Our Residency Home

About a month and a half after Match Day we contacted a program recommended realtor. It turned out that our residency location has an extremely low cost of living. It would (to my surprise) be cheaper to buy than rent for 5 years. The ladies on the LDW facebok group have told horror story after horror story about buying during residency. After our realtor showed us around to 20 places in 2 days, it seemed we really had no other option only coupled with the fact that literally all the residents in the program have houses or condos. We took the leap and put an offer in!

When we set the date for our wedding prior to our possible residency move, I had no idea how crazy our timeline would actually be!

May 1st, 2014: He turns in keys to his medical school apartment in Toledo, Ohio. All of his stuff was transferred to the garage of my apartment in Lancaster, Ohio but he stayed at his parents place in Saint Clairsville, Ohio. (RED)
June 4th 2014: Last day of school in Lancaster, Ohio. (Purple)
June 6th, 2014: Rehearsal Dinner (Yellow)
June 7th, 2014: Our Wedding Day! (Yellow)
June 12th, 2014: Close on our first house in Huntington, West Virginia (Blue)
June 14th, 2014: Turn in keys to my Lancaster, Ohio apartment. (Purple)

I am SOOO happy to finally be settled. Our honeymoon was our move and I'm quite content with it.




In Huntington we were able to get a ton for our money! We got a medical housing loan through Huntington Bank where the PMI is dropped which was amazing.

Without telling you our address, zillow.com listed our house with the following:

Facts

• Lot: 6,599 sqft
• Single Family
• Built in 1942

• Cooling: Central
• Heating: Other

Features

• Attic
• 2 Firepaces
  Flooring: Carpet, Hardwood
• Parking: 1 Car Garage - Attached, Off street
• Partial basement

• Patio
• Side Porch
• Security System
• View: City
  2 blocks to Ritter Park/Tennis Courts/ Bike Trail

Room Types

• Breakfast nook/pantry
• Dining room

• Family room
• Laundry room

• Master bath

Construction

• Exterior material: Brick
• Roof type: Shake Shingle

• Room count: 9
• # Stories: 2.0

• Structure type: Colonial
• Unit count: 1

Other

• Floor size: 2,821 sqft <<<This includes the half finished basement.

95% of the windows are brand spanking new. Not to mention a new roof in 2012 and new furnace negotiated at closing. We got all this for $160k with closing paid by the seller. Humm... can you say Yess??! Our mortgage is about $950 a month and property taxes are a low low low $1400 per year! Soon after we learned his program also gives him a $2000 bonus for matching there, free loops, pgy1 book mailed free, a $500 a year suit find, all dry cleaning reimbursed, and $500 step 3 reimbursement. Can you see now why after putting in an offer, my freaking out about not matching in Columbus, Ohio ended! Score!

We've been living together for about 6 weeks now and our long distance relationship is thankfully in hindsight. This medical journey is one heck of a roller coaster.

We will need to update the kitchen a bit and one of the bathrooms before selling in 2019. More posted to come with before and afters!

Our Wedding!

My definition of love:

Love is a blind connection, often unspoken, yet noticeable to everyone around. True love is rare, unmistakable, and restful. It unintentionally defines the person who I am today. Love has made me entirely change my outlook of the world since, without hesitation and without conscious calculation; my every decision is naturally made in care of Charlie. It is the recognition of my own flaws and honest attempt to become a better person for him. In time and after every new experience we overcome together, my loves grows deeper, with more maturity, and clarity. It is an unbroken trust that no matter what is thrown our way, how many miles are between us, or how long it’s been since we have seen each other that we will be OK, and even better, on the other side. Time is not our enemy but a friend. It’s an excitement for the future. Love an intense feeling of satisfaction I can make him, my best friend, happy. It’s celebrating with him through his and my accomplishments, and being immeasurably proud to stand by his side through it all. True love is timeless.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The day was a whirlwind of joy and excitement. The only time I cried-cried was the night of the rehearsal dinner around midnight when my brother and parents were in bed. I just finished editing the ridiculous soundtrack for our epic dad-daughter dance when I thought to check my email. I opened a thank you note from one of my former students, whom also was my classroom aid for a period of time. In the email she thanked me for a great year, helping her to love math, remembered my wedding date, and wrote that she was thinking of me. Quiet tears ran down my face past my smile sitting Indian style and hands in my lap. It was a moment I needed to myself- at peace with life.

I remember getting maybe 4-5 hours of sleep. When I heard dad's alarm go off I shuffled down the hall past my parents bedroom. Mom immediately cried when she saw me. Laughing I said "Oh Mom...Already??!" and hugged her. Dad fixed his usual big breakfast with plenty of time for Mom and I to get to the Studio East Hair Salon. 

I loved the venue choice for our 180ish guests! The Wheeling Artisan Center's first floor is a restaurant/bar area followed by a glass/art gallery on the second floor. The third floor was our party. The dancing and tables where on one side, food and restrooms on the other separated by a sky light lit balcony connected by an elevator bridge, walking bridge, and bar bridge.

Our hotel was in walking distance which proved to be very convenient for those of us who shut down the downstairs bar with live music. People told me before the wedding that the actual night goes incredibly fast, but I didn't believe them until waking up to a pretty solid hangover the following morning. ;) So caught in the moment, Charlie and I left my flowers at the venue and cake topper in the hotel refrigerator. In hindsight a very telling clue into our relationship. Flowers whither. Cake spoils. Our company will not.

Thank you to everyone who made June 7th, 2014 unforgettable.  

Hair: Studio East Hair Salon

Make Up: Adriene Pace

Photographer: Alisha Thomas Photography

Second Shooter: Rebecca K Swingle for LifeLens Photography

Videography: Luke Nelson 

Pastor/Officiant: Mark Zelewizc

Dress: La Jeune Marie of Columbus, Ohio 

Dress Designer: Jim Hjelm 8011

Bridesmaid's Dress Designer: Jenny Yoo Fiona Turkish Blue

Bridesmaid's Shoes: Nine West for Bridesmaids

Bridal Shoes: Badgley Mischka

Jewelry: Kirk Kara and Haute Bride 

Tux: Mens Wearhouse
Flowers: Boadners Florist
Venue: River City Artisan Center
Church: Calvary Presbyterian
Bride's Workouts: True Fit Athletics Crossfit