Larie's Blog

Leukemia Viruses on Cereal.

2011-11-13T20:10:00.000-08:00

So I've been reading this book entitled "Whitewash: The Disturbing Truth About Cow's Milk and Your Health," by Joseph Keon, and I ran across some interesting facts to share:

1. 40% of American beef are infected with bovine leukemia virus.
2. 89% of American dairy cows are infected with bovine leukemia virus (BLV).

3. Bovine leukemia is the most common fatal malignancy in cows.

4. There is evidence this virus may be capable of spreading to humans.

5. Pasteurization is supposed to inactivae the virus (most of the time)

6. 2/3 of raw milk has live BLV

7. Dairy farmers are one population with higher rates of leukemia.

8. Human leukemia (ALL=acute lymphocytic leukemia) is high in area where BLV is high in dairy herds.

...if all these things add up I'd have to agree with the author that:

"...we don't need leukemia retroviruses, inactivated through pasteurization or not, on our cornflakes."

The LORD will fight...

2010-01-25T20:53:00.000-08:00

The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace... --Exodus 14:14

Current Conditions

2008-12-12T19:23:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I have posted. I was at Weimar in November with Mom which was a nice time together. I observed some hydrotherapy and a few other things, walked lots and lots, ate all the yummy vegan food, and went to the lectures. I also got to use the hydrotherapy department after hours to practice hydro on Mom: fever baths, contrast showers, fomentations, etc. It was also fun to see Doug Plata there, who just happened to be covering for one of the doctors who was out of town. I also enjoyed going to the cooking school and learning to make some new recipes. We also got to sneak in to some AFCOE meetings and hear Don Macintosh and Doug Batchelor teach some sessions. One Sabbath Mom, Doug, and I went to Auntie Phebe's house (Saguan's aunt) for dinner for her sooooooooooooooooo delicious vegan cooking and an afternoon walk.
Since then it has been back to work here. I sure have been enjoying the on for a few days, then off for a few days life of a hospitalist. Although some Sabbath day and Friday night shifts still make it difficult, though I have only been working 1-2 Sabbath/Friday night shifts per month. It just seems like more since I have been either out of town (Weimar, AMEN, soon GYC) or trying out local churches (Newberg, Tualatin) and so I haven't been to my own home church in a while. But I have finally decided to transfer my membership to Stone Tower SDA church in Portland since it really is the best in the area in regards to interest in Evangelism, belief in SOP, sermons that challenge and point to Jesus, and a Friday night small group meeting. It was a blessing to be able to go to church this Sabbath.
Otherwise I have been enjoying a little yard work like raking leaves, bringing in firewood for the winter, and just going to walks in the neighborhood trying not to loose all that progress gained at Weimar.
I have also been cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Well... some of it has been good and some not so good, but finally I have days off with time to play in the kitchen and brush up on all those domestic skills that have not had a chance to survive during medical school and residency. I've been having fun organizing my kitchen, putting types of flour and other food items in little matching containers. Organizing my pantry and my refrigerator. Lots of fun! As far as cooking goes I have a favorite special k loaf, easy lasagna, "chicken" pot pie. Don't ask about the mushroom ravioli that I made yesterday (the doughiness was pretty overwhelming...) as I don't think I will want to think about ravioli for a long time.
Regarding housekeeping, the only down side of my schedule is that by the time and go through a stretch of hospitalist work days the house that I just cleaned has gone to pot again and I spend the first day off washing all the dishes and sweeping the whole house.
Regarding work, I guess I am here for now. I'm not sure where God is going to want me eventually, but currently I just have my oregon license and so I am here until God calls me elsewhere. I am applying for a Texas license now mainly so that if Mom's health gets worse I can move there for a while. I am also about to start the process of applying for a California license. I would enjoy doing a bit of work at Weimar when I am available and they have a need and who knows what else I might do, maybe come back to Loma Linda for a while.
I just noticed last night that Alistair and Deborah are together. Sooooooooo sweet! Sigh....
Anyway, I can't wait to see everyone at GYC!!!!!!!

By the way, it is snowing here and has been snowing all day. You may not be able to see the thermometer above but the temperature is 25 degrees.

Weimar

2008-10-14T16:32:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

I am excited that I will be going with my Mom to Weimar in November for their 18 day program. I am going as a "professional observer" and my Mom as a patient. It just worked out great that I had only been scheduled for 2 hospitalist shifts during the dates of the program and I was able to trade these dates to go.

Otherwise I have been lying around in my spare time reading books, trying to make up for the lack of lifestyle medicine/nutrition training that I received during medical school and residency:
The China Study (a must read!!!)
Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease
Food Revolution

Also playing in the kitchen. And there are little bits of spinach starting to grow in my garden. I'm excited about seeing those of you who will be at AMEN conference.
Blessings!
Larie

Blessed Sabbath!!!

2008-08-08T22:02:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhhhhhhhh.... Sabbath.....
I have had a very busy week of packing boxes and filling out certification paperwork for hospital "priviledges", and all the nonsense of trying to find the right moving company and set up moving, forward mail, change utilities.

So yes.... I will be moving in to the little country farm house. It is so beautiful out there. Before the rental lady got there when I first arrived at the gate I looked down the long driveway, and a lovely doe walked out from the woods and just stood and looked at me. Then a ten point buck came out of the woods with fuzzy antlers, just behind her and he also just looked at me. Then they both walked slowly down the road toward the car and and buck walked across the road and into the woods and the doe walked back down the driveway and into the woods. I also saw a skunk out there the day before. So there are lots of critters there...
I am really blessed the meet this group of people from the Stone Tower church. I am finally actually getting to know them now that I am finished with residency. I just found out about their friday night group that meets over a light supper and the reads/discusses spiritual things. Currently they are studying COL. I have been twice to this gathering and am so blessed to finally have a group out here whose hearts beat in unity with mine in regard to spiritual matters. Praise God!!!

