The Loveliest Village on the Plains...here I come!

Yeah!! College Football season is finally here and I am SO pumped up about it. I just LOVE this time of year and the excitement of the competition. I'm about to walk out the door to go to Auburn/Lake Martin for the weekend. I'll share a few things I am looking forward to tomorrow night and over the weekend:

#1 - The new pre-game video - I loved last years but I know it will be even better...Are You Ready?

#2 - Watching the new style of our offense under Franklin - it is bound to be an exciting pace of play

#3 -discussing the game, plays, new AU players and new rules with my grandmother, brother and dad [over the phone with dad b/c he is out of town! :-( ]

#4 - Eating at some of my favorite Auburn restaurants...hopefully Amsterdam's tonight.

#5 - Relaxing at the lake on Labor Day and catching up on some good reading.

#6 - Not worrying about school/internship for 3 full days!

Well, better go - I hope everyone has a great weekend. WAR EAGLE!!

Children's Hospital...

Today I was able to spend the morning with one of my classmates who is currently doing his pharmacy rotation at Children's Hospital...which for those of you that know me well, know that this is my dream rotation/job opportunity! It was a great day and I saw and learned a lot. I also learned of an opportunity to switch my rotations around so I can be there next month!! I was super excited about this possibility and have made a few phone calls and sent a few emails to make this happen. I am still waiting to hear, but please pray that things would work out for the best and that I will be patient in the process. I really want this opportunity so that I can see if I want to do my residency there next year.

Happy 30th Anniversary Mom & Dad!!


Children's update 8/29/08 - due to many unfortunate events I am not going to be able to do my rotation at Children's next month. I was VERY upset to find this out today, but I know it will all work out for the best. I trust the Lord is over my schedule, whether I will practice in peds or not and where I will do my residency. I think He is teaching me to trust a little more and not rely on MY abilities and MY finagling of the schedule... I was just SO excited all week about the opportunity and then had my hopes crushed today... may I learn from this and set my eyes on things above.

My Blog Book coming to a store near you...

Want to know why I have been slacking lately with blog posts?? Well...besides watching the Olympics, going to weddings and working, I have been busy working on my "Blog Book" from my Africa trip!! I had no idea that you could do this so easily, but leave it to blurb.com to create a program (booksmart) that will upload your blog posts and pictures and help you create a hard cover book of it all!! It has been such a fun project and I can't wait to see the final product. I plan to send it off today and it only takes 7-10 days to have it delivered. I hope I will be able to share it with you and especially my friends and family that are not "internet/blog savy" (Joy for one).

I highly recommend this site and program for anyone wanting to turn a few posts into a great book and keepsake. Until later, happy blogging and happy weekend!

AU Football is only 10 days away!!!

Kickoff is approaching quickly and I can't wait! I love this time of year...everything is starting over - a new beginning...of school, of expectations and most importantly College Football!
The only thing that will be missing this fall on the Plains of Auburn is my sweet grandmother. She is almost 82 years old and has decided to stay home this year to watch the games instead of sitting by my side in Section 2, Row 47. I was really disappointed to hear this but I completely understand and think it will be best for her. Besides, she has had season tickets since there were season tickets and has faithfully attended hundreds of AU games! She will be greatly missed in the stands but I'm sure I will still get to "talk" football with her when I stop by the lake on my way to and from to Birmingham this fall.
I better get back to work now... WAR EAGLE!!

Head lice, student loans and Team USA...my thoughts for the day

I spent most of the morning at work feeling slightly 'itchy' after writing an article on Self Care for Head Lice...I sure hope I never have to deal with that problem...but if so, I know everything there is to know about head lice...how fun!

About lunch time I came to the realization that I should be receiving my student loan check any day now. Well, the more I thought about it, I realized that I NEVER completed my FASFA information with the government last Spring to let them know that I needed student loans again for my last year of pharmacy school. Without filling out FASFA, Auburn doesn't know and therefore I have a pretty large tuition bill that needs paying by the end of the week!! AAHHH!! I can't believe I forgot about this...I guess I was a little scattered with finals, moving to Bham and heading to Colorado for the summer? I spoke with the financial aid people at Auburn and everything will be allright after I pay the bill...and file FASFA...and eventually get reimbursed. Just a little hassel in my financial life!! Thought I would share my BIG mistake of the year with you.

One more thing...I have been slightly obsessed with the Olympics since I got back to town on Sun. I really love watching the games and feeling the pride of being American! I downloaded the Team USA soundtrack from iTunes last night - it's pretty good, you should check it out.

Wedding Day Pictures

Here are the rest of my pictures from the day of Sarah and Adam's wedding. It was a very beautiful ceremony and really fun reception. It was pretty hot at the reception but the band was amazing and food delicious... It was so great to see many of my college friends and be able to celebrate Sarah and Adam's big day!!

