It is so hard to believe how quickly time is passing...
Mike finished an AMAZING rotation, where he did his Internal Medicine. He loved it and the Doctor was awesome to work with. I can say, beaming for him, he was told he was the best student the Doctor ever had. Now, those of you who know Mike and can picture him in a room taking care of a patient won't find that hard to imagine, but I was pretty stinkin' proud anyway! He will make an amazing clinician...
He finished that (which was in Gettysburg), took his tests and is now in Scranton doing his Psych rotation. Seems to be going well so far! Before we know it it will be Thanksgiving and then he'll be done shortly after until Christmas! The first of the year will begin his surgical rotation and he will be close enough that he will be able to stay at home! I am, of course, very excited about this one!!! He is unsure, but there is a small possibility that the one after that he may commute as well, but we're still trying to figure it out as the free goverment-funded housing is no longer...well...government funded! So...we shall see...
Life back on the homefront is going well. I'm kept busy every day and try to get myself out of the house here and there! Creative Arts is in full swing and we are less than a month away from the production, so we're pretty busy getting props, making tabrets, rehearsing and rehearsing. The kids are fairing well with all of it, though the dragging them from place to place gets a little tedious. I'm sure I would be bored, though, if I wasn't keeping myself busy and out of the house! One can only clean and watch it be undone so many times before she gets utterly discouraged! ;)
Micaiah is doing well with school. She has really done a great job at looking at her work for the day and doing it quickly. She's been reading to her siblings, which is just amazing and so sweet to watch!
Elias is practicing his writing and we're teaching him to read, slowly, but surely.
Toben and Miah are just...forces to be reckoned with!!! They both make messes daily, as my facebook followers can attest to! Miah has learned to open the refrigerator, as if she couldn't get into enough already! One can only be on top of both of them at once for so long before crashing... ;) They are very fun and lovey and sweet, at the end of the day, despite their ability to get into things I only ever dreamed of as a child!
Anyhow...we are consistently humbled by God's timely provisions. Each step of the way, the needs have been met...the peace continues to reign in that, for which we offer no explanation other than a peace that transcends understanding! :) God is good and we are faith-walking and it is awesome to see what God does when we trust Him.
Blessings to each of you and I'll try to be better about posting!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
One down, eight to go!!!
Hello, all!
It has been a busy few weeks here with school starting and all, but I wanted to post and let everyone know how things are going!
Mike finished his first rotation in Ohio last Friday! I can't believe that it has been a month already, but it has. He had a great rotation. The Dr. said he had a very good knowledge base and from day one sent him in to examine patients (before he would listen to Mike's assessment and go in himself, of course!).
His next rotation is in Gettysburg and we're still praying he is able to find cheaper housing there, but trusting that it will be provided for if it isn't found! ;) He leaves this coming Sunday and starts this next one Monday (Internal Medicine).
We are so humbled and blessed to see how creatively God has been providing. It seems it is never in the ways we thought or imagined it would come, but each time something comes up, the provision is there. It is so awesome to see God do His thing amidst this confusing world...what an anchor to cling to ;) Mike and I began a journal of sorts for how God is providing and it has been so neat to add to the list of gifts, big and small (even a meal here and there...thanks, Angela! ;)). We have successfully pared down to the minimum costs and are kind of enjoying this crazy adventure!
A HUGE blessing, Lord willing it all goes through smoothly, is the Duttons house sold and will be closing in October! We are trusting God to provide above and beyond for them and bless them in the way they blessed us in allowing us to live in their beautiful home for 3 years...can't wait to hear how He does it! :D
Again, I hope to put more pictures up, but here are few to share from our "new place!"
Okay, so it isn't clean-looking as I have zucchini coming out my ears and a few dishes to put away, but this is our kitchen (where the magic happens! ;)).
...and our table (to the left of the sink...). The room is twice the size of the two posted pictures with my bed on the opposite side! :D A very large room, indeed!
Hope this finds everyone well and I will post more soon!
Blessings!
It has been a busy few weeks here with school starting and all, but I wanted to post and let everyone know how things are going!