Studying and Moving Madness

2008-07-31T08:55:00.000-07:00

So I am back again, trying to update my few but faithful...

1) First of all, I've been praying a lot about my first job and God has really been leading. Despite the fact that I was originally told that this wonderful hospital (Providence Newberg) where I am planning to work would want me to sign a year contract for hospitalist work and that they don't have on-call work, God has led such that I was wishy-washy enough at my interview (only being completely honest) and also gave them a list of dates that I was hoping to get off (GYC, AMEN, ?perhaps Bangladesh, etc) that my employer saw the light and offered me an "on-call" contract such that they can provide about as much as full time work if that is what I would like, but I get to call the shots as to when I am available. This is great!!!!!!! That means I will get to come to GYC, AMEN, Bangladesh (if I can get my act together soon enough to prepare), visit Eric and Rachel, and whatever else I jolly well please... : ) Ahhhhhh...... God is good..... I also see a lot of Sabbaths off in my future since I do no plan to work Sabbaths electively (will cover if there is no one else or something comes up and they need me). I also have a clinic "on-call" contract so I can cover for clinic or urgent cares in the area if I want extra cash or just want to keep up those skills.

2) I have been furiously hunting for a place to rent after deciding not to buy this year (due to all the bad economic predictions and my strong desire to pay off my med school debts instead of incur more debt--though it would have been a significant tax deduction). My dream house has been a little country cottage to rent with enough property for a garden and neighbors that are not close enough for me to reach out my window and reach into their window. That is just gross! I originally found something that seemed to perfectly fit this description, but alas, found out that it already had a contract on it, someone had just snatched it up. So I commenced other searching the the Sherwood, Newberg, Dundee area. Those of you who have house hunted before: have you ever noticed that the pictures do not adequately reflect the product that you actually visit? Anyway, I did lots of that... living room too small the fit my couches into, kitchen to small to turn around in, houses that were advertised for the wrong price on line and I get there and find out the reason the house seems like a "steal" is because it actually costs a lot more to rent but they had some major typos in the advertisment (like, only listed it about $500 dollars per month cheaper than it really is). I also learned that you get what you pay for and thus any house in the area with rent less than $1000 is probably not worth paying for....
Anyway, so I had finally settled on the nice house in Dundee that had a decent size back yard at the end of a culdesac with neighbors at least more than 6 inches from my house (just kidding, actually more like several yards away) and got permission the put in a garden. The place is really pretty nice and fairly new and I was only regretting that it was not as country-like as I was hoping.
Then...my Mom happend to call back the little country cottage and see if the contract went through, though I had given up on it. And, what do you know, the contract fell through and the little country cottage was again for rent. So, yesterday I got too impatient to wait and drove out there and fell in love with the property, probably sitting on about an acre or so, surrounded by wheat fields that the owner tends, has a barn and a garage. But I could not see it yesterday so have an appoinment to see the inside of the house today and supposedly I am first in line for the place if I get there a little early...
Stay posted, perhaps the inside of the house is falling apart...

3) So... one way or another I have faith that the moving will commence very soon, whether the little house in town or the country cottage... So I went to a crate place yesterday and bought a bunch of used boxes (only 30 to 90 cents each) and got a ton of boxes for $10 saving myself the dumpster diving...

4) Otherwise I am just studying for boards and starting the packing process... I will say that the amount of books I own is really the most overwhelming part of moving....

Blessings!!! Have a great day!

First Sabbath out of Residency!!!

2008-07-04T23:53:00.000-07:00

My last day of residency was June 30th and I have been working nights so actually finished my shift at about 8am. I am so happy to be finished. This week since finishing residency I have working on getting back onto day shift. So far I have not been successful. The first day out I thought I could make it work by letting myself sleep only 5 hours during the day, but apparently that was way too much since I didn't go to sleep that night until about 6 am. Then I really meant to wake up but slept until 2:30 pm. The following night I was tired but lay awake all night, but finally got up at 6 am because I was annoyed that I was accomplishing nothing. Then I stayed up all day even though I was tired. I thought that would do it but you would know that even though I slept last night (making some progress here) I still slept in today until 1:30pm (alarm was set for 9:30am). Well... we'll eventually get back to a normal schedule...
Otherwise I am just trying to start studying for boards but have done very little studying this last week. I have to really get serious this next week.
I am getting excited about coming down to see everyone very soon. I will be flying in to ontario and I think I am getting a rental car. See you all soon!

Goodnight!

Hallelujah!!!

2008-05-26T19:43:00.000-07:00

Yes!!!!!!! PTL!!!
This last Sabbath I just worked my last Sabbath of residency and yesterday and last night I worked my last 30 hour shift.

God is good.

Blog about Blogging

2008-05-16T20:52:00.000-07:00

Sooooooooooo.......... I too am pleased that Rachel wrote such an inspirational piece on blogging. So inspired I am that I will now attempt to blog.

Blog, I can do. But honestly I sit around sometimes wondering if anyone really reads my blogs. But maybe Stephanie's case applies to my other friends. Everyone has writer's block. So I try to not get discouraged in my blogging. (Somebody make a comment!)

Are you still reading this blog?

Blogging in general is an interesting phenomenon.... among my friends some NEVER update (Janine and Curtis, Carlos and Dafne, Debbie). Ok maybe one or twice a year. Some pages have disappeared from my view (only for friends, or something), which is fairly disappointing (Norman and Joelle, "The other Nelson's"). I'm not sure if that is due to snobbishness or what? And then there are those that spend every waking moment planning weddings (Tim and Sunny).

Are you still reading this blog?

