What an awesome weekend it has been! I am still just beaming with pride! Thank you, thank you friends and family who traveled out-of-state and hours on road to celebrate with us. We are so blessed.
Below is a video I made that summarizes this journey. I am so thankful to have been a part of it.
Right after everyone opened their letters, each specialty was called up to the stage to announce where each individual matched. I caught the Pediatric group right in time. Hopefully, you can get a glimpse of the overwhelming excitement felt in the room.
Match Day will be one of those days I'll re-live over and over again. It was such an exciting day with so much energy filling the room of 40 med students and their families waiting to find out where they are destined for residency. The class truly came together that day.
The theme was St. Patrick's, and some dressed beyond expectations ;-)
The letters were placed in a glass bowl and drawn at random until everyone received a letter. Once everyone had a letter, there was a countdown to open them. Do you know how hard and nerve-racking it was to have that unopened letter just sitting on the table??
Dr. Greenburg and the Dean congratulating him
post-match interview
The emotions I have felt in the past 48 hrs I cannot even begin to explain. Sheer joy. Hope. Awe. Disbelief. Extreme pride. Excitement. Randomly, I find myself holding back tears because I just can't believe it.
He did it. Blake matched into his #1 program at Boston Children's of Harvard!!!!!!! Not only that, but he got into the Urban Health & Advocacy track he wanted. This will open up opportunities for him to work at a continuity clinic for refugees and pursue his interest in international medicine. Dr. Paul Farmer, the man who inspired the book "Mountains Beyond Mountains", comes out of Boston and Blake could potentially train under him. Let me put it another way... that's like saying you want to pursue cycling and you are given the privilege to train under Lance Armstrong. Amazing, right?
One of the most touching moments of Match Day was when Blake told one of the faculty that he got into Boston and Dr. Greenburg responded with tears and a heart-felt bear hug. You could just tell on his face how proud he was and how excited he was for both of us. He and his wife both trained in Boston, and he said it was the best 3 years of their life.
I anticipate the same. I'm ready for an adventure, a new challenge, and a place to make lasting memories. We might only be able to afford an apartment the size of our current bathroom, but I don't think we'll ever regret moving to Boston. We're going to live it up.
In other news.... looks like I'll be running another marathon! After submitting our preference and ranking Boston #1, I said to Blake- "If you match into Boston, I'm running the Boston." The Boston Marathon has always been a dream of mine, and my last race qualified me to run it. So then, being a woman of my words I'll apply for registration to run either April 2013 or 2014.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who have shared in our excitement! I have been blown away and overwhelmed by the love, joy, and excitement from others. We even had one friend leave work when he got the news and ran home to tell his wife. It means so much.
Where did January go? Apparently, it came and vanished with the remaining months of 2012 still bursting with full anticipation. This year is going to be good, people.
Now in my last quarter of PA school before rotations, I am blown away by how much I've learned in the past year. I've never felt so certain of what I'm supposed to be doing in life-- this is it. It's one of those moments in my life where it feels as if everything is coming together, and I cannot contain this joy and excitement. Surely, my life has not always felt this way. I've been in the valley. Lost. Confused. Uncertain of the future. The angst and confusion of those times are not foreign to me at all. And so I can't help from shouting now that I'm out of that valley. However long this "high" lasts... you can count on me shouting praise ;-)
March 16th is Match Day-- the day we open an envelope that tells us where we're going next. Honestly, I don't know if I have ever been this excited about ONE DAY. Yes, our wedding day was big...but this feels big in a different way. It's knowing that together we've built a dream, set goals to work towards it, encouraged each other through the crap, and seen God at work in incredible ways. This envelope is the next big step. And. The. Anticipation. Is. Killing. Me. (I may or may not have a countdown ticker)
I'm feeling kind of like this kid right here...
Whether you're in a valley or high point right now, I hope you can find a moment in the day to rejoice and anticipate something good.
