Match Day!

Stephen started the residency application process and hit the 'submit' button way back in September. He has been preparing for residency for months, years, really, and it all came down to Match Day. All the studying and attending classes and volunteering and applying and traveling and interviewing, it all came down to a computer algorithm and that one day - March 20th. After all that preparation and waiting, I feel like the day and the results it brought with it just got passed over because our little girl was born three days later. We had those three days to celebrate and share our news with others and talk about our new future, but then Ezra came and we were on to the next high. But it was an occasion that needs more attention than that, because, you see, Stephen got in to Stanford... STANFORD! More than anything, we were just excited to know where we were finally moving to, but Stanford?! Does it get any better than that?!

It sounds silly to say that I'm "proud" of Stephen. I am! So very, very proud, but that doesn't cover it, that's not enough. I'm more than proud. I've been able to be by Stephen's side from the first of this process - we were dating when he was applying to medical schools, engaged when he was interviewing and we were married one month before his first day of class. I've seen how hard he's worked for this - how many hours in and out of the classroom he's put in, hours away from his wife and his babies, forgoing social events and travels. I've seen his professors and classmates recognize him for his talents and I've seen him humbly accept their compliments, truly believing others deserve it just as much. I've seen him juggle it all, never leaving me to suffer. He has been tired and worn out and frustrated and I've seen him be nervous and skeptical and I've seen him triumph every. single time. This, is no exception. Stephen was accepted into the Internal Medicine Residency program at Stanford University and I am PROUD.

There was a Match Day breakfast for all the fourth year students and their families, which is were they were given their acceptance letters. All medical students across the nation receive an acceptance letter at the same time. Ours was 10 am and trust me, we were counting down the seconds! Stephen didn't seem nervous until they handed us the envelope and the clock started ticking. We let Uriah open the envelope and Stephen told me to read it. I had to scan the page for a minute before I read it - "Stanford University" - and was so thrilled I dropped the paper, folding it up on itself, before Stephen had a chance to see what it said! (Oops!) We immediately exchanged wide eyed smiles and the tears just started coming. A little bit of shock, relief and excitement - not only did we finally know where we were going, we were going where we wanted to go! His hard work had paid off - it was official!

We celebrated in our own little world before sharing and exchanging the news with our friends around us. After more food and pictures, we went to the zoo with our friends to celebrate together (the time to talk was for the adults, the animals were for the kids ;)) We were all buzzing with excitement and talk of the future - where are we going to live? When will we move? What is there to do in our new towns? So many unknowns, but still so much peace finally knowing where we were going - it was a weird feeling, but a very happy one!

That night the school held a celebratory dinner and we were able to continue chatting away about this next step with our friends. I hate that we'll no longer be living in the same town as them (Ben and Amanda started in Alaska with us!) but am so excited that they are traveling down the path they each wanted. Good things are to come for those friends, though they will be missed!

So! Stephen's first day of residency is June 25th, orientation on the 19th. Right now were in the waiting (and praying!) stage of resident housing. Once we find out if we were accepted (it is based on a lottery system) we can either sign the papers or start apartment hunting elsewhere. Our plans are to hit the road on June 1st! Which means just five more weeks, four here in Boise because we'll be in Seattle for a week for graduation. Four more weeks to see all the people we want to see, do all the things we want to do, go all the places we want to go... Four more weeks to sort through our stuff, sell some stuff and pack up the rest... We've been preparing and waiting for this for so long, I can't believe how quickly it's all coming to a close. Match Day was such a momentous day for us and in Stephen's medical career - we are so blessed that God has lead us here! Next step? Graduation!