I think part of the problem with blogging is a perfectionistic mentality that the post has to be good. Basically that it has to be better than a simple conversation or update. I know that is part of my problem. The other problem is probably not knowing how to encapsulate the recent happenings of our lives on a brief page. After all, maybe readers will get bored at a long discourse and stop reading or just not read it at all. This is never true of the long blogs that include details of a marriage proposal, however. That is good stuff. ( I wonder if anyone would read a long discourse/announcement on how I am still single?....)

Are you still reading this blog?

I think that the other issue with blogging is that some things in life are kind of personal. Like fears, disappointments, failures... We all want to be seen as better than we really are, superhuman even. I guess it is hard to blog personal life for some folks, which is why we really do need real people in flesh and blood, like Lorinda just said on her blog...

Are you still reading this blog?

So in case you want to hear something about my life, I will include a small blurb. As Rachel said... good things, even exciting things are happening, here for me, as well. However, my exciting things are not top secret, unlike Rachel and Eric's exciting things...

Are you still reading this blog?

What I am excited about is that I am about 6 weeks from finishing my life as a resident. Not that I am crossing off the days on the large wall calender by the kitchen table or anything..... but I am at least mildly interested in working less than 80 hours per week.
I am going to be off for the summer, studying for boards. I will be at my brother's wedding in mid July and of course Sunny and Tim's wedding after that. I probably will not do much work (other than a few stray shifts to pay the rent) until September. I am currently signing up with a locum tenens agency so that I can wander around the countryside. However, I will not be able to work in California for about 7 months since that is how long it takes to get a license there. I already have my Oregon license so I will start out working here. There is a slight consideration of a local job that I might take that would be a hospitalist job working 7 days on, 7 days off which I am only considering because it is a very nice job. Either way, I could come visit frequently. So, I am praying about this decision. I go out and tour the hospital next week and will then have a better sense. Pray for me.

Tomorrow I have to work a 30 hour shift. Yuck! Not many more to go. After this 2 weeks, will do ER x2 weeks, then night float x2 weeks, then done!!!!!!!

Happy Sabbath all you beloved bloggers!!! I love you all!

Shabbat Shalom!

2008-04-12T18:01:00.000-07:00

This has been a blessed, restful Sabbath. With a long walk last evening in the neighborhood where Spring is blossoming, a trip and picnic lunch to "Hagg Lake" this afternoon, and some good quality reading, I have no complaints.

"If we would permit our minds to dwell more upon Christ and the heavenly world, we should find a powerful stimulus and support in fighting the battles of the Lord. Pride and love of the world will lose their power as we contemplate the glories of that better land so soon to be our home. Beside the loveliness of Christ, all earthly attractions will seem of little worth..."
--The Sanctified Life 91

"...if we would enter the city of God, and look upon Jesus and His glory, we must become accustomed to beholding Him with the eye of faith here. The words and the character of Christ should be often the subject of our thoughts and of our conversation, and each day some time should be especially devoted to prayerful meditation upon these sacred themes."
--The Sanctified Life 92

Sabbath Blessings!

2008-01-26T16:19:00.000-08:00

So nice to have a Sabbath off!!! I have a thankful heart these days. God is good to me.
Today I went to the Stone Tower SDA Church which is just a few blocks from my house. I'm not sure why I didn't go there sooner. I've visited almost every other church in the vancouver/portland area, or so it seemes and got so tired of church hunting especially when I have so few Sabbaths off per year. For a long time I did not know this church was here because I rarely drive on the particular road it is on. Then when I did notice it I wanted to visit it, but was skeptical and figured it was probably like all the rest.
Finally I went today and while I was sitting in the pew at the end of the service, who was walking down the aisle, but Jed Lee (has a wife and little boy now). We recognized each other and chatted a bit, then he introduced me to a dozen or so people. He said this church is "right on" and they are active in evangelism. It is a nice little church, the size that is right for me to get involved in. Praise God!!! I think this is now my new church.

Otherwise I am pleased that I have only a little over 5 months left of residency. It is nice now to be finishing some things, doing last rotations of a particular kind. My senior presentation is this Monday, which I have been working on for almost 3 months on and off. This will be my last big power point presentation of the year so it will be nice to have nearly all the busy work finished after that. Then I can just focus on studying for internal medicine boards and taking last advantage of the wonderful faculty members that we have here.

By the way... does anyone know of a dermatologist in the Loma Linda area that I could do a dermatology rotation with for about the last 2 weeks of May? Let me know. If there is someone I might come down there for a couple weeks.

Have a blessed week and rest of the Sabbath!

Happy New Year 2008!!!

2008-01-01T18:31:00.000-08:00

1. So I was reflecting on all the important things in life and I came up with this list of values, things I should spend more time with in the coming year:

1. God
2. family and friends and pets
3. fluffy blankets
4. warm house
5. fluffy PJ's
6. fluffy couch
7. more fluffy blankets
8. even more fluffy blankets

2. I have always had a difficult time with new year's resolutions. Not that I don't have lots of things that I need to change, I just don't believe very much in my own ability to accomplish them. So, I usually don't make them, but since I am being pressured... here goes...

1. spend more time in the word
2. spend more time in prayer
3. eat more veggies, simple foods, less processed foods
4. exercise at least 3 days per week

There are only 4 because that is quite enough for my simple mind...

The last rays of fall have fallen.......

2007-12-01T14:17:00.001-08:00

This fall I went to Hoyt Arboretum for the first time, which is only about 20 minutes away. Hoyt Arboretum is a 187 acre "living museum of trees and plants from all over the world." It has 21 trails covering 12 miles and has thousands of species of plants and trees all nicely labeled for the botanically curious.
I went there on a perfectly sunny fall day...

This was a very interesting tree apparently already decorated for Christmas...

