BIG UPDATE :)

Howdy everyone!

So much has happened in the last few months!  I know I promised (awhile back) that I'd do a big update, so here goes (with some pictures)!

First of all, Frank and I got married on August 6!

It was such a fun and wonderful celebration!  The best wedding and everything we could have hoped for.  The ceremony was amazing, and at the reception the food was wonderful, there was a photo booth, and LOTS of dancing!!

We went on a cruise for our honeymoon...

The cruise stopped at Cozumel, Roatan, Belize and Grand Cayman.  We went cave tubing, sea-treking and had so much fun on the ship!

Thirdly, this semester has been filled with football games, weddings, camping trips, and lots of fun with friends!

Our gift to ourselves for Christmas was camping gear - so we took our first trip to Guntersville State Park with our friends, Courtney and Daniel.  We've also been going through a Bible study with Courtney and Daniel.  We've been studying 'This Momentary Marriage' by John Piper - so far a wonderful book!!

We adopted two adorable lap puppies - Belle and Beaux.  They are brother and sister and are such a wonderful addition to our family!

They're only 3 months old right now and growing so quickly!  They are very smart and have already learned to 'sit'!  They are also very curious and in to everything around the house, lol.  However, they are learning to obey most of the time :).

Lastly, I finished the semester with all A's and B's!  WHOOP!  Now I am done with my didactic (classroom) portion of school and all I have left is a year of clinicals!  My first rotation is OB/GYN at the free hospital in Birmingham.  I've been studying a bit to get ready to amaze my preceptors.  I'm so excited to get some hands-on experience!

I'm also very excited to go home for Christmas!  We are driving out this Christmas Eve to spend some time in Shreveport with the extended family, then headed to Texas for some time at home.  We haven't been home or seen my family since October - which feels like a whole lot longer than 2 months!  We are also taking the puppies with us to meet the whole crew!  It will be such a fun time!

Coming up is my best friend, Rebecca's bachelorette party and wedding!  We (the bridesmaids) have been scheming and have lots of fun things planned!!

Anyway, that's it as far as an update!  I'll try to keep up with the blog as I go through clinicals so everyone can keep up with my rotations!

Gig 'Em and War Eagle!

Catie

We're ENGAGED!!

So, it's been a LONG time since I last blogged and SO much has happened.  However, to bring you up to speed in my life... FRANK PROPOSED!!  :)

To start off, Frank has been telling me that it will be after the holidays before he proposed, and I quote "maybe around your birthday or something"  so this came as a COMPLETE surprise.

So, I flew home for thanksgiving with my family, and Frank told me that he was going to spend thanksgiving in Georgia with family.  Wednesday night, my ENTIRE family went out to eat at Dead Fish Grill which overlooks Belton Lake.  We were still waiting on Dad to get off work and Callie, my cousin, to drive in from Baton Rouge.  Honestly, I was surprised that they would let Callie drive 7+ hours each way from LSU, but I didn't think anything of it.  Then, our family friends, the Parkers (yes, same last name, no relation) showed up "just to say hi!".  I mean, I understand we always try to get together over the holidays so we can hang out when Brennen and I are in from college, but to come all the way out to a restaurant, with no plans to eat, just to say hi when you're leaving the next day to go see family - yea, a little off, but still, I didn't think anything of it.  Then Callie came in a sat down and we chatted a bit....

....Then, everyone's heads turn to the door, so of course, I did too.  And Frank walks in, with my dad and Kelley Ligon (more about her later) behind him.  I said, "What are you doing here?"  Cameras are flashing, and he strides over to me...

...drops on one knee and says, "Catie, Caitlin Parker, will you marry me?"

  

I was barely able to squeak out a "yes" and jumped into his arms.

  

I was BEYOND surprised.  I didn't even have time to comprehend that he was actually there before he was in front of me on one knee.   Here's a little bit of video, not good quality, but at least you can see how it happened...

It was completely amazing.  My mom even thought to hire Kelley Ligon to take pictures of the whole thing for us, and the photos turned out so wonderful!!

So we took pictures, ate, and Frank was able to spend some of the day on Thanksgiving with us before he had to fly back.  I woke him up early the next morning and we took some pictures ourselves of the place he proposed...

It was a better engagement story than I could have asked for.  My whole family was there and everything was perfect.  I honestly was completely speechless, I don't even know if anyone other than Frank heard me say yes.  I still am amazed that it happened.  It still hasn't quite sunk in yet.  :)

And for all you girls out there - the ring is BEAUTIFUL!  It a huge princess cut diamond solitaire in a white gold cathedral setting.  Perfect!!

So for everyone's information... we're not making any concrete plans until after my finals.  We have some dates and ideas in mind, but nothing will be definite until after I get through this semester :)

Thank you to everyone who was a part of it and who kept it a secret from me (which was basically everyone), thank you to my wonderful parents for helping coordinate everything and especially to my amazing fiance` Frank for the perfect proposal.

81,085 minutes too long...

Howdy everyone!

So, I thought I'd do a quick post during my study break.

Did you know that it has been 56 days since I last saw my parents?  That's 1351 hours, or 81,085 minutes.  I MISS THEM SO MUCH!!  But luckily, I get to see them on FRIDAY!!  YAY!!  Which is less than 4 days away!  That's only 99 hours, or 5971 minutes.  I'm so excited!

