True friendship

Here are my beautiful friends and co-workers at school.  This group of girls have become a refuge for me this year!  We have walked through some dark times together but also some exciting ones! Blessed....

Surprise Party- 25 years old!

 

 

So we threw Brad a surprise birthday party for his 25th birthday!  I think we actually pulled off the surprise!  We really had a great time with the people that love him most :-)

Two women I love....

This year has been tough for our family. We lost both of our grandmothers, 6 months apart. Death is hard for anyone at anytime in life. When it effects you, it hurts on such a different level. Losing my Granny in August was one of the toughest things I've experienced and am still working through. I miss her daily. To get the call in early January that my Honey was not going to make it through the week hit so hard. My first comment to my dad when he called at school was, "two in one year, thats not fair". Just being honest, but thats what I thought.
The beauty in their death is that I have NEVER met two women closer to God than those to. Devoted, faithful, loving, graceful and diligent are just a few of the words that come to my mind. How blessed are we to have had two women of God such as Granny and Honey praying for us throughout our lives. Granny always called Dusty my prince and man did she love he and his dad like they had been hers all along. My Honey could sit in her favorite chair and read scripture all day long and truly live it out. Amazing.
I miss them painfully, but I know they are healed and rejoicing with Jesus in heaven and at the end of my day, I have to rest in that hope!

Life stays busy :-)

So to say I have not updated our blog recently is a huge understatement! Man does life get busy as you "grow up". Maybe I can keep it going at least weekly?
So, my handsome and hard working husband is now officially an M.D. and finishing up his first year of Residency. Forgive him if you can never get in contact with him, I don't get to see him that much myself. Let me tell you though, he has a work ethic that is nothing short of inspiring, he never complains, and he is so extremely smart! It is absolutely amazing to know that his life long dream is being fulfilled. Four years ago, this point seemed barely visible to us. The journey seemed so long. Dusty never wavered and never slowed down in pursuing this dream. Dreams do come true!
For me, I am now teaching Kindergarten and have started Graduate School at UAB. A lot on my plate....you could say so :-). Kindergarten has definitely been an adjustment for me and I do have a class that challenges me daily. I am studying to become a school counselor and hope to finish within the next year and a half. Oh, and I am also helping my dad with wedding photography full-time.

So maybe an ulterior motive in starting our blog back up is for me to "vent", of course to update anyone that wants to read about The Millicans and our ever on the go lives, but yes a place for me to express the emotion through our journey. Let's see how I do :-)

Update with Dusty and School

I apologize to those reading this that have not heard from Dusty and I in awhile. Life gets busy and it seems theres not enough time to update the blog like I so desire to do. Some of us stay in touch from seeing each other at our jobs, others of us stay connected through texting and emails, others we haven't seen since Cayman or Baltimore, and some of you reading this are in the same boat as Dusty.....about to take your Board exams. Most all of you though have been our backbone through this entire medical school journey! You have been the ones praying for us and being patient with us through the confusion and lack of communication on our part. We have been discussing lately with friends (and some of my coworkers) just how much God has guided this entire process. Though every step hasn't been easy and Dusty has spent many sleepless nights staring through books and the computer screen, there have been many days and many moments with Jesus, being reassured that this is HIS calling for Dusty and that HE would not have continued to bring us to this step if He did not have some sort of plan to finish what He has started in and through Dusty. My prayer is that we don't take one day for granted or hesitate to hit our knees and thank Him for his guidance when most days it seems like we don't deserve even half of it. He is good. He is faithful. He is gracious. He is our Provider. And, He is the Ultimate Healer. Dusty will just be an earthly vessel that demonstrates that love and healing.

Dusty takes his Step 2 CK exam tomorrow (Friday, 10/1/10) here in Birmingham. This exam confirms his graduation in December which will then lead us to the Match in March 2011. This is where he will get placed for Residency ( which will then start in June ). His exam starts at 8:00 a.m. and will last for 9 hours.

Like I have always said, I understand that we are all busy and have our own individual prayer requests and concerns. If you get even just a moment to lift him up tomorrow, I would be so honored. I know our Creator hears the prayers of his children. My prayer will be that he combines all these wonderful things he has been studying and experiencing in the hospitals and that they would come rushing back to him as he sees them on this test; that he would be confident, well rested, and stress-free :-).

Thank you from the fullness of my heart! You are the people that make us who we are and that we are so so incredibly thankful for!!

Humbly,

Leigh-Anne

P.S. God has ALWAYS provided for me along this journey as well. I am teaching 2nd grade in Birmingham and am loving it!! I am inspired more and more as I work with this staff because they truly care about these kids. I am blessed to have such a rewarding profession!

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!