Monday, October 1, 2012

Strange turn of events

Well it's been a bizarre week. We were so saddened to hear of the passing of our niece Alyssa last week at age 21 from complications of diabetes, Addison's disease and hypothyroidism. After praying for answers about a job for weeks without feeling much inspiration, I finally felt strongly about one thing - I wanted us to all go to the funeral together. So we used miles and I got our one-way tickets to Utah booked for the next day.

In looking at return flights, I had the idea - hey, what if we just go back through Colorado Springs on the way home. Then hopefully having had our whole family together in Utah and then in Colorado Springs we would feel better about making a decision. So we booked our tickets. Ryan would leave Sunday to get back in time for work, and I would bring the kids back on Monday so I could stay and check out the church here (to make sure I could have some friends to make up for not being by family).

When one of the doctors heard we were coming, he was super nice and offered to put us up in the Broadmoor hotel- the nicest place on Colorado Springs. It was beautiful. We got to take paddle boats out on the lake, made s'mores out on the patio over the fire, and of course drove and drive and drove around to get a good feel for the area and see if we could get a good picture of our life here. We visited Garden of the Gods, saw the most gorgeous fall leaves (I was super excited to be in fall for the first time in 4 years!) and we visited with some lovely families in the area and our kids were so excited to make new friends.

(Ok but what's up with this? We told Cash we would move to Utah or Colorado instead of Iowa because there weren't tornadoes in those states - he is deathly afraid of tornadoes - and as soon as we step foot in the Denver airport, every 5 feet there's a sign telling you where the nearest tornado shelter is! What's up with that? I've never seen anything like it! Didn't take long for him to pick up on that and ensured a good night full of bad dreams.)

Well, Sunday night we talked as I left the area. It was still a tough decision. But we decided, and we were going to go for it. Just as Ryan was going to call the Colorado practice to tell them yes, they called him.

And pulled back the offer.

So folks, in a totally stunning turn of events, I guess we are not going to Colorado after all.

While we were super bugged and I had a rough time trying to sleep last night, I also can't help waking up this morning and thinking - we finally made our decision and it could may as well been God himself calling to tell us that He had let us put in a lot of work and effort to get ourselves to that decision - but no, it was the wrong one.
























10 comments:

AnnaMarie said...

WOW! Talk about a sign!

And gorgeous pictures.

It all works out in the end, doesn't it.

Safire said...

Growing up in Denver, they have several tornadoes every season. Just part of living on the prairie. :)

Glad you were able to make this decision!

Geoff and Bets said...

im so happy you are settled on a decision. what a great story too! enjoy the relief

Tania said...

At least you got a nice trip to Colorado Springs out of it.

And living in Utah is EASY!!

Lindsey said...

Wow, I am stunned. Also relieved for you that the decision is made. The pictures are Darling!! The one on the paddleboat should become a family classic. Glad you could all make the trip up there together. You are going to love living in UT!

Carrie Richins said...

Wow. I would be a little bugged about that too.

But hey, at least you have another offer! Best of luck in Utah, we will definitely come and visit sometime.

We've been having our own turn of events and it looks like we will only be about 3 hours away from you when you move.

Your boys are adorable as usual. And they all look so BIG!!!

SuburbiaMom said...

Guess the Lord just wanted to test your faith! Congrats on the job!

Anonymous said...

That is bizarre! Colorado Springs looks gorgeous, and it's a bummer to lose out on what seemed to be the better job offer, as far as the job itself. That is such a tough decision! At least this way you'll never have to wonder if you made the right choice... Glad we'll get to see you more often in Utah!

LuAnn said...

I'm so sorry about your niece. I hope you are doing okay. I wish you the best.

Love,
Lu

Melanie said...

You can never go wrong living near family. Just be ready for the tremendous let down that is about to occur to Ryan. Hopefully, your husband is nothing like mine and he will settle into his job happy to be making a nice paycheck. Happy to be settled. Happy that you and the boys are happy. Happy that he is done and can just work and live.
But be ready for what seems to happen to many doctors when they are done. They seem to feel that because they killed themselves achieving their goals that now the job needs to be perfect. Office politics, taxes, lazy co workers and unfairness in general is completely intolerable. A sort of "this is it!" attitude. We are 3 years out now and Jed has finally made his peace with the fact that his job totally sucks sometimes but the life it affords makes it tolerable. Hopefully Ryan will be more at ease. But just a little heads up wife to wife. Also, because before they always needed to sleep or study they got use to us doing all the childcare and now working their way back into family life can be an awkward thing for some reason. No more excuses. I dont want to paint you an ugly picture I just want to mentally prepare you when it is less than the bliss we have told ourselves the end of residency will be.
Also take your salary and cut it in half...that will be a more true representation of your take home pay. But other than that life WILL greatly improve!! That I can assure you!