Placements are in....

Well placements for rotations are in and it's been a long week trying to figure out what's going to be best for us. There are several things we have to factor in that most people wouldn't even of thought of, but because we know this program and how it works, we are able to make the best decision for us.  This was a stressful decision just Mitch and I had to make, but we are thankful for your prayers as we conquer this decision and figure out the next step for us.

When we saw the rotations we knew logically, just by looking, what the obvious decision would be. But we wanted to really look into everything, like I said there is so much more we look at than just where he is the most for clinical. But that does play a huge role in it.

Let me explain the best I can how these next two years of rotations work. Starting in September he begins clinical for the next 2 years, the remaining time we have here in TN. He goes by 2 month rotations so for example: September and October will be at the same hospital. Then November and December will be at the same hospital on and on for the next two years. There are SO many clinical sites all over Tennessee, Mississippi and Kentucky. So for example even though it changes every two months he could have 8 straight months in the same city but every 2 he changes hospitals. I don't know if that makes any sense. So overall we were trying to see if he had any that back up to each other in the same city and if so how many. And he only got three for the whole two years here in Jackson and one of those rotations we will be here for. So that means he would have to commute to Memphis all two years except the 4 months he is placed in Jackson.

That brings me to our decision and it is to make the move to Memphis. It is what Mitch wanted all along and I have been torn bc I don't like Jackson at all, there is nothing here to offer, but we are settled in, have friends, church and a great house. But I have always said, and Mitch too, if we were just in a bigger city with some stuff to do, we would both enjoy our time here a lot more. So when it comes down to it we are both crazy excited to make this move!

We knew this was a big possibility so we have been researching towns for the past month or so and figuring out where exactly we want to be. There are 3-4 towns we like that aren't considered "in Memphis". I mean either way we will pretty much be in Memphis, the line is very vague where Memphis starts and ends but as long as you stay on the outskirts you're fine. So after talking with several people here and lots of his that classmates already live there, (they decided to live there from the beginning) and everyone we talk to recommends Bartlett, TN. And after looking into it we LOVE it! It is in Shelby County, is located in the northeast corner of Memphis and it is a part of the Memphis metropolitan area. So basically we will be in Memphis and have the benefits of Memphis at our fingertips, but without having a Memphis address, which we soon figured was the key ha! I'll talk more about this later but we went and drove around the other day and we were in an area where one side of the road was Memphis and one side was Bartlett and it was like night and day. We both agree we will be finding a house in Bartlett city limits! We don't know if it is because of Jackson, we now think any town is better or it just is a really nice town, but either way we love it. And it is in the best location for all his clinicals.  If you are traveling on I-40 from Jackson to Memphis it is the first city you come to before actually getting into downtown Memphis. So that will make his commute shorter when he does have to commute to Jackson. Also several of the hospitals he will be at are in suburbs of Memphis and he has some in Bartlett too. So overall it is the perfect location for us, it couldn't be better! Lots of people from his class live in Bartlett and just love it. So after taking everything into consideration we have decided on Bartlett, TN. Well I mean I guess that's where we want to be, now we have to pray we find a house.

So we will be officially moving in October. Mitch was lucky and got his first rotation, September and October, here in Jackson and our landlord has been so wonderful to work with. Our lease is up August 1 but he is letting us rent month to month for however long or until we find a house. So that takes a lot of pressure off. So that will eliminate two months of commuting then when he starts in Memphis in November hopefully we will be all moved in and settled in Memphis! We have been praying for a good schedule and one that will be obvious on what we need to do and that's just what we got. So even though we have to move AGAIN, we couldn't be more excited about this next journey. I really think we will be so much happier. Not many couples can say they have been married 5 years and moved 4 times ha! But with his school this is just a crazy season of life and it will make settling down in Tulsa so wonderful!!

When I think about it, October seems far away but with everything we have going on I think it's going to fly by. Mitch only has 1 month left of summer semester, thank goodness, and then when he is done he has a week off we are going to go back and visit friends in Tulsa. Then when we get back he starts clinical and we start house hunting and packing!