I was home at the ranch (Texas) for Thanksgiving and enjoyed lounging by the fire, which was kept brightly burning by my wonderful Pa. It was great to have no responsibilities and to spend even a little time with the darling parents. Wintery grayness and rains have now set in. It even snowed today for a few minutes while I was rounding at the hospital: big fluffy flakes, but they did not last. Our Christmas lights are already up to give a cheerful glow in the appartment and as always when I have spare time I am sitting on my fluffy couch under a pile of fluffy blankets.
Happy Sabbath to all!

Ahhh.......Sabbath!!!

2007-11-03T14:01:00.000-07:00

Sooooooooooooooooooooooo lovely to finally have a Sabbath rest day after about 5 or 6 weeks without one. Prior to my current rotation I was on inpatient wards and had only one weekend day off, which was a Sunday, the rest were week days. So, it is really nice now especially to have a Sabbath off, but really great to have both weekend days off back to back as well.

Currently I am on cardiothoracic surgery rotation which is both amusing/annoying and fun. The amusing/annoying part is that I get pimped all day long by the cardiothoracic surgeons. I mean, I really feel like a medical student again being questioned about anatomy during surgery, which I have not reviewed since first year of medical student. Lets just say that while I did get a few questions right, by and large the experience did not reinforce that idea that I should be graduating from my program soon. I try to console myself though, that most of the doctors currently in practice would also not correctly answer these questions. Example "what is heparin obtained from"? (answer: salmon sperm). Now how again is this relevant to my practice of medicine?
Anyway, the good part is that the surgeons, aside from the incessant pimping, are really very nice. I can't say I've met any nicer surgeons... true gentlemen.
The great part is that they are pretty good about trying to arrange procedures for me to do, which is the whole reason I took this rotation: Swan Ganz catheters (monitors intracardiac pressures), central lines (IV access for agents that support blood pressure, and good for other great meds and fluids), intubations (breathing tube for life support machine during surgery), and anything else they can find. Still, the ansthesiologists are always the rate limiting part of the equation since they sometimes do not want a resident coming to practice with them and will not let you do it even if the surgeon trys to encourage them thus.
The highlight so far occured yesterday when I got to place a chest tube for someone who had a pneumothorax. That was really cool.

Today it is beautiful and sunny outside and I got to go to church which was very refreshing. We are going to eat lunch soon and then go walk somewhere to soak up a little sunshine before the rains really start. The fall leaves here have been very beatiful and are now turning a bit dim, telling me they are all about to fall off the trees for the winter.

I am looking forward to going home for Thanksgiving weekend since I will not be off for Christmas this year. I will be on the wards on Christmas which I have not had to do for the first two years.

I really miss everyone!!! I am so excited for darling Sunny and Tim being back together again! Soon I will come hang out with everyone.

Have a blessed Sabbath!

Odds and Ends

2007-08-15T20:49:00.000-07:00

In the midst of my VA ICU Q3 overnight call schedule I just got back from a very glorious and lovely wedding. Much thanks to the coworker who relieved me from work so that I could go to the wedding...

I am pretty trashed overall from this rotation, lying around moaning in my spare time. It seems that being awake all day all and all night and the next day and then the day after that and then repeating it before getting a day off does not agree with my body, mind, or spirit. But the lovely wedding of J and C was a great diversion and break in the midst of the insanity.

Other things are going on though... when my entire person is so fried that I cannot study medicine I resort to other things like becoming unsatisfied with where I live. Actually I have been feeling ill about the whole living-in-the-middle-of-the-city thing for a long time, with street noise, no backyard, having to pay with quarters to do my laundry... all these things are piling up and I am about to the level of freaking out and moving, even though I only have one more year here.

So.... I am house hunting... looking for a darling little rental house that would not be too far from work, not cost too much more money and be on a quiet street (not a main street) and have a backyard and washer and dryer... that would be a dream... have looked at a few from the outside and just need the realtor person to let me in to see if all my stuff would fit.

Also thinking about where I will go backpacking in a few weeks as I have a little vacation time I am taking off and plan to wander around in the mountains. Maybe Mount Hood... not sure what makes me so desperate for mountains and backpacking... it's kinda becoming an addiction... I think it is mostly because I live in the city and my life is so busy that it is smothering me and getting away into nature helps.

Speaking of mountains, these are the olympics in northern washington where I went for a short weekend trip. Ahhhhhhhh..........

ICU nights ambiance

2007-05-25T15:02:00.000-07:00

I have had a lovely ICU nights experience thus far and only 3 more shifts to go... Feeling a bit contemplative since this is my last ICU nights block ever. We only do ICU night blocks as a second year so will just have some ICU day rotations next year. The obvious difference (or maybe not so obvious) is that on nights I am alone admitting everyone that comes into the ICU and cross-covering on all the other patients in the ICU. It can definitely get messy and busy...
This particular rotation has been all about codes... PEA, asystole, etc (basically, not good). Fortunately, or unfortunately, they were expected to have bad outcomes so it was no major trauma that neither patient survived all my valiant efforts, though still very sad.
This ICU nights rotation has had a certain ambiance all its own. I think I have finally gotten used to juggling 10,000 things at once (admissions, labs to followup, etc), getting interrupted by the nurses every five seconds (various cross cover issues)... the rotation has been nice, but the ambiance actually came from the small Gideon Bible (but with fairly large print and that stays open very nicely) that somehow appeared at the corner of my workstation halfway through my rotation... I normally don't even think about having time to read the Bible at work, especially in the ICU. But it was there... so I opened it... to Colossians "walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him..." and Phillipians "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God...", "not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content... (this one keeps appearing), "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me..."
In between the busyness, having a Bible open to glance at and meditate on brought a special peace...
Is someone out there praying for me? Who is responsible for the Bible's appearance? Or was it there the whole time and someone prayed it to my attention. Thank you to whoever is praying...

