Silly Marcus

My little Marky loves diet coke just like his momma : )

Trivia Night

Stephen and I have always been fond of trivia night. We both used to play when we attended Clemson. Recently, we found out that the Applebee's next to our house has trivia every Wednesday night. We have been trying to get a group going but it hasn't worked out yet. So... last Wednesday we decided just to go the two us and just have fun. We had a great date night, lots of fun, and we won! We couldn't believe it. We were down by 7 points going into the final round so we decided to just go for it. The question was:

Put these movies in order by release date from oldest to most recent: Maverick, Mall Rats, Major League, Married to the Mob.

We had never heard of the last one so we just guessed that it had to be old. The correct answer is: Married to the Mob, Major League, Maverick, Mall Rats. We got it right and won a $50 gift card, yay. We got a free meal (and some) thanks to our neighborhood grill. Thanks Applebees : )

Memorial Day Fun

The Sunday before Memorial Day, we headed to my parents house for a cookout. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time having fun with family. My parents put up a baby pool in the backyard for the kids (Layna and Bella). Bella wasn't sure she was allowed in at first. However, once we told her it was OK we couldn't get her out. They had so much fun playing together. They swam, played ball, and chased bubbles all day.

 Layna and Bella in the pool

 Bella chasing Layna's bubbles

 Stephen getting in on the fun

Enjoying some yummy food

Visit to Beckley

Last week I made a solo trip to Beckley, WV to visit my school, Mountain State University. So far in my schooling, I have taken all of my classes online. On June 14th, I start full time doing clinical rotations at Roper St. Francis. Before I could start my clinicals, I had to do a 3 day orientation on campus.

I was a little nervous because this was my first trip away from home by myself. (When I studied abroad in Italy I had roommates that I did stuff with, so I don't count that). Overall it wasn't as scary as I though it would be. The only dumb thing I did was getting into someone else's car. I had a rental car, so I wasn't used to it yet. I went to where I thought I had parked. There was a silver car so I pressed the unlock button. It was open, so I got in. I put my seat belt on, adjusted the mirrors and was about to stick the key in when I noticed the car didn't look right. It said Ford on the steering wheel and that is when I realized I was in the wrong car! Opps. I got out really fast hoping the owners weren't around. In my defense though, who leaves their car unlocked at a Quality Inn hotel?! It is 2010 people, you can't do that.

I had a blast on campus. It was so great to finally meet all of the faculty I had been working with online and get some hands on experience. Everyone was really nice and helpful.  I basically spent the entire three days scanning. The staff all took turns in the lab letting me scan them. I did full abdominal protocols (aorta, liver, gallbladder, kidneys, and spleen), thyroid, and female pelvis. One of the instructors was even 19 weeks pregnant so I got to do an OB exam. It was amazing to see that little life moving around inside her. I felt like I had met him and knew him and he wasn't even born yet!

The time I spent there was really helpful. There is such a big difference in looking at pictures in a book and seeing the images on the screen in real time. I also got familiar with the machine and how to use the controls to get the best possible images. I learned lots of little tips like it is ok to press hard during an abdominal exam, asking them to take a deep breath can make all the difference, when in doubt put color flow on it, the cine loop is your friend, and small movements can make big differences. I feel so much more confident and excited about starting clinicals now!

This is the lab we used to scan in. It is right inside the DMS department next to the faculty offices.

This is the machine I learned on.

This is Bre, my clinical coordinator. She taught me almost the entire time.

Me and Bre

A few of the staff. From left to right:  Tammy (clinical lab and small parts instructor), Nashella (abdominal instructor), Bre (clinical coordinator), and Ashley (DMS administrative assistant)

MSU campus, you can see the
MSU sign to the very right of the pic.

Driving to the airport. WV is so beautiful. The entire drive was just winding around these gorgeous mountains.

 My rental car, a Nissan Versa. It was really nice.

So Long Insecurity

On Saturday the girls from my small group all attended Beth Moore's So Long Insecurity simulcast at Seacoast in Mt. Pleasant. Beth Moore taught in Atlanta and over 300,000 women tuned in live to watch her speak. The message was based on her new book, which our small group will be studying for the next 6 weeks. The simulcast was wonderful. Beth Moore delivered a great message about being secure women of God. She used Ephesians 4:17-24 to describe a secure woman.

 ¹⁷ So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. ¹⁹ Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. ²⁰ You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. ²¹ Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. ²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

She encouraged us to take off our old selves and put on the new. When we are secure in our relationship with Christ and his love and grace, then we can "stick out like a healthy thumb" and positively impact those around us. She made the point that we should not dwell on past sins because it does not honor God to disbelieve his forgiveness (that one really hit home with me). When we know we are forgiven, we forgive. When we know we are loved, we love. When we know we are graced, we grace. I am really excited to read and study this book with my small group.

While the girls attended the simulcast, the men got together to build sets of cornhole boards for the guys that didn't have them. Afterward we all met over at Riverland woods to grill out for Ben's birthday. It was a wonderful day filled with God's word and great fellowship.

Easter Sunday

On Easter, Stephen and I attended the 8:30 service at our church, ECBC, and then headed to Simpsonville to see family. We originally thought Stephen was going to have to work on Easter, but at the last minute he was able to change his shift.

The Perry Family

The Finley Family

A smaller Finley Family (minus Marcus of course)

The guys playing lazy cornhole, sitting down

The girls

Bella finding some shade in a not so safe place

Meet Bella

Bella is our 14 week old Goldendoodle puppy. We got her Friday night from Greenwood South Carolina. She is the sweetest girl and we already love her so much! She is such a joy. Her father was a poodle and her mother was a golden retriever. Marcus, our cat is getting used to her. He isn't scared of Bella, but if she starts sniffing him for too long he hisses at her. Overall they are doing pretty well together. She is pretty big for her age so we think she is going to be pretty large as an adult. She could be anywhere from 65-100 lbs. She loves to play fetch and socialize with other dogs and people. On Saturday we took her to the dog park and she did great! She has been such a wonderful addition to our family!

At Petco shopping for some goodies

Playing with her tennis ball

She loves her tennis balls

Taking a nap with dad

Marcus keeping an eye on the newcomer

She really is just a big baby : )