At Summer's End

First things first - I passed my final licensing exam! After weeks of painful waiting, nightly nightmares, withheld scores due to the "cheating fiasco", and many prayers for peace and a passing score - it has finally come to an end. I can officially practice medicine for the rest of my life without ever taking another licensing examination. [deep breath of relief] HOORAY!!

Summer is drawing to a close and we are back to a quiet home empty of visitors. It's a little sad, in a way, when your visitors leave; however, we are keeping busy and looking forward to the new changes facing us in the fall.

My mom was here for a few days in August, and we had a great time hiking and exploring. I'm pretty sure she fell in love with Colorado all over again (it's not hard to do!).


I took her hiking in Garden Of The Gods, which is always a treat. Mom is afraid of heights, so getting this picture took some convincing!


We had fun being silly together. Mom made my hat fold that way because she's short and the brim was hitting her in the head. :)


Then I took her Rocky Mountain National Park (a must-see for any visitor!) and we hiked Deer Mountain. It looks a bit like a hill compared to the surrounding peaks, but the summit is just over 10,000 feet. It turned out to be the perfect challenge for a sea-level dweller like my mom! After several stops for altitude adjustment, mom made it all the way to the summit - at 10,000 feet for the first time in her life!


I introduced mom to one of our natural wonders - the butterscotch tree. Really! It smells like butterscotch when you stick your nose deep into the cracks of the bark. I wouldn't lie to you.


Our last hike was in Eldorado Canyon State Park, up the Rattlesnake Gulch trail. We finally got Bill to take some time off work to join us!

All good things must come to an end, as is life, but we had a great time with mom. I know she'll be back again soon. If you'd like to see more pictures of our adventures, click here!

As we make our way into our first fall in Colorado, Bill and I are preparing for a great football season (both NFL and college), a REAL job for me, the annual Hot Air Balloon Festival in Colorado Springs, and the Great American Beer Festival! You gotta love Colorado!

Edit: I am an idiot. I forgot to mention one of our most-important visitors this summer! Unca Dave and Chris - I beg for your forgiveness. Just as I begged for forgiveness after spilling good beer all over Bill's lap while exuberantly recounting a veterinary tale. I grovel. I weep. I am scum.

Okay, enough of that.


We ate, we drank, we laughed until we couldn't breathe or walk. It was the most wonderful time to have after the most stressful test of my entire life. I am so grateful to you guys.

Please come back!!