in the Hands of the Potter: Celebrating 2006

Monday, January 1, 2007

Celebrating 2006

Even though this is my Zambia blog, I thought it would be fun to do a quick recap of each month of 2006. It's always nice to look back on where the Lord has brought me and the things that I've been able to do. I feel as though this year of my life has been very blessed, and I pray that the Lord would continue to help me do His will in 2007.

January: I was in the middle of my pediatrics rotation with Dr. Ragonesi in Canandaigua. I got to help Bee and Tom look for houses, and we fell in love with one. Toby and Micaela got married. I was still depressed about some things that had happened, and I cried a lot. I started my OB-GYN rotation at Strong and got to practice my Spanish. I had decided to go to Zambia for a rotation, and I was in the process of getting everything settled to go.

February: The Steelers beat the Seahawks in the Super Bowl, and I actually was happy (go Ben!). I got the flu for the first time ever. I was still depressed and still cried a lot. We started our "community group" at church, and I got to know a lot of great new people (.... Shelly ....) I decided that I was sick of being depressed. My HIV project was nearing it's due date, so I was doing a lot of research and planning for that. Bee and Tom bought the house that they had fallen in love with. I finished up my OB-GYN rotation.

March: We had ACLS at school, so I learned how to do all the cardiac things when people go into cardiac arrest. My family practice rotation started, so I moved down to Beaver Falls to live with the Griecos. I finalized the details for my flight to Zambia! I started doing pilates and running at the Griecos. Family practice was fun - I learned all about bipolar disorder and lots of other diseases. I got my Zambian visa. Finally, I started feeling a happier and stopped crying so much.

April: I was still at the Griecos, loving it and feeling like a part of their family. The LCS drama club performed Up The Down Staircase, so I drove home to see it. I got to ride on a motorcycle for the first time ever. My family came down to Beaver Falls for Easter, and I got all my shots for Zambia. Living at the Griecos' was awesome, and I was absolutely loving family practice medicine! I actually started to feel joyful inside, which was a big difference from the way I'd been feeling for a long time. I did my HIV lecture at school, and I started applying for jobs. Gen colored my hair RED.

May: I went to see Monica in her musical at BCCS, and got to help do her hair for her Jr/Sr Banquet. Elisa came home from California and started working at the office with us. I went to Philly for my school's official graduation. My time with the Griecos ended ... and I cried because I loved living with them and being part of their family. I flew to South Africa and then ZAMBIA!!

June: I started going to the Mushili clinic and learning about malaria and TB and pinworms and all kinds of other things. I learned how to play Farkle, and hung out with Amy, Jimmie, and Kevin. I ate nshima and learned some Bemba and Lamba. I went to Lusaka and Livingstone and got to see Victoria Falls (so amazing!) and drive around and see rhinos, zebras, giraffes, elephants, etc etc. Jessica came to Zambia and we got to hang out. I also met a whole bunch of people from a church in Las Vegas and another church in Kansas City and we had lots of fun together. I discovered that I was finally free from all of the stuff that had been depressing me for so long. We realized that my passport said "business visa" on it, and I thought I had to leave the country ...... so Kevin and I spent a whole day waiting for someone to sign a piece of paper to say that I could stay 4 extra days.

July: I turned 25 in Zambia - and felt very blessed and special by all my new friends in Zambia. I flew back to Philly and took some crazy exams - the OSCEs and comprehensive finals. Bee and Tom got the cutest puppy in the world, and discovered that they were pregnant! I started my last rotation in Newark with Dr. Mead.

August: I finished my last rotation and graduated from PA school! While I was there, Julin told me that she was having a baby too! I went to a Bills/Browns preseason game and dubbed it the "best game ever." We went to Duff's for the first time and had their wings. We had our fantasy football draft ... and I got a bunch of players who were supposed to be good but turned out to be icky. I had a few job interviews but didn't feel like any of them were really the right thing to do. I was studying like crazy for my certifying exam.

September: I took my national board exam and PASSED! Bee decided to do You, The Jury as the fall play at LCS, and we started play practices (she let me come and hang out and help) ... and I loved it. I had more job interviews. I started doing more stuff with Campus Target - blogging, emailing, etc. I also became a youth leader at church. The whole Campus Target team left for Asia. I got to go to the doctor with Bee and hear the baby's heartbeat. I started "working" for Paul and Phil. I went to Toronto with Becky and some of her friends to a Red Sox/Blue Jays game.

October: We went to a Bills game and watched them beat the Vikings. Andre Reed got put on the Wall of Fame. I spent a lot of time with Genevieve, letting her use my hair to practice for her cosmetology boards. Dr. Mead called and asked me if I wanted to work for him ..... and I felt like it was where God wanted me, so I said yes. I went out to Kansas City for a week to visit Amy and Jimmie - and met lots of awesome people.

November: The LCS drama kids performed You, The Jury, and Andrew proposed to me at the cast party. I went into withdrawal after not seeing the kids every day! :) Bee and Tom had their first ultrasound and discovered that they were having a GIRL! Gen and Joanna passed their cosmetology boards. Joanna left for China. I was still doing a lot of Campus Target emails and blogs and whatnot. I discovered that ice cream is better with sprinkles.

December: I became an actual NY-state licensed PA and started working on the psych unit at the hospital. My fantasy football team won its championship game - and therefore, the league! The Bills didn't make it to the playoffs. Kevin was home from Zambia, and we got to hang out. We got our plane tickets to go to China in February. I got an iPod for Christmas. Matt came home from China. I started co-leading a "cadre" group - a Bible study for some youth group girls.

So that's all I can think of at the moment. When I look back on the year, I realize that I'm in a different place than I was a year ago. I'm actually a professional now, with a job, but I have a different perspective on life and my future. I am a lot more joyful and peaceful than I was a year ago - and I praise the Lord that He has brought me out of a lot of emotional junk. He truly is faithful! I know that the things He brings me through are designed to strengthen me and make me more like Jesus, and I pray that He would continue to refine and stretch me in 2007. My desire is to be like my Savior.

posted by emily @ 11:27 AM

1 Comments:

At 7:47 PM, Anonymous said…

Amen.. The Lord brings us through everything on purpose! Nothing happens in this life "by chance" - it is great to look back and see how the Lord is involved in everything.. Em, it has been great to know you and see you enjoy living for the Lord! I look forward to seeing the Lord in you during 2007 :)

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