I made it!

The first obstacle has passed: tests in both of my classes (Academic Strategies for the Healthcare Professional, and Medical Law and Bioethics). I am enjoying online classes more and more as time goes on. The setting allowed me to use all my resources (aka notes and book :) ). However, I realized that I should not be dependent upon this factor, because at least for the Med. class there is very little time to go searching for answers, so I better have them on the tip of my tongue! The other test proved much easier as it only had 15 questions and 1-hour to complete. Couldn't ask for more!

As for the more interesting matters in life, I exercised my newly acquired toy last night. Adam got this little bike for free and thought it would be a great one to have me learn on. So, after getting over my inability to interchange the clutch and gas properly, I began zipping down the driveway. It provides a fantastic form of entertainment. In fact, Adam, his dad, his mom, his grandpa, my mom, my dad, and I have all enjoyed buzzing around on it like a big bumblebee. Notch it up one for trying new things!

To all of my classmates whom I disappointed by not going to graduation (I missed you guys too!), this is what I was doing. It was my baby cousin's 1st birthday as well as my grandfather's 89th. It was also the first time I had seen most of my cousins and family members for six months. I am very sorry that I couldn't make it to graduation, but please know that I was doing something legitimate. :)

And for anyone who is wondering about Adam and I, again, so sorry for not contacting you in so long, we are doing great! However, I am almost as bad about taking pictures as I am about staying in touch. This picture was taken shortly before we left school in April (one of only a few I took all year :( ). Adam was trying his "hairy mountain man look." :) It grew on me a lot, but he did shave it when we got home. 

We were down in Chattanooga that day, watching a boat race. Since coming home Adam has gotten a job. It was a huge answer to prayer for him. He is working with what he went to school for (Architectural Drafting) and his job is literally a hop, skip, and a jump from his house. It was this job that meant that he would not be returning to Southern this fall, thus, I looked for schools around here. God really is blessing us and we are both very happy to be at home near our families and our church. I will keep everyone posted on any updates. ;)

Well folks, thats it for now.

Time to catch up...

I have tried to catch a good majority of the people I know up with what has been going on with me lately, but I know I have not been completely successful. You see, it takes so long to do this when you have to write a 2-page long email to every person that you know. That is why I have started this blog. I hate feeling disconnected from all of my friends and family that aren't in immediate contact with me. So for all of you that are hearing this for the first time, I am very sorry I haven't contacted you personally, but please don't think I have dropped off the planet. :)

Here we go: As many of you know, I have been searching ever since my junior and senior year of high school as to what God would have me do and what would be best for my, career wise. My thoughts rested on Dental Hygiene for quite some time, but those thoughts became restless and the search began again. The second semester I was at Southern Adventist University this past year left me torn between leaving my friends for the unknown adventures at home, and going back not knowing what I would pursue. In the end I decided to take a year at home and spend serious time asking and seeking God about what I should do. 

My prayers were answered sooner than I thought. One of the classes I took at Southern was Nutrition. I was fascinated about what I was learning in the class and began to be convicted about my personal lifestyle. I was angry with God at first, but soon discovered that it would be much scarier to be outside God's will. I knew what He was asking me. I became a vegan. I know some of you are thinking I've lost my marbles at this point, but don't lose me yet. I have eaten dairy my whole life, and it was one of the hardest things I have had to do, but I was strongly convicted, and I could definitely see the health benefits. 

The next thing to go was coffee. That was harder. I have been predisposed to it for a long time, and it took some doing, but I am free. Its nice to wake up in the morning and not feel like a truck ran over me. :)

I was very interested in the field of Nutrition at this point and talked to my professor about what she did. She gave me a run down of the possibilities in her profession, but I still wasn't convinced that God have given me the "go" I was desperately longing for to precede. 

Ever since then I have been thinking about it. I prayed about it considerably and was impressed that God really was leading me in that direction. Once I new that, I set out looking for colleges around here (Arlington, Vermont) that offered it, but.....only UVM did, and I don't want to move to Burlington. I did see an online school, though, so I made some phone calls. I prayed about it a ton and talked to my parents, and we all felt that it was the right way to go. So, within one week of figuring out what I wanted to do and finding a college, I became enrolled at Kaplan University Online. I started classes the next week (June 4) and have been in school for the past three. 

I love it so far. I have great interactions with my teachers and classmates and the schedule allows me to work and pay for school while taking classes. It really is a God-send. 

And now all of you know why it takes me so long to get word around...I write a ton! I promise that not all my blogs will be this long. ;) I will do my best to stay on top of things and post often. God bless you all! and I look forward to hearing from you.