Since we decided Bartlett is where we want to be, and we have only been there to eat (we make the drive frequently bc there are so many good restaurants there) we decided to spent some time there last Friday and we just looked at some houses, neighborhoods, etc. and to say we are excited about moving there is an understatement! I mean Jackson doesn't have the worst food options at all but there is so much a bigger city has that we don't have. For instance, in Bartlett, within a minute of where we will be living we have Bahama Breeze, chipotle, Pei Wei, Firebirds and J. Alexander's just to name a few! This is big for us coming from Jackson! And then not to mention we will be a 10-15 min drive away from downtown Memphis at our favorite places there! Not only food, even though yes we love our food, there are parks, biking and running trails and just so much to offer that Jackson doesn't have. We miss that so much. We are also excited about being in a "decent" neighborhood again. Ours is okay, it's definitely in a better part of Jackson but still not the best. I know I would feel safe with Mitch being gone and he doesn't want me there alone. So being back in a safe neighborhood will be so wonderful. 

So if you can't tell we are ecstatic about this move. We have 2 years left here in TN and although we are ready to be done and move back to OK, this will make our experience so much better. I don't know how many times a day we say this experience wouldn't be so bad if we were in a city with stuff to do and now we will be! Of course we miss home and family and friends but we know this is a season of life and this makes our adventure a little more interesting! Also thank you to all our family and friends who have come to visit us. With Mitch's school schedule it's hard to come home but we've been blessed with lots of visitors!

So thank y'all so much for the prayers and messages! I say this a lot but we seriously have the best friends and family. I couldn't of got through this year and first half of summer without y'all. The daily encouraging messages and verses keep me going in tough times. Mitch are I are so fortunate to have such good friends that even though they are far away, I feel like they are here with us. Oh and I also forgot to mention one of the best parts about this move..... It makes us an hour closer to home!!!!! I know that doesn't seem like much, but when you already have a long drive that almost always consists of backed up traffic this is wonderful news!

So needless to say these next few months are going to be busy, but a good busy. We will do our best to keep you updated as we continue this exciting process! 

Is it July already!?!

Well it's July! Can you believe it?! Overall Mitch and I both agree this process isn't necessarily going by fast, but this summer is a different story. I feel like we just got started and settled back into a routine. I guess since we were thrown into this summer semester head first, we didn't have time to adjust and here it is a week into July! Here is a little recap of what we have been up to.

In my last post I mentioned we went to Dallas for about 4 days had the best time. My doubles partner from OBU was getting married in Waco and my best friend, Elizabeth lives in Dallas, so we went to visit them while we were in town for the wedding. We had so much fun and it is aways so hard to leave. We just love Elizabeth and Kevin and wonder why we live so far apart ha! 

Although Mitch left the house before the sun came up every morning and didn't come back until around dinner, we had a good time. I missed seeing him but I knew he had to study and I got to spend some good quality time with Elizabeth. We ate a lot, shopped, ran, just about anything we use to do together. 

Elizabeth and Kevin did take us out to Cheesecake Factory for our anniversary. Can you believe its been 5 years?!? She had heard me talking and talking about how I miss it, so that was a fun time! They also took us to several other places in downtown Dallas, one called Off-Site Kitchen and it was incredible. If you're in Dallas go to this place. They are known for their burgers and fries, but they also have INCREDIBLE tacos!! 

And no we did not plan on matching. We actually didn't even realize it until after we took the picture and looked at it. Ha

The wedding was Sunday evening, so Mitch only studied that morning and then we went to Waco for the day. It was so neat to walk round Baylor, its a gorgeous campus and  we had fun just driving around checking out the town. And yes we went to Magnolia Market- made my day!!! 

The wedding was that evening at a small country church and then the reception was at the Palladium. It was decorated beautifully and couldn't have gone better. It was so nice to see old college friends and celebrate this girl! 

The prettiest bride!

I could only get half the candy bar in the pic but this was the best candy bar we've ever seen! So neat and so pretty!

We got back to TN Monday night and hit the ground running with a crazy busy week, for the both of us. We just traveled from TN to AR, AR to Dallas, from Dallas to Waco and back and then from Dallas to TN, all in 4 days. TOO MUCH! On top of everything we had going that week to say we were exhausted was an understatement! We made it through the week and then drove from Jackson to Memphis and back Thursday, Friday AND Saturday (Mitch's family was in town all weekend). On our drive back Saturday, I have never seen Mitch so tired. In between trying to see family as much as we could he was studying and staying up late and getting up early and I think he just over did it. We probably should've only went to memphis once, but now we know. With his summer schedule we just can't do it all. So as weird as it sounds, we are looking forward to the month of July being low key and dedicated to school. He has on average 2-3 tests a week so for the reminder of the summer we will be staying at home and enjoying time to ourselves. We would've loved to make another trip at the end of July to go home, or have friends come here, but thats not going to happen. Its hard to say no, but right now in our life it is crucial for our sanity ha!It is nice to know its just a month and a half more of this craziness and we can go back to normal life.... well as normal as this program allows. 

