Trusting....

Wow so much has happened this past summer. Brett and I have been challenged to really trust God a lot! As stressful as this summer was our relationship with each other and Christ has grown tremendously. I am truly blessed and amazed daily to be able to see God working for His will to be done!

Ok...so where to start.

On May 23,2011 Joplin, MO was struck by a deathly tornado. This hit home for us since Brett grew up just minutes from Joplin and knew numerous people affected by its path. Thankfully his family and friends were all safe. This tornado also stirred chaos in our lives in another way. I was scheduled to start my first clinical rotation at Freeman hospital in Joplin on May 31. The clinic I was suppose to work at was destroyed. This meant that I would not be doing my rotation in Joplin and would have to go wherever was available. After a few days of waiting the school contacted me and informed me that I had a place at St. John in Tulsa, OK. I was not planning on being away from home this summer (since I planned on commuting to Joplin) so I was a complete mess! Very quickly Brett and I realized we were going to have to trust God that this is what he has planned for us at this time. So we quickly got things ready to send me to Oklahoma for 8 weeks! I did not have the best experience but learned so much about myself, my husband, my faith, and others. Looking back I would not change a thing! I am now home for my last bit of classwork before heading out to OKC in October for my second rotation. I am not thrilled about being gone for another 8 weeks but very thankful for the time I have at home now. Just yesterday I found out that my last two rotations will be in Springfield! Which means after coming home from OKC I will be home for good! God is amazing to provide these two rotations at home and even a pediatric rotation! I wasn't even sure if I would get a rotation with pediatrics and now I will have a ped's rotation and be home!

Brett was very busy this summer. He had youth camp, Mission Springfield, chidren's and youth activities almost every week, children's camp, and still managed to come visit Tulsa a couple times. He has been very busy revamping the childrens and youth ministry at church because the youth group is adding 6th grade! We are so excited about this move and for the junior high department to flourish. Our church is also starting a new study that follows the book Radical by David Platt. This is a very challenging book and I am looking forward to seeing what God does in the life of Hamlin Memorial Baptist in the next few weeks.

Our dogs are doing great...spoiled as usual. Maybelle especially enjoyed Hunter and Jack visiting this summer. I still catch them going and looking for the boys in the spare bedroom. I guess they think someone will appear eventually.

Trip to Memphis right before I left for Tulsa. We had a blast went to a baseball game, Sun Studios, Gibson factory, and my favorite Graceland!

Clinicals and Graduations

2 YEARS DOWN AND 1 TO GO!!!! I really can't believe that I have two years of DPT school done....looking back it has flown by (however at the time it couldn't go any slower). I finished my last final of the semester today and can't wait to start my first clinical rotation on May 31st. I will be at Freeman Health System in Joplin, MO for 8 weeks. This will be a ton of driving...two hours in the car every day. However, I am glad that I will be able to come home to my husband every night! I have almost 2 weeks off before clinicals start and will probably drive myself crazy with no tests to study for, but I hope to enjoy these next couple of weeks. Brett and I are headed to Memphis for a few days next week to celebrate our 2nd anniversary and the start of my clinical work. I have always wanted to go to Graceland and Brett is very excited about eating good barbecue.




My little sister graduated from high school this past weekend and we were able to spend the weekend celebrating with her. I don't know how she could be old enough to go to college....but she is. She is coming to MSU and will be in Springfield. I am so excited! We do not get to spend much time together and her coming to Springfield for college means lots of sister time! It is so weird to think that next fall my parents will only have two kids at home. I keep trying to convince them to adopt a baby girl because it is going to be way to quiet in that house.

Every Wednesday Brett and I pick up several kids on the church van for SLICE. Most of these kids do not come from the best of home situations and have opened my eyes up to many things. On Easter two of the kids asked if they could come to church for Sunday service for the first time. Praise God for this (we have been ministering to this brother and sister for almost 2 years and they are currently asking many questions about Jesus)!! After service Brett took them home and something that the little girl said I have been thinking a lot about. The little girl was talking about how much she enjoyed church and wished her mom would come with them. Brett asked her why her mom wouldn't come with them. And her response was "My mom says she wouldn't fit in at church" This has been bothering me for days...what do we do as a church that makes people think they would not fit in? What does this mother see when she looks at the church?

A little catch up...

We have been so busy like always! I am nearing the end of my second year of PT school! And at the beginning of June I will start my first clinical rotation. I will be going to Freeman Health Systems in Joplin, MO. I have also found out that my second rotation starting in October will be in Oklahoma City at Mercy. Please keep Brett and I in your prayers as this last year of PT school will be very hard for us as I will be away alot. I know that God has a plan for every clinical site I will go on; and we are both excited to see what the future will bring.
Just a few pictures from this past holiday season. I know its way late but better late then never!!


This is a picture from my mission trip to Lima, Peru. I had an amazing time getting to use my physical therapy skills to serve the Lord. We were able to help so many people with their physical needs and at the same time share the Gospel with them! I can not wait to get to have this experience again! We gave out many wheelchairs....I worked alot with the wheelchairs that we handed out to children.
After a week of serving at the clinic we took a short trip to Machu Pichu. The mountains were amazing!! It was so beautiful here that I felt like I wasn't even on Earth any more. Every where you looked you were surrounded by Gods amazing work. I don't know how anyone could see this amazing countryside and not believe in a Creator. If you look closely at the mountain range you can see a face...with the tallest peak being the nose of the face. We climbed this peak at the end of the day. One of the hardest things I have ever done....but so worth it!
I was in Peru for Thanksgiving and then over Christmas Bret and I went to Disney World. This was Brett's first trip to Disney and my 5th or 6th trip! I love Disney and now have a husband that does at well.