I did it!

Yay!! I got through my thesis defense/oral presentation!! It went well and a big weight is off my shoulders. Thank you to all my family and friends for supporting me!

On my way to graduation!

Well, guys, I am finally on my way to graduating! I know it's about time, but it's going to happen! I turned in my thesis rough draft last week. I am working on some changes now and I turn it back in on the 20th. My thesis defense, an oral presentation, is on July 17th. Then the official graduation date is August 8th, but there is no ceremony. If I want to go, I have to attend in December. I'm not going to do that. Soon you will call me Master.....mu ha ha ha!

Finally updated!

Hey family!! Sorry it took me so long just to get the Christmas pics up! (Check out the "Montvale Hotel" post I just added along with all the Christmas stuff. It got mixed in between some previous posts, and might be easy to miss.) I've been working hard at school with my research and teaching botany labs. I also started teaching a biology class at the community college in Altus. Then to top it off, I decided to become a PartyLite consultant. What am I thinking!? I guess I thought I wasn't busy enough...Ha! I hope you all enjoy the new pics I put up. Love ya!

Fun in Lakewood

We had a great time in Lakewood with mom and dad. Mom and I went birdwatching. It was cold! We braved the weather as long as possible and saw a few good birds. I didn't get any pictures of birds but I did get a picture of the cool lichens growing on everything!
We also visited the science center. We saw the Dead Sea Scrolls, which was a great experience! We also saw lots of insects, including all kinds of butterflies. Some of the insects were giant plastic ones!! Hee hee....But most of them were real. I got some great pics of butterflies and here's a couple. It was also neat to see the Space Needle lit up at night.
Mom and I had fun at home playing Dance Dance Revolution. It was Mom's Christmas present from Rachel and James. I had so much fun that Brian bought for me when we got home!! I was practically addicted to it for the first couple of weeks. Then I got so busy, I was having withdrawals!!
Brian had a great time working with Dad at the computer store for a few days. He would have gone every day if I let him!
We had such a wonderful time in Washington for Christmas. Thank you so much Mamaw for making it possible. I miss all of you and can't wait to see you the next time!

Christmas in Spokane

Christmas at Mamaw's was so much fun! I think Isabel and Hope enjoyed passing out the presents. It was great staying with Mamaw and getting to spend time with her. (I miss you Mamaw and love you!!!)

Hope's Birthday

We were able to attend Hope's birthday party. I have the two cutest cousins ever! They are so sweet too! It was a blessing for us to be able to spend time with them. We love you and miss you girls! Oh, it was nice to see Uncle Kasey and Aunt Tanya too!!!!

Visit to Henriksen Family

Before leaving for Washington we were able to stop by and visit the twins. They are so cute! We had a fun time reading. Henry and Emma can both repeat the words after I read them. Emma liked to point out the pictures that she already knew the words to, like cake, cookies, present, shoes, and some others. Henry liked to show us how he can dance! They both liked showing us their toys, especially a nativity set and a new table with chairs. And they both liked to share their teddy grahams (cookies) with me.

Christmas in Altus

We had an early Christmas in Altus. Raddy got a new bed from the Chaney's and he is really enjoying it! From the start he knew it was his and he started using it right away.
Grandpa and Grandma Chaney came over. After opening gifts and eating we played games. We had a great time.

Montvale Hotel at Christmas

This hotel was great. The room was large and pleasant-looking. The atrium was great and decorated so nicely for Christmas. I took a picture of the Christmas tree in the center of the atrium. Breakfast was served in a restaurant next door that was connected to the hotel downstairs. Brian really liked this restaurant because of the atmosphere. The brick walls were decorated with hanging tapestries and there was a cozy fireplace. We had a really nice experience.

Holiday Trip

We had a great time in Washington! I have lots of stories and pictures to share so I will be posting them as time allows. This was the best trip that I have had to Washington, and I'm already missing my family so much!
Thank you again, Mamaw, for the wonderful gift of seeing all of you!

Prayer Request

Please pray for my advisor, Dr. Jon Scales and his wife Jennifer. She had a thyroid surgery Friday, and today she was not doing well. I'm sure they are both under a lot of stress right now and not feeling well.