Mike finished his first rotation in Ohio last Friday! I can't believe that it has been a month already, but it has. He had a great rotation. The Dr. said he had a very good knowledge base and from day one sent him in to examine patients (before he would listen to Mike's assessment and go in himself, of course!).
His next rotation is in Gettysburg and we're still praying he is able to find cheaper housing there, but trusting that it will be provided for if it isn't found! ;) He leaves this coming Sunday and starts this next one Monday (Internal Medicine).
We are so humbled and blessed to see how creatively God has been providing. It seems it is never in the ways we thought or imagined it would come, but each time something comes up, the provision is there. It is so awesome to see God do His thing amidst this confusing world...what an anchor to cling to ;) Mike and I began a journal of sorts for how God is providing and it has been so neat to add to the list of gifts, big and small (even a meal here and there...thanks, Angela! ;)). We have successfully pared down to the minimum costs and are kind of enjoying this crazy adventure!
A HUGE blessing, Lord willing it all goes through smoothly, is the Duttons house sold and will be closing in October! We are trusting God to provide above and beyond for them and bless them in the way they blessed us in allowing us to live in their beautiful home for 3 years...can't wait to hear how He does it! :D
Again, I hope to put more pictures up, but here are few to share from our "new place!"
Okay, so it isn't clean-looking as I have zucchini coming out my ears and a few dishes to put away, but this is our kitchen (where the magic happens! ;)).
...and our table (to the left of the sink...). The room is twice the size of the two posted pictures with my bed on the opposite side! :D A very large room, indeed!
Hope this finds everyone well and I will post more soon!
Blessings!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
stomach in knots!
I don't know if you ever really can tell what causes your stomach to be in knots. I woke early this morning not knowing if it was nerves, excitement, anxiousness? All of it...?!
Mike left this afternoon for Youngstown, OH on his first venture being one of those white-coated-nervous-looking-students who accidentally poke you when they are trying to look in your eyes; or ask you the same questions the nurse already asked you with the answers glaring at them from the chart in front of them; or who won't just lay your baby down when she keeps trying to crawl away because she isn't sure she is allowed... Yes! One of those young looking kids who can't POSSIBLY be old enough to diagnose your issues, but the Dr. asked permission for a student to see you, so he must know that the student is under control! Why not! Bring on the student! Give him the experience he needs to make it in the medical world! :D
His day begins bright and early and he settled in nicely tonight. His new home is cozy, though has its quirks to be remedied...he said it isn't yet stabilized, so he feels a little like he's on a boat and since the only reception he could maintain on the cell phone was when it was sitting in front of him on the table, he kept having to bring it back from its inclination to slide down the table...so, decline-ation?!
He sounds settled and that is important! We're so excited to see what God is going to do this year... :D
The kids and I, of course, miss him already, but keeping it into perspective, it is such a small amount of time to be patient in the grand scheme of things. A drop in the bucket.
The boys, in particular (along with mom) were the only ones to choke back a tear or two. Micaiah tends toward an independence which cries, "Can I go...?" at any spare moment, so I didn't suspect any breakdown! Elias, composed, with his eyes welling up slightly said, "I just...wish dad could stay for another month..." (BREAKING Mommy's HEART!) and Toben in his own huffy sadness laid claim to the felt indignation at Daddy's leaving. Miah is in her own little world, though she is a Daddy's girl...these next days will tell, but I am trusting the peace we feel now will continue as we experience the fruit of your prayers!
We are so blessed beyond words by the gifts and the help and the child-watching and the encouragement...it truly is a beautiful thing to see the Body come together in these times...even if it is just a prayer on our behalf...
Thank you all and we'll keep you updated!
Mike left this afternoon for Youngstown, OH on his first venture being one of those white-coated-nervous-looking-students who accidentally poke you when they are trying to look in your eyes; or ask you the same questions the nurse already asked you with the answers glaring at them from the chart in front of them; or who won't just lay your baby down when she keeps trying to crawl away because she isn't sure she is allowed... Yes! One of those young looking kids who can't POSSIBLY be old enough to diagnose your issues, but the Dr. asked permission for a student to see you, so he must know that the student is under control! Why not! Bring on the student! Give him the experience he needs to make it in the medical world! :D
His day begins bright and early and he settled in nicely tonight. His new home is cozy, though has its quirks to be remedied...he said it isn't yet stabilized, so he feels a little like he's on a boat and since the only reception he could maintain on the cell phone was when it was sitting in front of him on the table, he kept having to bring it back from its inclination to slide down the table...so, decline-ation?!
