Thursday, April 09, 2009

End of An Era

Today Regan is taking his last test of medical school.
Like right now he is writing it.
Yes, he still has a licensing exam.
But he is done Medical School.

When we very very first met each other, Regan was attending the University of Lethbridge. He was freshly home from serving a two year mission in Geneva Switzerland. And had the feeling that he should go to Medical School. We dated, got married and he finished up his undergraduate degree in Neuroscience. Then applied to Medical School. But did not get in. Our back up plan was to move to Nova Scotia and for him to get his Master's.

A short time later we were driving across the country in a 1996 green four door Saturn pulling a U-Haul trailer. (Yeah when we called the garage to get a hitch put on the mechanic had the same reaction... a SATURN pulling a U-HAUL????) 8 months pregnant with our first child driving across the country for 5 days. To a rented apartment we had never seen to a province we had never been. And it was a marvelous time in our life.

Two years and Regan ended up with a Master's of Health Services Administration. So we applied to Medical school again. And did not get in. So instead Regan got a job. We bought a house in Eastern Passage. And settled down. Had our second kid.

Two years and I was itching to come home. And we were feeling still that Regan should go to Medical school. So after much deliberation and prayer, he applied again. And he got in.

So we sold our house, packed up our two kids and moved back across the country to Calgary. Moved into a townhouse (and I mourned the loss of my lovely house every day for a couple months.)

Three years, one kid, lots of call nights, lots of tests and learning. And here we are. All done school.
It is easy to look back now and know that Heavenly Father was guiding us. At the time it wasn't easy. Especially with other people giving their opinion to move on with our medical school idea. But it was always right. And inside we knew it was right. Even when we were discouraged and disillusioned.

Here we are. Shortly heading off to the next chapter in our lives.
Residency.
Which I am sure will be busy and hard.
But something that we've been planning and waiting for years to come.
How grateful I am for this man.
The strong, smart, hard working man that he is.
Dr. Regan Steed
DSC_0210_1

To celebrate, tonight I am making him his favorite food. Chinese food.
We'll enjoy it with some other Medical School friends.
And I'll tell him again, how very proud I am of him.

20 comments:

Kristi Drennan said...

Congratulations! What an accomplishment! And I must say...he had to be a doctor. He looks just like one! If he didn't then he would have had to take up acting and play one on TV. I'm really excited for you! You're a tough cookie going all over the place like that!!

Jess said...

That is super exciting. You will have to tell my cousin I am proud of him. Major accomplishment and you are one awesome wife supporting him through all of that. I hope his residency goes well.

Susie said...

oh the saturn you guys have come sooo far. COngrats to the both of you. I always think of the wife behind the husband in school, cause lets face it, it wouldn't be the same without you. have a fun celebration and onto the next adventure.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! That is such a wonderful accomplishment, and well done to you for the awesome support!!

Carmen said...

Congratulations to him!

Mike and Jodi said...

What a great feeling! Tell Regan congrats. And Rhonda - you're such a great wife!

Heather M. said...

that is AWESOME!!!!! congrats to both of you!

Jennifer said...

Yay!! Can you believe it's actually done! *Big hugs*

Let the party begin... said...

What an amazing journey...what a team! Congratulations to Dr. Steed and to Mrs. Steed, lol! I was so thrilled for you both just reading it all. It gives me hope that even at 44, when you do something that you know is right, it works out against all odds. Enjoy the Chinese food and the next chapter in your lives. What a ride!

Brianne said...

Yay! Congrats on such a huge step in each of your lives. That is awesome. I didn't realize that med school is only 3 years in Canada and that residency is only 2 years.

Alysha Sladek said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! that is SOOOO exciting!! enjoy the chinese... sounds SO yummy!

whitney said...

Congrats guys!
Especially to you Dr. Steed! Oh great, now I am going to get confused when I talk about Dr. Steed!
Can't wait until you guys are living in lethbridge!

Kellie said...

Congrats! That can be a long road to be on...how wonderful it must feel to have that chapter of your lives closed. Hope you guys have fun!

Emily Busath Murdock said...

What a beautiful tribute. I am looking forward to reading the chronicles of your next adventure! And maybe visiting you on your large Albertan farm someday ;)

Rob said...

awesome post. congrats regan. congrats family. best of luck with residency, to all of you.
we are glad you had to come out to Nova Scotia for a time.

MonaS! said...

Congratulations, how exciting for you all! It's great that you continued in prayer and believed that medical school was for him. What a blessing.

Connie Nichol said...

Wow. Just wow. Isn't it amazing to look back and see what he (and you) have accomplished? Congratulations!!!

Crystal said...

Congratulations to Dr. and Mrs. Steed!! You wrote a great summary - I see SB LO hiding in there :)) Good luck and God bless as you move to the next chapter.

Unknown said...

Doesn’t This looks like an awesome place to begin your academic program! The True Blue Campus at St. Georges University.

Lisa said...

Hi Rhonda, you don't know me (I came to your site from Carmen AND Amanda's blogs) but I've been following your blog for awhile. I love your photography...love the emotion and the creativity. I'm just learning photography and it's so exciting.

Anyway, just wanted to say congratulations on your husband's achievement. I too have considered medical school a number of times in the past. Your story inspires me that maybe it should make it less of a dream and more of a reality.

Congrats to you all!