Camden Yards

Our first trip to Camden Yards to see the Baltimore Orioles play! It is a beautiful stadium!! We are hooked on going downtown to watch them play!
April 2009

New Update!

So....I am very behind in updating our journey here in Baltimore. The last update was of the snow, and well it is definitely past the snow season! Ha!
As I have always blogged, Dusty and I are continuing to flow in the blessings of God! Although being away from home doesn't get necessarily easier, God ALWAYS provides amazing friends, connections, and times together while away! I don't know how to explain how He provides, but He does! We believe more than ever that our God is Jehovah-Jireh, God our Provider! He increases our faith when we rely on Him and trust, against all odds, that He will prepare a way, that He will open doors, that even when our ways don't plan out, His is always better!

I realize that trying to explain every step in Dusty's School can be confusing, but realize that in this time of clinical rotations, it is possible for them to send you all over the nation to complete the different required rotations (ex. Chicago, Orlands, New York, Baltimore, etc.). There are 6 Core Rotations that have to be set up with the school. Then there are 7 electives that Dusty gets to choose of his own desire, that can be completed wherever he likes as long as it is a teaching hospital. We have been beyond blessed to be kept here in Baltimore for 4 of the 6 core rotations. (In between, Dusty has been allowed to work on elective rotations) The other two are not offered here and we will figure that out as we go. Dusty started here in January in Internal Medicine. From there, he completed and Infectious Disease Elective. Then he completed an OB/GYN rotation. After that was completed was where we got a little nervous of what was next. They offered to send us to Orlando once and Chicago once. We declined while praying another rotation would open up soon. ( The sooner we complete the cores, the sooner we come home). We prayed for the Surgery Core Rotation to open up because it is a 3 month rotation and seems to be the most demanding of them all. Just as Dusty was finishing OB/GYN, he got a call from his advisor. She didn't understand how this could happen, but a last minute spot opened up for a Surgery Rotation here in Baltimore. And guess who got to fill the spot....! Amazing provision!
Dusty is still currently in his Surgery Rotation, and yes, it is very demanding. He works abnormal long shifts that start at 5:00 in the morning and is on 24 hour call at least once a week. From here, he will complete a Cardiology and Radiology elective. In December he will begin his Psychiatry Core Rotation. That is all we have planned so far.

I am sorry for rambling, but maybe that is a little clearer picture of what is going on in regard to Dusty's school. I will post random pictures of our time here, our family visiting, and our new friends we have met!

Our First SNOW in Baltimore

Ok well the weather has predicted snow SO many times since we have been here, but we have yet to get any! So today, Dusty left for work and at about 9:30 I look outside, and it is pouring snow!! I actually got all giddy like a little kid. I dressed Kyleigh and myself up and went outside!! I couldn't drive anywhere though because the roads were covered and I am not used to driving a car in the snow. Dusty sent me a message around noon and said it was doing the same thing downtown! It is just beautiful!! So, here are some pictures that I took today (which by the way it is still snowing...pouring snow to be exact!). I had to take them myself because Dusty wasn't here. Enjoy, but do pray that Dusty gets to and from work safe when it snows. The hospitals don't close around here for snow ;-).
The entrance to where we live :-)


Yes, that is our little car down there all covered in snow. We have one covered parking spot and then one uncovered. But we can look right out to this spot. This picture is actually taken from our balcony.
Little different sight than Kyleigh swimming in the Caribbean waters :-)
Outside, around the complex where we live here in Columbia.

Baltimore, Maryland

Well as most of you know by now, Dusty and I are living in Baltimore, Maryland. We had originally mentioned staying in Alabama for this, but God had bigger plans. Dusty found out in early December that he was placed in Baltimore to begin his clinical rotations, starting in Internal Medicine. It all happened so quick and we needed to find a place to live. We headed up here during the second week in December. Yes, an 11 hour or so road trip! While here, we met with a friend of the family who showed us around the area and taught us different things about Baltimore (major interstates,etc.) After leaving Mrs. Velleggia, Dusty and I were in a horrible car accident. Neither of us saw it coming. I, to this day, don't remember anything except leaving the trama unit in a hospital gown. I say all of this to say, that yes, we are ok, but it did change us forever. We found a wonderful place to live through the whole thing and are enjoying it so much right now! We went back home for Christmas and officially moved up here on the 30th of Decemeber. My parents came with us and helped us move in. We will only be here for about 9 months to a year, unless of course God has something else in store. We will keep you updated on our journey here in Baltimore as Dusty continues with his career in medicine! I will upload more photos as we take them :-)

Mama and I cooking our first meal in our new apartment.
Downtown Baltimore- Baltimore Harbor

It was beyond freezing!
Eating at McCormick and Schmitt in Baltimore Harbor

Christmas 2008

Here are some pictures from this past Christmas. As I was doing this I realized that somewhere along the way, I accidentally deleted some pictures. That really bothers me, but oh well, here are some great ones anyway! These include visiting my Granny in Atlanta, and my family in Chattanooga. We also went to Gatlinburg with my family this Christmas!

Fun Times with The Duke's during Christmas!

We adore our friends Chris and LeeAnn and their precious babies, Ethan and Anna. They moved to Huntsville recently and we were able to go and visit them a couple of times. We went to Santa's Village in Huntsville and The Polar Express in Chattanooga! I miss hanging out with them so much already!All of us at The Polar Express
Anna with her jingle bell
Ethan talking to Santa
Precious! Santa was about to board the train!

The Adorable Duke Family!
The Polar Express- Chattanooga, TN

Sweet Anna Banana!!

All of us at Santa's Village
Yes, Dusty did one too :-)
Ethan and Anna writing their notes to Santa.

The Duke Family
The two LeeAnne/Leigh-Anne's :-)

Our Family from Covenant!

Dusty and his boys Zeke and Ti-Ti
Zoe girl! Alan and Angela's little girl!
My sweet "joyous" Caroline! My mentor Amy's little girl.
My favorite picture! All the boys! Austin, Sam, Titus, Dusty, Ethan, Chris and Zeke!
Me and Jack! He was playing hide and seek with me all day and I caught him!
Me and my sweet Kaylie (This was my flower girl in our wedding :-)
The boys playing their game of Sunday football in the front yard of Covenant
I adore this picture of Zeke! He was on the other team and trying to overhear the plays of Dusty's team! His face is priceless!!!
Caroline wanting so bad to play with the boy cousins Ethan and Zeke!
Dusty with sweet Caroline and Baby Shepard!

Our family at Covenant make up so much of who Dusty and I have become! During our time at home from Cayman, and before leaving for Baltimore, we got to spend a lot of great time with everyone from Covenant Life in Alexandria!