text: Dr. Joseph Leppanen spent the first 10 years of his life growing up in San Jose, California, and his family would often take trips to the countryside to stay on a friend’s sheep ranch. It wasn’t hard for him to develop a love and appreciation for animals early on in life. As he got a bit older, Dr. Leppanen started to develop intense passions for science and medicine. By the time he had signed up to do volunteer work at a few local animal hospitals, his mind was made up—veterinary medicine was the only choice for him!
  Dr. Leppanen started his educational journey at Michigan Technological University as a pre-med student before transferring to Michigan State University to begin his prerequisites for veterinary school. During his time there, he volunteered at three separate animal hospitals while also working as an orderly at the school’s Olin Health Center and the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Dr. Leppanen graduated with a high-honors degree in medical technology and microbiology, and also obtained an additional Bachelor’s degree in Zoology.
  During his final year of undergraduate studies, Dr. Leppanen was accepted into Michigan State’s School of Veterinary Medicine, where he earned his Doctorate in 1985. He then moved to Florida and practiced there for a brief time before returning to Michigan to be with his wife. He took a job at an animal hospital in DeWitt, where he would remain for the next seven years. In 1992, the facility that is now Pennsylvania Veterinary Care was put up for sale—Dr. Leppanen jumped at his chance, and took full ownership that spring. He’s been serving the pets and animal owners of the area ever since!
  Dr. Leppanen has returned to his alma mater since graduation in order to expand his own skillset and knowledge; he’s completed courses in orthopedics and has studied in seminars and laboratory workshops in order to better serve his patients. In addition, Dr. Leppanen has done work for the Mid-Michigan Cat Rescue, served as the county veterinarian for Ingham County Animal Control, and given his time to the Capital Area Humane Society.
  Outside of work, Dr. Leppanen spends most of his free time with his family—he has four boys and a girl. Together, they enjoy camping, fishing, and boating on Michigan’s beautiful lakes. Dr. Leppanen’s children are also active in sports, and he can often be found attending a local lacrosse, football, basketball, or volleyball game.
  As a young girl, Dr. Vanassche fell in love with James Herriot’s veterinary novels—it was then that her passion for animal care was ignited. By the time she was nine years old, Dr. Vanassche knew that she wanted to become a veterinarian herself! Her dream never wavered; she’s now a veterinarian with the Pennsylvania Veterinary Care family.
  Dr. Vanassche grew up on an apple orchard in Ypsilanti, Michigan and headed to Michigan State University after high school to begin her animal-care education. After only three years of undergraduate studies in the pre-veterinary program, she was admitted to veterinary school. Dr. Vanassche earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Michigan State in 1990, and has been practicing in the Lansing area ever since.
  Dr. Vanassche originally started here at Pennsylvania Veterinary Care on a relief basis in February of 2016, and was offered a part-time position shortly after completing her relief shifts. She has a particular interest in internal medicine cases, which allow her to work through the diagnostic process to find an appropriate solution. Dermatology is another area that she enjoys; for Dr. Vanassche, nothing beats turning an itchy, uncomfortable patient into a happy, healthy pet!
  In her time away from the clinic, Dr. Vanassche enjoys gardening, fishing—she even recently restored her father’s old fishing boat—camping, and attending her children’s sporting and theatrical events. She and her three kids share their home with a Yorkshire terrier, a Shih-Tzu/dachshund mix, and a flock of 15 chickens.
  The glow was unmistakable on my friend’s face as she spoke of her forthcoming marriage. As we drove along the highway together, her enthusiasm about the wedding day was highly contagious–and we discovered that even a splitting radial tire on my little Toyota could not cool the fever of our excited plannings. We laughed like silly schoolgirls while we knelt on the wet shoulder of the highway. . . and quickly realized how differently the Japanese think when it comes to designing car jacks
  And yet what a difference our mood of excitement made in the way we faced our unexpected car trouble. (Usually I am not the most patient nurse in treating ailing cars.) Needless to say, I was glad there was a happy, bride-to-be with me on this trip.
  This little incident has made me wonder how many more brides all over the world right now are brightening the days of family and friends in an otherwise discouraged and lonely world. To be around someone who is happily awaiting the day when her beloved one comes for her. . . to see the sparkling eyes. . . the blooming cheeks. . . the lilt in her walk. . . is a feast for the eyes.
  Pondering these thoughts has brought me to another dimension–because I’ve usually found that the simple truths of life always seem to point to some deeper truth that God is trying to reveal to us. Could it be that what God Himself desires is for His people to love and long for Him like a bride longs for her bridegroom?