He sounds settled and that is important! We're so excited to see what God is going to do this year... :D
The kids and I, of course, miss him already, but keeping it into perspective, it is such a small amount of time to be patient in the grand scheme of things. A drop in the bucket.
The boys, in particular (along with mom) were the only ones to choke back a tear or two. Micaiah tends toward an independence which cries, "Can I go...?" at any spare moment, so I didn't suspect any breakdown! Elias, composed, with his eyes welling up slightly said, "I just...wish dad could stay for another month..." (BREAKING Mommy's HEART!) and Toben in his own huffy sadness laid claim to the felt indignation at Daddy's leaving. Miah is in her own little world, though she is a Daddy's girl...these next days will tell, but I am trusting the peace we feel now will continue as we experience the fruit of your prayers!
We are so blessed beyond words by the gifts and the help and the child-watching and the encouragement...it truly is a beautiful thing to see the Body come together in these times...even if it is just a prayer on our behalf...
Thank you all and we'll keep you updated!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Some mental pictures in the mean time...
Well, I have been wanting to put up some pictures, but Mike has most on his computer and am still learning which cords I need to post them, so, in the mean time, I'll give you some mental pictures!
We are really enjoying being in our new place! It is a large one-bedroom with almost as much living space as we had in our house! The kids share the bedroom and it is working out very well! I love my little room (not so little), complete with a bed, kitchen, walk-in-closet, table and door! I say mine only because it will primarily only house me!
Mike leaves this Sunday afternoon for Youngstown, OH for his first clinical rotation. He will be staying with family of close friends who have a camper in their driveway. They have graciously welcomed him to stay in it for the month he is there for his Family Practice rotation! (Thank You!)
We brought in the car we were expecting Mike to be taking for a tune-up/check-up! We knew it had a few things that would need to be fixed, but when we got the list that would total over $2000, we prayed about it and sought some advice and decided not to keep that car. We had heard of a car (through those same family friends who got Mike in touch with a place in Youngstown) that would be a good fit for our budget and with some gracious help from some friends towards it ( ;) Thank You!), we bought, registered and insured it yesterday! Two days before he needs to leave! So, we are new owners of a 1995 blue Subaru Legacy! We will be selling our Roadmaster and were told that the engine alone is worth $1000, so we are hoping to get at least that. It is older and again, needs $2000 worth of work, but hoping we can recoup some! Please be praying for all of that!
I have been putting off going full force into homeschool mode until Mike leaves, but I'd appreciate any prayer and encouragement in that department! I wish, to a degree, that we had a Montessori school or something non-traditional like it around, but for now, with life up in the air, we are continuing this route...
Of the blessings we are thankful for: this home and the others who reside here :) (the kids are having a blast playing with others their ages); the beautiful view we wake up and go to sleep looking out to; the provision need-by-need; the car; the free storage for our belongings; the people who have invested in us and this dream; the fact that we have less than a year to go!
There are certainly many more, including being thankful for when the Dutton's house sells (we trust it will be quickly!). There is an open house this weekend and I pray there are some good bites!
Beautiful views, blue cars and smiles on our faces for the peace we have in this time I hope will suffice for the mental pictures! Lol!
Blessings to all!
We are really enjoying being in our new place! It is a large one-bedroom with almost as much living space as we had in our house! The kids share the bedroom and it is working out very well! I love my little room (not so little), complete with a bed, kitchen, walk-in-closet, table and door! I say mine only because it will primarily only house me!
Mike leaves this Sunday afternoon for Youngstown, OH for his first clinical rotation. He will be staying with family of close friends who have a camper in their driveway. They have graciously welcomed him to stay in it for the month he is there for his Family Practice rotation! (Thank You!)
