Graduation: What comes after that?

Graduation was fun, exciting, tiring, inspiring.  As the mom, I had to take a step back....my daughter (once again) taught me about perseverance.  She kept at something she believed in; didn't give in to setbacks; didn't let lack of funding stop her.  She made it.  Being proud of her is an understatement.  It doesn't matter that she's a doctor or a nurse or a designer or a computer geek.  She chose a profession she loves and stuck with the daunting task of making it happen....

Years ago, when she first talked about going to vet school, we talked about the celebration afterward...what would we do to celebrate?  Well, a party, yes: cake, food, decorations, loving friends and family to share the experience with....but what could we do BIG...REALLY BIG?  A CRUISE!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I have three daughters---at first we thought of a European Riverboat cruise....but then the youngest daughter got married, the middle daughter met someone very special and the oldest daughter is in her 3rd trimester of being a surrogate mother for a couple who cannot have children....she can't travel right now.

Well, the riverboat cruise turned into a Caribbean Cruise----we just got back on Sunday night...so I wanted to share some of the photographs....  pictures tell a thousand words....I think you can tell, we had a wonderful time!

Day 1: just getting onboard

The girls get in the hot tub and start dancing

First dinner and we celebrate Amanda's achievements with candle and song

Cadie on the beach after snorkeling in St. John

A day in St. Maarten

Rod tries rock climbing along with the other men and Amanda

Amanda does well on Flo-Rider but 'moons' the audience when her bathing suit gets pulled down by the strong waves

Taking a taxi to the beaches

Night out on 'the town'

Main Ballroom for Dinner- 3 -tiered dining

One of the many theater performances during the cruise

Amanda doing some sunbathing and magazine reading

ice sculputures

St. John

an infinity pool on St. Maarten

Leaving the ship on Sunday....what fun it was! Memories Made!!

                                                                          Hope you enjoyed it.....we had a great time and please feel free to ask any questions about the trip if you're thinking of taking one yourself....a wonderful choice with a large group as there are so many different things to do....

I missed you all...glad to be sleeping in my own bed again......  xoxo  Joann

I can hardly believe it myself

Click on LINK BELOW:

Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2012  


go down to Spring 2012 Commencement Schedule and click on Professional Veterinary Medicine (PVM) Streaming Video:

As my first post regarding the last week or so, I'd like to give you all this link....if you go to 20:22, you'll see Amanda receive her diploma, and as the class President, you can see her class address (in tears) at 58:50.

I hope you enjoy it!

xo
Joann

My Rock

tiny plants, lichen, etc. grow on the rocks in the Alpine regions of CO

Women are strong creatures....

We can bear children

We can dry tears

We can carry heavy loads

We're great at multi-tasking

We're sensitive

And yet....we're ever so strong

I do have a man in my life, however, who is my rock. 

He is solid ground, terra ferma

Recently, he has not been feeling well and he is not one to complain

When he told me he was going to make a doctor's appointment, I knew he really must be hurting.

It's been 4 or more appointments, several different blood tests, an ultrasound, a CT-scan, and now a follow-up appointment to come later this week...

All of this happened during his birthday week and we were going to go away to a little bed and breakfast and we were going to go fishing in the mountain high rivers of northern Colorado. 

The fish are hungry this time of year....no bugs about to land upon the water within their grasp...

It's a fun time to fish!

Long story short, plans were cancelled but birthdays come when birthdays come...

The weekend of his birthday was pretty quiet, but he had taken the following Monday off from work because I had asked him to do so....it was party of the secret plan.   I coaxed him to go fishing...and our day together was wonderful....the picnic consisted of some crackers and hot tea, but it didn't matter...

He put on his fishing vest....and we relaxed on the rocks

I brought an old quilt to sit upon....

Here he surveys the lake...watching all the fish jumping out of the water....

"Catch me, Catch me"

It was a good day....he caught 4....I hooked one that got away...

Sometimes plants, like this new tree...somehow take hold in the rocks

And grow strong...their roots deep into the earth

the lake was peaceful, barely anyone was there that Monday

                                                                              

                                                                              And even though I didn't get a fish....

I have the best of the best....my ROCK.