  That idea does not appear too far-fetched according to Hosea 2:19-20: “And I will betroth you to Me forever; yes I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, and in steadfast love, and in mercies. And you will really know Me then as you never have before.” And in Isaiah 54% we find: “For your Maker is your husband–the Lord Almighty is His name–“From Jeremiah 3:3 comes this: “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have drawn you with lovingkindness.'” THe Apostle Paul even told the Corinthian Christians: “I (Paul) promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.” (2 Cor. 11:2)
  What really grips my heart about this deeper truth is that I’ve discovered that Jesus behaved just like a bridegroom when He lived on earth! No–Jesus never married–but instead He actually betrothed Himself to all those who believe in Him and give their hearts to Him. It was easy to understand how Jesus became our Bridegroom, when I learned about the following seven steps in the traditional Jewish Wedding:
  1. Before the bridegroom could pick a bride, he must have his father’s approval. (John 17:24, 1 Cor. 1:9)
  c) make this speech: “I am going to leave you for a long time and go back to my father’s house. I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2,3)
  3. The bridegroom must then begin building the bridal chamber and make provisions for a seven-day honeymoon. It had to be just right to win his father’s approval. If anyone asked him when the chamber would be finished, he was supposed to say, “I don’t know, only my father knows.” (Acts 1:7)
  4. Meanwhile, the bride would wear a veil whenever she went out and she was called “set apart,” “consecrated,” or “bought with a price.” She always waited at home every night for the traditional “catching away” by her bridegroom to the bridal chamber. She would be waiting with her bridesmaids who would all have their oil lamps filled and waiting for the important moment. (John 17:16,17; Jude 1:24)
  5. When the bridegroom and his party came close to the bride’s house, they would shout. Then the bride and her party knew they were coming. The bridegroom would literally grab his bride and run by the light of the oil lamps to his father’s house. (1 Thess. 4:16,17)
  6. As all the wedding guests watched, the bride and groom went into the bridal chamber and would not reappear until the seven days were over. There was feasting going on during the seven days among the wedding guests. (Rev. 5:5-14)
  7. The couple then emerged as husband and wife from the bridal chamber and the marriage supper was celebrated. The veil was gone from the new wife and the couple then lived in the place prepared for them beforehand. (Rev. 19:7-9, 1 Cor. 2:9, Isa. 25:6,7,8)
  The corresponding Scriptures I’ve chosen for these seven steps reveal how Jesus will come to claim His Bride–all those who truly love and obey Him with all their hearts–and we will live with Him forever.
  What occurs to me next is that if we are betrothed to the most wonderful Bridegroom in all the universe, Jesus Christ, shouldn’t we be a little excited about it? In fact, just thinking about our Bridegroom coming in the clouds to get us ought to put a sparkle in our eyes, a glow on our faces, and a lilt in our steps as we look up and say “Come quickly, Lord Jesus, come quickly!” Perhaps it is time that the Bride of Christ awakens from her slumber, fills her lamp with the oil of the Holy Spirit, watches and prays for her Beloved One’s soon, and brightens up the darkness all around her as she waits.
  I don’t know about you, but even in the midst of a busy schedule, I’m listening for my Beloved Bridegroom’s shout and I can’t wait for Him to sweep me off my feet!
  This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 21st, 2007 at 9:10 pm and is filed under articles.	You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
  Times Daily: Telling secrets: California artist gathers river stories from a shanty – A Secret History of American River People
  Wes Modes’ 1940s era shanty boat is docked on the bank of a river. Modes is in the Shoals and will be part of “A Secret History of American River People,” sponsored by the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, Friday through Sunday.
  For four days, Friday through Monday, the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts and Florence Harbor and Marina will host Wes Modes and “A Secret History of American River People.”
  Modes, an artist and oral historian from Santa Cruz, California, has been traveling American rivers in a 1940s era recreated shanty boat for the past three years gathering local river stories.
  “I don’t know if historians would call me a historian. I am an artist that is interested in history,” Modes said. “My practice involves gathering oral history and tracking down the history of the places we go. I love history.
  “I’ve always been a fan of Howard Zinn’s ‘A People’s History of the United States,’ which is sort of a different way of doing history. It’s where you’re talking more to the individual people living their lives, not necessarily the people who are in power.”
  In recent years, he was on the Upper Mississippi River. This year, he’s journeying through Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Kentucky. Modes said it’s his first visit to Florence and only his second to the state.
  “We’ll be talking to people in Florence who have stories of what it means to live in a river community,” he said. “We’re especially interested in people whose stories don’t usually get told in the mainstream.”
  “We’re constantly discovering these stories,” he said. “This young man had such interesting things to say about what it’s like growing up in a medium to small town on the river. He literally swam or boated when he got home from school.”
  Wes Modes stands on the deck of his 1940s era shanty boat he uses to travel the rivers. During his journeys, Modes gathers stories about the river from local residents.
  Christi Britten, program coordinator at the arts center, said in addition to Modes’ in-house multimedia presentation from his travels, the exhibit will include river folk art from local artists.
  “I included some pieces that will complement what they have,” she said. “People will see some regional and local folk artists who are inspired by the river. A lot of these pieces are on loan from the Frith family collection. We’re pulling some from our collection as well.”
  Britten said she expanded the exhibit to include the Handy Gallery and used local artist John Morgan’s work.
  “John Morgan painted a lot of historic scenes between 1983 and 1990 of pioneer days when the river was really starting to build up,” Britten said. “It’s a good opportunity to show his work.”
  Britten said the center is thrilled to be part of the river project and they’re especially excited about Modes and the exhibit being in town for First Fridays. The center is having a welcome reception at 5:30 p.m. Friday for Modes and his crew.
  “Friday, we’ll be here until people stop coming. We hope people will walk over from First Fridays and see the exhibit and listen to the Shoals Dulcimer and Folk Music Association on the front porch,” Britten said. “We’ll be open through the weekend while he’s here. Saturday our hours will be 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Sunday is 1 until 4 p.m.”
  Modes is docked at the Florence Harbor and Marina and the shanty boat will be open to the public 4-8 p.m. Friday, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday, 2-4 p.m. Sunday and 4-8 p.m. Monday.
  “In a way, the shanty boat is the art project,” Britten said. “It’s an art installation that is actively recording these oral histories. It’s a multi-faceted project he has going on. We hope this will give people ideas about how to start oral history projects of their own.”
  The center is hosting a gallery talk with Modes 1-3 p.m. Sunday. He will show slides from his recent travels, tell stories of interesting people he’s met along the way and answer questions.