We brought in the car we were expecting Mike to be taking for a tune-up/check-up! We knew it had a few things that would need to be fixed, but when we got the list that would total over $2000, we prayed about it and sought some advice and decided not to keep that car. We had heard of a car (through those same family friends who got Mike in touch with a place in Youngstown) that would be a good fit for our budget and with some gracious help from some friends towards it ( ;) Thank You!), we bought, registered and insured it yesterday! Two days before he needs to leave! So, we are new owners of a 1995 blue Subaru Legacy! We will be selling our Roadmaster and were told that the engine alone is worth $1000, so we are hoping to get at least that. It is older and again, needs $2000 worth of work, but hoping we can recoup some! Please be praying for all of that!
I have been putting off going full force into homeschool mode until Mike leaves, but I'd appreciate any prayer and encouragement in that department! I wish, to a degree, that we had a Montessori school or something non-traditional like it around, but for now, with life up in the air, we are continuing this route...
Of the blessings we are thankful for: this home and the others who reside here :) (the kids are having a blast playing with others their ages); the beautiful view we wake up and go to sleep looking out to; the provision need-by-need; the car; the free storage for our belongings; the people who have invested in us and this dream; the fact that we have less than a year to go!
There are certainly many more, including being thankful for when the Dutton's house sells (we trust it will be quickly!). There is an open house this weekend and I pray there are some good bites!
Beautiful views, blue cars and smiles on our faces for the peace we have in this time I hope will suffice for the mental pictures! Lol!
Blessings to all!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
A place to lay our heads...
So, we've made a few decisions in the past few days, which have all of us feeling a little less unsure...
We are moving into an in-law apartment of our friends, the Schans'! They have a very large one bedroom in-law with a full kitchen and bath. Since it will mostly be Jenna and the kids, the kids will have the bedroom and I will have the large-doored kitchen that has room for a bed AND table (it is large, too)...the family room will be great and it has a walkout basement to another huge perk-the backyard! :D It is probably about 5 times bigger than our current one, so the kids will be thrilled PLUS they have three kids around our kids ages! It should prove to be a busy house, but we're all excited and have a huge peace about being near "family" (of the church-ish kind ;)) and I'm fairly certain Mike feels very thankful knowing that we'll be looked out for! There are actually three families right on that street that attend Citychurch, so... Yeah!!! We have decided to say that we will be there until at least Christmas-time and then play it by ear!
A few people have made mention of wanting to help support us this upcoming year and we are so thankful and humbled that God has seen fit to bless us with all of you...
All of the pieces of this puzzle are coming together slowly but surely!
God is good and faithful and we are loving being able to see it all come together in ways we can only say are beyond us...
A friend of mine a few months back in the throes of uncertainty and my 'Abraham's Sarah' complex (wanting to fix it all and come up with a solution because I thought God didn't know what He was doing and must need my help) said very bluntly, "This is not something you can do...this is so much bigger than you! Only God can do this. You have done everything you could possibly think of to make it happen. Now it is time to trust Him with what you don't know."
I am glad to be in the company of such friends that can speak to my heart in ways that I need to hear... :D
Mike is getting excited at the thought of being able to 'do' stuff, medically and not just learn about it. He has just three weeks left until school starts and leaves for his first rotation August 30th!
We have this next week or two to move and get settled and finish the projects on the house and we will officially say goodbye t this wonderful home, with prayers that it sells quickly in this tough market. Thankfully, it is a beautiful one with many charms that are sure to grab the attention of homebuyers!
Blessings to all and we'll keep you informed!
We are moving into an in-law apartment of our friends, the Schans'! They have a very large one bedroom in-law with a full kitchen and bath. Since it will mostly be Jenna and the kids, the kids will have the bedroom and I will have the large-doored kitchen that has room for a bed AND table (it is large, too)...the family room will be great and it has a walkout basement to another huge perk-the backyard! :D It is probably about 5 times bigger than our current one, so the kids will be thrilled PLUS they have three kids around our kids ages! It should prove to be a busy house, but we're all excited and have a huge peace about being near "family" (of the church-ish kind ;)) and I'm fairly certain Mike feels very thankful knowing that we'll be looked out for! There are actually three families right on that street that attend Citychurch, so... Yeah!!! We have decided to say that we will be there until at least Christmas-time and then play it by ear!
