Struggle and Success

I've seen the quote above often lately on social media sites, and I absolutely love it.
The past two years have been grueling, and there are two more similar to it in our future. We couldn't survive it alone.
Sadly, it's human nature to walk away or give up when things become difficult. It's easy to be there for loved ones through the good times, but the true test comes in times of struggle. There's a reason traditional marriage vows add staying faithful through the bad as well.
It's especially difficult to make the effort and sacrifices required in a relationship of any kind when the same is not being made in return. Aaron and I have been, and will continue to be, the latter for some time. We don't have a lot of time to give...or energy, or thought, or many of the wonderful other gifts that have been given to us thus far during medical school.
Yet there have been those that have required nothing in return. Selfless, generous, true friends. Those are the ones Aaron and I look forward to sharing our success with in the future. That is the type of person I hope to be for others in the future.

They came bearing energy, food, and encouragement the week before our first set of boards :)

We're so blessed to have discovered so many true friends and allies through this process, and relationships that go so much deeper than a superficial surface. Especially my family - they have no idea of the blessings in store for them. I can't wait to celebrate graduation with them when that time finally comes, because they've struggled and succeeded right along with me.

After all, of what worth is success if you have no one to share it with?

Back from Boards

It's over. The single worst period of time since first semester of first year. Aaron and I are officially halfway to our goal of becoming physicians after taking Step 1 boards.
We spent between 10 and 16 hours per day with our noses in books and ears attuned to review videos as we highlighted away and prayed that we were absorbing it all. It was difficult to try to find the balance between speed and comprehension/retention.
The amount of information we needed to cover at first seemed insurmountable; though we could have spent an entire year preparing, we look back with no regrets, knowing that we were diligent in our studies and worked as hard as mentally and physically possible.
It's a good feeling, knowing you can ask God to bless the work of your hands because you've done your part.
It's also a good feeling to know that we're on a 3 week vacation, and rotations lie just around the corner.
I received this fortune in my cookie at P.F. Chang's today:

I'm choosing to believe it's referring to my board scores. We shall see!

End of Year Cookout

Even though finals ended Tuesday, we had to complete our ACLS/BLS certification yesterday at school, followed by HIPAA training. Not exactly the way I'd pictured spending the day, but a necessary evil.

We finally got to celebrate the end of second year last night with a cookout at the Robins'. 

The hallmark of a good party: a bubble machine

"Bubbles!"

Trampoline fun

Munchin' on a Cheeto

Wagon rides!

Lovely ladies

Grill Master Jon

This kept the boys entertained all night

We ended the night around the firepit. Such a great time - it was the absolutely perfect way to finally relax, and just the thing we needed before beginning DIT (board study material) videos today.

Softball Tournament

The annual Faculty/Staff vs. Student Softball Tournament took place yesterday evening. Both first and second years finished finals earlier in the day, so we were all ready to kick back, relax, and catch a few innings in the process.

Andrew and Aaron

 It was hard to focus on the game with these girlies providing such amazing entertainment!

Miss Hadley Joy loves her snacks, and kept coming over to me to grab a grape or two. I now know how to win her over. A girl after my own heart. :)

Big-girl Hadley just turned 3, and she's working on putting up that extra finger to signify it. We had her cheering, "Go, Second Years!" If only it would have changed the outcome...

Miss Aubrey showed up ready to play - is that not the cutest outfit ever? 

Unfortunately, the first years swept the tournament. But, if you think about it, we still win - because we're third years now! Ha! ;)

Time Flies

I am about to complete my last final. Ever.
It seems like only yesterday I was pulling all-nighters in college about this time of year. After going to bed at 2 the night before our Pathology final, Aaron and I both wondered how that was ever physically possible. The lack of sleep probably explains a few of my final exam scores back then...
These past two years have been the most challenging of our lives, but also the most rewarding. There were times I never thought I'd utter those last words, but looking back, we've both grown so much in so many aspects. Learned so many life lessons. Proved to ourselves that this is exactly the purpose for which we were made.
We still have 2 years of clinical rotations left, followed by 5 years of residency. Today, however, proves that those too will fly by.
I can't stop thinking about people who have chosen not to attend college, or not to apply for graduate school, or settled for anything less than what their hearts truly desired because of the time commitment. They thought it would take too long, be too much of a sacrifice. And yet, I'm halfway to the job of my dreams. Those years passed, regardless of what I chose to pursue or abandon.
Don't abandon your passion. A few years of sacrifice is so worth decades of happiness. Pursue.

Where Does Your Help Come From?

My mother takes the time to send Aaron, Macee and me an email with a Bible verse and thought/application Monday through Friday. She's yet to miss a day since our first year of medical school, and I can't begin to count the number of times it was exactly what I needed to hear or reflect upon. On particularly challenging days or mornings with tough exams looming, those words have been what have carried Aaron and I through.
This is the last weekend we will ever spend studying for finals. I love counting down all of these "lasts", but at the same time, as the end draws nearer, it becomes more and more difficult to motivate ourselves. We're tired - mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally - and we know that once finals have ended, intense board preparation immediately begins.
We can't do it on our own.
Here's our "Tuesday Truth" from this week:

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Ps 121:1-4

 

Notice 'He who keeps you will not slumber' is repeated. God is always aware of where you are and what you're doing. He keeps you - 24/7. There's NEVER a time when He is not watching out for you because you are His most valuable possession. Need help? You know where to look. Your help comes from the Lord.

 

Looking to the Lord this weekend!

School's Out For-Ev-Er

Amidst all the chaos lately and studying 12+ hours a day for Tuesday's Pathology final, Aaron and I completely missed the opportunity to celebrate an extremely momentous occasion in our lives.

Well, we don't exactly have a summer anymore...more like 2 weeks of pure bliss post-boards before beginning clinical rotations.
However, we are officially done with class.

For-ev-er. If this reference flew over the top of your head, please spend the next free evening you have watching The Sandlot.
I'm a bit sad that I wasn't at my parent's house that last morning to hear my mom's sing-song statement, "No more pencils, no more books. No more teacher's dirty looks." It would have been nice to say farewell with that tradition. And bid adieu to a few professors in my mind.
While there are more books in my future, and the learning process never ends as a physician, the mundane day-to-day routine of squirming in a chair for hours on end is over. I've been sitting in class/lectures for the past twenty years. Wow, that makes me feel old. Twenty long years. I can't describe the excitement of knowing that it's over.
I shall celebrate by studying for our Clinical Skills final tomorrow...did I mention there's no summer?