Three and a half years in the making, THIS is what we were waiting for- life together!
After Pieter arrived in September, I jumped right into my CCMA (Certified Clinical Medical Assistant) classes, which took up two of my evenings during the week and every other evening I was working. Thankfully, we have learned to use what time we have together, wisely.
The greatest addition to our lives joined us in December. Nicholas, a now nine month old blond tabby, has brought such joy and laughter to our home. He and Pieter have become great buds as they spend evenings together while I am at work. I think the little guy may even know some Dutch by now.
While juggling work and class, we spent our winter months watching "Downton Abbey" and "Superstore", studying flashcards on medical terms and CCMA guidelines, and tossing cough drops for little Nicholas to pounce on and retrieve.
After passing the CCMA national exam last month, I began a parttime internship at an urgent care facility in Harrisonburg. To my surprise, I was offered a fulltime position there just days after my first day of observing. This career shift has been a welcomed change and challenge for me! I see it as a brand new opportunity to learn hands-on in a clinical setting. So far I have performed and observed several new tests and techniques. It is gratifying to be able to say that I am learning something new everyday.
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| Trading the apron for the stethoscope! |
It was a long and tiring winter that seemed to never end. The cool spring evening breeze is now blowing in through our half-opened window, birds are chirping, and lawn mowers are buzzing! This is the time of year that I love!
All of our anticipation for summer is building up as Pieter prepares for his first summer back at Brethren Woods for summer camp. He has been diligently working on gaining several certifications to better equip himself with new skills. So far he has acquired a certification in CPR, Wilderness First Aid, Ropes Course Facilitating and Supervising, and, most recently, Lifeguarding. In the next few weeks he will also be completing Canoeing and Archery training. It is so rewarding for me to see him happy and excited about what he is doing in life. I am so very proud of him.
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| Harper's Ferry in March 2019 |
Our favorite ice cream stand just opened up down the road, so we celebrated the first spring day and all the new changes we have coming up, there, with a Reese's ice cream and a Smores' sundae.
I think that we are slowly figuring out how to be a "fulltime" married couple again, but it is a process that takes patience, understanding, and communication. I anticipate the next few months flying by as we have all eagerly been awaiting the warmth of the sunshine's return. So I encourage each of you, as well as myself, to try and use a "pause" button as you go through the next few weeks. Take a moment during your commute, or when you finally get a chance to sit down, to realize how amazingly blessed we really are.
Love to you all!
Pieter and Lydia
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