Our First Home!

Bring on the cheese!!

Anticipation was high as Andrew and I drove to Sioux Falls for the big Match Day experience. After interviewing for residency programs both the applicant and program rank their top picks. Put very simply, choices are plugged in to a nationwide computer system and voila, residents are matched to a residency program. Enough to make a person's stomach to freak out (trust me, we know)!

Both the Sioux Falls and Yankton classes met up to share the experience. We all crammed into a room and they read names and handed out envelopes filled with the exciting news of where you matched. Andrew's name was called first. It was funny to watch everyone's reactions to the envelope... some waited to open it, others ripped it open, and some just handed them over to their spouse.

We are super thrilled to announce that our paper read Gunderson Lutheran Hospital in LaCrosse, Wisconisin!!! Andrew fell in love with not only the program but also the town in November when he did a 4-week rotation at their hospital. This program is extremely family friendly and I couldn't be more proud of Andrew for getting his #1 choice!!

We literally jumped in the car after the big ceremony to drive to LaCrosse! Our kids hitched a ride to the big family reunion in Iowa with their uncle so we had a few days to ourselves to check out the town and shop houses. We are hoping to finalize plans on buying a house before we leave for Africa so that means we are in crunch time. I will keep you posted....

I have lots of pictures to share from the past few weeks but not sure if I will get them posted before we leave on April 3rd for Africa. You might have to wait until we return on May 5th.

After returning from Africa, we will have one day to recuperate before graduation festivities begin. Andrew will have a special ceremony in Sioux Falls on Friday with his fellow medical school classmates. All family and friends are welcome to join us! On Saturday Andrew will join my brother Mike for the official graduation ceremony in Vermillion. Following the ceremony, our families will be grilling at our apartment. Everyone is invited to celebrate with Andrew and my brother Mike!

Kenya Africa!

Our family is excited to share our plans to experience medical missions and seek to see God’s hands in an exciting place! Students in their fourth year of medical school are provided opportunities to spend clinical rotations overseas. Our family has decided to take full advantage of this opportunity and will spend the month of April in Litein, Kenya.

We will be working with Africa Inland Missions (AIM) which has over 100 years of ministry experience seeking to establish Christ-centered churches across Africa. Specifically, Andrew will be working at the AIC Litein Hospital in Litein, Kenya.

AIC Litein Hospital is a 160-bed, level 4 hospital located in the rural wetlands of the Great Rift Valley. His duties will vary from working in the outpatient clinic to spending time in the operating room. Our family will be staying in hospital provided housing. We encourage you to visit the following websites to learn more about AIM (aimint.org) and the hospital (liteinhospital.org).

We humbly ask for you to commit to praying for our family during this experience. During our time in Kenya, we are praying that our servant’s heart will increase as we reach out to those in need in the local community. We know that our Christian worldview and life values will be widened and strengthened by this experience. Also, we are praying that the Lord will expand our heart for missions and speak to us regarding long-term missions in Africa.

We are excited to share pictures and stories with you once we return in May!

Rhianna Ann Anderson

February 26th, 2010, Mike and Sharon welcomed beautiful Rhianna into their family of boys! Pink, Pink, and more Pink is the plan!! Anna was 21 1/4” and weighed 7#2oz; healthy and gorgeous!

Here is Sharon 4 days post-baby… isn’t she amazing!

We are all in love with this girl!

So much to say… so little time!

In the past two months so much has happened that my head is still spinning in circles. Unfortunately, the spinning isn’t due to stop anytime soon. So to keep you up on our comings and goings (and for me to record this time because there’s only a slim possibility I will remember!), I will post a quick note and a few pictures of what we’ve been up to.

First, I’ve been promising pictures from my trip to Texas. Thanks to my amazing husband and wonderful friends, I was able to finally drive to Texas to visit my preggo sister! We always have a good time and it was fun to spend a few days together. Her apartment/townhouse is super cute and perfect for them and a baby.

While she worked, I helped organize the closet in the baby room, set up the changing table, and tried to help get things set up. Later we (uh hum, read Sarah, the pregnant one!) hung curtains. Yes, she is using a jumbo pen!

Below is Sarah and Clint! She was just over 24 weeks when I visited. Her little baby pooch was adorable and the pics she sends me now are super cute all pregnant! Clint had me rolling the whole time – this guy is hilarious! We had a good time.

Came home in time for the small group winter retreat at the Heckathorns! Almost the entire group made it for fabulous food, great music, inspiring devotions, and lots of chatting.

