very first horseback riding lesson. That's right. Me. I am taking lessons every week and maybe even jumping it up to twice a week if my schedule can allow. Since I was a little girl I have begged to have lessons but with dance and school there just was not enough time. Plus, I'm from St. Louis. Needless to say, there aren't a whole lot of opportunities to ride a horse. I am taking lessons from a place here in Columbia called Glendale Stables. Kent Swalla is giving me my lessons and he was awesome. He was patient and when he saw me getting frusterated he was quick on giving the compliments. The horse I rode, her name was Annie. She was also patient with me thankfully. I've never been on a horse before so when Kent took his rope off and it was just me and her, I'm glad she was understanding. I go back next Wednesday and am more than ready. I was to get back on and practice more and more. I just love being around horses. They are such beautiful animals. I am hoping that once I am comfortable with riding, Kent will also show me how to take care of them. That way, one day I will be able to have my own :)

[the stables]

I think I've talked enough. For now anyway. There is plently more drama going on in my life, but why bother all of you with that. Until next time.

"The greatest things in life can not be seen or even touched. They must be felt by the heart."

A few days ago, I did something that I always said I was going to do but never fully got around to it. Ever since my beloved French teacher, Rachel Mueller, was diagnosed with leukemia I knew I just had to do something. Mrs. Mueller lost the fight to leukemia and passed away on Halloween night almost two years ago. The moment Devon, her daughter, called me I knew what had happened and ever since that day I have been trying to figure something out to help others like Mrs. Mueller. To give others a chance to survive.


A big part of surviving leukemia for many people is getting a bone marrow transplant. Donating bone marrow is a whole lot different than donating blood. To donate bone marrow you have to be between the ages of 18 and 60 and in good health. For many people, donating bone marrow sounds too painful so they don't even bother. If only they knew how many lives they could save if they took the time to learn more about it. For the procedure you are completely knocked out and only experience some soreness a few days following. To become a part of the National Bone Marrow bank all you need to do is go to http://www.marrow.org/ and sign up. The cost is about $100 for all the tests they do to acquire your DNA but because people choose to donate, most of that cost is covered. For instance when I signed up, I didn't have to pay anything. Once you have filled all your information out, they send you a kit in the mail. You get a cheek swab and send it back to them in the mail in a pre-paid envelope. Then that is it. You just wait. If someone needs you to donate bone marrow, they will contact you. You may never get a call or you may get one in the first month. It just all depends. Finding a match for bone marrow is really difficult so the more that are willing to donate, the more lives that can be saved. So please go to http://www.marrow.org/ to take the time and learn more about it.





Another thing that is important to me is adoption. As most of you all know, my best friend, Emily, gave birth to a beautiful baby boy on November 30, 2005. She knew that she couldn't provide for him like she wanted, so she gave him up for adoption to an amazing couple, Mike and Janet. Logan is loved by so many people and has had a great life so far because of how unselfish my best friend was.






Jockey is doing a fundraiser right now for adoptive families. You buy a little bear and the proceeds go to adoptive families. You can check it out at http://www.jockeybeingfamily.com/.



I have a feeling I won't be blogging for a while. My week coming up is going to be a crazy one. Four tests in the first three days of the week. whew....lots of studying is going on here! Have a great week and weekend everyone. GO MIZZOU!

When I Grow Up...

Even though school has been pretty tough lately, I am getting really excited about taking my first real class in my major. Forget all the gen ed's I'm ready for the good stuff!

Fight Like A Girl

With school being so hard lately, I have this one song that I seem to be belting out in the car more than others. I can just hear my own mom telling me these samne exact words. I think this song got me through some pretty rough times these past few weeks. Here is the music video. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V96r2046qjE

Home Sweet Home

I remember when all I wanted was to be out of the house and in college. I'm starting to feel a little different. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE mizzou and I love going to school knowing that in the end I will have something that I want, a college degree. I'll be able to go off and do something that I will enjoy...hopefully :) It is that lately school has been kicking my toosh! Anatomy is flippin ridiculous. Between cadavers, skeletons, microscope slides, and everything in between it is slowly but surely defeating me. I am trying SO hard to stay afloat and get through this class. I actually really love the stuff I am learning when I actually get it. I mean, I could tell you everything there is to know about you ulna and radius and how they attach to the capitulum and trachea of the humerus. I like knowing that stuff and I like explaining it to people. But man, learning the stuff is crazy. Along with that there is medical terminology (why can't we all just speak in one language!) which isn't too bad, just a lot of memorizing. Add those to chemistry and ultrasound, my load is pretty heavy. And it is only 14 hours! But I can do it. I just wish I was going to be home longer. With school being so tough lately, it has been wonderful being able to be at home. Lay in my own bed, my freshly clean clothes smell like home, playing and snuggling with my doggies. There is just something about home that will never get old. Unfortunately, it is back to Columbia tomorrow for the Desperate Housewives premiere along with lots of studying.