By the way, I'm coming to visit June 1-3. Will see you all at AdventHOPE on Sabbath, perhaps friday night, and maybe we can eat out Saturday night or Sunday. Looking forward to it!

Updates

2007-05-12T17:49:00.000-07:00

Well, I suppose I should really say hello to all my long lost pals in So Cal and a few other places...

I think about you all the time but feel like I am always too deep under my pile of things to do...

Currently brewing:

1) trying to get various papers, competencies, certifications turned in before the end of the year (it helps in order to go on to 3rd year residency)

2) about to take USMLE step 3. yes, I know, I am very lazy procrastinating so long. everyone else in my residency program seems to procrastinate this test so why should I be any different...

3) lots of power point presentations. seems like we end up doing about two per month depending on the rotation. then there are other didactics that we teach.

4) just went to an area high school as part of out patient rotation and taught and A&P class on the digestive system to juniors. wow they seem young now! Of course I found out I was doing this 3 days before it was due, all of them were work days and the first two involved a 30 hour shift and postcall napping leaving little time left for preparing what I was going to say.

5) I'm really starting to freak out about having only 1 year left until I have to know it all... just kidding about the knowing it all part, since the attendings all tell me that they felt quite dumb their first year as an attending with the whole adjustment of having no one to staff with.

6) seems like everyone in my clinic group is on vacation right now including a lot of attendings so of course that means I am managing all their issues.

7) did I mention that winter is really dreary here and that I NEED SUN!!! By the way, Sunny counts for sunshine. Thanks for coming up to visit Sunny Bunny! You're a sweetheart! It was fun hanging out with Halle and Lisa as well.

8) I really need summer so that all the snow will melt off my favorite trails so that I can backpack! must backpack!!! Nothing like living in the part of town with all the bars and street noise to make me need to escape.

9) Tim, enjoy life as a medical student. That's all I am going to say. Just kidding, residency is much better, though also more exhausting.

10) What is with everyone I ever hung out with getting married this summer??? You guys have nothing better to do than be romantic! (Kidding again, great choices everyone! there is more to life than work...)

11) I'm trying to decide what to do with my life after this next year. Hospitalist? Primary care doctor? Missionary? I want to be mobile enough to do mission work, I want the job flexibility of a hospitalist and I want the doctor patient relationship of a primary care provider. Any ideas???

12) Thanks for the darlings that remember me enough to invite me to be a part of their wedding! I'm honored... and looking for plane tickets... and trying to get dresses altered and find shoes, etc. I will make appearances in June (1-3) and August (10-12).

13) while I did gain about 100 extra pounds during my intern year due to eating junk (must have energy) I have been revising my habits to include fasting when at work and eating only when at home and now only weigh 40 pounds extra. (kidding about the numbers, take off one extra zero for each.)

14) my patients are driving me crazy much of the time. while I like primary care I must say that vague dizziness, chronic back pain, narcotic seekers really make me think twice about my career choice. And I really don't like it when the chief complaint listed by my medical assistant on the progress note is "multiple issues". I'm definitely getting better about interrupting people and guiding the interview, but some interviews really are impossible!

15) trying to read something every day that I learn on my current rotation. seems like not much time is left though after going the the grocery store, paying bills, doing laudry, doing the dishes, etc. Did I mention that it seems like every night I am preparing a power point for something
?

16) would be nice to have a good church to go to. there are some reasonable places out here though they are definitely not AdventHOPE. But it seems hard to ever get to know anyone when I have so few Sabbaths off.(Doesn't help matters when I go backpacking for the weekend, either.) Audioverse is great!

17) Did I mention that every weekend I'm off, it rains and all week at work it is sunny weather. Arrrrrrggggggg!!!!!!!

So... most of you will now understand why I don't blog very often and why when I do blog I just put up a nice scripture verse. I generally prefer not to say anything rather than to whine like I just did. Sorry for the attitude.

So... here is the verse (I really need to work on applying it):

"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content... I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phillipians 4:11, 13

Psalm 130

2007-04-01T21:44:00.001-07:00

Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD;

LORD, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.

If You, LORD, should mark iniquities,
O LORD, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
And in His word I do hope.
My soul waits for the LORD
More than those who watch
for the morning--
Yes, more than those who watch for the morning...

2006-11-24T19:36:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Today was my thanksgiving since I was at work from about 6:30 am to 7:30 pm yesterday. Today was my day off and I enjoyed sleeping in, making dressing and pumpkin pie and studying a bit of academia. We had dressing, mashed potatos with gravy, sweet potatos, cranberry sauce, olives, spinach and broccoli, and pumpkin pie. Delicious!

I am a bit on the sad side now that it is the rainy season again and it is dark when I go to work and dark when I get home every day. I am really not used to living this far north. It is sundown at 4:30pm. Can you believe that!?! It's crazy!
But I am doing quite well with my light box which really seems to help and we put up christmas lights in our house a few weeks ago, so that is warm and inviting. And it is not so bad to burrow under a pile of warm blankets on a nice soft couch and read something on a rainy day (they are all rainy now). Now if only I didn't have to go to work... just kidding...I am actually more inspired than ever to study and learn medicine since I am already about halfway done with my residency and I definitely don't feel like I really know what I am doing yet although it is coming along.
God is good! I am looking forward to going home for Christmas in the next few weeks. I really would love to swing by AdventHOPE, too, but it will be a little challenging this year since I used a large chunk of vacation time already when I was with my Mom for her surgery. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
I have to work tomorrow but should have a pretty nice day on by myself since we only have 4 patients right now. I hope to get home early and enjoy the rest of the Sabbath.
Happy Sabbath to all of you!!!

2006-11-24T18:46:00.000-08:00

This was the start of our adventure up Mount Hood. There is nothing quite like the wilderness, and a backpack with only what you absolutely need. Kind of gives a sense of freedom... Please refer to my previous post for the full details of this adventure. These are just the long promised pictures.

