Happy Halloween!

Although we didn't get ANY trick or treaters tonight... we did have one special visitor! Scarlett came by in her strawberry costume and looked adorable!

Candy Apples

Tonight my mom and I made candy apples to sell for her social committee at the hospital. I've never made candy apples before and I was really nervous that I'd burn myself, but slow and steady, I was able to make 40 apples without burning myself. It was alot of fun. We both couldn't believe how fast the coating hardened - we barely had time to get the decorations on!

Tests of the Young and Old

This is a sweater that I crocheted for Scarlett

Scarlett in her Halloween outfit (a gift from my Mom)

 

Today was my Scarlett day. She has become a real hand-full in the last few weeks. I have to be constantly watching her because she gets into everything, and at 7 months is already pulling herself up on furniture and trying to climb everything that's taller than her. She's usually good with playing on her own but today she would scream murder if I left a room without her. So we spent ALOT of together time today, but it was nice because she kept lifting her arms to make me pick her up then she'd put her head on my shoulder and cuddle me, so even though she's more needy now, it's so nice to have a baby to hug! Although it's nice one day a week, I can't imagine giving into her like I do everyday, I'd never get anything done, but it's worth it once a week to let the house stay messy and hold onto someone. 

Nathan did a full length practice test today (7 hour test) and he was really tired when he came home. He debated for a long time whether he wanted to do a practice test (usually when Nathan thinks about something for longer than 5 minutes you KNOW he's going to do it, so it's just a matter of pushing him towards the finish line a little faster). He said that it went well but he's even more nervous for next week now. 

Nathan received an email today from Joel, a Saba student who is involved in the church and he wrote that Brother Riley (a local who faithfully came to church, prayed for the students, and still calls us on Sunday nights) had a stroke and that it doesn't look good. He's staying on Saba and is stable but not well. Nathan and I were both really sad about this news as we both admire Carlton Riley very much.

Crazy Skies

 This is today's sunrise and sunset - the sky has been so pink, it's been eerie.We've been having really warm weather (18-20 degrees each day) and I'm thankful I haven't had to put on my winter coat yet!

Sunset

Sunrise

Where does Dracula like to vacation?
Lake Erie.

Practice Drive

Today we had some more time with my favourite goober Scarlett. She's definitely getting attitude but she still wonderful to have around. Today I had to watch her like a hawk because we have a step into our living room and she knows how to climb now, so she gets up, then tries to get right back down, WIPEOUT!

Nathan and I went to church today and Amy joined us. She was coming down for our "Girls Afternoon" anyway and decided to come early. It worked out perfectly because then I could leave (after church) with Amy and we could visit, and Nathan could go check out the testing centre. He said that he was glad that he went because even driving into the parking lot his pulse started to quicken. He said that he went and stood outside the building where he'll be writing next week and just took a minute to relax and focus. He seemed more focused when I saw him tonight because now he knows where he's going. He's been saying that his studying has reached a plateau. His marks aren't increasing but he is feeling increasingly confident in the material and I know he's itching to write. 12 more days!

How To Date A Med Student

I saw this on a friend's facebook page today (a wife still on Saba) and thought it was hilarious.

How To Date A Medical School Student

Dating a med student? Check out these tips for a "healthy" relationship.

1. Don't expect to see them. Ever.

2. Accept the fact they will have many affairs. With their books.

3. Learn to hide your “ew, gross” reactions when they tell you all the stuff you never wanted to know about your bodily functions.

4. Support them when they come home after each test, upset because they failed—and gently remind them after they get their well above passing grade how unnecessary the “I’m going to fail out of medical school and never become an MD” dramatics are.

5. Each week they will have a new illness. Some will be extremely rare, others will be more mundane. Doesn’t matter. They will be certain they have it (no second opinions necessary.) Med school can, and will, turn even the sanest into a hypochondriac. Date them for long enough, and you’ll become one too.