This Saturday was the fist home game for the Missouri Tigers. We played Bowling Green and beat them 27-20. It was a close game especially since everyone thought we were going to beat them by so much! It was the first football game that I actually got to go to with friends since last year I had to work every single game! It was lots of fun! This year we got a new score board and boy was it loud! Mizzou officially has the largest scoreboard in the Big 12! My dad and Sue came down for the game and we hiked all the play from AV-14 (parking lot in the middle of no where). My dad was a trooper walking all that way!

This week is going to be a tough one for me. I have a chemistry mid-term on Monday, medical terminology test on Tuesday and an anatomy test on Friday! It makes me tired just thinking about it! Speaking of that, I better get to studying!

Hugs!

I thought tonight that I should prob update my blog but now that I am sitting here in bed, I can't come up with anything to write about. Drama in the house is over, for the most part. Shelby paid Nick, Nick is still a little bitter, but at least it is over now.

I am having such a horrible time with the coupons. I pick all the ones out that I think I may want and make my list but when I get to the store, I find things that are cheaper even if I did use the coupon. And obviously I don't want to spend more money just so I can use a coupon, that would be silly. So I am going to keep cutting coupons in hope that I will get the hand of it. I am determined!

School is so difficult this year. I can't not keep all these medical terms strait. From gastroduodenostomy to acromegaly, they are all starting to run together. I am hoping that making some flash cards will help. Anatomy is ridiculous too. Who knew that a pollex was a thumb or that hollex was your big toe? ahh..the joy of health professions. It will all still be worth it though, right? right.

This post wasn't very long but before I bring it to a close I would like to say one more thing.
Mrs. S- I am so sorry for everything that you have been going through. I have been wanting to comment on your blog for a while now but never knew what exactly I wanted to say. Just know, you and your family have been in my thoughts and prayers. I hope things get better!

I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday weekend. Mine was spent going through a ridiculous amount of clothes my mom brought down to me. Sometimes I miss living at home. Always having someone waiting for me to come home, my mom tucking me in at night, my two little dogs that are always able to cheer me up. I miss home. Well that is all for now. First MU home game this Saturday. Looking forward to it SO much!

Night y'all!

High tuition + Broke College student=

...the need for coupons!



After reading about my cousin, Annie's experiences with coupons I decided that I needed to give them a try. School is expensive enough as it is so any help I can get on groceries and other things, the better. Today was my first experience with coupons. I went and got the Sunday paper and cut away. I got one of those folder things with the seperate pockets and catagorized them by things that I thought I got the most. I think I actually might be kinda good at it. Annie got over $100 worth of things for only $1 and some change all with the use of coupons! That is just crazy! I don't know if I will be that good but I'll give it a shot.





Things are the duplex are a little, oh whats the word, tense? Shelby broke Nick's (the one guy who is living here) guitar. Nick wants Shelby to pay $200 for the guitar but not to replace it. He wants to use the money to pay for his court fees from getting an MIP. I'm trying to hard not to get in to the middle of it because I understand where both are coming from. Yes Shelby broke his guitar but Nick had it just leaning up against a bookcase down in the living room. If the guitar meant that much to him he should take better care of it. It should not have been in the living room around everyone much less while people are moving in. If he really wanted it in there then it should have at least been on a stand. But Shelby broke it so she knows she is going to help pay for it but not the $200. Who knows what is going to happen. I just hope it blows over without causing drama in the house.

I Apologize...

for completely disappearing on you. Ever since I got back from Mobile, things have been a little crazy. I moved out of my brothers and in to my new duplex. At first I was a little scared because the one guy that will be living with us this year lived there all summer. Needless to say, the place was a disaster. And I am not just saying that cause I am a perfectionist and a neat freak. It literally looked like a dump. Clothes and dishes were everywhere not to mention the fact that it just had to boy funk smell. I was hoping, along with the other girls, that once we started moving in he would start picking up his stuff. Nope, not a chance. Instead, we had to make piles going all the way up the stairs to his room just to get some stuff out of the living room. It was all so worth it though cause now it looks fabulous. Now when I come home I breathe a sigh of relief because I come home to a clean, smelling good (thank you plug ins!) duplex. Not to mention the fact that I love my room. It smells so good and it is so clean. It is just the perfect little spot for me. I even have my mini fridge with bottled water and diet coke. Im hoping that since I find my room so relaxing that it will help me get through this very stressful semester. We shall see! I put some pictures of my new place up on facebook and as soon as we get internet set up and the duplex I will be putting some on here.

How is everyone else doing?! Thank goodness for my iphone or I would feel so lost! Thank goodness for the internet or I don't know how I would keep in touch with people!

Today, me and Colin's cat came home from the vet. Although she was too small to have kittens, her going through heat was just too much to handle so we got her fixed. I was a little nervous but Colin was there always telling me she would be alright. Suprisingly, she turned out to be much better than I ever would have anticipated. This morning once we got her home she was playing fetch and jumping around. She even took a nap with me. She didn't act like she had gotten surgery the day before at all.

Well I think that is all. I need to get off here so I can go see my nephew!

Night y'all!

Just a quick photo from my vacation. A detailed blog will be soon to follow.

