Two Years Ago

I'm melancholy....  My youngest daughter is moving away and I've never been away from her.... she has traveled; has done coursework for her degree in veterinary medicine, but NOT moved away, bought a home in another state, and packed up and left....and yet, that is what's happening...

I'm very happy for her, for all of her success and for all of the joy in her life.... I know I will get used to it, but right now, I'm just a bit melancholy....this is her last weekend in Colorado....for well, who knows? 

So...looking back, in 2010, right about this time of year...I wrote this in my blog, so instead of just writing sad stuff, I want to think about all of the good....and I'll get back on track in a few weeks, so please bear with me.  My middle daughter and I are going to have to get used to this...we hang out with her a LOT.

so here goes.... 

Amanda and a fellow Canadian vet student with... yes, a SNAKE!

My youngest daughter is in her 3rd year of vet school here in Colorado.  It has been a lifelong dream of hers to go to Africa.  She has wanted to study the environmental impact of man on the environment and animals and the causal effects of each on the other.  Her dream came true with this acceptance.  Mid June and she took off--backpack, exofficio underwear, and rain gear in tow.  She returns Aug. 11 in the evening...and she is getting married on Sept. 2!  Needless to say, a LOT has been going on this summer!

Amanda and Chad

The EnviroVet program takes veterinarians, doctors, and veterinary students to places they could only imagine.  Amanda has learned how to use a blow dart, dissect a snake, do things I can't even pronounce! I learn through her, and it's a journey of a lifetime. 

Here she is working on a brown pelican

Here, they are doing a dissection of an alligator

 Her wonderful guy and I are painting and prepping their townhouse, I'm cleaning and organizing her closets ( I know, I know....she's going to 'freak' out when she comes home ) and I'm making LOTS of things for the wedding, including the favors, table decorations, parts of the wedding clothes for the little flower girls...and of course, the cupcakes!

Here's a few of the decorations and things we've been working on:

Boxes of favors are completed, each filled with organza bags filled with organic lavender

seeded papers to help plant wildflowers instead of weeds...

Boutonnieres for the groomsmen and significant male folk

And of course....the little flower girls....here's the youngest....in her 'dress' rehearsal.  I don't want to give it ALL away.....but I'll post wedding photos and such after the wedding....love to all!

She is wearing little 'glass' slippers with butterflies on them So, I'm SO HAPPY to hear from you Amanda!!  We're all waiting for you to come home and walk down the aisle!!

Amanda...you make me unbelievably proud and you've shown me, your sisters, and everyone else around you that to dream is to be....and that when we want something badly enough, we must persevere!

Now, two years later, this young woman, my daughter, is married, has graduated from vet school and is now a doctor...and she's going to go on to pursue a PhD at another university in another state....she wants to teach other veterinarians at the University level AND she wants to do wonderful things to save and protect our wildlife and planet....she would truly like to be the next Jane Goodall.  She and her husband are planning to start a family.... and I'd just love to have you all with me to wish them both all of the best and to send them off with blessings of good health, joy and love.... 

                                          this mom has got to pull it together here.....