A New Season

This week I started on the night shift.

 I am training this week and the week after Nicaragua,

 then I will start my 7 on, 7 off rotation at the end of January.

It really hasn't been bad at all. The first day I had a hard time sleeping

but Jason is the best husband ever and he really helped me out.

He made sure Daisy left me alone.

He picked up something for dinner so I could sleep later.

He even offered to go to the grocery store for me!

(This is a HUGE deal!)

I am so very grateful for my sweet husband who is so supportive!

Matching scarves for Christmas!

New Year's Eve

The last couple days it has been a lot easier to sleep during the day. 

I really like that I can get up in the afternoon and have a couple hours

to get things done around the house before having to go to work.

It's nice to not have to get up and rush off to work!

Of course there are negatives, like both of us having to sleep alone when I'm working.

But I am very thankful to have this job opportunity, and I believe this is God's plan for us!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT)

"For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven."

Please continue to pray for us, as we are leaving for Nicaragua on Saturday morning!

Pray for our group's health and safety, that we would be able to minister and show God's love to the people of Nicaragua, and for the people of Nicaragua!

I can't wait to share our experiences when we get back!

Pharm.D., R.Ph.

Today I am finally a licensed pharmacist! I found out last week that I passed all three of my tests, but it took a few more days for me to actually be licensed through the state board of pharmacy. Tomorrow will be my first day working as a pharmacist! It's very exciting, but I'm also a little nervous about being by myself. I have been working with other pharmacists practicing with them for the last couple of days, so that has definitely helped!


Jason is volunteering this week at a youth camp in North Carolina. He is doing some work for them with the bobcat and helping with the youth. He said he is having a good time, but I miss him a lot. I'm definitely looking forward to having him home on Friday! 

No More Studying! :)

I have been studying non-stop for the past 10 days for my last two tests to get licensed as a pharmacist. I had the second test on Friday, and the very last test was today. Now that I am done with studying I can finally get back to updating our blog! I should find out in the next couple of days whether or not I passed these last couple tests. I did get a letter today saying that I passed the first test I took three weeks ago! Yay!


Back to the honeymoon, Thursday was our second to last day. We started the day off with our second breakfast in bed. This time we had it on our patio, complete with a view of the beach and the sound of the waves. It was yummy :) 


Unfortunately, Thursday was also the day that Jason started feeling bad. He had some drainage and was really congested. We checked with the Sandals gift shop, but they didn't have anything for sinuses. At this point, I was really wishing I had brought my Neti Pot! Believe me, I will not be leaving home without it again! We decided to walk down to the grocery store on the corner to see if they had anything to help. We found something that had sudafed in it, so Jason was good to go. Since we were there we also got some snacks for the trip home. We starved on the way down, so we didn't want the same thing to happen again! 


After our trip to the store, we headed out with the Sandals crew to go snorkeling. This time we went to a much better spot. There were a lot more different kinds of fish and lots of reefs to look at. The only thing that bothered me were the tiny jellyfish looking things that seemed to be everywhere! I tried to stay away from them, but there just seemed to be so many. Jason called them sea ants. Other than those things, it was a great experience. Once again, wishing we had an underwater camera!


After snorkeling, we went back to the resort for lunch and hung out at the pool for the rest of the afternoon. For dinner we headed back to Sandals La Toc to eat at Kimono's, the Japanese restaurant. It was Hibachi style. The food was pretty good, but not as good as the french restaurant the night before! 


Here are a couple of pictures of the beach at La Toc and the sunset!

So much to do!

Right now I feel like my heart is about to beat out of my chest! I just scheduled my final 2 tests in order to become a licensed pharmacist. The first one I have known will be June 2nd, the week after we get back from our honeymoon. The other 2 tests I have been waiting to get the okay to schedule from the Georgia Board of Pharmacy. I didn't think I would already have the permission today, but apparently it comes through email not snail mail! I was able to schedule one of the tests for June 17th and the next for June 20th. I'm not sure how long it takes after the tests to be licensed, but hopefully this means I could be licensed by early July. 


I know we have spent the last 4 years preparing for this, but I still don't feel ready! The fact that my job depends on this test is making me very nervous. Now that I know the dates I think I will be more motivated to study though. I know it's happening now. 


On top of all of this craziness, the wedding is in FOUR days! And since today is almost over, it's really in THREE days! I absolutely cannot believe it. It has been a crazy week so far.


Sunday we had a shower given to us by our very sweet Sunday school class. We had brunch, and they gave us a book they had put together with their advice about marriage. I'm so thankful for their prayers and support!


I have also had a review at school this week, which is hopefully helping me prepare for this test. It was all day yesterday, all day today, and takes half the day tomorrow. Tonight, I also had dinner with some friends at the Last Resort Grill in Athens. It was so much fun. And the food was very yummy as always! :)


Tomorrow, after the half day of review, Charles and I are supposed to go on our sibling road trip. Jason went on the trip with his sisters, so we are going on one too, on a smaller scale. We are just day tripping, no time for over night stays at this point! I also have to practice walking in my wedding shoes and practice dancing with my dad tomorrow too!


