Reasons #346, #347, and #348 I'm excited about PA school:

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Blake and I have been talking about where we'll go after he graduates. This time next year he will be applying to residency programs, which will take us to a new city once he graduates. Prior to my acceptance to South U, we were looking at places that had a good residency program AND a PA school for me. #346 --> And now.... the options have expanded! Blake won't have to worry about me because I will already have most of my schooling complete. Even better...

#347 --> We were concerned that we might have to live separately for a period of time because he graduates May 2012... I won't graduate until March 2013. However, I will be doing my clinical rotations May 2012-March 2013, and South (unlike many schools) allows their students to do off-sight rotations if they meet the requirements of academic status, professionalism, etc. Meaning... (crossing my fingers)... we may not have to be apart at all :)

#348 --> I get to stick a needle through people's skin.

Forever Friends.

Lots of hugs. Squeels. High-pitched noises. Caffeine. A $5 plane ticket for me and a 10 hr train right for E....

Together at last!

Mission accomplished.

About 2 weeks ago, me and my three best friends from Taylor U planned a spontaneous reunion in Chicago. Jade and Jessie were already there, so it was just a matter of getting Eprise and I to the windy city. And we did it!

And while I have doubts that we will ever all live in the same state, I hope we can continue to choose different cities as a meeting place. So far, I can count: Indianapolis, Portland, St. Louis, Columbia, Paris (yes, France), Atlanta, and now Chicago :)

picking up E from the train station... there was a mad rush of excitement going on.

we literally sprinted to catch the train going downtown for a day in the city... JUST made it!

"the bean"

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (The Message)

Love this verse...

"My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in
your weakness.

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the
handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's
strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and
with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size-- abuse, accidents,
oppositions, bad breaks.

I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I
become."

FINALLY!

For those of you who know what I've been through the past 2 years know it has not been easy. It has been a roller-coaster of emotions with moments of strength and periods of weakness. Two years ago I was forced to withdraw from a nursing program due to blatant discrimination. What I went through was entirely unacceptable and should never happen to anyone. That's a whole other story.

I initially pushed away medicine-- to avoid the pain of revisiting the past-- but my desire still lingered.

On June 6, 2009 I wrote in my journal:

"Lord, I have felt such joy the past few weeks. Such hope. I know and I trust
you completely. Whatever is ahead of me, I know it is far beyond and better than
my own plans. I am so in-love with you, Jesus. Thank You for pulling me through
this rough time and for building endurance in me. I asked you to make me
into the woman of Prov. 3:25, but I can't ask that without expecting You to
take me through circumstances that will make me like her."

People...

God is FAITHFUL! He does not abandon you, and He hears your cries!

I cannot begin to express the joy I am feeling now because in the end of this two-year journey I GOT INTO PA SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!

After finding out I was accepted, I wrote in my journal:

"Lord, you saw my heart. You knew my vulnerability-- at any moment
along the path of pursuing PA school I risked heartbreak. It is incredibly hard
to make yourself vulnerable again after being crushed. But it was Your love that
gave me strength. Your faithfulness was my joy. Though I felt Your absense at
times, I remembered Your works in years past. You asked me to trust. And trust
was a matter of trusting You were still the same God who met me as a child."

Now, a week after being accepted, I am still in shock. I'm. Actually. Going. To. Be. A. Physician. Assistant.

It's surreal, and I am bursting at the seems with joy! Would I have expected this outcome two years ago? Nope! But I look back on my journal entry June 6, 2009 and remember that He has always been in control.

Orientation begins January 3, 2011 :)

The Waiting Game...

Today I interviewed at South University for their Physician Assistant (PA) Program. I'm holding my breath until I hear back from them...

I'll give more details if I'm accepted, but it would be really, really, REALLY awesome if I get in!

Ronald McDonald House Birthday

I love my job!

I am a Weekend Manager at the Ronald McDonald House, which gives me the unique opportunity to be part of a support team for families with hospitalized children. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to have a child in the hospital! As a parent, your primary concern is for your child and I'm sure it throws your stomach all in knots to watch their little body laying in a bed, hooked up to IV's. If a room and warm meal makes it just a little bit easier.... well, that's why we're here ;)

I am constantly amazed by people's generosity in the way they give to our charity. Which leads to the story of this little girl...

This girl decided that for her 8th birthday she wanted to celebrate it at the Ronald McDonald House. But wait... it gets better. She stated that she did not want presents (what 8 year old doesn't want presents???), but instead she wanted people to bring "presents" off of our Wish List. People brought bags of paper goods, toiletries, laundry detergent, toys for the playroom, and food for the kitchen. And. they. left. every. bag. for. us.

Wow.

I was talking to the birthday girl after eating cake and ice cream, and she said-- "I'm glad I donated my birthday!"

I love it.

I am truly amazed at the youngest donors. She genuinely wanted to give, and that should speak to us all.

This little guy was actually a preemie, and his mom stayed in the house when she first had him. He was itty bitty, but now he's almost 3 years old! I love to see the children again and hear the progress stories.