Beau reminded me about Xanga...so here I am again. And Xanga tells me it's been 408 days since I've been here. WOW. That's...a lot of days.
And a lot has happened in those 408 days.
In a nutshell, it's been like this: - Finished my freshman year of college, and am currently taking a year off to work full-time, and get things back into focus so I don't waste my dad's money being a bad college student. -Got promoted. I'm not a kennel assistant anymore. I started being a technician (animal nurse) back in late May/early June, and it's working out great. I love it. My co-workers are amazing, and hilarious...They tell me I keep their day interesting...I've no doubt that's true. 
And the actual work part is great, too. I check in rooms, and draw blood, and place catheters, and take x-rays, and assist with surgeries...I do everything the doctors ask me to do (which is a lot).
It's definitely making me think I want to try vet school.
My dad says I oughtta, because I "have a way with animals".
I love animals, and consider myself the luckiest person in the world to spend 40+ hours a week working with them. -Went to Europe over the summer. London=amazing...but scary as a pedestrian. I got to see Les Miserables (next to Fiddler on the Roof and Oliver...the BEST musical ever) at Picaddily Circus...I loved it. Paris was GORGEOUS. The Louvre was.....just wow. I could spend days in there looking at all the old artifacts, and the amazing paintings...The 2 hours we got there wasn't nearly enough. And Notre Dame...beautiful. Fantastic.
The best part was definitely Normandy. Being on Omaha Beach...was breathtaking. I literally just stood there staring. I was crying later, after the wreath-laying ceremony...I know men that fought there that day, including my grandpa. It was amazing in so many ways. I'll nevernever forget it.
My dad and I need to go there together sometime. 
And Oxford was awesome, too. I could definitely live there. Beautiful old English homes...Beautiful farmland...Beautiful wooded areas. A paradise for me, basically. http://good-times.webshots.com/album/551217597XaeGQq =my Europe photo album. Definitley worth a look. -Dated a couple of guys...But none are really worth mentioning.  -Made some major changes in my life.
I like who I've become. I'm very happy with my life right now.
I'm not in church right now, and haven't been for quite some time now, but I feel like I'm closer to God than I've ever been. Further proof that the belief that church is neccessary is strictly a "religious" thing.
A close relationship with the Savior is within yourself, not in a building. And my Dad is finally realizing that I'm alright not going to church. -Michelle is still my best friend. 10 years exactly this past August. AMAZING.
She is the one person in this world I can tell everything to, and know she will not judge me. She's always there for me. I had a bad day at work today, and she skipped class to come have lunch with me and let me rant and cheer me up. And Michelle never skips class. Ever.
She's amazing. I'm so blessed to have such an awesome best friend.  -I've met some great people in the past year or so. My friends are amazing. And my friend spectrum is rather broad now. I love people. -Amongst all this happiness, there were some extremely sad events.
My grandma died August of 2005...I found out while I was shopping at Target with Michelle, and I burst into tears at the check-out line. I don't think I've cried so much in my whole life. It was awful. Her funeral was beautiful, though, and a great testament to the amazing woman she was. So many people loved her.
It makes my heart happy everytime my dad tells me how much like her I am. 
And also, my good friend Samuel Eldred passed away this August at the age of 17. He died in a car wreck, and his brother Adam was in the ICU for weeks after.
It was horrible. I cried a lot over that one. But I feel like God is going to work some good out of it. He always does.
And also...a couple of weeks after Sam, my dog Big'un was finally put to sleep at the age of 15. She had kidney failure, and it was her time.
It was awful for me. I grew up with her...And typing this now brings tears to my eyes...Pathetic, isn't it?
But it's true what they say..."pets are family." And after 15 years, it was hard to let go.
I miss her tons.  Gracious, this is a long post.
I should come back more often.
Congrats and props to you if you read the whole thing...I wouldn't.  Much love,
Kate.  | 
