A Year Ago
24 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized
A year ago I was nowhere near where I am now. I was literally on the other side of the world, in a place as nearly opposite to where I am now as night is to day. Don’t get me wrong- I loved where I was a year ago and I initially didn’t even want to make the journey to where I am now, but I’m definitely glad I did.
I know- I’m being very vague. But I feel like I’ve learned so much since moving to Alabama from London! And it’s not just about veterinary information either (though I do feel that I’ve actually grasped concepts now that I had only brushed the surface of before). I feel like I’ve come so much closer in my spiritual walk with the Lord since being here, and by just walking through this one door, the Lord has shown me a whole hallway of doors- any one of which He might open for me next! I’m overwhelmed and amazed by Him! I can’t even explain how stupid I feel for wanting to blatantly disobey Him and dig my heels into the ground because I was comfortable where I was. I’m a shamed of that, really.
But now I’m excited for what He’s doing here! Like one of my favorite pastors told me, “Go ride the waves, but remember, you don’t make them! Do surfers go out on a calm ocean and splash around to make their own waves to ride into shore? Of course not! You have to go and find the best beach with the best waves!So go! Go to were God is moving, and you’ll be a part of it!” Well, I feel like I barely even know how to sit on the board, but I can’t wait to start riding! Its funny how sometimes I feel that I’ve come so far and conquered so much- none of it of my own ability or understanding. Then at other times, I feel like a little kid who knows nothing and can barely walk except for God who’s holding me up.
Somehow, someway, He’s doing great things here, and He wants me to be a part of it! ME! How could I say ‘No’ to that? What are you going to say to Him where you are? Are you chasing the waves, or trying to make the waves yourself? Let me tell you from experience- It’s exhausting to try, and you’ll burn out long before you ever make anything move on your own. That’s the whole point, really. I think God just needs us to know that we can’t do it on our own, though that’s in our nature to try. He’s already done the work for us. We just need to trust in Him. It’s scary because we don’t understand His plans. How do we know the water is ‘safe’ where He wants us to surf? We don’t. But that’s where faith comes in. We know it’s safe because we trust the Lord to protect us, after all, He never asks us to do ANYTHING that He doesn’t give us the strength and ability to handle. He’s not one to fling us anywhere without a hope. He’s always there, surrounding us with His angels and lifting us up so that we don’t fall, even when we don’t realize we’re falling.
So yeah, I’m not where I once was, and I’m very glad of it! Here’s to surf’n, Lord! Let me catch a big one for you! 
Despite popular belief
02 Jun 2011 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized
Despite popular belief, I haven’t forgotten about my blog! I know I promised one photo a day, and though I may not have posted them since March, I have been taking them. It turns out that vet school is a bit more complicated and time consuming than I thought when I made this goal. trust me, the photos will be coming soon, but for now, this annoying thing called studying must take precedence. So ta ta for now, but you shall be hearing from me and seeing all theings I’ve seen over the past few months very soon.
Nanu, nanu!
A great start!
18 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
in March 2011, Photographic year, Projects
In packing for my trip, what did I have to go and do? cut myself on a pair of scissors? (Here’s where you say, “No! Certainly not! You are way to graceful and smart of that!”)
But alas, the story is true. Just hours away from getting to the farm now, and now I got this pretty Band-aid! At least it’s not my dominant hand and I don’t think I’ll actually be lambing today, but it’s a great start nonetheless.
Yay for bromance!
17 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
in March 2011, Photographic year, Projects
An evening spent with friends and flatmates is fantastic! And if a little bromance makes its way in, all the better! Only when people are so truly comfortable together can such love be truly appreciated!
Thank you Seb, Emily, Chelsea, Alex, Nick, and Katie for a great final night out before leaving for lambing. It will probably be a while before my next post, but at least I’ll have plenty of memories to hold me over ’till my return!
It’s Pi Day!
14 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
in March 2011, Photographic year, Projects
I hope you got your fill today because it is Pi Day once again! Apple, cherry, pumpkin, sweet potato, chocolate, lemon cream- you name it! If it’s a pie, it better be eaten! Or if you’re watching your waist, but still want a laugh, you can always just throw it in someone’s face and start a food fight. That works too! Just be sure and remind the person you pie that it’s for the love of Pi!
Early Easter eggs!
14 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
in March 2011, Photographic year, Projects
Yesterday, a flock of little Easter birds must have made a visit because this is what we saw this morning!
