Change is in the Air

To say I've been on a blogging hiatus would be an understatement. It's not that life hasn't been worth writing about, but frankly that I haven't felt like writing about it. Even before starting the blog last year I was hesitant in fear of:

• Failing to keep up with it- CHECK
• The feeling of, "Me, Me, Me.... blah, blah, blah... Us, Us, Us... blah, blah, blah..."- CHECK
• Does anyone even care?***- TBD

***Not seeking attention and reassurance, but are these details of an average (but wonderful) life REALLY worth writing about and could I (and the reader) be doing something different/better with my (their) time???***

And honestly, I went through a spell of discouragement. As I was approaching a year into practice I couldn't help but think, "I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW, WHY ISN'T THIS ANY EASIER!!!???" I wanted to know it all and wanted to know it now! When talking with others, I found that this was a common feeling for anyone reaching the one year mark in their career. I had to accept that vet-med is tough, especially when doing mixed animal practice. I also had to remember that I work in a large practice where there is always someone to discuss cases with. While I still don't know everything, I've certainly learned a lot in a year! 

But change is on the horizon in the Adams household and it's time for an update. For a brief highlight of the year:

• Winter was cold. And snowy. They have promised us it was an abnormal season. We're hoping so, but this winter's forecast isn't looking much better! 

• Spring was busy: preparing for and then the actual Market Animal Show; Clark helped to coach JV Baseball at Riverheads; crazy schedule of a large animal veterinarian; Oh, and Clark was head of the Prom Committee :) 

• Summer: Clark stayed busy with FFA activities and we got to take a short trip to the Homestead Resort.

Despite the gloomy skies, this place is stunning! 

 

I should also probably mention that...
Clark is now a full time Ag Teacher and part time Technology Teacher! This has been such an incredible blessing for us! We have been attending Calvary Baptist Church and trying to get more involved in service for Christ and meet more believers. In my most recent attempt to find a hobby, I have dabbled in Crossfit. It. Is. TOUGH! I don't know that it's a sustainable form of exercise for me, but I'm going to go as long as I can. 

Over the last couple of weeks, we have been experiencing what I call our "First Round of Seconds;" our second Augusta County Fair, Highland Country Fair, Riverheads Young Farmers Summer Picnic, etc. It's really incredible what a difference a year makes. This was most apparent at the Augusta County Fair where this year I knew more people than I didn't know. It was such a reassuring feeling and another step in making Virginia feel like "home."

Speaking of home, I mentioned before that change is headed our way. As of last week, Clark and I are no longer home owners! We finally sold our house in NC! I was afraid to make any internet proclamations until after the closing. Now that we are mortgage free we are officially on the house hunt here. Please join us in praying that we will be patient and God's will will be apparent throughout our search. 

Unfortunately, I am so far behind I cannot talk about important visits home, visitors here, and other various events including friends getting married and having babies. Please know that those are all treasured moments for us they are just too numerous to recount at this point. I will do my best to keep everyone posted as we move forward! 

Special Visits

In my post a couple of weeks ago I somehow managed to leave out my trip to Raleigh! On December 13th I had the opportunity to return to the vet school and speak to a group of students interested in food animal/mixed animal practice. I traveled down the night before and stayed with one of my best vet school friends, Nikki. Nikki stayed in Raleigh another year to complete the Ruminant Health Internship. It was SOOOO good to see and spend time with her. To add to the goodness, I got to visit the family of one of my favorite professors, Dr. Foster, since they were hosting the Bovine Club at their house that night. He and his wife Jen have two adorable little boys that Nikki and I baby sat together several times. Since my visit they have added a beautiful little girl to their precious family. I can't wait to meet her! The next morning Nikki and I met my sister for breakfast at Bojangles so I could get my fix. I'm so glad I got to see Molly. We also surprised her at work the night before :) After breakfast, we joined another veterinarian, Christine, to meet with the students. Christine was two years ahead of Nikki and I and was such a good influence for me. She demonstrated what it was like to be a Christian, wife, and student leader during school. Additionally, she took me under her wing and fueled my interest in ruminant medicine. Christine, Nikki, and I all took different paths after graduation, so we were able to share our diverse life experiences with the students to hopefully give them some insight on what they'll experience over the next few years. Afterwards we had lunch at the Farmer's Market Restaurant- a Raleigh staple! Before heading back to Staunton I made my rounds at the Vet School to see as many folks as possible. My main goal was to see this guy...

...Dr. Barnes. my adviser. I hadn't told him I was coming to Raleigh so he was super surprised to see me. Our visit was brief, but it was good as always to see and chat with him. He and his wife are very special and I wouldn't be where I am today without their love and support! 

