So school (WORK) started again…all too soon…and though this week has been an interesting one, I am exhausted Why do holidays end all too quickly?  It was fun while it lasted, though. California was great, though I felt that my stay in Houston ended too soon before it was time for me to go on my much anticipated trip.  I was excited, and yet sad at the same time.  It was my first New Year’s away from my family and my first vacation without them (and yes I do love being with my family that much ) and woe to me, I was going to miss the fireworks my friends had planned for everyone!  But I paid for my ticket already, didn’t I?  It was a little weird and I didn’t know how it would turn out, visiting an old friend I hadn’t seen in 15 years, but it felt like we had never parted ways at all!  It was great!  It was fun catching up and relearning some of my ilocano and tagalong.  I thought I was pretty good, but I was so non-fluent compared to her and her family and friends.  It was fun to finally get to see what Loma Linda looked like and to go around Los Angeles and Pasadena, and DISNEY LAND!  That picture from Splash Mountain is the funniest thing .  I really need to find a way to pay Marivic back.  I had to trick her just to get to pay for one dinner!  Going to San Diego was cool too, though it was not so “Sunny San Diego” on Saturday.  It was great to see Shem, Darryl, Shalyn, and all them again.  Little Avani is sooo cute! Some more people should have babies so I can laugh at their little antics.  Sorry my stay was so short, guys.  I will stay longer next time.  Hmmm….I wonder when I will ever have time again!  Silly me for choosing to become a doctor…anyway…I digress…where was I?  Let’s see…oh yea…California…what else did I do?  For the first time, I saw Lea Salonga in concert.  Man I wish I could sing liker her!  And…and…I got to see WICKED!  It was AWESOME!  And again yes, I do love musicals that much.    Thanks again, Marivic!  It was a bit tiring to drive and be driven everywhere, sometimes for hours.  Marivic’s aunt’s words were so true when she laughed at me waking up so early in the morning, “After this vacation, you’re going to need a vacation!”  Yea it was a whole lot to do in a short period of time, and I don't think I have quite recovered yet, but it was worth it.  I wish I could post pictures, but silly me, I forgot my camera cable.   I guess I’ll post in March, when all this will be even older news…

 …so yea now I’m back to work.  I’m anxious about this semester, but with God’s help, I”ll eventually get to that light at the end of the tunnel.  One and a half years more to go.  Then I guess another tunnel begins!  Hah .  That’s so insane.

Wow...so i haven't written in this in forever...you'd think I would have a lot to say. hah! Not really .  So this year is going by pretty quickly.  I just finished my Family Medicine Clerkship today.  Twas quite a long day!  What with it starting at

.  Yummm...foooddd Food is really good.  I kept craving Thai food this entire week.  Anyone want to come with me?  You know what else is good?  Weekends where you don't have to work.  And Sabbaths...Sabbaths are real good when I don't have to be at work.  That was one thing I had to get used to during my inpatient rotations.  All of my life, Friday nights and Saturdays were spent at some sort of church function.  I don't even study during this time, and I loved it that way.  For the 20+ years I've been on this earth, I have missed Sabbath worship perhaps twice in my life due to illness, but that's about it.  Then 3rd year rotations come, and though I knew it was coming, it took a lot of getting used to.  It felt....different.  That's what I can say.  I told my roommate that.  "Different."  I found myself having conversations with God that He would give me the opportunity to do some good, so I can feel like I'm in the hospital for a reason.  I mean as a student, you're really not that important and so I would say, "God, I know it can be a good thing that I'm here, but can you show me in some tangible way with at least one person today that I am supposed to be in the hospital today, this Sabbath, doing Your work?"  It was hard.  And my fear was that I would get used to it...not being at church...and that in the future, I might justify not going to church anymore on the Sabbaths.   I understand that sick people don't stop being sick and needing help because it's Sabbath, and there are Adventist hospitals and doctors that do their job on the Sabbath.  Jesus said to do it.  But I don't want it ever to be my excuse when I'm not really needed at the hospital and I just don't feel like going to church or if I thought I could use the extra income.  Am I making sense?  Wow.  I've said a lot.  Yea, so bottom line...food, free weekends, and Sabbaths are good   There are many other good things, but I think I should stop blabbing...

...before I go, here's a new verse I recently learned, to tide you over until the next time I decide to blog again (maybe in another 6 months ) 

"In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence.  And His children will have a place of refuge."  (Proverbs 14:26)