One Month In…

…and everything’s still ok! 🙂

Although a telling sign of how much busier we are is that I have only taken a couple of blog-worthy pictures since my last Medical Mondays post. Overall, so far so good. Of course, things around our house are very different from the way they were this summer, but I think we’re transitioning pretty well. I can think of a few things that have helped with the transition:

• I had the opportunity to have a perspective adjustment this summer. I probably can’t completely appreciate how important this has been. So often perspective is everything. I have reluctantly (because I would love to shirk personal responsibility) become convinced that “people and situations do not determine my behavior, they are only opportunities to reveal what is in my heart”. It has been a journey to get my heart in the right place to support Andy on his medical journey. I am so thankful for God’s grace in allowing me to get a glimpse of His perspective every once in a while.
• After the first week we re-evaluated the way we do things around the house. Before school got going, we had planned to have one house chore that needed to be done each weekday and we would alternate who had to do them each day. Also in our initial plan was that whoever wasn’t doing chores that day would make dinner. We realized quickly after the first week that we needed to make a new plan. Now we do all the house upkeep (vacuuming, laundry, etc.) on the weekends and we both work on it every weekend. Additionally, we realized that trying to cook a meal from scratch every night was not going to happen. Neither of us has the time or energy after work/school to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, especially when we both need to be studying in the evenings. So we’ve started making freezer meals and relying on the crock pot a lot. So far it has been a success. We plan out two weeks of meals at a time and spend a few hours every other Sunday making the meals. With both of us working on it, we can have almost all the prep work done for two weeks worth of meals in about 3 hours. We consider it a major win.
• I had a job before school started. I am SO thankful that I found employment before Andy had to start school. I know that it would be a lot harder for me if I didn’t have something that I also have to go off to each morning. Certainly, the job benefits our family financially, but I also get the psychological benefit of having something to do that is just for me and mostly unrelated to medical school.
• I am also in school.  I am a full-time student taking master’s classes at SEBTS. Since I am working full-time, I have to spend just as much time in the evenings studying as Andy does. I don’t have much time, if any, to think “If only Andy didn’t have to study, we could do something fun together.”

These are just a few things that I think have helped me with the transition. What has helped you in the past?

Andy video chatting me from the other side of the office, about 7 feet away.

Despite the increase in commitments, I have managed to make 2 apple pies recently!

By the way… Each of Andy’s semesters (for the first 2 years) are split up into four “blocks” and at the end of each block he has an exam. Well, tomorrow is his first block exam and I know that he is anxious to find out if his study method has worked for him. (I’ve only had to convince him that he won’t fail out of medical school a few times…) If you have an opportunity to offer a prayer or two for him between 8:30am-12:30pm, I know he would be thankful. Also, white coat is on Saturday so family will be visiting – it should be a great time! (I’ll definitely have some pictures to share after that.)

Much Love,
Sarah