What we've been up to...

EASTER:

Not much has changed for us over the past few months. We've simply been plugging and chugging our way through life and vet school. I've been continuing to stay busy at work (with many complications along the way and many more to come), keeping the house running and still finding time for quilting, reading and just hanging out with friends. Back at Easter time, while Mike was playing paintball with the boys out at Josh's place, Lindsey and I got together to dye Easter eggs. They were awesome and we could even play with them at the end. Star Wars...Of course

GOOD VS. EVIL (THE DARK SIDE)

VISIT FROM MOM & DAD/WHITE COAT CEREMONY:

We also recently had a visit from Mike's parents, who came out for Mike's White Coat ceremony which was 2 Fridays ago. We got to spend 5 days with them and it was nice to share our lives in Kansas with some more family members. We got to celebrate Mike's transition from the classroom to the clinics at his White Coat Ceremony and also Dad Marino's 75th birthday during their visit. We had a great time and it was sad to see them go. But they will be hear again before we know it for Mike's graduation next May (May 15, 2009 @ 4 pm...to be exact) along with many more members of both of our families.

Right after he got coated, and after he fluffed his hair mocking all of the girls

Mike & Lindsey

Mike & I

Mike with his proud parents

(Mike didn't stop smiling the whole day, it was the greatest feeling to see his response to all that he has accomplished)

The family on Mike's big day

Now Mike is getting ready to take his finals next week and begin his first rotation in clinics on May 5th. There is a lot of anxiety, stress, and tension going around right now but deep down I think Mike does see a light at the end of the tunnel, especially when he brings up discussions about our lives after vet school. As for me, work is currently slow for me due to some situations and I will be hiring some more workers in the near future then hopefully things will pick up and deadlines can be met and research completed. Through all of this, however, even when it seems life is more than we can handle, Mike and I know that we are here for a reason and God has never abandoned us along the way (if anything we are the ones who have jumped ship). We also know that as much as Mike dreads going through clinics and the fear of practicing in the future that God already knows where we will be and what we will be doing. We are also looking forward to a new niece or nephew that is due at the end of May, and hopefully a visit back home to see the baby.

Hope all is well all of you and until next time...

Through the holidays...

It's been awhile but I'll update you through the holidays...

In November, I got busier at work since we hired a new RA to assist me with my grant work. The studies just never seem to end and there always seems to be another experiment that has to be run due to the results of another. Stephanie has been a huge help and it is nice to have someone to talk to at the same time. Little did she know that when she was hired how busy we were going to keep her. I also stayed busy with S.O.K.S. We sponsored a CAT TOWN before the last home football game and I was in charge of planning the catering for ~300 people, set up and tear down. I was rather overwhelmed since this was something so new to me, but it came off without a bang and people seemed to enjoy it. A perk that came near the end of it was when Bev, our S.O.K.S. sponsor/Dean of Vet school's wife, offered me two free tickets to the football game that day. So I quickly found a friend (Thanks Lindsey!) and got to enjoy the last game against Missouri. It was a pretty good game until the end so we left a little early, but we did get some sun while we were there (even though it was mainly on the left side of our faces). Oh...good times! Mike stayed busy (imagine that) with school.

For Thanksgiving we enjoyed a quite day to ourselves with no stress or hurrying. We got to put our tree up and enjoy sitting by the lights that evening while watching football and movies. I can't recall the last time we had a holiday break when we could sit back and relax and not worry about school or running off to another committment. Mike even took three days of his break to NOT study even though he had an exam the following Monday (how nice of the vet school). I also finally finished the quilt for Sharon for Christmas.

Then it was time to start planning for Christmas...BUT HOLD ON...WHAT DID WE GET...Oh yeah, we got an ice storm!! That put a little damper on things considering that it was during the week of finals and even K-State closed down one day. Thank God, we only lost power for ~10 hours. We were definitely more fortunate than others. Many a day our house was a shelter for others from church for hot meals, heat, showers, a place to study, and a place to eat with light. We did get a few cool pictures out of it though, including individually frozen blades of grass. It slowed down getting things ready to come home but on the Saturday before we left, Mike and I high tailed it and got everything done with a few hours to relax before packing up the car,the dogs and hopping in the car at 4 am to make the long drive back east. We ended up putting over 3000 miles on our Jeep this trip.

Holiday Pictures of the Marinos

We were able to go home for 2 1/2 weeks this time. We did the usual running back and forth between my parents and his parents but got to enjoy plenty of time with both families. Praise the Lord...this was the first Christmas season in awhile that neither of our families had any huge health concerns. God has been good this past year to us! We got to celebrate our niece's (Angela) 9th birthday, attend my sister's winter choral concert at Redding Middle School, visit with old friends I grew up with (Congratulations Carrie on your engagement!!), relive our first date to Red Rose Inn and Longwood Gardens, visit with old coworkers and veterinarian friends and see everyone back at Newark Naz. We wished we could have seen more people but we drove ourselves ragged as it was and there just wasn't enough time, so if we didn't see you then we hope you had a wonderful holiday season! We got back to Kansas 5 days before we had to return to work and school, and we needed every moment of that time to recuperate. Traveling can take so much out of you.