Pre-wedding pictures

I'm back home in Birmingham...exhausted from the busy weekend and have been watching Olympics since I got home...so here are the pre-wedding day pictures from the weekend. I'll post the rest tomorrow!! Go Team USA!

updates from TX

Updates from Texas

Today’s Sarah’s big day!! We have had a great time in Texas – it has been non-stop since we landed. Thursday night they had a cookout out at their ranch which was really neat – it was so beautiful out there – very “Texas…” Friday morning the girls all had a nail party at a local salon then off to the Bridesmaid’s luncheon at a house of a family friend. After the rehearsal we had a dinner at The Texas Sports Hall of Fame. It was a really cool venue that highlighted many important times in Texas sports history. Sarah and Adam also had all of their sports memorabilia from childhood displayed. My favorite thing about the weekend so far is getting to meet all of Sarah and Adam’s extended families. They both have very close knit families that happen to live all over the country - from North Dakota to North Carolina – all here in Texas. Today is going to be a long day, but I know it will be a beautiful wedding. I’m very excited for Sarah and Adam to begin their life together and I can’t wait to see how the Lord uses them in His purposes. I'm trying to include a few of the pictures we’ve taken so far.

Updates from home

Will is playing in the final rounds of the State Match play today in Tuscaloosa. It started Thursday morning with 64 competitors. 32 Thursday afternoon, 16 and 8 on Friday and now Will is in the Final 4 today!! He has played very well and kept his calm. This morning he is playing against Glenn Northcutt who plays on the Auburn team. Mom is there supporting him and relaying the stats. Good Luck Will! www.bamagolf.com

Our chocolate lab, Chip, “ran away” from home a few days ago in Auburn. He is normally kept at home by the electric dog fence. After he was missing for a few days, my brother Andy went to the pound to look for him. Chip was there looking very sad. He was excited to see Andy but also had that look that he knew he was in trouble… Andy loaded him in the truck and when they got home Chip was hovered down in the corner and wouldn’t get out of the back of the truck because he knew he would get in trouble once my dad saw him. I’m so glad he’s back – while I am not a big ‘dog person’ I really like Chip and would be very sad to not see him when I go home! Meanwhile, my cat of 17 years is still kicking and would probably be very happy not to see Chip again.

Former AU Swimmer and friend in the Olympics!

I wanted to point out a great blog you call follow during these next few weeks of Olympic activity. Jeremy Knowles is a former AU swimmer who will be swimming for his home country of the Bahamas in this year's Olympic games. I have known Jeremy and his wife Heather for the past several years through my church in Auburn. I actually co-taught my 3 year old preschool class with them a few years ago and Heather was a part of my awesome Bunko group! Their blog is: http://jeremyandheatherknowles.blogspot.com/ - it is so interesting to hear about the olympics from an actual athlete! Heather is leaving today to join Jeremy in Beijing and his first event is Monday night. She will be updating the blog during their trip so check it out when you get a chance!!

Off to Texas!

This is my first post from work... in which the first week has gone well. I am working at a consulting office here in Birmingham for my 'drug information' rotation. So far I have spent a lot of time on the computer doing research and writing articles for a newsletter they produce. So far I have written, "Does depression cause heart disease?" "You and Your Hives" and one on all the specialty drugs out there (those costing over $500/month). It has been interesting, but I am glad my weekend is about to begin.
I am flying out this afternoon to Texas for Sarah Lundeen and Adam Garner's wedding. I'm so excited about the trip and I have never been to Waco (Sarah's hometown) before. I'm meeting 3 of my college girlfriends at the airport in Dallas to ride to Waco for the kickoff cookout tonight. The weekend will be full of wedding events! I'm sure I'll have plenty of pictures to post...stay tuned.

Campbell

I was able to eat dinner over at The Compton's last night along with Kimmie and Steven Sprayberry. I had brought Campbell back a little outfit from the market in Africa - so we had a fashion show... isn't she is SO precious!?!

Pray for the Allison family

I received the following email today:
Kaylee Marie Allison (10), died early this morning unexpectedly following a very brief virus. Please lift up the Allison family in your prayers: Rodney & Tammy and Kaylee Marie's siblings, Lily(8) & Sam(5). Kaylee Marie's birthday is also today. They live in Auburn and are members of FBC Opelika. (Brother Steve was with them during the night.)
Please also pray for Tammy's brother and his wife, Tim & April Speaks, as they are telling their sons, Jackson, Harrison, Griffin & Sullivan about their cousin. Please lift up grandparents, Mike & Carolyn Speaks and Rodney's parents, Mr. & Mrs. Allison, also.


This news is so terribly sad! I am very close with the Speaks family and have babysat their family for the past 7 years. I can't even imagine what they are going through and I don't know quite what to say, but I ask you to lift them up. I pray the Lord will provide comfort and joy through this tragedy.

Support Orphans - Support AnNi

My friends and directors of Kanakuk Colorado, The Braners, have started a neat clothing line called AnNi - AnNi is a company dedicated to designing cutting edge clothes to help orphans around the world. See their website for more details and for how to order these great clothes! http://www.annifororphans.com/ Here are a few AnNi shirts that I have...

And Miss Jordin Sparks proudly displaying her AnNi shirt

Official Birmingham Resident

Even though I moved all of my stuff up to Bham 3 months ago, between Kanakuk and Africa I haven’t been here for longer than a few days at a time. I am glad to finally be here for good (for at least the next 9 months)! I’m excited to start my internship tomorrow and thankful I have one of the more “laid back” rotations for my first 5 weeks.

