I got my hair trimmed and colored blonde today! What do you think?? I love it, she cut off a little bit too much than I wanted but I had a lot of split ends that needing trimming. I am finishing up the semester with about 6 papers and then studying for finals. I can't believe I am turing 25 on wednesday. I won't be celebrating until the weekend after finals but until then I have gotta be in study mode. One good thing about this week was that I won 3rd place in a drawing from the tulsa bridal association I went to just for fun!! I won 25% off of the DJ, free bridal session, 50% off photograher package and videography!! How awesome is that, I am already saving money before I am even engaged, hahaha. And the places I got the discounts are really good and some are voted the best my local brides! Anyway, wish me luck with finals!

Random

So this is a recent collage I made. I enjoy making them and seeing all the pictures come together, this one is about my family. I really love the goofy ones because it shows how truely crazy we are when we get together :) There is not much to update on but I am having a terrible time with allergies and my asthma. I am having to use my inhaler up to 6 times per day. Tonight I watched a little girl, we walked down the street to the park and I couldn't catch my breath.When we got back I had to take my inhaler, ridiculous... I am going to try some samples that a pulmonary doc suggested so I will see if that helps some. There are a lot of group projects going on at school right now that I am trying to finish up not to mention individual papers as well and we have to drive to OKC Thursday for another neuro seminar. This one is covering spinal cord injuries. I do enjoy learning from the individuals with the injuries we have been talking about in class. It helps put them into perspective but it also adds more work but I think it will help in the long run. I guess that is it for now :)

Easter

Happy Easter & Happy 2nd Birthday Jackson!!

So lets do a little bit of catch up since I haven't posted in a while. I had midterms the week before spring break and I have to say I was quite pleased with the outcomes. B in Adult Neuro, A in Assistive technology, and an A in Teaching. I also had another adult neuro test this Friday and recieved a high C. Not as good as I would have liked but I still have a B in the class. I am enjoying most of my classes and am excited to get on to the clinical aspect of this summer and next year.
During spring break I was in Fort Smith. I painted a bathroom, lounged, read and went to Eureka Springs where it decided to snow on us :) Pictures to come later. Abbie had to get a chipped tooth removed a few weeks ago but is all better now. I am so happy that it is finally starting to warm up here, I have been so sick of the below 30 degree weather!!
I have a second idea about the non-profit. Ideally, I would do the whole grand idea for Zambia but unfortunantly I am still a ways off unless God does a miracle or inspires some persons to make a large donation to a company that does not exist yet :) So, my newest thought is a day camp for children with disabilities out at the Vernon's farm. It would include fishing, horseback riding (hippotherapy), fourwheeling (with supervision), games, volleyball etc... One day it would be awesome to have an overnight camp but you have to start small and work up. I have talked to my friends and said they would love to help plus the people I meet when I start working would probably be willing too!! Thoughts?
Another thing I can't get out of my head is the DSLR camera that I really want!! I have already $400 saved from doing some odd jobs and babysitting. My thought was that I could get it after the semester is over and while in OKC this summer, take a class and learn more about photography. Thoughts?

Anyway, I hope everyones easter is great and Jackson I hope you had the best brithday you will never remember :)

Howard and I at John and Ashleys wedding this last weekend. The ones with the boa were from a photo booth they had at the reception. The bottom one with Howard yelling is only kind of funny because we were suppose to take a nice photo but I poked his flower pin into his chest and the camera just happen to catch the action :) I also was very proud of my hair, I did the updo my self and I thought it looked very nice! Had a good time and now just waiting for spring break that starts on Friday! By the way... I got an 80 on my first neuro adult test. I had one today and one tomorrow so hopefully I can keep the B's coming!!

A thought to ponder

   I recently bought a daily devotional book to get my "God fix" for the day. I needed something that didn't take to much time but started my day of right and in the mind frame of why I am doing what I am doing. My friend Rachel has one that she recommended, My utmost for His highest. I bought it and love it. Everyday the message is somehow related to something I have been thinking or struggling with. I wanted to share today's with you because I think it has to do with my pull towards Zambia and the therapy clinics.
       " None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself..." (Acts 20:24)
    It is easier to serve or work for God without a vision and without a call, because then you are not bothered by what He requires. Common sense, covered with a layer of Christian emotion, becomes your guide. You may be more prosperous and successful from the world's perspective, and will have more leisure time, if you never acknowledge the call of God. But once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God asks of you will always be there to prod you on to do His will. You will no longer be able to work for Him on the basis of common sense
     What do I count in my life as "dear to myself"? If I have not been seized by Jesus Christ and have not surrendered myself to Him, I will consider the time I decide to give to God and my own ideas of service as dear. I will also consider my own life as "dear to myself." But Paul said he considered, and he refused to use his energy on anything else. This verse shows an almost noble annoyance by Paul at being asked to consider himself. He was absolutely indifferent to any consideration other than that of fulfilling the ministry he had receive. Our ordinary and reasonable service to God may actually compete against our total surrender to Him. Our reasonable work is based on the following argument which we say to ourselves. " Remember how useful you are her, and think how much value you would be in that particular type of work." That attitude chooses our own judgement, instead of Jesus Christ, to be our guide as to where we should go and where we could be used the most. Never consider whether or not you are of use - bu always consider that "you are  not you own"  (1 Corinthians 6:19). You are His.
  