Since Easter won’t be spent at my house this year, I’ve decided to attempt some early Easter traditions this year. I’ve made Easter nests for the very first time! I’ve never heard of it before coming to London, but it’s sp simple and so yummy! Chocolate + cereal + mini eggs= yummy chocolate nests! And they’re so cute too!
Seeing things?
13 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
in March 2011, Photographic year, Projects
Well, I’ve been rather ill all day, and my mind has been tricking me and making me walk in circles all day, so this picture pretty much sums up the last 24 hours of my life. Either the candy is really large, or she has been shrunk to the size of a Polly Pocket. Since her new nickname is Polly anyway, I vote for the latter!
Be that as it may, it also reminds me of the great fun we had tonight meeting new friends and trying a couple of new things. We even met a random guy who seemed strangely amazed by the Minnesotian accent…that he actually thought was Canadian. Yeah. But he was at least friendly without being too friendly- a trait that’s always much appreciated!
In summary, it was a bit crazy. I learned that (being sick + scream over loud music) x 3 hours= me, mute in the morning. Not to worry too much, though because my cold medicine and I are planning on taking our relationship up to a whole new level!
My week
11 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
in March 2011, Photographic year, Projects
Friday night after bar 55- feeling pretty happy!
This week was kind of crazy. Every day was absolutely gorgeous, but I missed most of it because I was forced to stay inside against my will. Who was my enslaver, you ask? Well, that question requires a rather complex answer.
You see, it was actually myself, who let me procrastinate almost all semester so that I had to pick up the slack in the last week or so. It’s a mad house, but all three of us are pooped after the exam. It’s over, and hopefully the procrastination bug is too, but here’s the week laid out for your pleasure!
Enjoy!
People jumping the college fence late at night- not suspicious at all!
Beginning to get serious about studying for my exam!
Breaking out some supplies for studying- still feeling pretty good!
Tuesdays are for pancakes! It's pancake day! Yay for English, American, and integrated pancakes!
Beginning to really feel the dread of the exam and loosing health to study for it. 
Trying to put my heels in and get through my mountain of work...
Studied out, my brain feels slightly raped... zzz....zzzz....zzzzz
Laminin can change your life!
04 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
in March 2011, Photographic year, Projects
I don’t know if you know anything about the fantastic little protein called laminin, but if you haven’t, google it! It will change your life. Laminin is a little protein that creates connective tissue known as lamina. This tissue is a major part of the extra cellular matrix that essentially “glues’ your tissues together. Let me try to explain the extensiveness of this- laminin is essential in creating something called the basement membrane.
Now, EVERYTHING within the body is covered in a membrane of some type, and EVERY membrane requires a basement membrane! Therefore, laminin is in EVERY component of the body- name the organ or structure, I can promise that laminin is involved somehow! Laminin is in EVERYTHING! Your organs, muscles, gastro intestinal track, reproductive track, blood, lymphnodes, sensory organs- laminin is there, keeping it all protected, keeping it all together. It keeps things like your skin and organs in place so that things don’t get twisted around or damaged. Essentially, it keeps you together so that you don’t fall apart, no matter how or where you might move.
This is a picture of the chemical model of laminin, and if you want to hear more about it, go watch this video. The cool thing, if you haven’t already guessed, is that this little protein is a fantastic picture and reminder of the other thing that will keep us together, make us whole so that we don’t fall apart- the promise made by Jesus Christ when he died on the cross for all our sin so that we may one day be able to live in the presence of God. He came to give us life; a life most abundant! He arose because it was impossible for death to contain him, went to heaven to make a place for us, and has promised to return once again!
I love the very obvious reminder of this promise in this very small protein! It’s just beautiful! Of course, there are many, many more fantastic and wondrous physiological and anatomical happenings that even science cannot explain that only proves to me the wonder of God’s design in the body, but I’ve never seen a picture so crystal clear as laminin. Laminin makes you whole. So does Jesus. Priceless!
Sisters!
04 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
in March 2011, Photographic year, Projects
We may not be related by blood, but our similarities, as pointed out by a friend, are rather great. We have a similar face structure, we both love Jesus, we can both be loud at the opportune moment, and neither of us mind dancing and looking kind of crazy just for the fun of it! Plus, she may not know it, but I look up to her, similar to a big sister as well. Sisters? Maybe not exactly, but pretty darn close!
