The Iphone killed my blog.

Seriously. I thought that having an Iphone would make me blog more, but I was so wrong. Now, when I take a picture I just post it directly to the internet and so many people respond that I imagine everyone in the blog-world would be bored out of their minds with the pictures if I were to post them to a blog! Sheeshmageesh! But I will type anyways because this is better than studying for Biomechanics. Right now I am in my second term at USA. We actually only have a month left and then (ya know if I pass finals) I will be a third term student! Crazy! May not seem like that far to most of you because, 1,2,3. . .such small numbers. But after third term, comes fourth term. . .which is my last term of classes! Then it's 8 months of fieldwork and then I'm done. That's basically no time at all. This term my favorite class (not at all my favorite practical) is Cadaver Lab. 

All ready for the cadavers!

So fun! It's insane to hold a humans heart/ foot/ lungs/ any organ in your hands and think. . .this was once in someones body who had a whole life. Who had a favorite movie, who was in love, who maybe had a cat. . . so crazy. And there are some cadavers that have had some type of surgery like a heart with a pacemaker put in, or a knee replacement and then there's the knee. . .all made out of metal. Just sitting there. So shiny. The heart is in a big ziplock bag with all these weird wires coming out of it. Those little appliances made this person live that much longer. . .then now they're here. Lying on a table helping future therapists learn about the human body. So cool. The smell though. That's the worst. 

Zach and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary on January 10th. We went to Savannah and had an amazing time. I do actually have a couple pictures that I haven't yet shared. . .

This ones not new, but so cool!

Really awesome bookstore.

Fancy dinner. On account of how much we love eachother.

So much fun. Little sister, Lucy got married a week ago. The wedding was beautiful and so was Lucy. Pictures are all over Facebook so I won't bore you with those. OK (for Nicole). Lucy did an amazing job gathering items for the wedding the throughout the months before. Which is great, because all those little pillows and centerpieces are theirs to keep! Or to share with me :)

Photos and floral design courtesy Andrea Layne Floral Design

We all had an amazing time! Once again grandmother came through with the Sweet Dill pickles. So good.

Rehearsal Dinner

Bride and Groom. So so cute.

So there's that. The past few months have flown by. Hopefully my next post will be about continuing on as a third termer and celebrating KAG DUBS!

Miss you love you. 

Baby Emery, Christmas, New Years

This break has been amazing. I am trying to soak up every bit of my freedom (which is coming to an end soon). I realize that I rarely have time to post, but let's face it. . .pictures are all you want. Here is a lovely mixture of (my favorite niece) Emery, Christmas loves, and New Years Shenanigans:

I made this cutting board for Cat and Dad because I love them so much. 

I love this man. January 10th we will celebrate five amazing hilarious years together.

This little diddy was taken before we headed South for Christmas. There are no ornaments on that Christmas tree and our apartment is not nearly as festive as it was last year. This is a direct result of grad school. Still cozy.

I mean seriously, what an adorable picture of Dad adoring Baby Emery. She's a doll. I was in this position the whole time she was at our house in Tampa. 

Family photo!

Dad decked out the farmhouse in Christmas loveliness. It was so cozy and perfect.

Farmhouse. Excuse my finger, I'm new to the whole Iphone thing. 

Best fire ring ever. Dad found the cement in the field (the previous owner collected (?) it. Cally, Dodd, and I enjoyed gathering wood with the tractor for this sucker.

And again because, well obviously. . . 

Christmas photo by the tree in Tampa

Lucy and Sharkey

Dad and Cathy

I mean c'mon. . .

This is when I first got hold of her. So precious.

OK, time for New Years . . .

We were having a great time. . .

Cally. . .

So close. . .

Back to the Farm for a moment, we had a lot of fun around that fire.

Henry loves his new blanket.

Sparkly glasses for New Years.

Motorcycle Super Hero. It's a thing. Please note. . .I could not straighten my arm all the way because of all the padding in that jacket.

Last but not least, a I visited our little spot where we got married almost five years ago. Still so beautiful.

Miss you.

