We're Heading to Texas

Medical school is quite the journey. We've reached another turning point in this crazy adventure and we will be moving to Lubbock, Texas for a three-year pediatric residency. Lubbock, Texas was our second choice behind Loma Linda, California. This is our second, second choice place we are moving to (our second rotation spot choice was Provo). The first experience worked out quite well and so will this one.

Brendon is thrilled! He told me this morning he has always been excited about the thought of moving to California, but within the past 24 hours he has remembered so many great things about the residency program in Lubbock and was really excited about the thought of having his training in Texas.

For me, this is bittersweet. I wanted to go to California to be near the Holmes family. I wanted to live in sunshine year round. I wanted to be a drive-able distance (with kids) away from my family. And the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to live in the Loma Linda area.

But we are moving to Texas and I am okay with it. Really. I am okay because I have had more confirmations than I can count that Texas is for our family at this time. Here are some of my memorable moments, offering a lot of peace:

• When Brendon called me after his interview in Texas, I remember lying on my bed talking with him having so many butterflies in my stomach and thinking, "We are going to end up in Texas." The thought was very distinct and powerful. Brendon sold me on Texas and the program and it was my first choice for a few weeks, until I remembered how badly I wanted to live near family. But the initial feelings about Texas were so strong.
• Shortly before our "Match List" (order of preferred residency places) was due, we had a current Texas Tech Resident call Brendon to ask if he had any questions. Before this call, we had forgotten how great Texas was and it was lower on our priority list (which, at the time, was California, California, California).
• While ranking our list, we never felt quite right about the order until Lubbock was our second choice.
• In preparation for a family fireside thought we were giving (last week), I was reminded about all the peaceful feelings I had about Texas.
• To top it all off, I dreamed last night that we would match to Texas. Not that any of my dreams ever have revealed anything before, but I'm including it as a tender mercy this time.

The most prominent lesson I learned in college was that life always works out the way it should. And it does. And it will continue to do so. That knowledge has been so helpful throughout this medical school process. The Lord really does have a hand in our lives. I'm just grateful that I can see and feel it.

I had this quote on my wall in college, in hopes that one day I would believe it. Well, today I do.

“There is a guiding hand above all things. Often when things happen, it’s not by accident. One day, when we look back at the seeming coincidences of our lives, we will realize that perhaps they weren’t so coincidental after all.” 

("Lessons Learned in the Journey of Life," Elder Wirthlin, Ensign Dec 2000.)