Our Journey to Idaho - Part I

Three years ago today we left all we knew behind and started a trip toward our new home in Idaho.  Two vehicles, two kids, two pets, three adults and fifteen hundred miles loomed ahead of us as we drove away from our first home.  

We often get asked how we came to live in Idaho. On the anniversary of our move, I thought I would share how we came to live in Idaho over the next few days.

On a cold February morning as Lance was leaving for work he calls out to me "If we get any emails from Idaho don't freak out.  I am putting some feelers out for jobs."  

Don't freak out! You make an announcement like that as you walk out the door and I am not supposed to freak out.  I didn't totally freak out because I really didn't think anything would come of it. 

I knew that our lives would be changed forever that day. Even if we didn't move to Idaho, Lance was definitely thinking about looking elsewhere for a job. In my mind, once he graduated from veterinary school, accepted a job, and became a partner in a practice we were set for life.  I liked where we lived. I liked our house, our neighbors, our community, our church,  how close we lived to family, and I didn't feel any need to leave.

Lance was starting to feel that ten years down the road his job would change dramatically. He would have to drive farther to have dairy clients and work more often or change his focus to small animal type medicine.  His practice in Minnesota consisted of a mixed animal practice (mostly dairy cows and small animals) and then a small animal pet hospital in a nearby community. Lance's passion was working with the dairy cows and he didn't see a long term future in our area with the growth of surrounding communities. 

There was an opportunity in Idaho for a job that would be solely a dairy practice. His dream job.

Out of all the states with a large amount of dairies, I am not sure why he picked Idaho. (I was thinking more like Vermont -Ben and Jerry's anyone??).  There were plenty of other states with job openings but Idaho held the appeal for him.  

We prayed about Lance pursuing a job opportunity in Idaho.  We felt like God was leading us to at least make some phone calls and investigate.  Lance had some phone conversations with two of the veterinarians in Idaho and felt good about the conversations. The person he talked to told him that he would call him back in a few days to set up a time for Lance to come and interview. 

We anxiously awaited the phone call. For eight days.  I felt like it was God closing the door on this job opportunity.  I felt confident we were meant to stay in MN for a while longer. 

But God had other plans for our journey to Idaho.

Part II tomorrow.