6. There will be weeks you'll forget you even have a boyfriend—friends will ask how he is and you'll say, “What? Who? Oh....right. He's well...I think.”

7. They'll make you hyper-aware that germs are everywhere and on everything. Even though you used to walk into your home with your shoes on, and sit on your bed in the same clothes you just wore while riding the subway, or sat on a public bench in, you'll become far too disgusted to ever do it again. Believe me, it's going to get bad...you'll watch yourself transform into the anal retentive person you swore you'd never become. And when you witness others perform these same acts that, before you began dating your med student, you spent your entire life doing too, you'll wince and wonder, “Ew! How can they do that? Don't they know how many germs and bacteria they're spreading??!”

8. Romantic date = Chinese take-out in front of the TV on their 10 minute study break.

9. A vacation together consists of a trip down the street to Walgreens for new highlighters and printer paper.

10. Their study habits will make you feel like a complete slacker. For them, hitting the books 8-to-10 hours a day is not uncommon, nor difficult. You'll wonder how you ever managed to pass school on your meager one hour of studying per night.

11. They're expected to know everything. Everything! The name of the 8 billion-lettered, German sounding cell that lives in the depths of your inner ear, the technical term for the “no one's ever heard of this disease” disease that exists only on one foot of the Southern tip of the African continent. But ask them if your knee is swollen, or what you should do to tame your mucous-filled cough, or why the heck your head feels like someone's been drilling through it for oil for two weeks straight, and they won't have a clue.

12. “My brain's filled with so much information, I can't be expected to remember THAT!" will be the standard excuse for forgetting anniversaries, birthdays, and, if you get this far, probably the birth of your first-born.

13. You'll need friends with unending patience who pretend never to get sick of listening to your endless venting and complaints. Or, you'll need to pay a therapist who will pretend never to get sick of listening to your endless venting and complaints.

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Where Have We Been?

I got an email from Martin a few days ago asking if I was ok since I haven’t blogged in over a week! Well, yes, we’re alright, we’ve just been really busy. My Dad has been plugging away in the fields and just finished harvesting beans yesterday and started on corn today (which is good because we’ve been using the corn stove a lot lately – it’s starting to get chilly!). My mom and I have been spending lots of time with Scarlett, and since Shelley has gone back to work on Wednesdays, I watch Scarlett all day. She’s such an easy baby to take care of even if she is becoming a handful. She’s only 6 months but is already sitting up, crawling and able to climb steps. It’s wonderful to be able to have the time with Scarlett – we play, sing, and nap (a joy I only discovered this past week). I’ve also worked a few days with my Mom at the hospital, and had the first girls meeting at the Youth for Christ Centre. I’m so grateful to have these opportunities to feel useful and needed.

Nathan is still studying all day and night and he’s seeing a steady (but slow) increase in his practice test grades (he takes a new test every few weeks to see his progress). As long as Nathan sees the improvements, it keeps him working hard.

We also went to Heather and Ian’s for Thanksgiving dinner. Calvin grows so much in a matter of weeks! We had an amazing meal and it was a great reminder of how blessed we are for these 4 months to live close to our families. We got an email from Heather about the Sanderse Family gift exchange (draw names) but I told Nathan we should all just spoil Calvin (which we plan to do either way!)

Along with the harvest are all the things I love about fall that I missed last year – the changing of the leaves, wearing a sweater, jeans, and boots, the smell of burning leaves (hey- this is the country) and the rush everyone feels to take advantage of the decent weather because you KNOW the snow is coming any week. 

 

More Around Home

Still Sick.

Luckily (for me) when I was first home and got my first cold in a couple of years, it went away quickly. Unfortunately, Nathan isn't so lucky - the stress probably isn't helping - but he's been sick for a couple of weeks now and most days this is what I see when I go upstairs to visit him:

He's been using Skype each day at the library to study with his friends but he's in a study program now that's very demanding and he has no free time. He's back into his Saba schedule - up at 6:30am, studying by 7:30am, sleeps at 5pm, eats at 6pm, studies 7-11pm. He is taking one day off this week for a Tottenham Thanksgiving (although he is planning on writing a Brampton practice test on Sunday as well).

