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

Laminin

Take a look at this powerful video I watched in my cell and molecular bio class this morning. I was in complete awe....Our Creator's fingerprints are all over us!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e4zgJXPpI4

13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him.
17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Col. 3:13-17

Pomp and Circumstance

Pass a glass and give him a toast.....Ryan graduated! December 19, 2008, was the happy day to be exact, and we welcomed Ryan's family to celebrate at our house for an "after party" complete with cake, fudge, spinache dip, cheese ball, ham rolls, homemade bread, pumpkin roll, hot apple cider and more. (The menu was decadent, thanks to a collaboration of favorite recipes from Carrie, Tara, Lila, and yours truly)!

The evening went perfectly, and I can't express how proud I was to see my husband walk across the stage to receive his diploma! He is the second person (after his dad) on the entire Bilby side to graduate from a four-year university. What an accomplishment!!!!

The girls (the grandmas, Carrie, Tara (and Logan), and I) spent the day after graduation shopping around Bolivar and hitting what seemed like the deals of the century. Bolivar has quite the plethora of adorable shopping boutiques, consignment shops, and antique shops that are enough for me to skip the whole Springfield shopping experience. :) The guys stayed at home, ordered pizzas, and watched football....so Bilby-like of them. :)

Enjoy the pics and cheers to Ryan for all of his hard work and dedication!

These last two are bonus pics of our beautiful Christmas tree! :)

I just don't think I'm a Kansas girl anymore.

Lately, I've been on a stressful hunt for grad schools....After several frustrating obstacles including not-so-hot GRE scores and deadlines, I've decided to press on towards grad school, hopefully to enter in Fall 2009. However, realizing I'll have the disadvantage of a late start with the application process, my entrance may be postponed a semester or two, depending on if I find the perfect professor with plenty of money to sponsor my research!!!!

Just when things were looking grim and I was giving up on the whole grad school process, a letter arrived, rejuvinating my hope in my effort to further my education. I sent GRE scores to a few colleges, not really expecting much feedback, as it was my first attempt at the dreaded GRE. And to my surprise, the college I least expected replied....University of Alaska Fairbanks!

I love Alaska. I love the cold. I love the snow. I love the wildlife. I love the lifestyle. It has become a dream of mine to research in Alaska. Call me crazy (I just call it adventuresome), but something about studying a landscape that has been least touched by man is fascinating to me....An opportunity to study wildlife at its fullest! To contribute to the conservation efforts there would be a privilege and simply a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. My mind is still trying to grasp the thought...

I know it's just a letter, but I have a tendency to get excited and jump to conclusions. But part of me can't help but to hope that maybe my dream job could be a reality. Maybe the dreams we set for ourselves should be reasoned as attainable and not just hopeful thoughts tainted by our pessimistic rationale. Too many times in my life have I felt the disappointment of settling for what seems easiest or what makes the most sense. But I'm thinking this is a step in my life that I refuse to settle on. If it's just this one time, I'm going to go for it. I'm going to pursue what seems crazy.

So please keep Ryan and I in your prayers as we try to weasle our way through this process. We want to be where God wants us, but we aren't sure if that means Alaska or Wyoming or wherever. We just know this is the time to pursue our dreams, wherever they may take us.