Valley Vet

As you all know, I work at the Cherokee vet. I have for about a year and a half and I just love my job there!

Things have been going really good the past few weeks...I've gotten to go and watch surgeries a few times this month and it's been really fun!!

We have had quite a few interesting animals come through the vet. Like this cat ("Snickers") that got hit by a car and broke his pelvis...a few days later, he came back to the vet because his front legs stopped working. This cat was paralyzed! We had to spoon feed him, he couldn't go to the bathroom on his own and he was just a mess. I think they ended up putting him down...which was the best thing to do!!
We've also had some really cute strays! Faye (she works for my parents) just adopted our favorite one, a German shepherd/Chow mix.

It's been a lot of fun working with all these animals...getting to do what I love!! Even though it can get really stressful at times. God has truly blessed me...with this job, my co-workers, bosses, the animals, and everything I've been learning!!

Here is the cat that was paralyzed...I got to spoon feed him one day.

This is Faye's dog, "Maggie"

This cat got in a fight...we had to flush out his wounds.
That's what he looked like after the surgery.
Flushing "battle wounds" are probably the messiest surgeries,
at least that I have seen!



Dr. Benson's cat, "Tigger"...she stays at the vet all the time.
I enjoy seeing her every time I work!



Psalm 37

¹Do not fret because of evildoers,
         Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
    ²For they will wither quickly like the grass
         And fade like the green herb.
    ^3aTrust in the LORD and do good;
         
    ⁴Delight yourself in the LORD;
         And He will give you the desires of your heart.
    ⁵Commit your way to the LORD,
         Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
    ⁶He will bring forth your righteousness as the light
         And your judgment as the noonday.
    ⁷Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;
        Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
         Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
    ⁸Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
         Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
    ⁹For evildoers will be cut off,
         But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.
    ¹⁶Better is the little of the righteous
         Than the abundance of many wicked.
    ²³The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
         And He delights in his way.
    ²⁴When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,
         Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.
      ²⁷Depart from evil and do good,
         So you will abide forever.
    ³²The wicked spies upon the righteous
         And seeks to kill him.
    ³³The LORD will not leave him in his hand
         Or let him be condemned when he is judged.
    ^34aWait for the LORD and keep His way,
         And He will exalt you to inherit the land;
    ³⁹But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
         He is their strength in time of trouble.
    ⁴⁰The LORD helps them and delivers them;
         He delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
         Because they take refuge in Him.

Psalm 37:1-9, 16, 23-24, 27, 32-34a, 39-40

I read this Psalm the other night and fell in love with it!! It's a really cool chapter and really inspiring. I encourage you all to read the whole chapter sometime.
(Just curious if anyone has some really good devotional "ideas" for me...I'm not quite sure what to read now. let me know if you do! Thanks!!)


My little fur-ball!! haha I can't ask for a cuter cat!



I will try to blog again soon...this have gotten really busy but I have things I want to blog about. Just not enough time!

Thanks to everyone who reads my blog! It means a lot to me and I'd love to hear what ya'll think too:)

Faye and I...out for a walk before it started getting really cold..BRRR

Roxy

I knew this dog named Roxy,

Sometimes she could act a little foxy

She had eyes of brown,

And a coat of yellow,

She never wore a frown

She loved to play,

And tackle Callie,

Whatever time of day

I had so much fun taking care of her,

Watching her play, eat,

And petting her soft fur

Even though I didn't know her that well,

I have some great stories to tell

And from the very start,

She has left a paw print on my heart

This poem is in memory of Roxy Irwin. A beautiful Yellow Lab.

I took care of her and Callie (another Lab) a few times in the past year or two.

Even though I didn't know her nearly as well as her owners,

she was very special to me! I loved her so much!

Roxy died because of old age...it broke my heart to hear that.

But I'm just so thankful that she got to be a part of my life!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8: A Time For Everything

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under Heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak, 
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Fall Party

So instead of doing a halloween party, my friend hosted a "fall party" on October 30.

We had a lot of fun. . . just hanging out, eating and playing 3 hours of Mafia (if any of you have never played it, then you're totally missing out! It is an awesome game!) anyway...

Here's some pictures from that crazy night! lol enjoy!!

Worship

I know there are many ways to worship our Heavenly Father but my favorite way is through music!

I love listening to music, singing, playing instruments, and going to concerts!!

This past weekend I went to a Tenth Avenue North concert in Sioux City...I went with my sisters and some friends and we had a blast.
Matt Maher and Addison road also played. And this was an amazing concert.
You could just tell that God was there, working in and through people.

I know God was doing work in me...the past few weeks, I've been struggling with some things...and I've just been distancing my self from my Father.

God spoke to me through this concert...through those people. Life isn't going to be easy but God reminded me that He is the only one who can satisfy me...there are so many "pretty things that steal my heart away, I feel I'm fading, cuz Lord I love so many things that keep me from Your face...come and save me" (All the Pretty Things-Tenth Avenue North)

God has also been teaching me a lot from a book that I'm doing. The Backward Life by Jarrod Jones is an amazing book! It really makes you think about your life...and how much we think about ourselves.

I need to put God first...in EVERYTHING!!!!!