A few people have made mention of wanting to help support us this upcoming year and we are so thankful and humbled that God has seen fit to bless us with all of you...
All of the pieces of this puzzle are coming together slowly but surely!
God is good and faithful and we are loving being able to see it all come together in ways we can only say are beyond us...
A friend of mine a few months back in the throes of uncertainty and my 'Abraham's Sarah' complex (wanting to fix it all and come up with a solution because I thought God didn't know what He was doing and must need my help) said very bluntly, "This is not something you can do...this is so much bigger than you! Only God can do this. You have done everything you could possibly think of to make it happen. Now it is time to trust Him with what you don't know."
I am glad to be in the company of such friends that can speak to my heart in ways that I need to hear... :D
Mike is getting excited at the thought of being able to 'do' stuff, medically and not just learn about it. He has just three weeks left until school starts and leaves for his first rotation August 30th!
We have this next week or two to move and get settled and finish the projects on the house and we will officially say goodbye t this wonderful home, with prayers that it sells quickly in this tough market. Thankfully, it is a beautiful one with many charms that are sure to grab the attention of homebuyers!
Blessings to all and we'll keep you informed!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wedding and Family :)
Well, after my sister-in-law went back home to NC with her two boys AND ours, we were able to get a TON done around the house! We have had so many people step up and offer assistance with watching kids, wallpapering, taking off wallpaper and painting. It looks like some hedges were trimmed and beds weeded, too, while we were gone.
We got home last night after a long drive at about 1am. We had a great time in NC :) Juan and Natalya (Mike's sister) got married on Saturday. Mike performed his second wedding (the first being his other sister Megan's)! We'll have to post some pictures.
While we were there, without sharing too much, we got some of the money needed for this next year! We are doing our best to get all of our expenses down and stretch it as far as possible. We are so grateful for family and friends who share in this with us and want to extend our thank you...you know who you are. ;)
Now that we are home, we are working on continuing to pack and live in suitcase mode! One of the elders at church is organizing a work day here tomorrow so we can get the porches painted and some more cleaning and de-cluttering!
Mike leaves in less than a month for his first rotation in Youngstown, OH. We have a better idea of where Jenna and the kids will be living for at least a few months, but haven't solidified anything, so we'll share more when we have things certain. :)
Hope everyone is well!
We got home last night after a long drive at about 1am. We had a great time in NC :) Juan and Natalya (Mike's sister) got married on Saturday. Mike performed his second wedding (the first being his other sister Megan's)! We'll have to post some pictures.
While we were there, without sharing too much, we got some of the money needed for this next year! We are doing our best to get all of our expenses down and stretch it as far as possible. We are so grateful for family and friends who share in this with us and want to extend our thank you...you know who you are. ;)
Now that we are home, we are working on continuing to pack and live in suitcase mode! One of the elders at church is organizing a work day here tomorrow so we can get the porches painted and some more cleaning and de-cluttering!
Mike leaves in less than a month for his first rotation in Youngstown, OH. We have a better idea of where Jenna and the kids will be living for at least a few months, but haven't solidified anything, so we'll share more when we have things certain. :)
Hope everyone is well!
Friday, July 17, 2009
All in a Days Work...
We are starting to get the house in order to sell and I thought I would share our amusements for the day...
My sister-in-law, Megan, got in Wednesday night to lend a hand. We woke on Thursday with a list a mile long to get done before the realtor came at that evening at 5:30. Miah was up at 5:45 and my other little munchkins we're awake about 6:15. We got to sleep after 12 for, I think, the third night in a row...
We got up and got to work on the upstairs bedrooms, straightening and dusting, etc. Well, I mistakenly traveled upstairs thinking Miah would be okay for a moment. She got into some food...enough that I figured I would just put her in the tub. I then got word of Toben's accident...not the easy kind...he got a bath, also.
I had to chuckle as I watched my sister-in-law try to put all of the toys away as she had 2 and sometimes 3 kids taking stuff out and the mess seemed to be getting worse instead of better! So she took them down while I was working on something else...it is all a blur!
