dallas' paparazzi posse...

a sunny texas evening : green grass & warm rays : sunglasses, hand fans, and open-toed heels : ornelas hall complete with georgian columns and large ferns set the stage : pomp and circumstance sound from the orchestra : our boy clad in blue with his tux underneath...collegiate ceremony with a prom for celebration...strolls in alongside mom : speaker full of energy and wisdom : takes a wrong turn on a tangent of being an American despite the foreign boarding graduates : his name is called and his bio read : we stand for our dual credit graduate : family looks on with "uncle B" in spirit : the flag waves overhead : music fills the air : showered with prayer : mom cries : the sun sets and the cannon fires : hats swoop : the page has been turned...he is college bound!

happy graduation Dallas!

The yorkie boys and I hopped a plane headed for Texas this morning to arrive in Tyler just in time for Dallas' High School Graduation. As my youngest brother I wasn't about to miss his special day!

I can't believe this day is already here...I can still seem him with his little red cleats, a chilli bowl haircut, and a smile the size of Texas at bat on the ball field behind our house. He has outgrown the cleats of course, has opted for the hair style of today's choice...a bit longer and prefers basketball over the bat, but the big brown eyes and smile still beamed today...he graduated from high school today...not soo little anymore.

Dallas...B and I are oh so proud of you Dal and can't wait to see where God leads you...always follow his steps and pray for guidance along the way...just as we always will for you! We love you so much!!

may 23, 2008

The 91st Annual OCPM Commencement Ceremony was held at the Allen Theater at Playhouse Square on Friday, May 23, 2008 at 11:00am. What a gorgeous day...the sun was out and it was a little chilly. It was a special day...hubby became "Doctor" and delivered a wonderful Valedictorian Address. Judie was so sweet to make sure we had the best seats in the house and insisted on sharing 6 of her reserved seats! I am so grateful to have been on the 2nd row! I must say that the tears started on the first note of Pomp and Circumstance. This day was worked for and waited on for so long. To finally see his dreams...our dreams come true...I can't tell you how proud I truly was of him.
Congratulations hubby!!! Congratulations to all my doctor friends and their families!!!!

A HuGe thanks goes out to Jane for heading to Cleveland for the day to take these lovely pics and to Aaron for loaning us his supped up camera. I will be forever grateful for the tangible mementos and the opportunity for getting to enjoy the moments and not worrying about capturing it all. If you are a Cleveland local {although if you're not...I'm sure she'd fly} be sure and check out Jane's work on here... She is for hire. Thank you so very much Jane for such a perfect gift for B and I. Miss you friend!!!

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... }

welcome family...

We welcomed hubby's parents, grandmother, and brother to town late Tuesday night. This is their first time to Cleveland {except hubby's dad who graciously helped move us as newlyweds up here 4 years ago from Texas}. We have been spending the last several days showing them the town!We took them to our favorite Cleveland historical site...Lake View Cemetery. If ever in Cleveland this is a must see and all my local friends...you should be ashamed for never venturing to the East Side to check out this little gem.

It has the coolest landscapes, the most unique monuments, and such historic burial sites of some of the most rich and famous...Rockefellers : President Garfield : Wade Chapel {see below} : John Hay {President Lincoln's Secretary} : Eliot Ness : and many more...

Gran treated us on Day 2 to an afternoon at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame {the house that rock built}...

Of course we also ate great meals, had lots of laughs, and spent wonderful moments with family...a great celebration for graduation week! We are so glad they were able to come and sight see in Cleveland while we still called it "home".

all moved...and still hustling...

...well the last load was loaded up yesterday and hubby made another trip to PA with another U-haul. This means all thats left are our suitcases, plants, air mattress, and cleaning supplies...we are living it up this week in our "vacation home on the lake"...don't you love hubby's outlook on having 2 places...such a positive guy!

Busy day...
...say good-bye to postman
...submit mail forwarding
...cancel cable, gas, electricity
...turn in cable box
...check-up at the dentist
...last vet visit for Stanley
...get Wilson's records for "travel ready"
...pick up family at the airport
...wrap hubby's grad gift
...work on my "bottle" tan
...take sweet neighbor out for IHOP at 5:20pm {she was a little particular on the time}
...clean, clean, clean...must have that security deposit back
...wish Rosie a happy birthday!! {happy birthday dear friend!}
...call about graduation video
...enjoy lunch with hubby {chick-fil-a!!}

Better get busy...Graduation is only 3 days away and hubby's valedictorian speech is ready!

living out of boxes...

