Fall in KS

i absolutely LOVE Fall in KS. It reminds me a bit of Oregon summer. The weather is in the 70's to 80's, no rain, and the air has the feel of Fall to it. We've been trying to enjoy this weather before the snow sets in as much as possible but our schedules have been a bit off.

Matt is still working as Director of Church relations and coordinator of the Carson Center. He is also working through his M. Div and has a Greek course this semester that seems overwhelming to me. :) He is also working on his MBA and has really enjoyed that. There are some great opportunities that may be an option as a part of this program. We are looking forward to see how they unfold. We have began our search for a Doctorate program... there are exciting new things on the horizon.

I continue to work through my nursing degree. I just finished my critical care rotation and absolutely loved it. I was in the SICU (surgical intensive care unit, which is a surgical trauma unit. All level I and Level II traumas come to this unit straight from the trauma room unless they go to OR and then come to this unit post-op) and i was on the MICU (medical intensive care unit, where you have liver failure, acute care of cancer patients, respiratory failure, some cardiac patients, and any sepsis patients) It has been so much fun (fun doesn't seem like the right word. It was challenging, scary at times, stressful, but i learned so much, felt like i fit in this place, and at the end of the day felt like the work i did actually made a difference.) exploring the different areas of nursing and trying to figure out where i will fit. We have also been exploring possible options for what is next for me. There are great employment opportunities nearby for nurses but i also really have enjoyed being back in school and wouldn't mind continuing on the school track.

This is a close up of a Milo field, one of the crops they grow here in KS. The farther into October we'll get the deeper of a brown/rust color these plants get. When the sun sets behind a field it is so pretty!! It takes me back to my days of being on the farm. :)

The beginning of an amazing weekend. I had a 2 hour (yeah, no joke 2 hours of Performance Metrics) meeting at work on Friday and as soon as that was over we headed to Papa's pumpkin patch. We chose 'Papa's' because my friend Sarah's (who is one of the social workers at the hospital that i work with and absolutely LOVE. She is amazing) family owns and runs this little event.

What?!?

They even had a corn maze!!

Peaches wasn't about to let us have a Beth and Matt picture without being in it too...

yeah we really did get this 20 pound pumpkin. And thanks to my mom's amazing recipe and coaching we roasted the seeds.

my pumpkin was much smaller. It was much easier to carry!! :)

yeah for fun on the farm!

big bummer!! I broke a knife while carving my pumpkin. It was one of our favorite kitchen knives and a wedding gift. Sad!