Home is Where the Heart Is

As most of you know, (let's be honest, probably ALL of you, since I only have a few family readers :) ) Ryan and I bought our first home here in Bolivar. The past few weeks have been filled with painting, cleaning, loading, unloading, laying floors, cleaning, dusting, staining, scraping, sanding, lifting, pitching, and little sleeping. We are both sore, tired, and running on a dangerous mix of caffeine and adrenalin. But it has been worth it. We have space; we have a bathroom with heat (well, actually 2 and 1/2); we have a kitchen big enough for 2 to cook in; we have an UPSTAIRS; we have walls painted with color; we have a neighbors with tended lawns and INTERNET..we have ALOT to be grateful for.

As I was cleaning dishes one final time in our cozy little rental on E. Freeman St. tonight, I began reminiscing about all of the memories those walls hold. Our first Christmas...our first anniversary....our first big "married people" fight...our first dinner....our first house party, our first time handing out Halloween candy and not being the trick or treaters ourselves...our first round of illness...my experience(s) with Ryan's sleep-walking/talking escapades...our first pet together...our first tornado scare in the rental...

I remember the day we moved into the rental. It was exciting, stressful, the beginning of a new era for Ryan and I. We made it work. We were proud. We were content.

And that is why I am so thankful for this new home...It marks yet another new era. It's exciting; it's scary; it's alot to be grateful for. Its walls contain a blank sheet for sweet memories to come.

May your homes be filled with love, laughter, and happiness. If only our walls could talk...

Scrubs

I had no idea how fun shopping for scrubs could be.

Exhibit A:

Hello Kitty scrubs!!!!!

Because I get to work at a vet clinic, I get to have fun patterns on my scrubs....like puppies and kittens and bears, oh my!!!! This is going to be fun.....

And the fun starts tomorrow at 7:30 AM....well, maybe it will be more fun after a cup of coffee or two....

Woah...Time for an Update, Folks!!!!!

Wow, it is crazy to think only a month or two ago, Ryan and I thought we might be headed for an adventure in South Dakota. But then God stopped us in our tracks......Funny how we plan things, then life seems to take us elsewhere....

Well, here's the scoop--the 401K--wait, that's not right--that one number saying that mean's what's up (you know what I mean)....We are headed straight for....er...staying right where we are, in good old Bolivar, MO. It would be modest to say Ryan had a challenging time trying to find a teaching job. No. one. wants. first. year. teachers. It's the whole experience thing that gets people all worked up...Anyways, a teaching/coaching job in Buffalo, MO, opened up last minute. And when I say last minute, I mean like 2 weeks ago last minute, like his books aren't even all ordered last minute. Ryan jumped all over the opportunity, as we were still unsure where we were going. I had turned down the offer at SD (long story-God had other plans). Buffalo is where Ryan did his student teaching, and it is about 20 min. from Bolivar. He will be teaching World History and Geography, and landed the freshmen boys head basketball coach and assistant girls softball coach postitions!!!!!! What a RELIEF!!!!

I am excited about a possible job opportunity at a reputable vet clinic in Bolivar. I took in an application, was interviewed on the spot, and will be trained as a technician once they figure out their scheduling. Yay!!! Working with animals.....a foot in the door to my dream. And this clinic is HUGE, not skinky, high-tech, and owned by an amazing couple with a passion for animals. What more could I ask??? Check it out:

http://www.allcreaturesbolivar.com/home

So although things may not have worked out exactly as we thought they might, we are happier than ever. We are relieved, at peace, excited, and thankful God knows us better than we know ourselves...

So thanks for your prayers! What a challenging, faith-building, trust-building, patience-building summer, but all worth the wait!!! :)

Update

Just wanted to ask everyone to pray for Ryan and I as we're patiently waiting to hear about any job offers in South Dakota for Ryan. There is a particular teaching opening in Lead, which is about 15 min. from Spearfish, with a head high school boys basketball coaching position. We're hoping this could be the one...but we're waiting. It just opened up last week, and Ryan called the school district the day it opened and sent out his application the next morning. There are a few snaggles with the teaching certificate process as well, since he's certified in MO, but not in SD.
We'll keep eveyone updated!! Thanks for your prayers!!

MARY KAY

Just an FYI:

I re-signed with Mary Kay, so if anyone is desperate for their favorite foundation, mascara, cleanser, etc., let me know!! We'll get you fixed up! I also have samples of the new mineral eye, cheek, and bronzing colors.

Also, if anyone wants to play and have a class, let me know as well. This product is so much fun; I could buy 1 of everything!!! (I am a Dunning girl, after all). I'm not much of a make-up artist, but I love to play with products!!!!

Here is a link to the Mary Kay website. The new catalog is awesome.

http://www.marykay.com/

So buy yourself something. You totally deserve it.

And yes, my mother-in-law did have something to do with this. ;)

Eureka! Eureka!

Last month, Ryan and I had the opportunity to escape Bolivar for a weekend getaway at Enchanted Forest Cabins in Eureka Springs. We had the opportunity to attend a weekend-long marriage retreat, called "Romance in the Ozark Mountains." We had a great time sight-seeing in Eureka Springs, with all of its quirky treasures to offer.

Highlights of the trip included: having our very own cozy cabin secluded in the woods, sight-seeing downtown, visiting the "Christ over the Okarks" monument, and viewing a preserved piece of the Berlin Wall. We also had dinner at the oldest existing cabin in Eureka Springs.

If you're ever aching to get away for a mini-vacation that doesn't bust your budget, keep in mind this little hidden eclectic center in the Ozarks. There's plenty to see and do! Also, if you're interested in a refreshing, laid-back marriage retreat, here's a link to Eagle Family Ministries. The Tuckers are a wonderful couple with encouraging insight and a passion to help make any marriage better.

http://www.eaglefamily.org/retreatsconferences/romanceintheozarkmtns.html

So go on, get your get-away on!

I know school stuff is a bit boring to mention, and I don't want to sound self-absorbed in my blog posts, but I have a serious prospect at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD, and everyone's prayers would be appreciated at this pivotal time.

I am in contact with a professor there who has a large amount of NSF funding for researching the evolutionary genetics of pine and oak woodland birds. Although not exactly the polar bear-moose-type research I was aiming for, birds are pretty sweet, and my undergraduate research at SBU has provided me with experience in this area of research. Also, several graduate assistant positions are open in the Integrated Genomics program at BHSU, with a pretty appealing stipend to offer. Integration of genetics has become a growing aspect of conservation biology and also an area "where the money's at." Training of this sort would put me at an advantageous position for future job endeavors.

I am awaiting an important e-mail and am hoping this is the direction I'm supposed to go. So if you think to say a little prayer for Ryan and I, we'd appreciate it greatly!

Here is a link to the school if you feel like snooping a bit. :)

http://www.bhsu.edu/Academics/GraduatePrograms/IntegrativeGenomics/Overview/tabid/2176/Default.aspx