Hubby & I & the yorkie boys headed back to Cleveland yesterday for the week in order to kick off hubby's graduation celebration! We have a week full of festivities which started last night at the senior party, we'll welcome hubby's family mid-week, and we'll wrap up the week with the BiG celebration...Commencement Ceremonies on Friday!!! Then its off to Texas for me and the yorkies for my brother's graduation and hubby heads to cram for the Boards in PA.

I am not off to a great start of living out of boxes...I couldn't find my shoes and wasn't very good at making a decision on plan b. So I thought I would decide on the way...since I had made us late anyways!

We enjoyed a lovely evening last night with friends/classmates on a dinner cruise along Lake Erie...

{ The goodtime cruise }

{ jessica & i enjoying the cruise }

{ view of downtown }

{ hubby & his classmates...graduation countdown...6 days!! }

{ what a view! }

It was a great kick off to a fun filled...and busy week!

farewell Breakers...

Good-bye Breakers...we enjoyed our stay...as our very first place we will always have a special place for you! Despite your vintage elevator and your dishwasher-less kitchen...we made some wonderful memories here...like our first Thanksgiving as Mr. & Mrs., the countless hours of study, the birth of T&T, and Stanley's first home. We laughed, we cried, we celebrated, we dreamed...we called you home!
We pray and wish wonderful blessing for our next home too...

good morning move!

good morning sunshine...we were glad to see the sun on Tuesday and glad that we moved the moving day back one day...
What a day! ...started off early with the pick up of the HUGE {I-think-we-rented-too-much-truck} U-haul.
Loading went "smoothly" and quite fast.

They worked so hard and had it almost all loaded when Jessica and I left around 3:00pm to head to PA to get the house keys. Besides loosing a tailpipe {another story} and getting the call you don't want to hear..."it won't all fit'...huh? Yep...our way-too-big U-haul ended up not being big enough. Overall the move really did go smoothly and for that we are more than blessed and thankful!

new state, new place...

We're here! What a long haul, some great stories, and dear friends...we have arrived in PA! My days are all mixed up, no curtains are on the windows so morning comes quickly, and I can't seem to shake a migraine that has been trying to come on for a few days now...other than that we are doing great today...on day #2 in our new house!

I hope to post-date some new posts soon about the move, good-byes, and a few chuckles, but until then I just wanted to pop in and let you all know we are safe, blessed, and unpacking!
We are so thankful to our moving crew Andrew and Jessica...such dear friends and soon to be docs...the countdown to graduation has begun...eight days!!!!

rain rain go away...

Saturday night we made the big decision because of the weather forecast...we have postponed our move until tomorrow...its raining. So please continue the prayers tomorrow for safe travels, big muscles, no rain, and sunny skies!

Until then...I will finish packing the last few belongings into more boxes, fold laundry that we washed for the last time with quarters, and spend time with friends. Little Wilson on the other hand spent all of yesterday {and probably today} packed and ready to go...

gonna miss 'em...

How do you say good-bye...for a little while? ...with cake and kisses from the littles of course! We spent yesterday evening with another "traditional" cook out at the Dillers! The boys {and Miss Hannah} had fish while the gals enjoyed goodies from the grill. They treated us to an ice-cream cake and lots of hugs and kisses!

Its so hard to believe how fast they grow in such a short amount of time. Miss Hannah was just a little tot when we met and Jackson wasn't even around yet. We feel blessed to have walked several of life's little moments with them...
...little Hannah's desire to NOT speak to boys {hubby missed out & had to follow the "rules" of not speaking to Hannah for a long while}
...the welcome of little Jackson to the family
...Hannah's first parent teacher night
...the sudden death of Bluejay {Hannah's fish}
...Jackson's first shot at learning the sippy cup
...the first visit from the tooth fairy
...Jackson's first birthday bash
...Jackson's first steps
...Gymnastics
...Jackson's first trip on the boat to go "ishing"

Just a few little moments that we are so blessed to be a part of.

a day for you...

oh happy day mom! I hope your day is blessed for your have truly blessed all of ours. Thank you for the little moments you always make great, the details in all you do, the way you listen like no one else can, the prayers you bless us all with, the way you seem to always have a pulse on each of our lives, and the way you seem to always know what we each need... thank you mom! I can't wait to hug your neck in a few weeks for I am blessed to call you mine!

southern soft spot...

enjoyed my last "wet burrito" last night...it reminded me of these dear friends! They always indulged this southern gals work lunch cravings for one of the best Mexican food spots in Cleveland!

a life not yet lived...