Sam's Graduation

Sam went through the graduation ceremony last Saturday on the 16th. She actually finished her degree this past August. I have really missed having Sam around the office. Here's a pic of Sam and Liliane, Sam and me, Sam and Deyo, and Stormie and me. Liliane and Deyo are TA's at school. Stormie graduated this past May and is now working on a Master's degree in Houston.

Snow

We had snow the earlier this month (Nov. 30 & Dec. 1). It was finally feeling like December, ahhh winter! Our area got a lot of snow when the cold front came through. The schools were actually out for 2 days! Yay, Brian and I had a 4-day weekend! I stayed in the house both days except to get these pics. Raddy loved the snow. He was so excited. He was running around and making sure he didn't go his usual route along the fence. No, he wanted to walk right through all the deepest snow. But sometimes he'd get to a spot that the snow came up to his chest, and then he decided he wouldn't walk through that. I put his coat on him, mostly to keep him dry for when I let him back in the house. His hair is getting longer so the snow was clumping up in his hair on his legs. He'd come in the house and I would try to get the snow-clumps out of his fur, but sometimes they were stuck in there. I'd just let them melt or Raddy would chew them off. Anyway, the snow stayed around until Sunday. It was fun while it lasted.
Well, now it's back to normal global warming and we're back in the 60 degree weather. I really get a little upset when it's not cold outside and it's supposed to be winter. I actually like the cold. Oh well, I'll get a good dose of it when we go to Washington for Christmas!
Hey the weather people say it might be cold for Christmas here in Altus, maybe even some snow! Ooooooooh wow! Better get out the gloves! hee hee

10 Things You Can Do

Change a light--we switched all of our lights to the compact flourescent light bulbs two years ago; guess what? it's true--they are still going without having to change them. I'll let you know if they actually last the 5-7 years, but you'll have to wait.

Drive less--still working on that one!

Recycle more--does it count that I recycle the wal-mart sacks into trash bags? we need recycling facilities in our town!

Check your tires--of course I do this, and I get 37-40 mpg on my corolla! I think I want a hybrid camry next...

Use less hot water--I started doing all my laundry with cold water

Avoid products with alot of packaging--not having money helps me with this one

Adjust your thermostat--we put our thermostat from 68 last year to 66 this year. I can't really tell the difference. Besides, you're supposed to wear warmer clothes in the winter!

Plant a tree--We planted one a couple of years ago, but we also had one chopped down and are planning on chopping another one down next summer. I'll plant some bushes to make up for it!

Turn off electronic devices--do you know that those cell phone chargers take up so much energy just by being plugged in when they're not in use? I started unplugging all my devices that I could (toaster, blender, mixer, cell phone charger, curling iron) because just leaving them plugged in wastes electricity! Now if I could just talk Brian into turning off the computer more!

An Inconvenient Truth

I think everyone should see this movie. Even if you think you know all you need to about global warming, see it anyway! If you don't really know anything about global warming, see it!!

I think Al Gore does a wonderful job on this film. It is a documentary about the work he's been doing to make people aware of global warming and what we can do about it.

Watch it! Do something!
Check out the link on Climate Crisis! Click on the "Pledge to see" in the black box underneath the link if you plan to see this movie. Hey family...I can bring it with me for the Christmas visit. Although, his movie might make all your warm, fuzzy Christmasy feelings not last as long...

Heather is Engaged

Recently Heather (Brian's sister) and Nick became engaged. They are planning on having the wedding in the summer. I am so excited that they are getting married (finally!). Heather's engagement ring looks gorgeous, and she is so happy right now. She also asked me to be her matron of honor at the wedding! Yay! I am excited about that. I am actually looking forward to helping her with anything she needs. Online we looked at wedding dresses, a dress for me, bouquets, flowers, cakes, etc. It was fun. Of course Heather has a little more endurance than I do when it comes to looking at all these things. I think most of it looks pretty, but I don't have to make the decisions.

Rabbit

There was a baby rabbit on my porch hiding in between the potted plants. It was so cute. This is the best picture I could get before it ran away.

Research Update

I wanted to update what's been happening on my research so far. I have started purifying the crude skin extract. Right now it's going a little slow but like Dr. Scales once told me, "You'll get done when you get done." So I am still working on it.
Here' s some pics from the beginning of school. Doesn't Dr. Scales look cool?