that time we finished graduate school

how is it that the days always seem to drag on and on and on in the middle of something. but when you look back on a time period of your life, it seems to have passed you right by.

why this phenomenon still takes me by surprise is ridiculous. I've experienced this before. When I graduated high school, after my first year away at college, when I returned home from studying abroad, when I walked the stage and added the letters B.S. behind my name, when I celebrated my nephews and nieces birthdays, when I moved back from living out of state. In fact, I've felt this feeling when one season fades to the next and when my birthday comes and goes each year. but like all of those other moments in life, i'm taken by surprise how quickly my years in graduate school went.  three years ago, i packed my things and took a long road trip back to WI. I bought pencils and binders and paper. I mentally prepared for the long trek that would be my final years of formal education. And here it is...graduation weekend!!! I've daydreamed about this day, probably for the majority of my high school and college years. Probably mostly during the 4 hour lectures or all night study sessions and mental breakdowns. But....we made it! And I say we because man oh man was this a team effort. 

My reason for writing this is to remember. In a month or a year or 10 years when I'm busy with life cause...life be busy...I want to remember how I feel today. Days before I scoot across the stage and celebrate with my friends and family another life event. I want to remember how grateful I feel for a family who supports me and friends who encourage me. I quite literally would never ever ever have made it this far in my education (or my life) if it weren't for such a supportive and loving crew to back me up. So yes, we made it. Cause "I" means nothing. I did the studying, sure, but I could never have done that without these people.

The adults in my life: parents, mostly. but closely followed by aunts, uncles, and grandparents. i have some really amazing adults that have literally helped keep me alive for the past 3 years. they've fed me, they've housed me when i've needed it (and when I had no A/C in the middle of WI summers), they've made sure i have a phone to use and a car to drive, they've listened to me cry, and they've made me laugh. they've calmed me when coffee fried my computer during finals week. they've given me advice. and told me "it's all going to be ok." even when it really felt like it just never would be. they are amazing. there is no better way to put it. they are my rock. and i love them. mucho mucho.

The kids in my life: a little innocence really keeps the soul young. and it also keeps the graduate student sane. lots of thanks to my little loves for giving me an outlet for my silliness and some extra hearts to love. thank goodness for cute babies. 

That one sister I have: we probably drive each other crazy about as much as we don't. but in the end, i can always count on her to have my back. grad school was no different. she cheered me on and always told me "you're going to do fine!" when I was freaking out about a big exam. she was right. shes always right. maybe I can start listening to her now. then again..maybe not;) she wavers between one of those adults I've mentioned and one of the friends I will mention. she should get some props for the meals and comfy beds she's given me. and also for listening to me babble about all things that stress me. thanks sis! :)

The high school friends, the cousin-friends and those I've met along the way: there's something to be said for friends who stick with you through tough times. it's safe to say I'm the luckiest to have found the friends I call my bests. the time between 16 and 26 isn't all rainbows and butterflies. much to our surprise. there's a lot of growing up that happens. and it's not easy. in fact, its really really hard. what makes it easy is the people. i'm feeling luckier by the day to have grown up with the people i have. and to have met many along the way. thanks for sticking with me through it all. you guys know who you are, even though there isn't pictures to show your pretty faces:)






The grad school friends: I haven't known these people forever, but it sure feels like it by now. I would not want to imagine my grad school experience without these people. that pretty much says it all. from slap happy study sessions to endless hours at coffee shops to celebratory nights out, we've stuck together. we've not only experienced grad school things (test passing and test failing and studying, lots of studying and lots of tears), but we've always been a support through real life events (births and deaths, engagements and marriages, moving across the country and then moving back again). i'm forever blessed to have met them. they have inspired me to be a better physical therapist and a better human.

And coffee...I'm pretty grateful for coffee too.  




Happy graduation week to my fellow Doctors in Physical Therapy...and to all of our family and friends too! It's been a long road...a bumpy and winding and s

ometimes uphill road. But WE MADE IT! Congratulations! 

...a letter to my sister's children....

Introducing....my 3 favorite littles who happen to be my sister's children. As these three have been on my mind much lately, I've decided to write this post for them. As I take a bazillion pictures of everything, I have precisely 1/2 million of each of these guys. So..there will be lots of pictures and love included.


To my Bubs, my Calamanders, and my niecey Reesey,

I'm not quite sure if I will ever be able to verbalize the way I feel about each of you, but I will sure try. Let me clarify that I know I'm not your parent and that I really had no part in your creation or entering into this world. But it should be known, I love you more than I can tell you or show you. That being said, I won't ever stop trying to make sure you know that. The day each of you were born is stamped on my heart. I've been known to be a baby-lover and that just will never change. But the love I felt for you on your first day in the world was new to me. I have no children of my own and I'm the youngest sibling. Before you, I never got to watch a baby grow month after month under the heart of a sister I love so much. I never watched an infant meet each milestone in the first year, never watched a small child learn step after step how to walk, and never watched a toddler form a personality all their own. You were new to the world and the love for you was and continues to be so new to me.

Weston Dean
July 5, 2006

    

               
                        



                                            Callan Mack
                                   February 24, 2009

Reese Rebecca
January 17, 2012





 Unless others have nephews or nieces of their own, it is hard for them to explain why or how I love you as much as I do. You each will know what I mean someday when your siblings have babies of their own. I've always loved my sister, your beautiful momma.

