Make a difference Continued

Thank you to those that have called me out for not continuing to post my daily "Make a difference." It can get away from you if you do not take the time to write things down daily. I also must admit that my focus has waxed and waned throughout this time period. It is hard to stay motivated to make a difference in others lives. I think this is especially true when you are not taking time to focus on God. At Bible study this past week, I was challenged to spend daily time in prayer. The study had me verbally admit to the reasons why I don't pray. For me it was not wanting to have to face God with the repetitive sin that is in my life. My head tells me that He already knows and that He loves anyway, but my heart wants to ignore the sin, thus not pray.

But enough on that topic. Here is the update on my make a difference. To some, even myself, it may seem like a list of common things, things I "aught" to do. But I feel I must start somewhere, and this is where I have started.

Day 6 - Kim served me, I had just finished finals, (at 11:23 pm Friday night) and she allowed me to relax during the day

Day 7 - Called and wished my grandfather Happy Birthday, Ella and I sang to him.

Day 8 - Took Luci to the Doctor for her regular check up, so Kim could stay at home and watch a friend's kids.

Day 9 - Took care of the girls while Kim got her hair done.

Day 10 - Took care of the girls while Kim worked on "Earn While You Learn" for the pregnancy center.

Day 11 - Partook in Global TB Day activities on Capital Hill, took care the girls while Kim had mom's night out.

Day 12 - Picked up my brother-in-law and sister-in-law from the airport.

Day 13 - Did our taxes, God made a difference, We don't own near as much as I thought we would.

Day 14 - Spent time building relationships with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law while in DC

Day 15 - Ran at my wife's running pace (she is pregnant, so it was a little slower than my usual pace).

Day 16 - Called to wish my dad a happy birthday. His day was rough, he had a friend/employee pass away

Day 17 - Put the recycling out (made a difference in the environment!)

Day 18 - Helped an undergraduate student with her term paper

Day 19 - Kim served me, she took care of the girls while I participated in advocacy training for universal health care coverage.

Day 20 - Encouraged Ella during her ballet recital

I am half way there and I already feel that I have gotten laxed in my mind set. I have seen how others have remembered Mrs Glass and it challenges me to keep going on this adventure, to look for the "out of the way" difference I can make in others each day. Also, to keep God at the center of this and not me. (This is much easier said than done!)

Make a Difference Update

At my wife's suggestion, I am going to update my blog weekly with the list of Make a Difference from the prior week. Here is the rest of this week's list.

Day 4
Gave a Friend a ride and was a listening ear
Day 5
Took care of the girls while Kim volunteered at the Pregnancy center

Make a difference Challenge

Some Background

This week has been finals week, and I have found myself with my head glued to a computer screen writing and studying. In the mist of this I realized that I am being so self-indulged, spending almost any time I have had away from family, friends, and my faith. This school year has been great, learning health from a completely different perspective compared to clinical medicine. But I find myself missing the opportunity to meet people in their time of need and "make a difference."

Recently I watched the movie Fireproof. In it, the main character takes a 40 day challenge to love his wife. Each day adds a new way to display his love. After getting some feedback on a facebook status this week, I have decided to make a 40-day "Make a Difference" challenge.

What It Entails
Making a difference can be small or large. It can be showing love to your wife or family. It can be picking up litter on the street or giving the random compliment. The key is that it is intentional. Everyday purposefully making a difference!

Some days it may be me that needs a difference made, but as often as possible it will be others. My intention is to keep an updated list of the ways I made a difference here, not to boast in pride, but to have others keep me accountable. Secondly, I hope to pass on my challenge! Note what today's "Make a Difference" is and pass it on!

Will you take the Challenge? Let me know. Let others know.

Day 1
Gave Kim a back massage and brushed her hair before bed.
Day 2
Took care of the kids while Kim worked on Earn While You Learn program for our local Crisis Pregnancy Center
Day 3
Challenged others to Make a Difference
Day 4 ....

Man, I got a great wife!!

So, I have been engulfed in studying, for Hopkins MPH, Hopkins Preventive Medicine Residency, and Family Medicine Board review. I feel like I am in medical school again with the amount of my time dedicated to studying/classroom work. I come home spend a few hours with Kim and the girls, and then more studying. She is supporting me with such an amazing attitude. I have had such little time for one-on-one time for Kim and I. Yet each day she seem to show me respect/love in a different way. I can't say it enough, that God is Good and he blessed me with an amazing wife.

Graduation and the trip East

Traveling east again, this time not to China, but to Baltimore - The next 2 years will be on the East Coast, who would have thought. Johns Hopkins here I come!! The Van ride here was a little crazy, but I don't want to steal Kim's thunder on this one, check her blog out for more details. I can't believe that my time in Glasgow is up. I have actually completed my family medicine residency!!! I will miss all those I have grown to love in Glasgow! Below are some pictures from the event.

11 hour days, plus studying in the evenings x6 days, ulgg. This is my jumping off point for studying for my Family Medicine Board Exam. I will be taking it toward the beginning of August. It is good that I am doing this with a couple of my residency buddies, Ryan and Rob. They help me stay focused. Only a couple of more months of this residency and then off to Baltimore, wow time flies!!

My Trip West, (unfortunately, without Kim)

Towards the beginning of April I presented a poster at Global Health Education Consortium Conference. While in Sacramento, I took a couple of small road trips, one to San Fransisco and the other to Lake Tahoe. Kim had the digital camera, but I did buy a disposable one. Here are some of the pics from San Fran. Kim helped me add effects to make them look much cooler. Sadly , Kim and the girls did not go with me. After our time in China it was just more than our budget could handle.

The Golden Gate


Alcatraz


A picture from the widow of a trolley.