Um Ya Ya

Its official, Shelby is accepted to be part of the graduating class of 2013 at St Olaf College! I cannot explain the joy and excitement we are all feeling at this news. My mail man is thrilled too, if only because this means I won't be accosting him along the streets of our town looking for some news in the mail. 

I am so thrilled that my daughter is going to be able to be a part of that incredible school. I look forward to seeing the challenges they give her, the possibilities they will open up for her. I am a bot envious to be studying at a place that so clearly values learning. Oh to be 17 and headed off to such a magical place. 

That said I am also already weeping inside at the thought of being so far from her. I know that many mothers and their 17 year old daughters don't love being together but I truly love being with her and I am going to miss her terribly. I know I will become a cyber stalker with their Hi mom cam, watching just to see if I can catch a glimpse of her walking through the commons. She has already told me I will need to sign on for unlimited text messaging so that we can talk when we need to. I am already practicing so that I will have Cheetah thumbs and text quickly. 

Now we begin the prayers for snow every day so that we can afford the tuition!

Well done Shelby, I am so glad St Olaf's recognized a gem in you.

Update

I already mentioned that I was heading to Bangladesh this February and here is the update on my schedule. I leave for San Francisco on February 11th. The team will leave form there on the 13th but I was nervous about snow in February and wanted to make sure I was there and ready to go so I will have a couple of days to explore the city. I have never been there before so I am excited. I downloaded a National Geographic podcast on a walking tour of the city and hope to try it. I figure the part of the walk that is all uphill will be good training for what comes later. I also plan on visiting at the Alliance for Smiles head office to meet the people there and learn a little more about the organization- good thing huh? I mean I am traveling with them on mission. 

From San Francisco we head to Hong Kong and then to Bangladesh. We have 9 long days (Or maybe it is 8) of surgeries and dental treatment for people in the area. before the team finishes up. 

Now here is the new part.... from there I am heading out to Kathmandu! What a trip. One member of the team, a veteran AFS member, posed an invitation to anyone else going to join him for a few days in Nepal. We will arrive in Kathmandu and have the rest of that first day free. The next morning we rise early and jump on a plane to do an air tour of Mt Everest (How cool is that?) After that we go back to our hotel for breakfast and then have a tour of the city for the day. We will even get to the "monkey" temple, a Buddhist temple that is inhabited by monkeys. The next morning it is an early rise again and another flight, this time to a National Park where we will get to ride on elephants as we travel through the jungle and then I get to take a bird watching hike- Love it! The next day we drive back to the city and make our way to the airport for the long trip home. 

I do not know why God has blessed me with such a wonderful husband who supports me on these adventures. With all his concerns about the economy and having 2 kids in college he stills sighs and says, "You're right, this is too great of an opportunity to pass up." I am so thankful for him. May I be a blessing on the patients I treat and the people I meet on this next adventure in the world.

Peace