Here we are after little sleep no showers….

Enjoying the snow with my amazing family…

Seriously, this might be bragging but my husband is so creative. I think its great that he came up with the idea to use his hunting tow strap to pull the kids on their sled while he hikes. They get on and off as they please. Lots of fun for them! I decided to try out Andrews snow shoes and loved them (except who knew I walk so crooked?!)

Here are my ladies! (L to R: Lindsey, Allison, Carrie, Christy)

….and Kim and Luralyn. Kim brought all of her beads and taught us how to make bracelets and earrings! Love these girls!

Next we headed to Rapid so Andrew could do a 4-week rotation in Sturgis. We stayed at my parents and then I spent the last week in Wall with Sharon. We went to the stock show, sports show, baby-sat Rusty for a week, spent super bowl at Heather & Michael’s with the Andersons, the kids and I spent some time in Union Center visiting my good friend Courtney, watched my nephews dominate wrestling, took a few hikes, built a snowman, and celebrated my Grandma’s 80th birthday! Thankfully mom took care of the kids every morning before work so I could catch an extra couple hours of sleep! Gotta love grandmas'!

After 10+ years together, I am still crazy in love with this amazing man!

Where’s Waldo? I mean Rusty? Just look past Andrew and the two kids, maybe you’ll see him! Needless to say, our family loved spending a week with Rusty.

Happy Birthday to an amazing lady!

Isn’t she lovely?!

Sorry Aunt Margaret, this is what you get for goofing off while I try to take your pictures! :D

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Remembered I was planning on posting our Christmas letter on the blog for anyone who didn’t get one but during the holiday blur must have forgot… (Couldn’t get the actual map to post but you get the gist.)

When thinking of sharing our past year, the only logical way seems to be with a map. In the past year and a half, we have put over 50K miles on our vehicles! Every trip reminds us how blessed we are to have the time, resources, and ability to visit our family and friends (and how comfortable our own beds are!). With Andrew traveling so much for interviews and externships, I relied very heavily on our Vermillion family. Without their love and support, this past year wouldn’t have been possible. Huge thanks to you all!

In March of 2010, Andrew will find out where he will attend residency for the next 5 years (we will keep you posted!). Also, our family is finalizing plans to spend April in Kenya working with Africa Inland Missions. We are very excited for the experience and opportunity to learn more about medical missions. Another big event we are looking forward to is Andrew’s graduation from the USD Sanford School of Medicine on May 7^th. Medical school has challenged and shaped Andrew and our family more than we could have ever imagined. We serve an amazing God and He is the only way our family has flourished these past years!

Tears flow freely at the thought of closing our chapter in Vermillion but we are equally excited to discover the next chapter God has planned for our family!

Love Andrew, Christine, Elizabeth (4), and Alexander (2)

St. Paul, MN: I continue to lead a women’s small group. In October, we ventured to the cities to a Women of Faith Conference. What a great time with amazing women!

Portland, OR: Andrew’s first 4-week externship was at OHSU in Trauma/ Surgical ICU. He rented an apartment for the month and commuted everywhere on a bike he bought and sold while there.

Bozeman, MT: One of our favorite places to visit is Andrew’s parents and brother! Elizabeth and Alexander spent 2 fun-filled summer weeks playing, swimming, and gardening with Nana, Papa, and Uncle Thomas!

Chicago, IL: Family vacation filled with a trip to the zoo, Children’s Museum, and Navy Pier. Oh and a big test for Andrew!

Burlington, IA: We love dropping in to visit our Iowa family. We are looking forward to another trip with the entire crew in March.

Wall, SD: During our many visits, we squeezed in trips to Wall Drug, hunting for the guys, and walks for the ladies. Plus don’t forget the amazing ice cream!

Rapid City, SD: This past year we headed home for multiple birthdays, Andrew’s brother Michael’s wedding, and I even worked the Sturgis Rally. Thanks to my parents for always having open beds and time in their schedule for us!

La Crosse, WI: Andrew completed a 4-week externship at Gunderson-Lutheran in general surgery. Our family got to spend a wonderful weekend together exploring, hiking, and swimming in La Crosse.

Vermillion, SD: At home we stayed busy swimming at the pool, road biking, camping, and canoeing. Elizabeth started her 2nd year of preschool and loves writing her alphabet, singing songs, and dressing up as a princess. Alexander never stays still, perfecting his bike riding, car crashing, and sister-chasing skills.