"Grieving the loss of a child is a process, it begins the day your child passes and ends the day the parent joins them."
BJKarrer

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Time is getting near.

This young lady will soon be graduating from Western Michigan University. Majoring in Interdisciplinary Health with a Minor in Community Health. This is very hard for me to wrap my brain around. It seems like just yesterday our first born was heading off to her first day of Kindergarten. Now, in less than a month she will be a College Grad. WoW!

Ashleigh is finishing up her internship at Kalamazoo's Center for Disabled Adults. She absolutely LOVES what she is doing. She as accepted a job with this center working directly with 2 disabled adults who both have cerebral palsy. Her supervisor told her, "Ashleigh you could be running the joint before too long". Both of these young people are the same age as Ashleigh (soon to turn 23). Ashleigh will be doing home services for both. She will start her job soon after the first of the year.

Last week Ashleigh told me that she thinks she wants to continue on for a nursing degree. That was her original career choice, but Western and their waiting list was just to far off. She could have gotten into the nursing program next term or as her advisor said for sure the following term. She opted out. Not wanting to hang around a couple of more terms. Spending more $ on college. Now, she is thinking that's just what she may want to do after all. We shall see. However, she will not be attending WMU for this. She is thinking of UofM or MSU. They both have accelerated nursing programs. The only prereq is, a 4 year degree. Time will tell.

I opened up the mail yesterday. This is what I found:

Imagine the chills up and down my spine when I opened this. It's truly unbelievable to us that our first born will soon be venturing out into the world with a degree in hand. Seeking a good paying job. Knowing that this degree may take her somewhere far from home. Although she tells us that we have to come with her. She wants us near when she starts a family. She doesn't even have a significant other. Yet! Plus, she doesn't really want to leave Carly. That's probably the whole reason she would want old ma and pa around!

The month of December will be a busy one for Miss Ashleigh. Her birthday is December 13. Graduation is December 19. Christmas of course on the 25th. I just realized. This December is going to be quite costly for old ma and pa!!! ;o)

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5 comments:

Shari said...

Congratulations Ashleigh! That is just so neat! Go for your dreams!

my family said...

How wonderful and exciting! I think C is a very lucky little girl to have such a terriffic big sister like A

The Lehnick Family said...

What an accomplishment...you SHOULD be so proud...what an inspiration she is to so many I am sure...She is a beautiful girl and seems very ambitious! Way to go mom and dad! and CONGRATS to Ashleigh!

Heidi said...

Ashleigh is such a beautiful girl! Congratulations to her on such a major accomplishment!

Bethany said...

Congratulations ... she is gorgeous!