It's about 5 degrees outside and raining here in Vancouver and I can't remember what wearing a t-shirt outside even feels like. It's been a bit of a challenge trying to decide what to bring over to the island with me. Good news is that I finally found a place. The owner was perhaps the friendliest voice I've ever heard on the other side of a telephone...he kept on calling me man, but more like in the context of, yeah man. Cool. 

Back to packing. So far I have a flashlight, about 10 highlighters, a few other writing tools, a 2014 agenda and my netter's anatomy atlas. Progress has been slow...

I secretly wish that I could transport my entire home over to Saba. Kind of like in the Wizard of Oz, minus the squashing of innocent witches part. Or like in Up, with a bunch of helium balloons!!

I wonder if I will miss the comforts of my Vancouver life...But I know that...

On a side note: tomorrow I will be going scrubs and lab coat shopping...for some reason, the thought of it keeps making me smile a big goofy one =D

Goodnight!

are we there yet...are we there yet? 

actually the question of the last few months has been, "are you excited?" since there's only one month now between my cozy vancouver life and my departure for the caribbean and medical school, inquiring minds have been asking me if i am indeed excited. rightly so. but i can't help but to cringe every time i am asked those three words. not that i am not excited, what could there be not to be excited about...in one month time i will be on a pristine caribbean island studying medicine, free of distraction and working towards realizing the aspirations, goals and dreams i have nurtured for nearly 5 years. other than the fact that it hasn't quite hit me that i am going to medical school...i think the true crutch in this nearly perfect story of dreams coming true is...that my best friend, my husband, my rock and anchor will be thousands of miles away from me for the most part of this journey =(

but thank goodness for the internet. i imagine our communications in the pre-world wide web days being something akin to the scarlet letter days of ink and quills and letters enclosed with wax seals...now we have a myriad of communication tools to use via the internet that will keep my hubby and i as close digitally as we can possibly be. 

despite the challenges that i may face in my marriage being so far away from my husband, i believe that our relationship will only become that much stronger. we have also begun to buy lottery tickets. perhaps the winning ticket will land in our hands and will reward us the opportunity to free my husband from the duties of work and allow him to live alongside me on saba for the next little while...

all things aside...i have to say that the answer is yes. yes i am excited to start my first day of medical school and be a step closer to becoming a doctor. i don't think about it too much these days between the packing lists, paperwork and fretting about what my husband will eat and if he will clean our home while i am gone...but when i do pause for a moment to think about it, of how far i've come, how long it's taken and now how close it now is...yes, i am very excited to finally begin my medical career. saba here i come!!

"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest." Hebrews 4:11

Rest. A hard concept to accept for a Type-A workaholic like myself. Or should I say, the self I once was...

I had a cushy government job when I decided to quit work and go back to school. Let me rephrase, I had an awesome job where I enjoyed payed holidays, paid stat days, great colleagues, coffee breaks, benefits and much more. "Why did you quit your job?" Was a question I was often asked shortly I decided to leave my position working for the federal government of Canada. Seemed even a little ludicrous for me to quit my job and go back to school at the ripe age of 29. After which I soon returned to university for two years where my classmates were on average 10 years younger then me.

I'm not sure...it was sort of a feeling in my heart. An inkling. A still, small voice in my heart...

5 years later, after two years of full time university, two part time jobs, a year of studying for the mcat, medical school applications, acceptances and rejections I look back on all the trials and struggles this journey had been wrought with and despite the sacrifices and the hardships, there is a sense of peace with the decisions I have made. Perhaps it's because through the tough times, I drew closer to God. Or perhaps it's because through the tough times I met and married my amazing husband. Or that now I have been rewarded this amazing time of rest. I can finally say that I have learned how to rest, and more so, how to enjoy it. 

I had taken a leap of faith and had landed, safely in the hands of a faithful and loving God.

Was it worth it to follow the voice in my heart I often ask myself...absolutely. I have found that in life, it is always worth it to follow your heart.

T minus 35 days until I land on Saba island.

:)

As my impending departure date draws near...I am reminded of why I even decided to try to get into medical school in the first place...I believed that God had a plan for my life, one that included me being a doctor in it. There is absolutely nothing in the world like hearing the voice of God, whether it's hidden in the warm rays of the sun, the smile of a loved one, or the angelic choir of crickets singing...whispering into your heart...I love you. Trust and follow me.

I will follow you all of my days...

http://www.dose.ca/2013/11/22/jim-wilsons-cricket-recording-sounds-heavenly-choir-opera-singers-mind-blown