Peace

I had a late start this morning so I opted for at-home quiet time. I went with the good ol' Celtic Wheel because it's amazing. Everytime I read it I hear something new. Reading it along with scripture from the Bible is quite stress relieving. Save your future self from wandering up and down the devotional isle at Barnes&Nobles and just buy this book. Anywho, I wanted to share a clip:

"Giver of peace, I pray for an end to war

but there can be none without living for peace.

I pray for peace in the world

but there can be none without peace in the nations.

I pray for peace in the nations

but there can be none without peace in the communities.

I pray for peace in the communities

but there can be none without peace between neighbors.

I pray for peace between neighbors

but there can be none without peace in the home.

I pray for peace in the home

but there can be none without peace in the heart.

Give peace in my heart this day O God

and when the fighting of this world overwhelms me, 

let me know that peace begins with me."

These days I am constantly challenging myself to find peace within. Tends to not be an easy task when my stress levels are regularly reaching an all time high. When I decided to trade church in for devotional time and find this passage, I am reminded someone much greater is looking out for me. Those tests and practicals are quite important, but they are not where I find my strength nor my peace. 

May we all find peace within ourselves, even if it is just for a fleeting moment. 

                         

Oh-Henry

Hi there. I know, it's been a while. But that is simply because life is insanely busy and school has taken over. To the extent that it's odd for me to go a week without having to suffer through an exam. What the heck, grad school? But we are surviving! Zach has been super supportive and fantastic the whole time. This past weekend we were able to head down to Tampa for a night to be with my family for my sister, Lucy's engagement party. It was a lot of fun. We had a great time talking with everyone and just being around my family. I didn't take one picture though. It's gotten to the point where I feel weird carrying my camera around. I am officially (well and Zach) the last person on earth without an Iphone. I know, not really, but that's how it seems. People at school look at my phone like, "What is that thing?" Poor little phone. Ohwellll!
Fun story---this past Friday I had to take an Anatomy exam that I was insanely nervous about because it pretty much decides whether or not I have to retake the whole class. That morning, I showed up to the exam 45 MINUTES late. The professor looked at me like, "What a newb, why are you so late?" I almost broke down right there in front of the whole class. I was shaking like crazy and really thought I was just having a super realistic nightmare. But no, it was happening. Instead of having two wonderful hours to complete this super important test, I was going to have about an hour. I sat down to take the test and my hands were shaking sooo badly, I could barely bubble in the scantron, let alone remember ALL of that information I had learned. I totally lost all of my mnemonic devices, I could barely remember the most basic things. I wanted to crawl into a hole and die. But there was no hole, so I didn't. I finished the exam before the time was up. I was so convinced I had failed I actually left three minutes early. I later found out, that by some amazing act of God I did not fail. I will have to do quite well on the next two tests, but there's still a chance I won't have to retake the class. yippeeeee

On to happier times. . . .even though we are quite busy we decided it would be in our best interest if we added a member to our family. And heck no, I am not pregnant. Not yet. 

Meet Henry.

I know, super cute. And he's all soft and fluffy and doesn't smell like death (no offense Chee-chee-mon). 
The goal of this blog post was to let you know that I am still surviving through grad school and that we got a kitten. 

Miss you and love you! 
Keep me in your prayers. 
My stress levels are way too high. 

Grown Up

In thirteen days I start grad school at University of Saint Augustine for Health Sciences. I will be working toward my Masters in Occupational Therapy. I have been looking forward to this day for. . . ohh let's see. . .. three years. At least that's how long I have been either fulfilling pre-req's or filling out applications and waiting . . . and waiting. I am so joyful that the waiting period is coming to a swift end and I get to start school. I know there are going to be days when I miss my friends and I want to do anything but study and do homework. But it's ok. Because atleast I will be doing all of this work with the mindset that I am working towards a specific goal that will turn into a big-girl job. An adult job.

Ha. An adult job. Sometimes I forget that I'm 27. Not that 27 is bad--just different from what I thought it would be. I think it's better actually. Now in two years I am going to have a great job! YAYY!

Miss you.