A Cow Pooped on my Phone!

What a week!

Monday I palpated cows and tried not to get pooped on.

Tuesday was a full day of classes followed by 3 hours of VBMA.

Wednesday was another full day of class, but afterwards Mitch and I went over to Sarah's for dinner and no studying. 

Thursday was VBMA graduation and an awesome networking event. The first hour the students rotated around different tables and visited with different industry workers and veterinarians. I was surprised how easy I was able to visit and get to know complete strangers. The next hour was graduation commencement. There was a lovely address given by Jimmy from Live Oak Bank on the importance being a lifelong learner. There were fancy yummy appetizers/dinner served. The last few hours I spent visiting  with different industry professionals at a variety of booths. 

Friday was interesting. My surgery team and I performed an exploratory laporatomy on a cow. It was awesome! Someone grilled up some elk heart and I was brave and tried some. It didn't taste bad, it was more of the thinking about what I was eating that I struggled with. After a late class I met up with Sara, Becky, and Rebecca for a free dance performance on campus. We had a good time laughing and visiting between dances.  

Saturday was wonderful. It was a beautiful spring morning. I helped deliver lambs that morning with the Small Ruminant Club. The ewe was struggling deliver the lambs. I ruptured the chorioallantosis sac (the first water bag) and located the twins. Other students pulled the lambs but I was able to check the uterus for a third lamb. This was my first time aiding a lambing. We then wandered down to look at the other ewes who should be lambing any day. Another ewe had a baby nursing at her side and while we were watching she popped out another one! Later I went visiting teaching which is always a blast. I cleaned the house and attempted to study. I am amazed at the difference in my attitude just by having a clean house. That evening I checked on our cow that we performed surgery on. I was wearing scrubs instead of coveralls and the pockets weren't very deep. I looked down and my phone was laying in the shavings behind the cow. My first thought was DON'T STEP ON IT!!! My contract isn't up for another year on my phone. Just as I was reaching for my phone the cow pooped and a large smattering landed smack dab on my phone. Thankfully it still works and I got the crap off of it. 

After Carolynn and I were finished with the cow and I hurried home to change for stake conference. This year was extra special because Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles came.  I was able to shake his hand after the meeting. The recently released president of BYU-I, Elder Kim B. Clark, also came. I never expected to see my old school president at stake conference in Moscow Idaho. Both of his messages spoke to calm the fears in my heart. 

This morning was the final session of conference and I sang in the choir. What an experience to sing for an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. I wished he could stay with us forever. 

Mitch and I went to Sunnyside Park to enjoy some of the beautiful sunshine all the blooming flowers.

Randy is coming home Saturday for a visit!!! I just need to get through 2 exams, surgery on an alpaca, a book report, and bovine palpation lab.  

Life is good

Beginning of April

Yesterday, my good friend Brooklin and I drove to Richland, Wa to do a session in the Columbia River Temple. It was a beautiful day and many of the flowers were in bloom. There were multiple weddings going on that morning. I always get excited when I see a bride and groom as I can't help but remember my own magical day. I love the feeling of calm that always attends the temple. I wish I could stay inside forever, but instead I just have to try to soak up as much peace and clarity as I can. It was great having Brooklin to chat with during the 4 hour drive. It is comforting to know that we share many of the same struggles and insecurities. 

Last weekend was General Conference and Easter. I love being able to listen to our prophet and apostles speak to us. I am looking forward to further studying their messages. Sunday evening, I went over to Brooklin's for dinner and dying eggs. My mom sent me an Easter package that contained egg dye. I don't like hard boiled eggs, so Brooklin bought some fake eggs to dye instead. It didn't work the best, but we had fun anyways and Brooklin had glitter, so in the end all of the eggs were glitterfied. 

School has been chugging along. I am 25 days away from becoming a forth year vet student!!! I have been busy trying to get ready for this next adventure. I am really worried about having Mitch locked up for long periods of time, but I am working on a solution to that problem. My first rotation is in critical care and the following week is vacation and family! 

I am making progress with my senior paper. I have submitted my first rough draft and I have a meeting tomorrow with my advisor. Thankfully, we are putting off the slides until July. I don't have time to do them now and we can't send them in for testing now anyways. I have a week of vacation in July and I plan on setting up the rest (114) of the slides that week. 

I have started getting up early to exercise. With the sun getting up earlier, it has made it easier to adjust to getting up earlier, plus Mitch enjoys his morning runs and is always willing help wake me up. I'm trying to come up with an exercise regime that I can stick with long term and especially during 4th year. So far, this is working for me. 

Randy is coming in 2 weeks for a visit! I can't wait, by then it will 5 weeks since I have seen him. I think that is longest time in between visits. Winter is still as spunky as ever and Mitch is just as loving. I don't know what I would do without these two. 

Not all days are wonderful. Some days are harder then others, some days I feel lonelier, some days I just want to disappear, and some days I am discouraged. When these days come I try to remember my blessings, especially that I am sealed to Randy for time and all eternity. I try to remember all the things that are going right in my life. Some times you just have to go to bed or read Harry Potter (those two things are a magical combination). 

Mostly I try to remember what Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said,

"Don't give up. Don't you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead. You keep your chin up. It will be alright in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come."