Random Thoughts

As I sit here in my room in the basement I am having such random thoughts. Here are a few


- I love the movie Twister. I just adore it. I could watch it over and over again and never lose interest. I think I was destined to be a storm chaser but I don't have the guts to do it nor does my mom want me to do it so for now I'll stick with Ultrasound :)


- I missed candles so much in the past year. Since I was in a dorm room last year canldes were a big no no so I tried to make to with my fake candles but it just was not the same. They bring me so much peace just looking at them when they are lit. I know that if I just lay down, light some candles, read a book or watch a movie I can calm myself down whatever situation I have myself in at the moment.


- I PASSED PHYSICS! That probably should have been the first thing that I mentioned but hey, better late than never. My unofficial transcript was posted today and I got a C in lecture and an A in lab. Not too bad, right? I am pretty proud of myself. I never thought I would say that getting a C in a class but with as hard as that stinkin class was, I am dang proud!


- I can't wait for Mobile next year. ahh..the thought of sitting by the pool or the beach. Paradise.


- I got my hair done yesterday. Got my highlights touched up so my dark roots weren't showing so bad. I kinda miss my dark, natural hair but what the hey. Why not enjoy the blonde.


That is all for today. I need to get to cleaning my room and getting things together. I move out of my brothers when I get back from Mobile and I need to pack for my trip too! So much work,so little time!

She's Back!

So here it goes. My random-ness. I haven't had a spare moment to blog in oh, I don't know, FOREVER! It has definitely been long over due for a while now. Where do I start?

My life lately has been filled with its ups and downs lately. One day I feel like I am on top of the world, and the next I can't make it through. Between friends, family, boys, work, and school, my world has just been turned upside down. I got my first C in school, EVER. Seriously, like ever and I'm having some issues coping with it. It was in Physics and I really don't think I could have done any better. I attempted Physics in high school too and once again did not understand a single thing. My mom has assured me that it will be ok, but what if it isn't? What if I can't get in to my Ultrasound program because of this C? What if I can't get myself back in gear and am going to continue to slip with my grades? Lord, please don't let that happen. School was so hard this summer. Completing a whole class in 8 weeks, 2 chapters a week, just doesn't work for me. Thank goodness its over. Now I just have to pray that I don't need to take Physics over again.

Work has pushed me to my limits a few times too. Working at a bank is pretty nice. Good hours, usually people are nice, but there are those times when it is not so great. Sometime it can be SO overwhelming. When you have a customer who wants a million things, "Put this here, that there, I need this in this amount, cash this one in these bills, blah blah blah" and along with that you have 10 people in the lobby waiting for you. Heaven forbid you make one mistake. I shouldn't be so negative about it. There are those customers that I love helping. They are just so sweet and so understanding and I could help them all day. So that is work.

Friends. I don't even know what to put here without putting all my business out there to read. It has nice being away all summer but I'm ready to see my friends again.

Boys. If you know me well enough you should know what is going on in that department. Probably not the greatest idea to put on here. I can say though that Colin and I are doing great. Next Sunday on the 2nd he is meeting my dad's side of the family. He is the first guy that I have EVER introduced him to but I think it will be a good time. Right now Colin is trying to buy a house. We found a really nice one that has a little land and neighbors that aren't really close which is exactly what he wanted. The problem? He is in a bidding war with other people. Of course.

I am just so exhausted. I need a break. Thank goodness Mobile will be here soon. Part of me doesn't even want to take my computer or my phone. I just want to get away. This summer has me beat. I can't even imagine what next semester is going to be like. whew. It is going to be a doozy.

I think that is enough for all my rambling. Have a good weekend!

Saturday's To Do List:

Go to work.

Paint my toe nails

UPDATE MY BLOG!

Eat some Shakespeare's pizza! YUM!

Go to Columbia's semi- pro football game

I will eventually write on here what I've been up to in my life the past month and I am going to try super hard tomorrow afternoon!

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY, CHASE!

In 3 hours...

I will be headed to Mobile, Alabama for America's Junior Miss 52nd Nationals!!!

I am SOO excited. It seems like just last year I was down there getting excited for my family and friends to come see me. I can't wait to see my host family again. They truly feel like a second family to me and to go a whole year without seeing them kinda stunk! I am getting ready to leave Columbia and will then be driving to St. Louis where I will meet up with the Missouri Junior Miss chairman. Then, OFF WE GO! I will be posting LOTS of pictures when I get back some so be prepared! See ya later Missouri!

On a quick note, here is an adorable picture of my nephew who I am doing to miss so much!

[sleeping with this tiger]

Just a few quick photos...

[color is horrible. didnt feel like scanning so took a picture of a picture. better one soon to come with more pictures!]

[I love this little guy!]

Rascal Flatts!

On June 5,2009 I went to the Rascal Flatts concert with Emily and sat about 8 rows from the stage! It was amazing! I got the tickets for my birthday so I took Emily and we had a great time! I don't think words can even do it justice so here are a bunch of pictures!

This past Saturday, Colin's best friend for married. The wedding was SO much fun! We hang out with Josh and Lauren quite a bit so it was nice that we were both there. Colin was the best man. Hopefully I will have pictures soon! I was a dummy and forgot my camera so I am waiting to get some pictures from someone else!

Have a good Monday!