This weekend we had a special visit from some friends from home- Joe and Shirley Allen. They are a very sweet couple who showed me so much love and kindness as I married into a China Grove and Concordia Lutheran Church family. They were traveling up this direction so they stopped in and had lunch with us on their way through. We met at The Depot and had a wonderful meal and conversation. It's always nice when a piece of home makes its way to Staunton. 

Work has been pretty steady lately- seems like most of the large animal cases are things trying to or recently had babies. Here's one of our success stories...

Helping bring new life into the world is a feeling that is hard to beat!

Temperatures are going to get pretty cold here again this week! Everyone stay safe and warm! 

Out with 2013, In with 2014

It seems that I'm already starting 2014 behind! I woulds say that one of my resolutions is to keep up with my blog a little better... but I'm a realist...

Just like everyone, December was busy for us. It was my first month of being on call. You never know that you're superstitious until you go on call; not TRULY superstitious, but don't-call-it-a-quiet-night, don't-take-you're-work-clothes-off-until-you're-ready-for-bed, have-your-phone-with-you-at-all-times- itious or your setting yourself up for a call. Overall I was very fortunate and received no late night calls. There it goes again...my eye started twitching as I typed that...I'm sure I've set my self up for when it's my turn on call again. :) One of my most memorable calls was to sew up a horse. It was my first "stitch by headlight" situation. As the client's two and four year old children played in the cab of my truck, I couldn't help but smile at the reality of my life. Eventually it will be my two children playing in the cab, spilling Cheerios everywhere and making dirty diapers before the call is done. It was a sneak peak into the future and I loved it.

This fall I had decided that we didn't have room for a Christmas tree and had given in to the thought of not putting up Christmas decorations. However, as the 25th got closer and closer, I was missing some of my Christmas spirit. So we got a little tree that we can plant whenever we decide to buy a house. A tree, the Nativity, and stockings- I think that covers the basics.

There were lots of events the weeks leading up to Christmas: the Staunton Christmas Parade, the Young Farmers, Riverheads FFA Chapter Officer, and Westwood Christmas parties. Fortunately, we were able to head to NC on Sunday the 22nd and stay through Christmas afternoon. Monday night we took my grandmother and her cousin, Nancy, out to dinner at Porky's BBQ, one of our local China Grove favorites. It was good to spend some time with my Grandma and see some familiar faces in our old community. Tuesday we rode to Hiddenite to spend most of the day with my family.  We had fun cooking and wrapping presents for the upcoming family gatherings. I was in charge of two items: 1) Sausage and Cream Cheese Crescents and 2) Rolo Stuffed Snickerdoodles. The crescents are one our FAVORITE recipes. To make it even more cheesy, we normally add around 1 and`1/2 cups of shredded cheese. Do It. You won't regret it. The Snickerdoodles were a new recipe for me. I found the idea on Pinterest but the link was botched. So I used the Betty Crocker Snickerdoodle Recipe (which I had used before) and simply put a Rolo in the middle of the dough ball. They turned out really good and are definitely something I'll make again.

Tuesday night we headed to Berea Baptist Church for the Christmas Eve Service. The service is always a great time for believers to come together and focus on the true meaning of Christmas- the birth of Christ. After the service we headed over to my Aunt Cindy's house for the Bunton Family Christmas. Unfortunately, not everyone could attend because my cousin's kids were sick. We will certainly have to see them soon though! After three boys, my cousin and his wife just welcomed a little girl into their family this week!

Christmas Day was a food marathon! First was breakfast at Clark's Aunt Carolyn's house. Then was lunch at my Aunt Beth's, followed by lunch #2 back at Aunt Carolyn's. We were stuffed! Poor Clark had to drive back that evening so I could be at work the next day.

New Year's was quiet. It was a pretty stark reminder that our lives have changed. In former years we would have spent NYE with our friends in China Grove then met with my Silliman family on the first. But this year it was just the two of us. We debated on making the trip to NC again, however Clark had to work on the second...and it would be another 8 hours on the road...and MAYBE we would come up with something to do here... We are so blessed. We love our life here and have no doubts that's this is where God wants us to be. However, the move is still revealing to me things I might have taken for granted. Our family experienced loss this year and there are so many families I know that have also suffered loss or major illness. So my current challenge is figuring out how to I spend time with and let our NC friends and family know they are cherished while cultivating our new life here...

These are things I know the Lord will reveal to us. We have attended a new church the last two Sundays. Before last Sunday's sermon I had a mental list of "resolutions." I even had thoughts writing them down, hanging them up in my closet. I BRIEFLY entertained posting them here on the blog. But after that sermon I decided that my only true resolution was to draw closer to the Lord, wait on Him, and let Him reveal His plan in His timing. 2013 taught me a lot about this, but I know I have a long way to go. Sure, I know what I would like to see done in 2014, but my goal is sit back and see what He has in store.