Christmas was fantastic. Blake and I feel abundantly blessed by our families and friends, and we could not ask for more. While at breakfast one morning with some of my closest friends since middle school I had to stop myself and ask, "is this real life?" They've seen me break, change, and grow like nobody else has-- it's friendships like these that can't easily be replaced.
{shout-out to forever friends! Woohoo!}
Of equal excitement this Christmas: new babies. Our nephew, Sam, is ridiculously cute and such a joy to be around.
He wasn't so sure about his "Holiday Dinner" baby food (yes, it actually said that on the package)
BRECKENRIDGE, CO
Following Christmas, we spent 7 days in Breckenridge where Blake and I discovered an outdoor sport that makes us both feel alive. When it comes to sports, we're opposites: my strength is in lower body sports (I won't kayak unless you want to see me drop the paddle 20 kajillion times), his strength is in upper body sports (he won't run unless there's a fire.)
For the past several years, we've been trying to find a sport we can enjoy as a couple since we both like staying active. Blake has bad hips and knees due to premature osteoarthritis and malformation of the joints associated with his form of dwarfism, so any lower body sport typically leaves him in extreme pain. Prior to our ski trip with his family, he found out about something called adaptive monoskiing. Let me start by saying that adaptive monoskiing is not for wimps. It's hardcore. Just watch the Xgames and you'll find out for yourself-- it takes some serious skill and upper body strength.
With no surprise to me, Blake picked up adaptive monoskiing in just 4
days. I managed to get some video. I apologize ahead of time for how
shaky it is at certain points... I was on skis too just trying to keep up with him.
I was so thankful after a long day on the slopes when he looked over at
me and said, "the best part is I have no pain!" I got my "fix" working
my lower body while he got his "fix" working his upper body... and we did
it together. In reality, adaptive monoskiing is greatly underutilized.
Maybe people think it's something only for those who are wheelchair
bound, or perhaps they just don't know it exists. Regardless, it's awesome and more people should try it. It's just another way to conquer a mountain.
Bring it on!!! The anticipation of this upcoming year is killing me.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
With finals right around the corner my mind is filled with cardiovascular diseases, screening criteria for various forms of cancer, important radiological findings, how to interpret studies using biostatistics, etc. But in this moment I have an empty box of Nerds by my side and a snoozing Jack Russell by my feet, and I can't seem to sleep because my mind is filled with thoughts about life. My thoughts are sporadic (nothing new there). A general sense of "life is good" overwhelms me, with both the joy and heartache that comes in this world.
I'm almost halfway through PA school... how did that happen? I'm so happy I ended up here, remembering His ways are always better than mine.
Our family member and friend will be making their adoption official in 9 days after much waiting and hoping. What a time to celebrate!
My best friend goes through her first holiday season since her Grandma's stroke, but she still carries that beautiful smile on her face.
I've been burning the heck out of this Nordic Pine scented candle. I'm kind of obsessed with scented candles (I'm still trying to understand those flameless ones...)
I dream about our future kids all the time. I look forward to when that time comes :)
I've learned a lot the past few weeks about what it truly means to love your neighbor. I've come to the conclusion that drugs and addiction are one of the most devastating traps to see a person entangled by, but there is a person beyond that worthy of love and grace.
Match Day is less than 4 months away!! We'll open a letter that tells us where we're going next. It's another adventure we get to share together-- the next chapter of our lives. Will it be Denver, Nashville, Charlotte, Portland, Seattle, Providence, Philly, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Boston, or Cincy? There's not one of those places I would be upset ending up living. Home is wherever he is.
It has been far too long since I've attended an LPA event. I miss all the people.
Sufjan Christmas album. Love it.
Speaking of Christmas... I hope to get a chance to practice my Russian over the break. I miss Lithuania.
Why are cats and dogs at war? I wish they'd get along.
Making homemade peppermint ice cream will be an essential item on my "To Do" list during finals week. 5 more days before a break.... I can do it.
It's now 1:37am. Let's try this sleep thing again.