Nicole and I

Amazing

Wow, a lot has been happening lately.

School, work, church...and some awesome highlights...such as the "Courage" retreat I went on with my youth group.



Molly and I were given the pleasure of having mustaches "eyelined" on our faces...
from one of the games we played at the retreat!! It was hilarious!!



13 of us youth went...it was just on the outskirts of Cherokee, out in the "wild"! LOL

We played games, ate, climbed a really muddy hill, watched some Francis Chan videos, and spent one on one time with God.

It was an amazing weekend...God taught me some really cool things and He's been using me in some awesome ways too!!

Faye, Whitney, and I also are doing a Bible study once a week. It has been pretty amazing too!!
It's cool how God can speak through people...in ways that are just to amazing to fathom!

This past Friday was Cherokee's homecoming game. I went with some friends and had a blast! Even though our team lost...big suprise! LOL
But I got to see a lot of my friends and yah, it was a lot of fun:)

My youth pastor has been doing a guitar clinic for the past 3 weeks. He leads it after youth group and we have a pretty nice size group! My sister's and I are all doing...so we all practice together through out the week! I love music!

Well I should probably be going...but I'll blog again soon.

I've also had a lot of fun spending time with my BF, Emily!!!

Thunderstorms

Right now I can hear the rain on our roof...it sounds so beautiful!! I love storms...I love getting that excitement and kind of the nervousness about what could happen. My mom thinks I'm crazing for loving storms but to me a storm isn't something to be "scared" about. Yes you have to be kind of scared because storms are unstoppable and just crazy but to me, a storm is God's way of saying He loves me and wants to show me just a little part of how big He is!!

I had a really stressful day yesterday and I woke up this morning to thunder and rain. God was telling me,

"It's okay Nichole, I have given you these struggles to help you...even when it gets hard and you feel you can't go on any longer, just remember that I'll always be here. I have never left you and I never will. But my child, please don't leave Me! I love you."

Clay County Fair

On Saturday I went to the Spencer fair with my sisters (Kristen and Melissa) and Ross.
We arrived there around 10:00 a.m. and spent the whole day there till 5:30. It would've been a perfect day, had not it been below 60 degrees and drizzling most of the time! It was still a lot of fun but VERY cold!!
We looked around...we even got to see ALL of the animals (My favorite!!!!)...ate lunch, listened to an
A Cappella group, walked around, and even ate yummy Nitro ice cream...OUTSIDE!! haha after that we did end up getting some hot chocolate.
My friend, Nicole, was there showing cows. I spent a little bit of time with her...which was really awesome!
I loved going to the fair...getting to be with animals and just the atmosphere of it all.
I'm so glad I got to go with Ross and my sisters...it was a blast!!!

Why?

My family and I have been doing a lot of traveling lately...honestly I'm sick of being gone! I've really enjoyed the trips though. That's why I haven't been posting lately. We arrived in Chicago (again) 2 hours ago and are now getting ready for bed...yes it really is after midnight.
Anyway, this will be our last time seeing Bethany before she leaves for England. For some reason I've gotten this horrible rash all over my body...it's not a big suprise because I've suffered with rashes a lot. But this one really hurts.
I'm also so tired and my stomach kind of hurts, my head hurts, stuff like that.
I've been asking myself, "Why am I complaining to my mom...she can't exactually help me and this is our last time to see Bethany...why is it always about me?" I need to constantly tell myself, "It's not about me, it's about others. It's not about me but about God."
But I've been struggling with that...I want someone to feel sorry for me, I want someone to give me attention...especially during a time when it's not about me!!
Why is it that we're always so selfish...why does it always have to be about me? I have to ask God to change my mindset so that I'm only focused on Him.
And for now that's all I can do...pray, read the Bible, and thank God for everything He has given me!!

I Just Realized. . .

Do you know how much we take for granted? We don't realize how much God has given us...and how much we should be grateful to Him.

Yesterday I worked with Blake (the "new kennel kid") at the vet. We were talking and having some nice conversations...and I realized that I should be thanking God for the ability to talk and to have conversations.

I let some of the dogs out and cleaned the cat's cages...yes it might smell really disgusting and make me gag sometimes but I have the ability to walk, to use my hands...why are we so selfish with everything?


We should be thanking God all the time for the "little" things He does for us!!! We should WANT to glorify with Him in everything we do!!!

I'm always wanting my way, and my will...it's always me, me, me. Why is it so hard for us to just let go of things, surrender to God and let Him do the work?!?! It's our sin...the past few days I've been struggling with letting God work out the details. I realized that I have to CONSTANTLY keep surrendering things to God...otherwise I somehow take it back into my hands.

It feels amazing to have God do all the work...just to sit back and see what God is going to do...in my friendships, my family, at work, in my life!!!!

 Psalm 139:14 "I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it well."

The Fear of the Lord

Acts 24-Be joyful in all situations, God has a plan for EVERYTHING, even the trials we face. We just need to trust God completly.
"But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
"In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men." Acts 24:14-16

Today I will be starting a little bit of school...but I'm working on the Beier Bulletin!!
I also will be working at the vet. I get to work with the "new kid" whose starting at the vet. I've worked with him for a few days and will for the rest of the week! It's really fun to work with someone...and things get done a lot faster!!!
I'm so thankful for my job at the vet...I absolutely love working there!!!!