It is so surreal to think that life as we know it now is about to change on Monday...is currently changing actually. I feel as if I am on a page trying to peek over to the next page to see what it will be like. I can't see it because its not yet lived and I can't picture it. How will our daily routine go? How far will the grocery store be? Are they nice there or do they run over you with their carts? How long will it take before it all looks familiar and settles into the new "normal"? How hard will the city be to navigate? {HARD I hear!} Will hubby love his program as much as he hopes? All questions that rumble through my mind and don't have an answer yet.

This move makes me somehow feels a little more nervous than the last. Only because I was so naive and truly clueless to all the changes when we moved to Cleveland. I had no experience to know what living in a new city was like. I had never lived in an apartment before much less shared my room with a boy. I was unaware of what it would be like to find a job in a city with NO contacts or friends. I had no idea what it meant to be the wife of a medical student. I had no recollection of what a true winter would entail. I was unsure about daily life 19 hours from our families ...but God filled in all the blanks and uncertainties. He truly took care of us...very good care of us. I have no doubt He will do the same with this move...this new chapter.

It is an amazing feeling to know that God is in the driver's seat. To have no idea where you're going, but to just KNOW that its the direction you were called for...tis what faith is all about! I suppose I will just have to keep packing...tossing our belongings into boxes and wishing for even more bubble wrap...and wait until the page turns on Monday.

time is running out...

packing...still packing...

...moving day is getting closer and our place is a simple shade of brown and confusion. Boxes have overtaken where the coffee table once was and I can no longer get to the ironing board. The pillows were packed last week so the bed remains unmade daily...I will pack the silverware soon and plastic will become gourmet!

I packed up all the picture frames...what a sight. So many memories boxed up to move forward with us where more memories will be made. All signs of change and moving forward! What wonderful memories we will be taking with us as we move into this next chapter. The Lord has surely blessed us during our time in Cleveland. We are so anxious for where He will take and teach us next.

I have quite the little helpers...they are so confused, stick close to our ankles, and want to be held at all times! Poor little Wilson has made this move before...he knows whats coming and probably hopes it means going home to Texas.

first day of retirement...

How was this first day? It was great {except for waking up at 7:30am and not being able to sleep in} and full of...
...serious packing
...several T&T orders!
...breakfast, lunch, and dinner with hubby
...fielding customer phone calls
...no makeup, sweats, and crocs
...time for needed phone calls {new cable, water, etc. for the new house}
...thoughtful card and gift card
...packing
...daytime tv
...processing orders
...vendor calls
...gorgeous sunshine
...and more packing

I think I can get used to this...ok maybe not the packing!

a sweet farewell...

gathering of friends : cupcakes : hugs : tasty punch : laughter : gifts of prayer : cards : well wishes : thoughtful gifts : bread and oil : sunshine spring : accomplishments : sincere good-byes : vacation time saved : old stories : appreciation : final projects : a surprise visit : ... one sweet farewell!

{ hubby : dr. osher : ash }
He and his wife have become such dear friends. He will be
hooding hubby at graduation in just a few weeks!

adios...

Only one day left! We celebrated Cinco de Mayo and my soon "retirement" today. Several friend's from work treated me to lunch at my favorite Mexican food Restaurant near the college...Cozumel. It was such a perfect treat and oh so sweet of them!! Laura, Lori, Jill, and Mary Sharon have been with me from the beginning and Carla...well she has been with me everyday all day for the last year and a half...I am so going to miss these dear friends!!

It is amazing to stand still and look back at the many ways the Lord has blessed us these last 4 years. He has brought some amazing friends into my life...some that stepped in just when we needed them and walked on and some that will always step with us through the rest of life. One in particular has a special story...Terri. I think I was bound to meet Terri one way or another. She ran in both of my circles...she worked for the Sh*raton Hotel across the street and also at my favorite boutique Teacups in Time...{aka now Stash Style} . We have enjoyed sharing our favorite websites and love for all things vintage, pink, and peely paint! I was most impressed and so excited to find someone with my same taste and collections! We were instant friends and I look forward to our antiquing outings! She is no longer with the hotel, but was so sweet to make the trek into town and visit me today....to hug my neck and send me off with well wishes! She surprised me with such thoughtful treats from...of course...my favorite boutique...Teacups in Time*!
The precious pink purse is a fabulous pink addition to my summer wardrobe! This adorable mug will be my daily reminder of a precious friend and one adorable boutique that I fell in love with while in Cleveland. It was actually the first little shop I venture into when we first moved to Cleveland and I realized...I might can make it here in what felt like a far away land...there are others with my "old" style!!

This precious bracelet will came wrapped in an adorable vintage DMC thread box...a gal after my own heart!! If you are ever in the precious little town of Chagrin Falls, Ohio you must venture into Stash Style and tell Terri I sent ya!