Kiss Me Kate

 Today my mom, her co-worker Lloyd, and I went to Stratford to see the play "Kiss Me Kate". We were lucky to be given tickets, although worth the price, Stratford is expensive and a real treat. I love going to the theatre and going to Stratford is so authentic.The play was really funny and the actors were so talented. It was a musical and had some of the best voices I've ever heard at the theatre. There was one actress who stole every scene she was in and she was the highlight of the show. On our way out of the theatre I snapped a few shots of the waterfront beside the Festival Theatre. It's such a beautiful walkway and I wish I had more time to wander and take pictures.

After the show the 3 of us went to Rheo Thompson to get some chocolate treats. I'd never been (and luckily Lloyd knew his way around town or else we would have been driving around for who knows how long) and it was amazing. It smelled so rich in that small building, I could have eaten the walls. After picking up a few treats (I chose caramel-coconut, dark chocolate pieces) we were on our way home.

Wonderful Sunday

Today Nathan and I went to church at Faith Baptist and it was really great. The pastor’s wife, Mrs. Coleman came over once we were seated to chat with us (which I really appreciated) and she’s always welcoming and polite. The service was amazing, especially the music. I’m not sure what her first name is, but I know she’s a Banman (because I worked with her sister at Sterling) and she’s unbelievably gifted. I’d guess she’s my age and she’s the leader of the worship team. She plays a bunch of instruments, the most impressive of which is her voice. She’s so talented and genuine (which is often hard to find in worship leaders) and it made the morning that much more of a treat.

After we came home, Nathan got to studying while I went to meet with a small group of women at the Wilson’s house to discuss starting a girls discussion group at the YFC (Youth for Christ Centre).I think it’s a great idea and I’m looking forward to being a part of it, but it’s not something I take lightly and I know it’s a big responsibility. I’ve really found that in the last month I’ve come across so many new opportunities to give (and receive) that I honestly owe to my time in Saba and living outside of my comfort zone.

Quiltin' Craziness

Today my mom, her friend Debbie, and I went into London to pick up some fabric from Fabric Land since I haven’t done any sewing since I’ve been home (too busy with other craft projects!) and I found some that was on sale so it’s perfect. I’m going to copy a design I saw at the IPM that I really loved. I love country patterns and colours – these colours are more pastel and light than I usually work with but I think they’ll make a very pretty spring/summer quilt. I know Miss Sally and Miss Ruth (from Saba) think I’m crazy for always getting my fabric before I pick/make my pattern but I can’t help it! It’s weird because I’m such a planner, but it always works out. Quilting is my chance to be wild…hahahaha…I’ll just plug away at this one a little bit at a time.

USMLE is Booked - Study Countdown Begins!

We have a date! Nathan is scheduled to write his Step 1 USMLE on November 5! There is a testing centre just off Highbury in London so it’s perfect for him (and he doesn’t have to worry about crossing the border). So now that he knows his exam date he’s planned out the next month of hard-core studying. Nathan definitely works best on a deadline so knowing when he’ll write is great. He’s already had one friend write and do very well so he’s taking that as encouragement and a challenge because he knows that his whole group of buddies from Saba (Scott, Devin, Billy, Mark) will all do well and he wants to make sure he represents the married team well!

To celebrate getting the day we went to the Paul and Isabel Wilson’s house (Amy’s parents). Amy and Jay came down from Brantford and Isabel made a meal of potatoes, soup, chicken, salad, sweet potatoes, breads, veggies, and pie. It was bigger than most people’s Thanksgiving dinners – but that’s the Wilson’s – great hosts, we felt like part of the family.