The trees had a lot of fur (moss) hanging from them, especially at about 5000 feet.
This is my backpack and tent site the first night. We finally found the trail head at midnight and got to bed at about 1:30 since it was so hard to find an acceptable tend site (lots of underbrush and some marshy areas). The bottom part of my backpack has my sleeping bag and on the outside is my mat for sleeping (dark red). Inside the main compartment is water and most of the food. My room mate carried the tent (only 4.5 lbs!). In the small pack is my teeny tiny Bible and of course there are also stuff sacks with the bare minimum in them (extra socks, extra layer of warmth, toothbrush, flashlight, etc). It is really quite addicting...
This was a glorious view of Mount Hood from the switchback trails that went up to Elk Meadows. A Sabbath treat, to be sure.
We had to cross this creek to go up the trail switchbacks. Others had put logs across so that it was quite easy to cross.

This is where the actual loop starts. We camped the second night up here and had a lovely campfire and cooked our food over it.

Wow! This was definitely the most breathtaking part of the backpacking trip, the view of Mount Hood framed by elk meadows.

Outdoor Adventures

2006-08-18T11:11:00.000-07:00

I must say that summer here is absolutely wonderful! Generally it cools down nicely in the evenings and the temperature is usually quite pleasant even in the daytime. We have had a couple of hot spells, but those did not last more than about a week. My housemate and I have been wandering around the outdoors as much as possible while the summer lasts because we both know that there seems to be only two seasons out here: summer and rainy season. So while there is some vitamin D to be absorbed I am going to get some.

Mount Hood is the tallest mountain in Oregon at 11,235 feet above sea level and 92 miles spreading at base, with eleven glaciers on it's peak. It is also the second most climbed mountain in the world. It is actually a napping volcano with most recent eruption in 1907. Mount Hood National Forest encompasses 1.2 million acres and has 4 designated wilderness areas and over 1200 miles of hiking trails. With such a delicious morsel in your backyard, who can resist getting up close and visiting it?

Our first major adventure in mount hood started while I was on a clinic rotation, which mainly means that I got off work a bit late on a Friday afternoon. This is not unusual since if any disaster is going to happen in clinic (such as a really sick patient that needs admitting to the hospital) it is destined to happen on a Friday, since people always put off serious medical problems to the last minute and then decide they really should go to the doctor before the weekend so they don't end up having to go the the ER. So anyway....I get home around 6:30pm, we pack our backpacks, eat some supper, and we are off to camp in mount hood national forrest.
Now the first important lesson to learn is that maps, even obtained at a ranger station, are not really to be trusted.... and so we end up driving and driving for a really long time hunting for the trailhead and finally arive at about midnight. Yeah... after a long week we are both ready to fall over but instead we hoist backpacks that weight about 500 lbs onto our backs and set off on the trail... ok they acutally probably weighed about 35 lbs (no joke).

So we set off on the trail and hike in about 1.5 miles or so before we find a good place to camp, set up our tent in the dark and fall asleep about 1:30 or so...insane...but the air is very fresh and cool and we are pleasantly snuggled down in our warm sleeping bags...mmmm.... needless to say we regain consciousness at about 11:00am or so, lounge in our bags until about noon and finally decide to get up, take down camp, have morning devotions and breakfast and set off on the trail again about 2:00pm or so. Kind of a late start but oh well...that is life when you work so many hours during the week...work hard...play hard...

After several small creek crossings we finally arive at the larger creek crossing described in the trail guide. Some seasons you have to wade across or even find it uncrossable depending on the rain, so we were not sure what we would encounter. It was not bad though and we ended up crossing on some logs that other hikers had put there.

Once across the creek it was up, up, and up the switchbacks, quickly gaining elevation to about 5200 feet...
There were incredible views of mount hood along the switchbacks. I will say that going up hill is not quite as fast and easy with 35 lbs on your back... But wow, was it breathtaking!

Once on top we followed the trail to Elk Meadows Loop and set off on the several mile loop around the meadow. Unfortunately there really are no elk up there, but the views were spectacular with Mount Hood in the background of the meadow...
You know... it is good to notice your surroundings when you are hiking, especialy when hiking around a loop....in case you just keep going around the loop... Why do I mention this?... No reason.... (we acutally only went about 1/4 mile around the loop again because things started looking familiar...)

So we finally set up camp just before dark and built a nice warm campfire. Nothing quite like sitting by a campfire after hiking all day and having nice warm food...

In the morning we set back down the mountain with packs much lighter (drank at least 2/3 of our water by then and ate most of our food)...
We really had a blessing with the views of the mountain that we saw, since it was cloudy on the return trip.
I will have to admit that this is the start an addiction for the outdoors. It helps add to this addiction that we both live in the middle of the city with all the annoying city noise. It is just great to get away to the country that God has created. Come on up and camp with me sometime...

ps: for some reason blogger is not letting me add pictures right now. not sure why. Check back to see the pictures I post. Also please note my new cell number 503-298-9836 (verizon).

Rose Garden

2006-07-08T17:22:00.000-07:00

Portland is known as the City of Roses and we recently went to the rose garden to explore. It was lovely!

Makes me long for heaven where "there shall be no more curse" and we shall "see His face..." always. Revelation 22:3,4

2006-07-08T16:22:00.000-07:00

Hmmmm.....where to start after not posting in soooooooooo long.......?.........

Life is good out here. It is wonderful that summer is here and it is sunny most of the time now. My housemate and I have been busy as usual with the details of life. Unfortunately she has been out of town for the week due to a major personal tragedy which could be added to her current list. Please pray for her.
Prior to that we have been up to various hobbies such as plants and woodworking...
We build a table (ok she built the table, but I helped to stain it) for our plants and are working on a corner table to put between our couches. Quite fun. Our plants are growing up very fast. The tomato plants and basil and flowers are from seed. The fern and peace lily were bought as youngsters, before and after pictures:

More on the next post...