As crazy as this week/weekend was, and how exhausted we were with running on little to no sleep- we had a great 4th with family!

In august he starts orientation for all the hospitals he will be at so that month with be busy too and then he hits the ground running in September as he begins his clinical rotations! We did get some news regarding his schedule for the next two years, and I will share in my next post. We want to take some time, just Mitch and I, and figure everything out. As crazy as this program is and especially with the rotations, I am so lucky to have Mitch by my side. So when we figure out our plan, we will share all that with friends and family when we are ready! :)

Hope y'all have a great week and try and stay cool!! 

Happy Summer!

Happy 1st day of summer!!! It has been a while but as I have said before, this summer is crazy crazy crazy!! I keep thinking to myself... please let this get easier! Now, I am not the one in these crazy hard classes (thank goodness), but I do live the effects of them. Mitch is in class all day everyday and then when he's home he is locked in his study room. We always make a point to have dinner together, but I go to bed alone and wake up alone. I am literally counting down the days until this summer is over! 54 days if you're wondering! As hard as it is, I am thankful for his dedication and hard work. I do love getting to see him learn and do things he is interested in. I am just ready for these classes that are jammed packed into summer to be over (and I think he might agree ha).

But we are making it and as long and drawn out as this summer may seem, I keep telling myself it will all be worth it when he is done with school. Its so weird to think its already summer. We usually have time off, visit fiends and take multiple vacations in the summer. To us this doesn't even feel like summertime (minus the weather). But like I said, it will be so worth it here in a few years. And about that weather, it is crazy hot and humid here. Now being from Tulsa, I know hot and humid, but Tennessee is a whole different level. It is about the same temperaure here, but the humidity it unlike anything I have ever experienced. Mitch and I joke all the time about it. You literally start dripping with sweat when you walk out to get the mail and we HAVE (I mean it is a must) to use our Yeti mugs at all times in the summer, unless you want your ice to melt in your glass and get all over the table within about 2 min. I love summertime, but I am already so ready for fall!!!!

With all the craziness that this summer brings, we are trying to enjoy ourselves as much as we can. I had an idea where we would do one "fun activity" together each weekend to celebrate getting through the week. Yes, these weeks are long and hard and if we make it to Friday it deserves a celebration. So I filled up a mason jar with small inexpensive ideas and we draw every weekend and make time for whatever our activity may be. It's going well, but this week was extra busy and we didn't get around to playing putt-putt. This next weekend we are headed to DALLAS so we will skip drawing and celebrate our anniversary in Dallas!

We are going because one of my good friends and doubles partner in college is getting married and also I get to stay and spend four days with my best friend, Elizabeth!! I was planning on going alone and just flying out, but Mitch came in one night and even with how busy he is wants to try and go since it is our anniversary. I was so excited and even though he will lock himself up at some coffee shop the whole day to study, I will enjoy him being there and maybe even get a few dinners with him :) To say I am excited about this trip is an understatement! I cannot wait to see Elizabeth and Kevin and also several of our college friends at the wedding. And not to mention- the wedding is actually in Waco, so yes I will 100 percent of course be making a trip to Magnolia Market! Fixer Upper has been my show for years now and I wouldn't miss that opportunity.

Other than that, we are staying busy with work and school and just ready for mid-August to be here so we can make a trip back home! I miss our friends back home so much and especially this time of year there are so many fun things going on in Tulsa. We can't wait to be back. But we are really enjoying our time in Tennessee. It is definitely hard being away from "our home" and where we were settled, but we are coming to like it here. I think I just love being so close to Nashville, but hey that counts for something, right?

Today we are watching a lot of golf, well I am and Mitch is trying to, and wishing our dads a very happy father's day!!! We wish we could be there to celebrate! Here are a few picts of what our "summer" looks like so far.

Every night we take Bella up to campus to run around. It's so hot and humid here in the day she won't go outside at all. 

Our 1st "fun activity" together- bowling!

This girl is my sidekick here in TN and I wouldn't know what to do without here. She keeps me company while Mitch studies his life away. So naturally we make many Starbucks trips- for the both of us :)

And this is a snapshot of my weather app- we are not looking forward to these temps this next week, and either is Bella!