Anyway, anatomy update - test is TOMORROW!  EEK!  I'm feeling more and more comfortable with the material, but am still very nervous about the test.  Please continue to pray for me!

Gig 'Em and War Eagle!
Catie

98 minutes... 97 minutes...96 minutes...

Blessed.

Sometimes, my jaw just drops in awe of our Lord.  Every time I feel like I'm getting overwhelmed with things in my life, the Lord provides relief, even if its just a few encouraging words from someone.

To start off, this weekend was wonderful.  It was a pretty laid back weekend, but my grandparents came to visit!  I was so excited to see them, especially because I've been really homesick lately, and it was refreshing to see family.  Although, the catch-22 is that I now miss home, and seeing my family, even more than before.  Countdown to Thanksgiving... 44 days!  But it was so good to sit and talk, and hear about their adventures and everything.

Now, for those of you who don't like mushy stuff, don't read the rest of this post...

This morning, the sermon was on the subject of marriage.  I was really excited to hear what Dr. Lowman had to say on the subject.  However, he brought up a very good, yet convicting point... Its a long story, but to get to the bottom of it, Frank and I started to discuss the option of waiting another year or waiting until I finished school to get married.  Well, to be quite honest, he discussed it, and I rejected the idea.  I am so excited to marry him, and honestly, I don't want to wait any longer than I have to.  But, logically, it would put us in a better place financially.  Anyway, I got a little upset because, well, I'm stubborn, but I told Frank that if he thought it was better for us to wait, then I would wait.  However, I was still frustrated with the situation because I didn't want to have to be logical - you know, the stubbornness again :)

Well, I just got these texts -
Frank - "We will find a way"
Me - "?"
Frank - "Just thinking that I don't want to wait either and we will find a way if it is the Lords will.  I'm giving it up to him."

That's just it!  If the Lord has intended for us to marry, he will provide a way for us to handle it financially.  Why should I waste my time worrying about having to wait or not?  I don't know how he does it, but Frank always seems to say exactly what I need to hear.  Isn't he completely amazing?  I love him so much.

Well, thats it for tonight.  I need to get to bed... early class tomorrow!

Gig 'Em and War Eagle!
Catie

Tea Talk

Howdy everyone!

I'm here at McAlister's treating myself to salad and sweet tea after a long week of tests.  And, if you know anything about me, you know that this is not an unusual occurrence :)

To start of the blog with my first real post, I figured I'd do a general update about what is going on in my life....

I'm currently a first year student in the UAB Surgical Physician Assistant program, and about half-way through my first semester.  I'm really enjoying it, but nonetheless- it is still school, and I think anyone who says they love studying is completely crazy.  PA school is actually the primary reason I decided to start a blog.  For one thing, being so far away from home, I don't get a chance to catch up with many of my friends.  Secondly, a friend in med school told me that blogging helps with reflection and is almost like free therapy!  Maybe this will take a load off of those people who have to listen to me whine about stress and exams and such (thank you so much to those people, you know who you are!).  Anyway, I'm really loving it here, and no matter how much I complain, having classes that really pertain to your chosen profession is such a blessing.  This semester, I'm taking Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Clinical Laboratory Medicine and Intro to the Profession.  Clin Lab is definitely my favorite thus far for a few reasons.  For one thing, Dr. Jennings is just always so excited about the subject and always uses a lot of clinical correlations to help make the information stick.  Also, I've never taken this class before - new and interesting information always makes things more enjoyable :).  

Another huge part of my life is my boyfriend, Frank. :)  We have been dating for a little over 2 months now, and it has been complete bliss.  Everyone always tells you when you're single that God has someone perfect picked out for you - well guys, he's the one.  I know you're not supposed to say that out loud, no matter how much you believe it, but I don't care.  I love him so much!  Here's some pictures of us...

He's so wonderful and such a strong man of God.  I don't know how I'd get through PA school and being away from home without him.  

Speaking of, I miss my family and friends so much.  Mom and Dad have been such rocks and amazing for me through this.  I can't wait until Thanksgiving when I get to go home for the first time since I moved in July!  

Anyway, some things I'm excited about right now...

One of the girls in the PA program had an idea to start a Bible study with a group of girls, and originally they were going to have it on Sunday evenings.  Unfortunately, Frank and I are a part of a home group that meets at the same time so I wasn't going to be able to go, but they just decided to change the time and I get to go now!  We will be going through the book Passing the Test: A Bible Study for Physician Assistant Students.  Who knew someone wrote a book so specific to us?!?  The first one is on Monday and I'm so excited!!

Also, yesterday was National PA Day (WHOOP!) and the Alabama Society of PA's provided the PA students with a free lunch (double WHOOP!).  I met a PA who works in the Trauma Center at UAB Hospital - which is what I want to do - and we're going to work out a time for me to do some shadowing!  Honestly, the only trauma experience I have is with a few car and bike wrecks on campus as an EMT, but for some reason, I think I would really love it!  The PA program actually offers a trauma track, where your extra clinical rotations are spent in the Trauma Center.  I'm so excited to get some early experience, and to actually see how much I will love it (or not).  

Well thats about it for my life right now!  Thanks for reading!  Time to go to Anatomy; I think we're learning about the genitourinary system... oh joy.

Gig 'Em and War Eagle,

Catie