Thursday is the only day this week that I don't have the whole day already planned. Jason and I are making dinner for our sweet friends the Grants. Sherry just had surgery to remove breast cancer and is still recovering. The rest of the day will probably be used to do last minute wedding things and maybe try to move a few more of my things. I really haven't had time to move much of my stuff down to the basement yet. But I guess that doesn't necessarily be done before the wedding. We will probably have more time when we get back from the honeymoon. Oh I guess I also need to pack for the honeymoon on Thursday too! There's just so much to do. In hindsight, I think doing all of this in such a short time frame was probably not the wisest decision, but we're going with it and it will be fine.


Friday, Mom and I are getting our nails done, I'm getting my hair done in Athens, and then we have the rehearsal dinner on Friday night. Kristen and Lilly, my wonderful bridesmaids, are going to spend the night since we will have to get up so early on Saturday to start getting ready. I can't believe it's time for the wedding already. The last 30 days have gone by so quickly!


Saturday, we will be married! YAY! :) Then Sunday morning we are headed to St. Lucia. I cannot wait. I feel in dire need of a vacation right now. It will be so nice to just relax and not have to do anything! :)

Can't wait to marry him! :)

4 days until MRS. ELLIS!!!!!

Kristen Kinamon, Pharm.D

Or technically you could call me Dr. Kinamon... But no pressure or anything! 


Saturday was my graduation from the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy. Friday night we had a senior banquet to celebrate and give out some awards. Then Saturday was the big day!


After six long years of school, I am so very glad to be graduated. It still does feel a little bit surreal. I don't really feel any different today than I did last week. Also the fact that we still have to take the boards and get licensed which means there is still studying to do doesn't really make me feel very done with school just yet. 


So Saturday we got up early to head to Athens. Graduation was on the volleyball court in the Ramsey Center. Charles and Jason's parents met us there. Then I had to put on my cap and gown. Honestly the gowns were a little ugly. Apparently the pharmacy school color is a nasty green so it looked weird on the black. After getting the cap and gown on I had to go back stage to get in line in alphabetical order (hopefully my last line ever!). We waited for what seemed like forever before we finally went in and sat down. Luckily I'm in the middle of the alphabet so I got to watch all the people in front of me so I would know what to do! The dean and our class president gave their addresses then the name calling began. We got a certificate, then we all got hooded. At a graduate school graduation you get hooded. Then we all shook hands with the dean and had our picture made. There are only 121 people from my class that graduated. I'm so glad it was a small number. I can't imagine having to graduate with all of UGA! 


After taking a bunch of pictures we all went to lunch to celebrate!

Getting the gown on

Walking in

Me and Jason

With the future in laws

Hood

With the fam :)

Overall, a good day :)

So now we are down to one countdown:

12 Days until Dr. Ellis!! :)

Lots to Do!

Today was my first day on the job. It was a pretty good day. It was pretty awesome to work and know you are going to get paid for it! I'm so very glad to be done working for free!!


I'm feeling a little bit overwhelmed though. There are still a few things that need to be done for the wedding, now I am working, and I still have to study for my boards. I definitely have to pass the test now that I have a job! It just seems like there is a lot to do in not very much time! I guess this will be a good time to work on my time management skills. 


On Friday Mom and I are going to Flint Hill for our final wedding planning meeting. It's hard to believe that the final planning is already here :) Then Jason and I are going on Monday to meet with the pastor and the musician to really get the timeline down for the wedding day. Tuesday is the trial hair style day, so I guess I probably need to figure out exactly how I want my hair done before that. It will be a project for this weekend. Mom and I are also going honeymoon shopping on Friday which I am excited about! I need some new clothes and swim suits for St. Lucia! I will be so glad when the wedding is over and we are on vacation. This vacation is much needed for both me and Jason. Jason has been very busy working these last couple of weeks. He has been out of town a lot and he has to work overnight most of the time. He definitely needs a vacation too


10 days until graduation!!
24 days until the wedding!!

We So Excited

I have great news! Yesterday, I was offered a job at the clinic where I am on rotation now. They have several clinics and a few have pharmacies. The one in Lavonia, Georgia has a pharmacy but no pharmacist. So they offered me the job. I of course accepted. Because it's a clinic, they have regular doctor's office hours so I will not have to work til 9 or 10 at night which is awesome. Probably the latest I would be there would be 7. Also, this particular clinic is only open two days a week. It's a part time gig with the possibility that in the future the clinic may be open 3 or even 4 days a week. But for now, I'm content with 2. I am so very thankful for this opportunity. I will probably be making exactly the same as I would have made doing a residency but will only work 2 days a week instead of all 7 days! God was definitely watching out for me. I know this is a God thing because when I got my original list of rotations this rotation was not included. I was actually supposed to be somewhere else for these last 5 weeks. That preceptor backed out last semester and this was my new assignment. And now God has given me the opportunity to be a pharmacist without having to work nights or weekends! I'm so happy about that! Now I will be able to eat dinner with Jason every night and have weekends off with him and our families. I have always said I wanted a cushy part time job, and I think that's what I got! I am so relieved that Jason and I are not starting our lives together unemployed. Apalachee Construction, Jason's company, has been very busy lately (which is a good thing of course!) and now I will be bringing some income to the table as well. Tomorrow is my last day of school (YAY!!!). Next week, I will start working at the clinic in Lavonia. I will be working there and training with another pharmacist until I get my license in June or July. So excited!!! :)


It's so hard for me to believe tomorrow is my last day of school ever. I don't feel like I'm really ready to be a grown up, but I guess I am! And closer to graduation means closer to the wedding :)


Mom and I have a busy day planned on Friday getting wedding things taken care of! I am having the final fitting for my wedding dress and hopefully bringing it home on Friday! Then we have some errands to run to pick up some things for the wedding reception. It's getting so close. I'm so much looking forward to having it behind us and relaxing in St. Lucia on our honeymoon!! 