  Thoughts? 
     Howard and I are going to a wedding this weekend and he is a groomsman so we also have the rehearsal dinner on Friday night, it should be fun minus the fact that in between fun I have to study for exams for next week :( First exam tomorrow, wish me luck. 
  Abbie had to go to the vet again for a chipped tooth I found yesterday when I was brushing her teeth. They have to extract it and while she is out I also am having them clean her teeth. Hopefully she won't have any health problems for a while!  


This picture is from Lisa and my hiking trip we went on recently!

February

It has been a couple of weeks since my last update. Honestly, it is because not to much is going on right now. School is the primary focus now but so far it is going pretty well. I am trying to keep up and when I can get ahead. I have met some great people at my community group I go to through church. Some of them have done mission trips and one knew someone who may be able to give me some advice on starting a non-profit for the clinics! I had another woman contact me through th OT connections site who has had a clinic in Haiti for the last 10 years and needs people to go for 6 months at a time. She said she would take considerations for shorter trips but that would be on a case by case basis. I really need to pray about this because I could possible go in the fall for my next 8 week rotation but I don't know how I would do without Howard and Abbie??!! 
I picked my summer rotations and I got my first pick, The Childrens Center http://www.tccokc.org/, It is in OKC. But I found a place to stay over the 8 weeks for cheap. One of the OKC OT's is going down to Tx for her rotation and so she wont be there except for a couple of weekends. She has a 1 bedroom, which is nice cause I won't be bothering anyone that I don't know. Plus she said it is safe, gated and has a pool. The only true downside is that she doesn't have cable! But I will bring my computer and I would love to get the camera I have been gawking over and maybe take a photography class so i can spend time taking pictures etc... Plus reviewing for the national exam is always a good idea (Howards idea really :) Other than that I have my first neuro rehab for adults exam next Friday and then two more the next week. This week I have dedicated my after class time to these tests and one assignment and I have been successful so by the end of the week I hope to feel more confident about the exam. Love you all

update

Update on the pediatric grant... I had a meeting with the professors who run the grant program today. The meeting was mainly held to discuss my GPA and professional behavior. The GPA one is obvious because of my low (2.4) GPA from my first semester. There apparently was a GPArequirement of at least a 3.0. They have let other students in the grant who had under a 3.0 who showed progress and changes. They did notice my increase in GPA for the last two semesters (4.0 and 3.4) and placed a contingency of my acceptance into the grant with me getting at least a 3.0 this semester. I do forsee myself getting this or higher. The second thing on the agenda is my professional behavior. This still is somewhat unclear to me. But what I do know is that I have rubbed some professors the wrong way and have stepped on some toes. This of course was never my intentio but I guess when you are outspoken sometimes I speak when I shouldn't have. I told the professors that I am trying to improve on how I handle situations and opinons. It was also a plus factor that I am in a leadership position this year (VP-Tulsa College of Allied Health) and that at least for now, I have not stepped on any toes this semester. They did mention that they sent a list of all the applicants to the professors and the professors replied about each student. Apparently, some things about my grades and professionalism came up. For example, I take up too much class time with questions, don't know how I would do in a collaborative group setting. This took me aback a little, I did actually get a little teary and had to take a moment before I answered. But all I could tell them is that I am still learning and I am trying to better myself in this area. They did agree to forward the comments to my advisor (without the prof. names) to see where I could improve. I think this will help a lot because right now all I know is I need to keep my mouth shut a little bit more and if I have a problem start with the lowest person on the hierarchy... So with that said as long as I maintain a 3.0 GPA this semester and don't tick anyone off then I have a spot in the grant, that's the good news. I will let you know what I learn about what I should improve on.
One a different note, Abbie ate a whole bar of chocolate while I was a school today. I called the vet and I had to give her 1 tbs of hydrogen peroxide to make her vomit. Well I will just say she did, eww! She has now eaten, drank water and is now sleeping. The vet said she should be fine other than some diarreaha. What a relief! That is it for now...