We cleaned the upstairs. Micaiah and Jenna are in a wedding next weekend, so we had to head to get our dresses hemmed, so while I was gone, my sister-in-law watched the rest of the kids...Miah was napping, or so we thought. She got some things painted and touched up...one of the many little projects we have going. I call her on our way home only to hear of...hmmm...tastefully, creative bathroom solutions. Let's just say, it required some carpet cleaning and Miah having yet another bath. A friend came over to help with a little laundry and we got a bunch done. Megan was trying to occupy them so at one point they painted and, well, Toben went in the bath again.
Megan and I both realized that the kids being IN the house was just not the best solution, so she took them to an early dinner and got them Carvel (who doesn't love Carvel?! Well, besides Mike...). We were able to go through the house with the realtor and share what things we plan on getting done once Mike is finished with classes and we get back from the wedding/vacation.
Megan came home with the kids and we settle in. Everyone has had such a long day that we decide just to relax for a bit...
I, Jenna, have been fighting off a cold and am winning thus far, though my lack of sleep isn't helping at the moment. Either way, Megan had a couple kids in her lap and I was working on getting our newsletter finished while in my own little world when I hear Megan ask, "Jenna...where is Miah? She was sitting on my lap but got up a couple minutes ago." So, I go in the kitchen and realize that someone forgot to CLOSE THE BATHROOM DOOR. Miah has a fascination with the toilet, so we don't typically give her the option of being near it unless she is sitting on it with some supervision.
THIS is what I found...
Bless her little heart...where do you even begin?! What you can't see in the picture is the toilet paper that was piled next to her...I took these while Megan ran to get a towel...some moments are too priceless not to capture on camera...
Needless to say, she got another bath...
My sister-in-law, Megan, got in Wednesday night to lend a hand. We woke on Thursday with a list a mile long to get done before the realtor came at that evening at 5:30. Miah was up at 5:45 and my other little munchkins we're awake about 6:15. We got to sleep after 12 for, I think, the third night in a row...
We got up and got to work on the upstairs bedrooms, straightening and dusting, etc. Well, I mistakenly traveled upstairs thinking Miah would be okay for a moment. She got into some food...enough that I figured I would just put her in the tub. I then got word of Toben's accident...not the easy kind...he got a bath, also.
I had to chuckle as I watched my sister-in-law try to put all of the toys away as she had 2 and sometimes 3 kids taking stuff out and the mess seemed to be getting worse instead of better! So she took them down while I was working on something else...it is all a blur!
We cleaned the upstairs. Micaiah and Jenna are in a wedding next weekend, so we had to head to get our dresses hemmed, so while I was gone, my sister-in-law watched the rest of the kids...Miah was napping, or so we thought. She got some things painted and touched up...one of the many little projects we have going. I call her on our way home only to hear of...hmmm...tastefully, creative bathroom solutions. Let's just say, it required some carpet cleaning and Miah having yet another bath. A friend came over to help with a little laundry and we got a bunch done. Megan was trying to occupy them so at one point they painted and, well, Toben went in the bath again.
Megan and I both realized that the kids being IN the house was just not the best solution, so she took them to an early dinner and got them Carvel (who doesn't love Carvel?! Well, besides Mike...). We were able to go through the house with the realtor and share what things we plan on getting done once Mike is finished with classes and we get back from the wedding/vacation.
Megan came home with the kids and we settle in. Everyone has had such a long day that we decide just to relax for a bit...
I, Jenna, have been fighting off a cold and am winning thus far, though my lack of sleep isn't helping at the moment. Either way, Megan had a couple kids in her lap and I was working on getting our newsletter finished while in my own little world when I hear Megan ask, "Jenna...where is Miah? She was sitting on my lap but got up a couple minutes ago." So, I go in the kitchen and realize that someone forgot to CLOSE THE BATHROOM DOOR. Miah has a fascination with the toilet, so we don't typically give her the option of being near it unless she is sitting on it with some supervision.
THIS is what I found...
Bless her little heart...where do you even begin?! What you can't see in the picture is the toilet paper that was piled next to her...I took these while Megan ran to get a towel...some moments are too priceless not to capture on camera...
Needless to say, she got another bath...
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