Perfect Love

2006-03-22T21:42:00.000-08:00

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18
This verse appeared in my mind this week as I was floating around in the ICU, and I thought "Wow! NO FEAR. I would like that. What would that even feel like? So much of my existence is mingled with fear. And Perfect love? What is that? How DOES perfect love cast out fear? How can I be made perfect in love? I want that. "
So I went verse hunting and pondering and praying. As I peruse I John 4:7-18 I am reminded of the aposlte obsessed with love for his master, and of Jesus' own musings of abiding in John 14. These verses seem similar and really bring out the concept of abiding/dwelling in Him. In 1 John 4 I see that the love of God is manifested that we might live THROUGH Him (4:9) and that if we love one another God DWELLS in us and his love is perfected in us (4:12), the Spirit is evidence of His DWELLING in us (4:13), and that if He DWELLS in us we will confess Him (4:15). God IS love; he who DWELLS in love, DWELLS in God and God in him (4:16).
All this discussion about dwelling is tied together by by verse 4:17: In this (refers back to verse 16--God dwelling in us and us in Him) is love made perfect...so that we can have boldness in the day of judgment because we are one and the same (God in me and me in God).
So fear, then, comes from not dwelling in God, and love is made perfect in us and fear dissolved by dwelling in God who IS love. Or you could say that fear cannot exist in the presence of perfect love, and if I dwell in perfect love there will be no room for fear.
I want a life without fear, a life of only faith and dwelling in Jesus, of perfect love. Don't you?

Second Peter: The Evidence

2006-03-05T10:08:00.000-08:00

The book of Second Peter seems to be largely written as a reminder of the need for and way of spiritual growth. Peter is reminding them of this especially as he is made aware of his approaching death and finds it very important that we always have a reminder of this. He is writing to those who already have "like precious faith," so that they do not become lax in the work of faith. He sees this glorious provision through the promises and knowledge of God whereby we may actually partake of the divine nature and thereby assure our salvation. It is not the works that earn our salvation, but the attainment of the divine nature that Jesus gives us through the knowledge of Him and through partaking of the promises. As evidence that all this can be ours he notes that this character growth process is not a fable and backs it by noting that they (the apostles) were eyewitnesses of Jesus power, they heard the voice on the mountain, and also refers to the sure prophetic word. These all confirm the verity of the process of growth into the divine nature and our ultimate salvation. And while contextually he does not exactly say this, we in turn become evidence that the plan works, evidence of God's amazing power and majesty. Don't you want to be part of the evidence?

Sun!!!

2006-02-05T20:34:00.000-08:00

The sun came out today and how glorious it was... I slet in until 9 am and then had devotions until 10am, then ate breakfast with my face in the windowsil, sunlight streaming across me. Ahhhh.... And since the sun was still out I went and sat on the steps in the sunlight and soaked up vitamin D, reading an article while my laudry went swish swish... Then after lunch my housemate and I went for a walk in the sunshine...Ahhhh.....the day was just oh so nice and sweet and delicious for having sunshine... I'm looking forward to sitting forever in the Sonlight of that city that "has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it... for the Lamb is its light..." Rev 21: 23. If my heart is so warmed and cheered by the lowly sun of our galaxy, how much more warmth and glorious joy will it be to sit in His presence! Oh how I long!!!

2006-01-26T19:59:00.000-08:00

"For the Lord will not cast off forever. Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men." Lamentations 3: 31-33

"Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God." Ps 42:11

"Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refusge, until these clamities have passed by..." Ps 57:1

"Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.
For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings." Ps 61:1-4

Jude: Book of Judgment

2006-01-17T09:34:00.000-08:00

Another concept that appears throughout the book of Jude is the concept of judgment. Early on Jude reminds us of the judgment that came against the Egyptian rebels, the fallen angels, and Sodom and Gomorrha. Later he likens the current invaders to feasters who are feeding themselves when they should be feeding others. He likens them to Cain, Balaam, and Korah, and notes that the blackness of darkness forever is reserved for them. He tells us of Enoch's prophecy which reminds us that judgment was prophecied against these evil ones early in the history of the world. And if you note the introduction of the book, you see that Jude seems to want to remind us that God sanctifies us and that Jesus preserves us. This the is first part of a delicious sandwich which surrounds the judgment concept throughout the book, as he closes by reminding us how we can appear faultless in the judgment: "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen."

The Faces of Moving...

2006-01-14T16:50:00.000-08:00

The Journey Begins

The New Place (upstairs)
A Friendly Face
A Kitchen of My Own!
A Living Room with Big Windows

I really am planning to post soon...

2006-01-08T21:49:00.000-08:00

Yeah...I had a good Christmas at home...lounging around doing nothing...studying Jude...listening to the evening GYC broadcasts...and I am still trying to get over my 2+month cold/flu...and now trying to finish moving in to my place...and cope with having no furniture...and no time...but now I need sleep...blessings...

Ahhh.......Sabbath!!!

2005-12-16T19:12:00.000-08:00

How nice that it is Sabbath. I am praising God for the apartment that is now officially mine and quite close to the hospital. I am moving in on Sunday... I am also excited that I just have one more week of work and then go home for Christmas break (one whole wapping week)! Hooray!!! Well...I would chat a bit more but I am going to take advantage of the fact that it is Sabbath and listen to another David Gates sermon. The first one was very yummy!
Blessings all!

