One Down, Four To Go!

In amazement I am writing this entry to say Matt has finished his first year of residency. I can't even believe how quickly it passed! Last Saturday evening we attended the annual ortho picnic, which is an event that welcomes the new incoming residents and allows us all to hang out in a casual environment to eat, drink and get to know one another. It was bittersweet to not be one of the newbies because we also had to say goodbye to the wonderful residents and their families that "graduate" to either jobs or fellowships.

So, our first year was wonderful to say the least. We absolutely love Greenville and all that this part of the country has to offer. Aside from the headaches of home ownership (in the particular house we purchased) the transition was smooth, and especially for me since I had a circle of friends immediately that made starting anew that much easier. We enjoyed get togethers around town, apple picking in the mountains, Thanksgiving with friends, welcomed family for the Christmas holiday and for Dane's birthday. Blake transitioned to the public school district - with flying colors, I might add! - and Dane to a Mother's Morning Out program. I enjoyed many, many playdates with friends, and walks, lunches, dinners and coffees when the time would allow. We were blessed with a family vacation to Hilton Head Island with my parents and Matt's parents, and boy did we need it! To be truthful, I do not have one complaint about matching here in Greenville (aside from being away from family). Matt seems to enjoy the program, although he works so hard and is gone so much that I don't hear very much about it! Lucky..Blessed, whatever it may be. We are thankful for our experiences this first year in residency! Here are just a few "Greenville things" that stand out for me that make me appreciate where life has taken us...

~Hearing the monkeys from the zoo "talk" during our walks or playtime in Cleveland Park

~Seeing the mountains as I top I-385 at Pleasantburg Drive on our drive into downtown - I smile every single time!

~Any walk or time spent at Falls Park on the Reedy River

~The Christmas Parade downtown...and all the other festivals, the market, the bands, etc. that happens on Main Street

~The Children's Garden

~Hughes Library and all the wonderful things it has to offer for my children..for free!

~The Greenville School District and Kidnetics for all they have done from Blake

~The "small town" feel in a town that is big enough for everything you need

~Being close to friends I met years ago when I lived in Florence, SC

~A short drive to the mountains...4 hours to the beach

~The shops at the West End and Downtown, especially Invitations on Main and Kudzu...yes, I still love to shop!

~The Southern culture

~And, of course, sweet tea :)

I know I am forgetting a lot, but those are a few things that stand out. Lucky for Matt he begins the last 4 years tomorrow morning doing ONLY orthopaedics, which for that he is grateful. However, he is also beginning a very tough year of being on call A LOT and a dreadful Emergency Room rotation coming next Spring. So, it is going to be a very long year for all of us, but with all the aforementioned things you can see we will make it through with a lot of support and encouragement! Still, a little prayer our way never hurts! Here we go with year #2. You know we'll keep you updated and informed of all the good, the bad and the ugly!

Thanks to all our friends and family from afar who have been so supportive this past year. We couldn't have made it through without all of your encouragement and love!