1/2 way

Well, I am officially more than half way done with my internship. 26 weeks and one day down, 25 weeks and 4 days to go! We had a nice little party on Friday at Old Chicago pizza down on the river front and we had a really good time. I'm glad I'm half way done, but I'm sad I still have 26 weeks to go. However, I know I still have a looooot to learn! I have learned so much, but I am still not sure I'm prepared to take my board exam. Pretty soon I will need to start studying (and looking for a job!) I'll be sad to once again have to say goodbye to friends. The interns with me have really become good friends. (Not as good as all of you though, of course!) But since I will be staying in the area, and who knows, maybe at OSF, some people I still may see, but not any of the interns who all plan on moving back home to Michigan, Missouri, and Hong Kong. Isn't it sad how we go through life building relationships and so often ending them as well? I'm so glad you all blog and read my boring blog so we can all stay in touch.

In other news, I am busy getting ready for Christmas. Derek and I finished all of our Christmas shopping today. We are DONE! And we are so busy with Christmas activities with church and my job, but it's all so much fun. Today we also went and bought Christmas presents for a 18 month old girl we got from the "Angel Tree." It was so much fun to buy toys and clothes for a little girl, but also rewarding because we feel we can help make a family's Christmas brighter. It's hard especially considering Derek and I don't have a whole lot of money ourselves, but I know there are many people less fortunate than ourselves, including the family of this little girl. And after all, isn't that what Christmas is all about, giving? Our church also had a puppet Christmas program-put on by children and an absolutely beautiful Christmas contata with choir and orchestra. I am definately in the Christmas spirit now! But it's kind of bad because all I can think about is going home at Christmas, which is still 20 days away. It also makes me miserable at work, which isn't hard! I guess I need to make that Christmas spirit rub off at work. Why should my Christmas happiness and spirit of giving only be at home? Of course that's easier said than done, but I guess I should work on that, huh? Well, I'm just rambling now, so I'll wrap it up!