Jude: Contend for the Faith

2005-12-09T19:53:00.000-08:00

One of the blessings I got out of Jude this morning was regarding how to contend for the faith... Soon after Jude introduces his epistle he states his main purpose for writing...to encourage us to contend earnestly for the faith specifically because of the ungodly who had crept in to the church (more in 2 peter). So it was interesting to note that he again uses the word "contend" when discussing Michael contending with the devil for the body of Moses. Michael says, "the Lord rebuke you." He did not use self to impress the devil, though throughout the book, self, lust, grumbling, etc, are characteristics of the ungodly. So we see that when we contend for the faith it should be in the same way that Michael did, depending on the Father to do the rebuking. It seems that he also closes the book by additionally discussing how to contend for the faith: build yourself up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, save others, etc... this all begs much more thought and prayer...yum...great fun!

Hot on the Trail of an Apartment and Jude

2005-12-07T22:14:00.000-08:00

I am very close to nailing down a final decision for an apartment. I am so excited...I can't wait to move and be 5 or so minutes from the hospital...this will be great. I already have an application going. Unless something happens I think this will be it...more on that later...I'll also have to share more on Jude later...I think Jude has some great stuff in it...however, I can't say the revival part was so much from studying Jude as it was from being inspired to study with Peter's study techniques which has led me back into study...more on that later as well, since I am a bit overloaded and have to go to bed now...
blessings...

So Much Fun!!!

2005-12-04T09:04:00.000-08:00

Ooooooo!!! I'm having so much fun right now that I just had to post. I'm having my own little revival here after listening to Peter Gregory's series on "How to Study Your Bible." Very tasty! And now, just to get the full fun out of it I've been applying it to the book of Jude, just 'cuz it is a quick, small book to practice on. If anyone reading this doesn't know what I'm talking about you can look on the website advent-hope.org and look under sermons. God is so good to pack so much meat in His Word. Yum!!!

Wards is Over!

2005-11-28T21:18:00.000-08:00

Yes!!! My wards rotation is finally over and I get to show up to work tomorrow at the luxurious hour of 8:00am as a budding endocrinologist. I anticipate a life of relative ease for the next month. Hooray!
Well, once again, it is time for bed. This is a pretty short post but I have to save a little time for a spiritual snack before bed. Here is a little morsel for you:
"Of all the gifts that heaven can bestow upon men, fellowship with Christ in His sufferings is the most weighty trust and the highest honor." --MH 478
Goodnight.

2005-11-26T20:59:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm getting tired now, so it is probably almost bedtime. I have only two more days left of this rotation! Yeah! And I'm off work tomorrow! So that actually leaves only one day :) My first agenda item tomorrow is to sleep in as late as possible. After that activity I will probably wander out and shop a little bit (groceries, perhaps a winter coat so I don't freeze, maybe a little Christmas shopping) and then in the afternoon I may do a bit of apartment hunting. Of course that sounds like a full day, so it likely will not happen that way. I will sleep in until the day is half over, get groceries, and if lucky get one or two more things done. You know how it is when you haven't had a day off in a while...Well, time to get some rest...
"In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength." --Is 30:15

Friends

2005-11-26T20:56:00.000-08:00

You people are the coolest! I miss you all! Come see me in Portland!

Recent Fun

2005-11-26T20:36:00.000-08:00

Mom was recently here with me and we went on a little boat ride in the Gorge. It was great having her here! C'mon back anytime Ma!

Hope

2005-11-25T20:03:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I didn't really mean what I said about hope. Well, maybe I did. However, there is one and only one thing worth hoping for.
"The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." --Lamentations 3:25, 26 (I took this picture on my first trip to Portland for my interview here: the lovely Mount Hood peeking above the clouds).

Provision

2005-11-25T19:38:00.000-08:00

There was something really long and frustrating about today...but we'll not go there. Anyone who has done rotations on the wards understands that. The real problem is that I temporarily forgot that hope is absolutely uncalled for and risky. I am referring to the hope that just because there wasn't much left to do I might get home at a reasonable hour. Yeah right. Anyway...I am really counting down until this rotation is over. Not that it is a terrible rotation. I just don't have time for life. That is always a bummer. I will try not to tire everyone out with my fatigue though. I have only 3 more days! Yes!!! And one of them is a day off!!! Even better! Tomorrow I admit patients until 1 pm then do other floor work, Sunday I have off, and Monday is my last day. That can't be so bad (Norman and Doug should recognize this picture:). "If we surrender our lives to His service, we can never be placed in a position for which God has not made provision." --COL 173

Lush

2005-11-22T19:43:00.000-08:00

Wow! God is good!... I took this lush picture when LaNaya was down to visit at a park near my place...I am now officially apartment hunting. I was on today by myself, running the ward team, since my senior resident had the day off. It was a busy day, but I was blessed with finishing before 5 pm and looking around a bit for apartments. I thought it would be more simple than this, but I think finding the right place will be a bit more challenging. But I really have peace right now that God has the right place for me. I'm so excited that I feel His leading to move in to Portland. The drive from Vancouver has been really getting to me. I am just amazed at how every day God deserves my praise!!! Every day God is working out the BEST plan for our lives! Even when in a dark hole and not feeling a bit like God is leading, He is still building the perfect plan for me. Yeah! :)

2005-11-21T22:21:00.000-08:00

He will swallow up death forever...And the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces... --Is 25:8

2005-11-21T22:14:00.000-08:00

At Cannon Beach...a refreshing break from the daily toil...
Nothing is apparently more helpless, yet really more invincible, than the soul that feels its nothingness and relies wholly on the merits of the Saviour. --7T 17

Strength

2005-11-21T21:55:00.000-08:00

In the darkest days, when appearances are most forbidding, have faith in God...
--MH 482

2005-11-21T21:41:00.000-08:00

It has been a long time since I have been here...

Bored

2005-11-21T21:33:00.000-08:00

I'm a little bored today. Just cruising along at work trying to keep from going crazy.