Chicago

This past weekend my family and I were in Chicago, IL. As most of you know, my eldest sister, Bethany, is leaving for England this September. We took here to Chicago for a month of training.
Before we dropped her off we spent some time at Lake Michigan. It was a lot of fun and great memories!!
After we dropped her off, the 5 of us "tried" to find Willis a.k.a Sears Tower but got lost.
We did end up finding it and went up the 103 floors. For all of you who don't know this...I'm terrified of heights! SO I was freaking out! But it was okay...I even went out on this glass "box" that is 103 floors above traffic. It was pretty cool!!

We arrived home yesterday and now are getting back to everyday life! I'll be heading for work in 30 minutes.

I read Acts 23 today for my devotions.

I learned that God's power is unfathomable...His plans are amazing and He is ALWAYS with me!!

Acts 23:11; But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, "Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also."

Update on Devotions

August 13-Acts 11-12...I learned that God has amazing plans for my life, I just need to step back and watch what He's going to do. (Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know that plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans of a hope and a future."

August 14-Acts 13...God is sending out His disciples. God is calling me somewhere to do work for Him so I must listen and pray for others. Just be open to God's calling!

August 15-Acts 14...It was kind of the same as yesterday's...God has chosen me (can you believe that He has chosen ME!!!! and YOU!!!!) to do special work in His kingdom.

August 16-Acts 15...Even when we have trials and think we're at the end of our rope, we need to remember that God works good in EVERYTHING! (Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes all things to work for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.")

August 17-Acts 16...My mind needs to be constantly on God, and not to focus on the earthly things!! Delight in the Lord!

August 18-Acts 17...Verses 24-31 really hit me (I'll blog them later...) but it's also kind of like yesterday's...I need to be constantly in prayer and reading God's word. I must focus on Him!!

August 19-Acts 18...This one is also kind of like the past 2 days...I MUST read God's word more and pray continually. If you don't read the Bible and pray, how are you going to know God personally? And how will we be able to share the gospel?

What's Up?!?!

Okay, the reason I haven't been on for a while is because I've been gone!!! My sisters, Kristen and Melissa, and I had a "Radiant Purity" Bright Lights conference in Cedar Rapids, IA on Friday and Saturday.
It was an amazing conference and I learned alot. We also got to visit with some of our old friends...we hadn't seen them since over 4 years ago! It was alot of fun and a good bonding time for the 3 of us.
We got home Saturday night at 11:30, woke up around 7:30 and left for church at 9:00.
Suprisingly I actually stayed awake all through Sunday school and church.
Bethany, Kristen, Melissa, and I were planning on leaving from church to head to South Dakota but we brought a friend with us to church. We ended up going out for lunch (which was a lot of fun) and leaving from there.
We spent Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday in Freeman, SD with both of my grandparents. I had a ton of fun and made many great memories with grandparents and sisters!
I really should be thanking my Heavenly Father more for the amazing family He has given me!!
Tomorrow I will update you on my devo's but I need to go now.

Devotions

Acts 11 & 12
I learned that God has amazing plans, and that I need to trust Him even when things aren't going my way!

My kitty Moses...look at all the things God has given us!!

The verse that really stuck out to me is Acts 11:15-17 "And I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it did upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, 'John baptized with water but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' Therefore if God gave them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?"

This hot day...

Thankfully today I was inside for the most part.
I just got finished pricing and arranging stuffed animals for my mom in the shop, and now I'm going to peel potatoes for supper...I'm making mashed potatoes! My FAVORITE!!!

This is my new electric guitar! pretty awesome!!
I can't believe I actually own one now!

I also did some typing, made this yummy fruit dessert, and practice my instruments (Piano and electric guitar)...I actually just got my electric guitar about 2 weeks ago but I attempted the acoustic...I love playing the electric and am totally pumped to learn it! I think I'll get to play on worship team at church for Wednesday nights!! I'm so excited to praise God with music!! Isn't it amazing that God has given us the ability to play instruments, dance, sing, ride bike, etc. so why shouldn't we use the gifts He's given us to "thank" Him for what He has given us?!?!?
Well I better get back to my potatoes!!

Daily Devotions

This year,I attended Challenge in Columbus, Ohio. The conference gave us 50 day devotionals for when we came home. I wish I could say I've done them faithfully but I haven't.
I'm trying to do them every morning when I wake up...I thought I could share them with all of you!!!

Acts 10
I learned that we shouldn't judge people...God see's us all as equal and we're all one in Christ!!

A verse that stuck out to me is Acts 10:42 "And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead."

New blog page!!!

Hey everyone!! SO I'm just starting a blog! I'm not sure how often I'll blog but hopefully a few times a week!!
Make sure to tell me what you think of my posts, pictures and just the whole blog!!!
I'm pretty excited to do this! I love to write so yah!!!
well thats all I have to say for this post so until next time...have a wonderful day in the Lord!
"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to seperate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39