Around the Sims Household

In October we have...

hopped on a plane to celebrate Cole's cousin Dan tie the knot in Rhode Island! We had a fun weekend with family.  Surprisingly, we found our time on the planes and in the airport RELAXING to be able to sit and read, a rarity for us these days. 

Forgot how EASY it is to fly...we were in Rhode
Island in just a few short hours. 

The cousins enjoying dinner together. Where are you Taylor?

The bride and groom

We squeezed in a long morning run around Narraganset Bay
and the surrounding parks.

Last weekend we had a delightful visit from Cole's grandparents. We appreciate them so much for coming to Charleston for a visit. We played the role of tourists, visiting Fort Moultrie, Charleston Tea Plantation, and Angel Oak, and took them "off the beaten path" to some of our favorite places to eat- Bowen's Island and the Tomato Shed.

Dinner at Bowen's Island

What a sunset!!

Charleston Tea Plantation

Angel Oak

Other happenings lately...

Unfortunately, my debit card information has been stolen for the second time since August. Frustrating and time-consuming to deal with this!

I have finished reading through the Bible. More to come on this later, but PRAISE THE LORD!

Also, Cole has applied for residency in internal medicine and is being invited to interviews at many schools. It is an exciting time for us! I have the month of December "off" from rotation during which we are planning to do an interview trip. The best advice Cole has received, in my opinion, is to choose somewhere where your wife will be happy. Amen! I am thankful to have some time to visit some of the programs with him!  We are seeking the Lord with this decision and for a job/career direction for me wherever we land. We covet your prayers for us.

We decided on a whim to run the Greenville Spinx Half Marathon on Saturday, and are on the 2-week training plan.  It will be his first, and my 12th...I promise to take it easy on him :) Wish us luck!

Burning the Candle...

At both ends...

Busy bee me is on another ambulatory care rotation. I am also trying to prepare for my Grand Rounds presentation at school next month, squeeze in a little work, keep up my running, and 

finish reading my Bible through (When I finish we are sending my Bible off to be rebound and recovered. Good motivation! This was Cole's gift to me for our anniversary. Leather is the traditional 3rd anniversary gift. So creative!!)

Cole is busy working A TON, applying for residency (can't believe how fast time flies), and ROCKING step 2 of his medical boards. So proud of him! 

Since our third anniversary has come and gone, I have come to grips with the fact that we aren't "newlyweds" anymore. However, I haven't thought of us as an old married couple yet...until this weekend! When do you become an old married couple?? Is it when you close down the gym on a Friday night? Or when you do chores together on a Saturday night? We checked both of those off this weekend! Much needed! 

Step 2 Boards and Camping Ahead

Tomorrow is the big day. Cole takes the second step of his medical boards. We are anxiously awaiting its arrival because after 9 grueling hours of test taking, they are over! I am proud of all his hard work, and I am honestly baffled how everything he knows fits into his brain.. If you happen to read this tomorrow, please say a prayer for him!

On a much happier note, Cole and I embark on an unusual anniversary trip at the end of this week...camping! The cool mountain air of Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi, is calling our name. We plan to do a ton of hiking, including the Mount Mitchell summit, relaxing around the fire, and hopefully cooking on the fire.

For breakfast I am eyeing these Orange Muffins (made over the fire the night before) and oatmeal. Lunch will be on the trail, probably a standard PB&J, trail mix, and fruit. For dinner we are throwing Hobo packs (tin foil packets, not purses ladies) into the fire- the first night with ground turkey, potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, onions, beef broth, and spices; the second night with a boneless pork chop, apricot preserves, and soy sauce. S'mores and these Banana Boats for dessert. Let's pray we can get a fire started...if not we may be eating raw veggies or going hungry...

See this post on our last camping adventure...

To Cole's friends who tell me they secretly read my blog...

As Cole's third year of medical school closes and his fourth begins, we have lots to be thankful for. One of the things I am thankful for the most is you. Yes, YOU, Cole's friends who tell me that you secretly read my blog...I am thankful for you! Your relationship with my husband is a vital part of his spiritual growth and success as a man of God, husband, and student. You med school buddies are there to understand and cope with the hardships of school and your profession that I can neither understand nor fathom. You challenge, encourage, and love him. Greer and Clemson friends...you provide Cole with much needed breaks from his studies, times to get his mind off of serious things and just have a good time! As his wife I pray earnestly for his relationships with you all. Through encouraging and praying for him, you bless us both! He trusts you for accountability, and I value the "prayer covering" you give him. We are truly blessed by your presence in his life. 

Proverbs 27:17 

"As iron sharpens iron so one person sharpens another."

Boone Hall Mud Run

Folly Beach

Thomas' Wedding

Groomsmen

Roomates

And then there were none...

My VERY LAST exam of pharmacy school is tomorrow. My very. last. one. I am so excited I can't even study...so I am painting my nails, making bread, doing chores, and blogging instead. Maybe I can convince my sweet husband that it is not too late to pop in an episode of Downton Abbey!

We have a fun and low-key weekend planned. Happy Hour at Avondale Wine & Cheese with some girlfriends, birthday celebrations with Cole, shagging in Mt. P, a cookout with friends, and packing for Georgia.

Tuesday marks the first day of my fourth and final year of pharmacy school. I can't believe I leave on Monday to start my first rotation at Barney's pharmacy in Augusta. I am going to miss Cole sooo much! Thankfully, this is the only away from Charleston.