Countdown:
1 more day of free labor
17 days until graduation
31 days until the wedding!

Time

"Time's flying by moving so fast, you better make it count cause you can't get it back..."


This is a line from the Carrie Underwood song So Small. I was thinking about it today because time really is flying by right now! 


Next Thursday is my last day of school ever. EVER. It's a little hard to believe. I feel like I've been in school forever, so the fact that it is almost finished is a little strange. Will I know what to do with myself when I don't have school to do? I'm sure I will! It's not like I've really been doing school this year. At least after May 7th I can work and make money instead of doing it for free! These 6 years of college and 4 years of pharmacy school have definitely flown by. I graduated from high school 6 years ago, it certainly doesn't feel like it's been that long. I'm getting old! :)


Time is also flying by when it comes to the wedding! Being almost done with school also means that the wedding is right around the corner. I feel like our engagement has flown by as well. We started out at over 500 days until the wedding and now there are only 5 weeks left. At this point, to be honest, I'm tired of planning. I don't want to make any more decisions or do anything else. I just want to BE married to Jason. Unfortunately, there are still things to do, so I can't just sit back yet. I went to get my dress fitted two weeks ago, so it will be ready next Friday for me to pick up! Yay! Mom and I are working on the formatting and details for the programs. We are also working on the music for the ceremony and of course the reception! I can't wait to dance after the ceremony :) Our final planning meeting with Flint Hill is in two weeks. And my sweet bridesmaids are throwing me a lingerie shower next weekend! Woo hoo! As soon as I'm done with school, I'll be going shopping to get new clothes for our St. Lucia honeymoon. We are so much looking forward to that vacation. I guess somewhere in the midst of all this wedding stuff, I also need to study for the pharmacy boards!!


Also, I'm doing the Insanity workouts right now to get back in shape for the honeymoon. And it's definitely insane. I hate it while I'm doing it, but I feel much better when it's done! :) 


Updated Countdowns:
5 more days of free labor
24 days until graduation
38 days until the wedding!

Not my will, but Yours

On Wednesday I found out that I will not be doing a residency next year. I am disappointed because of the rejection and the fact that I still don't have a job after graduation. I'm also relieved. The residency would have required a LOT of hours. I probably would have been working 60-80 hours a week. I would have had to work 12 days then have just 2 days off which would have been really difficult. So I am relieved that I don't have to give up my life and I won't be tied down for a year. This way if Jason is called to another ministry we are still flexible. I prayed a lot over the residency. I wanted to do it if it was the right thing to do. I asked God that if it was not what he had for me that He would close the door. I believe that's what He did. It must not be a part of His plan. I know that He has another plan for me. One day I will look back and think, "it's a good thing I didn't do a residency." On Wednesday night during my quiet time I again was reading Beth Moore's Praying God's Word Day by Day. The following is the entry for March 23rd.

God's primary purpose in healing us from our hurts is to 

introduce us to new depths of relationship with himself.

Lord, in my heart I plan my course, but You determine my steps

(Prov. 16:9).

Life is not going as I planned. But I am so grateful that you are 

not caught off guard. You knew everything that would befall me. 

So please direct my steps as You determine.

I need you, Lord.

Carry me when I cannot walk.

For though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life.

Stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes. With

your right hand, save me.

You will fulfill Your purpose for me. Your love, O Lord,

endures forever. Do not abandon the works of 

Your hands (Ps. 138:7-8).

I am so thankful that God allowed me to read this on the same day I found out I wasn't doing my residency. God is not caught off guard. He knew at the beginning of this process that the residency was not for me. He will guide my steps and fulfill His purpose for me. What an encouragement from Him after the discouragement of the world!

What this is all about...

I decided to start this blog because of all the changes that are happening in my life this year. 2011 is a very exciting year for me. I will finally graduate from college in May and have my Doctorate in Pharmacy. Another exciting happening in May is our wedding! On May 21st I will become Jason's wife. This is what I am looking forward to most about this year! Jason is my best friend and the love of my life. I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with him and start this new chapter in our lives. I will also be finding a job and starting my life in the work world which is going to be very different from all the time I've spent in school. Jason and I are also waiting to see what God has in store for us in His ministry. Jason is a youth pastor. I know that God has something amazing planned for us in the next year. I can't wait to see what it is. With all these changes, I want to remember every detail, so I will be keeping track of all these exciting changes in this blog. And so we begin our journey....