Wedding Shower

This past weekend Ryan and I traveled down to Statesboro to host a wedding shower for my brother Patrick and his fiance Heather. We had a ton of family and friends that attended the event, and it really was a lot of fun! This was the first shower I'd ever hosted before, so I was a bit nervous that everything would turn out alright. Especially when I was planning it from Macon!

I only managed to take one photo after I decorated the room at R.J.'s. Luckily for me Heather is a photographer, and she brought her professional camera! Here's some photographic evidence of the fun that was had.

Wedding Shower Banner - thank you pinterest!

Free Marriage Advice Collection & Amazing Cake Made by Sarah Roberts

My advice, "If your husband does the cooking, be sure to thank him by doing the dishes! And vice versa!"

The food spread. I was really happy with the color turnout of the turquoise punch. Koolaid's Blue Lemonade mixed with Crystal Light's Lemonade for the win.

Mita, our amazing server for the event. I worked with her back in the day during my younger years at R.J.'s. 

She is fabulous!

Ryan signing the signature mat.

Patrick, Heather, Coraline, and Eoghan

Mom and Dad playing one of the trivia games.

Me calling out the answers to one of the Wedding Trivia games.

Practice session for cutting of the wedding cake in the near future.

I am so happy for Patrick and Heather! I cannot wait to celebrate their marriage at the end of this month!

Abundance of spare time like never before

These last few weeks of medical school have been pretty wonderful! For my last major rotation I signed up to co-tutor the second year medical students for 4 weeks of their Endocrinology Phase. I was fortunate to have been paired with a great tutor. The tutor is a biochemist who has tutored endocrinology numerous times in the past. My primary role is to make sure that the students are grasping the clinical importance from their various readings and case studies. This rotation only requires me to meet at the school three times a week, so compared to the rest of my medical school rotations it feels like a vacation.

I've been able to do lot's of non-medical school related things with this spare time: a Truth Be Told Art painting class, plan a wedding shower for my brother & his fiance, start packing up our apartment, and catch up with many friends.

I am especially proud of one of my friends from college, Diana. We were in Exaltation (student led Christian vocal performance group) and Prayer & Share (all women Christian bible study group) together while in college. She recently landed a job at the CDC. Yes you read that correctly, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention in Atlanta. I was beyond proud of her when I found out. She is currently working on a Rotavirus project.

Diana has been attending monthly meetings of the Vaccine Dinner Club at Emory, and she was nice enough to invite me to one. The talk was on the subject of measles, a highly contagious and sometimes lethal disease of childhood associated with a distinct rash. Dr. Diane Griffin from Johns Hopkins gave the talk, and it was quite insightful. The talk mostly focused on studies identifying the initial route the virus takes, which cells it effects, the cell membrane receptors it utilizes, and the immune system's response to both virus isolates and the various types of vaccines.

I am so glad I was able to attend the event and catch up with a good friend. I know the subject of vaccines in general has become a bit controversial in recent years. I did find it interesting that one of the websites mentioned at the event is actually comprised of parents who are pro-vaccines. I know my fellow future Pediatrician classmates would appreciate a link: www.voicesforvaccines.org

Me and Diana after the lecture at Emory's School of Medicine building

Truth Be Told

Earlier this year I received an email from my Sister-in-Law over at The Price Report asking me if I had heard of this new business in Macon called Truth Be Told. I had not at the time, but it looked like something  I would love to do! I am so glad that it was brought to my attention, because I would have completely missed this opportunity otherwise! 

I have "liked" on Facebook where I normally get my hair cut in Macon, Signature Salon. And a week or so ago they posted that they would be having a Truth Be Told painting party! I quickly messaged them for more information so I could sign up. I managed to convince one of my best friends in medical school to join me for the party. We had a blast! At each party everyone does the same type of painting, but gets to choose their paint colors and scripture. 

Truth Be Told is a business and ministry started by a Macon local who is an art teacher. There is a short video the entire group watches before the painting process starts, and the founder Elizabeth talks about a near death experience she had when giving birth. She had a placental abruption. She felt overwhelmingly blessed to have lived through this, and she continued to wonder why God had spared her life. She knew He must have a plan for her. Not too long after that a friend of hers who was not artistically inclined asked her if she would help her learn to paint. The friend wanted to give one of her friends who was going through a very rough time a painting that included scripture within it. Elizabeth, as a children's art teacher, was skeptical that she could instruct an adult in one sitting how to create a painting like this, but she did. This was the very beginning of Truth Be Told. 

Since the business and ministry started in July of 2012 they have reached thousands of women across Georgia. One of the women touched by this ministry has even carried out what she learned to an orphanage in Haiti! The children there learned how to paint a colorful avocado with scripture on it, and they sell their masterpieces to help sustain the orphanage. This particular orphanage has even started it's own art school, and the children just love it. I have emailed Elizabeth to find out more about this, as it really touched my heart and made me think of the children at the Cambry Orphanage.

I wish I had more photographs of the process, but I didn't want my camera anywhere near the paint! Things got a little messy at times. I absolutely love the painting I was able to create with the help of a fabulous instructor! 

My instructor, Amanda Gaskins

My work of art just before tracing the scripture onto my board. I chose I Corinthians 13:13

My friend Griffin (really Ashley, but there are 4 in my class!) and I with our finished paintings.

Griffin is matching into a general surgery residency position next week. She managed to tie our twine with surgical knots.

My final painting. I am so ready to hang it up, but it will probably have to wait until we are at our new location for residency!