Longwood Gardens with Jenn & Angela

We are both back at work and school now. I am trying to dig myself out at the same time as preparing to leave again. I will be traveling back to Atlanta at the end of the month for another training. Mike is already dreading this semester as he is taking 23 credit hours and 9 classes, as well as working again as a emergency on-call vet tech (just like he did all last year). After last semester, I think he just dreads it will be the same even though neither of us have any idea what it will truly be like. The only thing I know for sure is that God would not have put us here if it wasn't part of his plan and if he didn't think we could handle it!

Halloweener Dogs All Dressed Up

Happy Halloween! I just wanted to send out pictures of the pups dressed up. We decided to dress them up as two foods, not on purpose though (like Tiger isn't already a weiner dog). We just couldn't pass up either costume at the store and so we had to get both. Don't they look like they are being punished. : ) With Henry's chicken legs sticking out from his costume, it looks like he is about to take off running. While Tiger dreads looking like a lobster is squashing his little body...HEEHEEHEE. The costume was a little big for him, imagine that.

My travels

Since my travels, Mike has been swamped with tests and will have his first surgery next week. He has anesthesia for the first surgery and he keeps saying he is going to put the dog to sleep. He is SUCH a drama king! He is also halfway through the fall semester, that is hard for me to imagine. But each day brings us closer to graduation, thank the Lord!


I made it through my travels to Salt Lake City and St. Louis and had a great time at both. Salt Lake City was beautiful surrounded by the mountains and I even got to go have lunch up in the mountains at a little lodge with the group at my training. It was such a beautiful day. I also saw my only glimpse of fall foliage while I was there. So sad, somedays I just miss New England. Kansas just isn't the most colorful place to be in the fall.

Salt Lake City pictures

View from my hotel window

This was the view from where we had lunch the last afternoon. Isn't that beautiful?!

My fall foliage for the year The 2002 Olympic torch

This was me saying good-bye to Salt Lake City as I flew over the Great Salt Lake.

St. Louis, MO pictures

This was the gang that I hung out with for the week. Sad to say we were not able to go up in the arch because it closed at 5 in the afternoon.

It was cool watching the sunset on the arch and I was glad I got to see it even if I couldn't go up.

This was the moon telling us our adventure was done and it was time to head home.

Since I have been home, life has had its ups and down. My family has had a lot of medical concerns and last week we lost two members, one to a heart attack and one to a car accident. I've also had more pain with my knees and will find out next Friday what is next for me to do, the brace has only bought me some relief. I've made it through physical therapy will no relief and now we'll see what the orthopedist has to say. Whatever it is I'm hoping to get it done as soon as possible in order to have some relief before Christmas when we have to make the long drive home to PA and DE;, my knees just won't allow me sitting in one place for more than a couple of hours right now and in a confined space it is even worse. But I know God is the ultimate physician and he will take care of me.

I must tell everyone how excited I have been over the bible study that I am in right now. I am doing Beth Moore's "Daniel" study and it is phenomenal. I highly recommend it to everyone!! It has been speaking multitudes to me and God is truly opening my eyes to what his Scripture has to say about the world that we live in. We are halfway through and my walk has been growing closer to him, I wasn't where I needed to be and God is using this bible study in so many ways. He is also growing our group closer together and I am only excited for what is still to come. I thank God how he provides for us and brings us into groups that can help share our burdens and pray for us! God has been blessing my prayer time and I can see reflections of it in how he has been using others around me. We don't deserve so many of the gifts that God gives us but we must always be thankful. In closing I want to share the most recent thing I've learned from this bible study and the group that I haven't fully been aware of before (besides hash browns must be frozen in order to fry them)...

We always think of the hard things we go through but how often do we think of the ones we don't. When we go through trials we think we are going alone, however, God is going to deliver us through them. But how many times have we thought of the trials that God has delivered us from that we don't have to fully experience. Our lives could be so much harder, but God has planned our lives and is directing us through what he feels we need. God is taking away all of those trials that we are delivered from and we'll never know the magnitude of what He has done for us. We need to be thankful every time we are going through something and remember that there could be more, but God loves us enough and knows what we can handle! How great is that!!

What a better note to end on then to say THAT GOD IS GOOD...ALL THE TIME...AND ALL THE TIME...GOD IS GOOD!!!!

On the road again...