It was such a blessing to worship at my home church today (Lakeview) since I hadn’t been there in the last 3 months. I went a little early for the service so I could stop by my old Sunday school class – the 3 year olds, who are now 4 and about to promote to the next class. They were so excited to see me as I was them. They all ran up and gave me a hug and started telling me a million little things like, “I lost a tooth!” and “I’m taller now” and “My brother did this and that.” They were SO cute! When I told them that I had been in Africa one of the little girls said, “I’ve been to Africa!” I asked when and she replied, “Oh a couple of weeks ago…” No, she hasn’t been, but it was still cute. They had just gotten ready to have their snack and Mrs. Christi (my co-teacher) asked who wanted to pray for our food. Instead of just one person praying they all one-by-one wanted to say their own prayer…I think they were a little excited to have a visitor…it was precious and I’m glad I got to say hi to them. Tuberville and the Auburn football team were also at Lakeview today which was neat...it also reminded me that we are only 27 days away from kickoff!! :-)

It was fun to share more Africa stories with my roommates today and Amy P. over dinner tonight. My body is still not completely adjusted from the trip, but I know it just takes time… I heard from some of the missionaries today and they had to wait 2 extra days to fly from Cote d’Ivoire to Senegal! I’m so glad we made it through smoothly without much delay.

My brother, Will, is playing in a qualifying round tomorrow for a chance to play in the US Amateur tournament. They will only take the top 3 of 65 players tomorrow! Good luck Will - play your best!

Reflection

This blogging thing is a little bit addictive! I am exhausted but couldn't let the day end without posting something...
The last 36 hours at home I've spent reflecting on the trip...but I know that will continue for a long time - there are still so many things from the experience that are just starting to come to the surface. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I do hope I can use my medical training to do this type of trip again as well as working with the actual people groups. I'm so thankful the Lord has given me a heart for Africa and I can't wait to see how He can use me in the big picture of reaching the nations.
I'm happy to report that I went to sleep at 9pm last night and slept until 7:30 this morning without the help of Ambien or Benadryl!! I felt much better today but am still quite dizzy from the Mefloquin, my GI system is still a little "off" and I think I am coming down with a little cold...but I cannot complain - I am so thankful we had no illnesses within our medical team during the trip. I just pray I am up to speed before I head to Texas next weekend for Sarah and Adam's wedding!! :-)
It's been good to be at home with my family, but tomorrow I must head to Birmingham to get settled before I start my first stateside rotation Monday morning...

Tribute to Mrs. Alford

I am sad to report that one of my PPE patients, Mrs. Mary Alice Alford, passed away on Wednesday. I am so thankful that I was still in Auburn today and able to attend her funeral. She was a really neat woman that I had the privilege of meeting with about every week or two for the past two years in pharmacy school. She loved the Lord and made her faith known despite the many health hardships she faced. The service today was a true testimony to her faith and certainly glorified the Lord. I pray for comfort for her husband and other family members as they grieve. I also pray her legacy will carry on for her future generations.

Jesus draw me ever nearer

I just found the words to a great song we sang several times at the Conference this past week. This song seemed to represent the cry of the Missionaries heart and should be the cry of all of our hearts - for the trials we encounter and throughout our short journey on this earth. I could go on and on about why I like it, but I think the words speak for themselves...

"Jesus draw me ever nearer
As I labour through the storm.
You have called me to this passage,
and I'll follow, though I'm worn.

May this journey bring a blessing,
May I rise on wings of faith;
And at the end of my heart's testing,
With Your likeness let me wake.

Jesus guide me through the tempest;
Keep my spirit staid and sure.
When the midnight meets the morning,
Let me love You even more.

May this journey bring a blessing,
May I rise on wings of faith;
And at the end of my heart's testing,
With Your likeness let me wake.

Let the treasures of the trial
Form within me as I go -
And at the end of this long passage,
Let me leave them at Your throne.

May this journey bring a blessing,
May I rise on wings of faith;
And at the end of my heart's testing,
With Your likeness let me wake.


"Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer"
Music by Keith Getty; Words by Margaret Becker
Copyright © 2002 Thankyou Music

Home Sweet Home!

We made it home safely today without much trouble. We left Senegal shortly after 3am (10pm here) and flew 9 hours to the states. I am very thankful for my Amiben pill I took right after boarding...because I do not even remember taking off and woke up about 7 hours later! Dad didn't sleep as well as it is hard for him to be comfortable on the plane b/c of his height. I watched a movie and dozed off and on for the last 2 hours and before I knew it we were on the ground. We made it through customs fine and Mom was waiting at baggage claim for us. We drove in the driveway around 9:30am today - about 27 hours after we had left the hotel...no too bad.
I'm glad to be home and I'm sure it will take me a couple of days to adjust - both to food and sleep. I've loaded some more pictures today - so enjoy these last few. I'm sure I have a few more stories to share about the trip on the blog so keep watch! Have a great weekend!