GRADUATION!!!!

B...
When we journeyed to Cleveland 4 years ago graduation day in May 2008 seemed so far away...mainly because of the unknown trials and steps in the years between and partly because of the known sacrifices of study and distance from everything we knew. Can you believe its finally here! I can't say it was easy, I won't pretend it was a breeze, and I can't say I was always able to watch your exhaustion and challenges with ease. BUT...we made it!!! You passed every test with flying colors, A-ced every clinical challenge, and finished on top. At times I "hated" the pressure you put on yourself in keeping your 4.0 GPA and the stress it brought on you, but I know it was a personal goal and I wholeheartedly supported you and am so proud that you achieved Valedictorian. Your Valedictorian Address was flawless today and delivered with such class that so many admire. You brought many to tears, made your parents so proud, and made my heart burst with pride my husband.

Today was your day and I hope you will remember it always...it was the day you proved to yourself how far you could push yourself to get what you at times thought was too far to grasp, you showed others what sacrifices and hard work can reward you with, you taught your former students what working hard to achieve a goal can do, you gave your family a pride that could be seen in their faces and felt in their words on those that couldn't be with us in person today, and you made me so proud and so thankful that we followed God's call for our lives and took the leap of faith and went to an unknown land to get today's prize...all with such class.

I am amazed at where God has taken us...the 2 least preferred travelers out of all of our siblings...look where we have gone...19 hours from home to live and make a place for ourselves. I look back over the last 4 years and without a doubt see God's hand in our lives...we would have never taken the steps without His guidance and I can see the times He carried us. I am in awe of his guidance and in complete admiration at your submission to His will. What a mighty God we serve.

Congratulations to my hardworking husband!!!...your hard work, countless hours in the books, months of externship rotations, and late nights/early mornings in the lab are an inspiration. Your sacrifices are to be conmended and your determination admired. You earned today and I couldn't be more proud!

I love and adore you always!
Ash


{ pictures to be added soon... }