I am writing this blog from Salt Lake City, Utah. It is beautiful to be surrounded by mountains on all sides. It gives you a new perspective of the world when you travel to new places. I'll have to post pictures later. I'm traveling for business this week and next week again. It gets tiring but I have to remember this can only be good for my career and our future. Mike is busy working towards our future as he is preparing for his first two tests this coming Friday and Monday, while I have abandoned him to work for our present. I just can't wait until May 15, 2009 when his schooling will be done and we can move on with our lives.

Since August, I have now finished my first quilt and have started on my second plus purchasd enough fabric to last me for a few months. Here is my first patriotic rag quilt that I sent to Christian Leetch who was born early this summer.



Lindsey and I went into Topeka at the end of August and I bought enough fabric to keep me busy for many months to come, of course, I will have to think of what they will be first. But it will all come together. Lindsey and Cherry have started an addiction that is slightly out of control (it is a good thing that Mike doesn't keep track of our money = ) ). While we were in Topeka for girl's day out to get our wedding rings cleaned, shop at craft stores and Kohls, and of course to eat at Olive Garden, we discovered my dream car. I couldn't resist taking pictures to share this with all of you. You will all see why I fell in love with it!




Who doesn't need a pimped out pink PT cruiser? You can't really tell, but the inside of the car has a pink interior and seats. Believe me, we definitely spent some time checking this baby out.

The family is doing well and Maggie is getting more used to the animals. She does believe the world revolves around her however. Of course, in the bottom picture I have no idea what her face is about but I couldn't resist posting it.



Once again it is football season...we have picked our fantasty football team...bought the greenies for the dogs for the Eagles' games and we are no longer messing around. Can't you tell by Tiger's face that we are ready for football season? Heck, we are even getting new furniture tomorrow (which I am excited about) and I didn't realize until now that it is very close to Philadelphia green. What a coincidence?!?

The only way I know how to close this blog out is to say...

GO EAGLES!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time is passing rather quickly these days. I have a lot to get caught up on since the middle of June. Let's see... (I'll try to keep it short)

Since then I have almost finished my first quilt, made a trip back home to surprise Mike in PA, done more reading than usual (thanks to Cherry's library), taken many vacation days to spend time with Mike, and now Mike is trying to prepare to start third year. Let's just say that he is tired of school so it is going to take more to mentally prepare to go back to school.

I surprised Mike and his family on Father's Day. It was priceless to see Mike's face the first time he saw me at the restaurant. He was even speechless and for any of you who know Mike rather well, know that once he gets to know you he doesn't really shut up. I was glad to be able to spend that time with my family and then we headed off to his family's house. We had a good time hanging out with them and spending a few days with his niece, Angela. We even got to be together on our anniversary, which was nice. This definitely could not have happened without the help of some awesome friends and a lot of prayers...thanks to all of you!!!

As for the summer traveling, Mike and my brother made it back to KS with no car problems this time and we had a nice visit with him. We were able to have nice weather and the chance to go and do something every day, Jim lucked out from having to experience a KS summer.

Maggie has definitely become one of the family, even though she can be a bully. However, she had her day of pay back. Maggie lost her womanhood at the end of June and she even had to wear a plastic cone around her head afterward. None of the animals would go near her. They must have thought she was Frankinkitty. However, as soon as that thing came off, she was back to normal. Frick (Hammy) and Frack (Maggie) are back at it as you can see in the pictures.

Maggie on drugs (after surgery).

This is Maggie and her naked blubber belly at home recuperating (maybe we should have had lyposuction done while she was under anesthesia).

Frankinkitty

FRICK & FRACK PICTURES

Here are Tiger & Henry sporting their 4th of July gear. (I don't know why Tiger is sticking out his tongue but I promise he means no disrespect to Independence Day)

These were our other summer family members (Cleoutus and Marvin) who have now gone to a new home. Frick and Frack are going to miss them the most.

We have had many ups and downs this summer dealing with family health problems and have appreciated all of the prayers. It has been rather stressful especially as Mike's mom has been in and out of the hospital, but we know God is in control. My grandmother's arm has been healing well since her fall and she is not even wearing a cast anymore. My dad came out of his car accident with just minor injuries and has now purchased a new car to replace his. Mike's dad has been doing really well considering what his body has been through these past few months. Mike's mom is still dealing with issues and we are not sure if they are due to the septic shock back in January when she was on the ventilator but we just ask for continued prayers for her health. It seems that every time she goes to the doctor's that she ends up in the hospital for a few days with a new concern. It is easier to be here away from this all at times but other times you wish you could be with your family. God has been good though and Mike and I know that things do happen for a reason and that God can also heal as he desires. I have held on dearly to James 1:2-6 this summer as it seems that there has been one thing after another. We are also still trying to witness to his family especially though all of this, please remember that in your prayers too.

I'm thankful for the good and the bad even though it isn't always easy. Now we look ahead to Mike starting third year and me doing the same as always.