So when you were born, I was not even surprised by why I loved you so. You were a part of her...another piece of her for me to love. I spend a lot of my time with you three amigos. And I love it! But since I am 25...not everyone gets why I spend Friday nights snuggled up watching movies with you or why I spend my Saturday afternoons hanging out at your house. But I do...and I imagine I will continue to spend any extra time I get with you. You are family and the relationships I form with each of you are important to me. I hope as you grow you will continue to have happy thoughts of our day dates and movie nights and walks in the park.

 








I won't always have as much free time because someday I will have a family of my own and as you have taught me--children and families take up boatloads of time (and give endless love back in return). The 3 of you will always have a front row seat in my heart and my life though.And I'm beyond confident you already know that.

 
By default....I loved you the minute I first snuggled you. It was impossible not to with your chubby cheeks and baby grunts and itty bitty fingers.

 But what I loved most was that you each were a blank slate, a fresh start, a new life with such a future ahead of you I had a hard time grasping what it meant. You had a personality at day 1. 







And I continue to be pleasantly surprised at how your personalities as babies have carried over into toddlerhood and even more so into your childhood. 

Weston (aka- Bubs, BubbaSparks)- the silly, sensitive blondie with a knack for making everyone laugh

Cal (aka-Dinobaby, CalMack, Calamanders)- the thoughtful sweetheart with the Boston-accent and dimples that will make you melt

 

And the baby...Reese(aka Reesey, Reeseala, niecey Reesey, Beasty Reesey)- the determined and fiesty little girl with the big bows, blue eyes, and best giggle in town

 

Being an aunt to you has become one of my greatest joys. And it's not a job I take lightly. I hope to be of as much guidance to you as I can from my perch over here in aunt-ville. I cannot wait to see the adults you become and the things you do with your life. You are just 3 people in the world, but I hope you know you can make a difference. Our family will be sure to remind you of that along the way. Growing up is pretty tough and you are sure to forget that every now and again, but I know you will come back to it. You have brought a light to our family...a happiness...a much-needed focus. It's not easy raising kids...but your mom and dad have done a pretty great job so far. So be sure to thank them someday:) They've let a village help raise you....grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, great-grandparents, great-aunts/uncles, great-cousins. I'm just one member of that big village, but I'm forever grateful to be in your lives.

 
Thank you for always being you. You've taught me more about love. You...with your little quirks and your big sloppy kisses and your belly laughs. You sneaky little ones...you make me love you more every time I see you. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, there is everything right with it.

 
I know I didn't bring you into this world. I didn't endure months of pregnancy, I didn't born you (as you would say), and I didn't give you your name. I'm not your mom or your dad. But I do love you. I'm your aunt and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Love you the moon and back..and more and more and more,
Auntie Jenna


P.S. I think you are the cutest things that have ever walked this earth.

Oh, and my apologies Reesey for always dressing you in "I love my aunt" clothes. I just simply couldn't help myself. Plus...I knew you loved me so it wasn't false advertising..I promise!

The view from here...

Since forever I have written in a journal....the pen and paper kind. But since the world is a changing place (and it's much easier to type than write and I'm just plain that lazy) I've decided to jump on the blog world. I'm not convinced that I have anything super meaningful or inspirational to say for others, however I think I will be glad to have a running history of my own current thoughts on the world and the way I see it when I'm older.

There are many bloggers who have come before me and I'm inspired daily by many of those bloggers. If I end up inspiring someone along the way, it will be what they call collateral damage of the positive type:) I don't aspire to out-do anyone or to convince anyone to adopt my views on politics or religion. I don't think I will blog my every life event, however I've been know to include far too many details at times.

So maybe I should start off with a little explanation to myself about myself. Isn't that a funny thought? Regardless....I spent some time running today and I couldn't help but let my mind wander. How else to get through treadmill running...gross. During this particular mind wander, I was trying to wrap my head around how different our self-image is versus how others view us. I still can't quite figure out why that is...why there is a such a difference in these views?  I'm positive I am not the only person in this boat. And I'm even more positive we all fall victim to a society with self-image issues. I will work on this self-image discrepancy and report back. It's always good to feel accountable for something..plus that's where change happens. Ok...I am on a huge tangent and if you are still reading, you must like to read:)

I'm currently in my final year of school (FINALLY!). I'm finishing up my graduate degree in Physical Therapy...a forever dream almost come true. And by forever...I mean since high school, which feels like forever ago. I'm in clinical rotations in different settings and I'm a bit surprised at how much I really love it. I haven't come across a setting in this field that I haven't liked yet. So I'm happy to know I will always love my job, however some days more than others. T-minus 3 months until I start my final rotation in the sunshine state:) Florida here I come. More about that in the future. I'm in a bit of transition phase....leaning more towards real adulthood than ever before. Both exciting and terrifying as it is, I'm looking forward to closing the school-days chapter of my story and moving onto a new stage. I fully intend to share all my hiccups and roadbumps and fall flat-on-my-face moments along the way...cause that's my style.

Okkkk...This seems like enough for post numero uno. I've had much on my mind lately so expect some continued posts real soon. The future tangents I shall get on will be my view of the world and my thoughts/feelings on my own world. I'll be sure to share some funny stories and some sappy stories. I have a close family and a tiny cat and much of my stories/pictures will include them. I like adventures and traveling...there might be some of that too. And I can get nostalgic and emotional and serious sometimes...expect that to show up here and everywhere. I just plan to explain the world from my view, through my lens, from my perch over here in Wisconsin. Hold on folks...it's bound to get interesting sooner or later. :)

Have a wonderful end of the week!
<3 JennaB


<----There's the kitty I talked about. Elsie the great :) 

And I'll introduce my lovely niece. Reese the cutest:) Don't worry...there will be about a million and five more pics and stories about her.
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