Remember when prom was the biggest night of your life

Colleen's Senior Prom was this past weekend and she looked awesome. Very elegant and mature. So I thought I'd share some of the great photos we took of her and her boyfriend Kerrick.

My thoughts

So I wanted the last blog to be about the graduation ceremony, share some photos. But I had some thoughts about the changes in my life that I want to share. I realized sitting at the graduation ceremony that when I start working I will be my own therapist. I will no longer be practicing under someone elses license. I will have my own responsiblities, someone won't always be checking my work, won't always have my back. I am heading into a time where it may look like I have a little less responsibility, no homework due on specific dates, no presentations, no papers or exams, however daily I will be responsible for my patients, I will be responsible for helping return them to their previous functional ability.

I think I am up to that task. I have been studying for 6yrs, all for this moment, this transition period. It's a big transition, it's exciting but very scarry. Will I have a patient that dies on my watch, will I save a life by detecting something that someone else may miss, will I daily meet my patient's needs and my own goals? I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

When I started at Northeastern they (meaning the department heads of the PT school) told us new PT students that there were 100 of us and to look at the person to the left and right of you because on graduation day 2 out of 3 of you will not be there, that only 30 of you will make it through the program. On that day I told my dad "I will be one of those 30, I will graduate from this program" Well I think there were a lot of other kids in that room that thought the same thing because 86 of us graduated but it doesn't matter, it was still just as hard, it was still just as many long nights and days in the library study rooms, in the labs practicing, at home trying to get homework done, balance some social activity and still be sane. Imade it though, I made it through 6 straight years of school and am proud to say I am ready to have the responsibility, I am ready to meet the needs of my patients and peers, I am ready for the PT world to meet Alison Shannon-Lier.

A graduate, a physical therapist, an adult

Hi everyone

it's been a couple weeks since I've graduated, I'm now an adult with a doctorate in physical therapy however I still need to take my exam before I can officially call myself a physical therapist. The celebration at school was two days long, the first being the pinning and hooding ceremony which family (my parents, sister brother, David and my father-in-law came), friends, and teachers of the PT class attended. It was an intimate ceremony where teachers told funny stories about our class of 86 PT students, two of our classmates shared their memories and feelings of the last 6 years, Tammy sang a beautiful song to us and we all cried and then we were hooded and ate, drank and were merry. The actual graduation ceremony wasn't all that. It took so long for us to walk in and then listen to the PhD candidates get their hoods (a total of 3hrs so far) that when I recieved my diploma I decided I was tired and it was time to leave. So my parents, David and I went and grabbed some pizza instead of watching the rest of Northeastern Graduate students get their degrees. It was a great decision. Below are some pictures from the pinning ceremony

The first time I saw David after being hooded / David and I on the 4th floor of Behraki

Kathryn, Laura and myself at Behrakis / awww, most of the gang all together

Myself with my family

Mary's Birthday Present

Recently a close friend MT, who now lives in Liverpool, England, turned 24 and I decided to brave the sewing machine again and attempt to make her a messenger bag for her birthday. I think overall it came out pretty good and hopefully it will hold up for a while. But I wanted to share it with everyone because I am super proud of it and she has now received it so it won't give away the secret.

The First BBQ of the Spring

David grilling the Kebabs

Despite this blog not being posted until the 21st of April, it has been warm enough on a couple of occasions for us to enjoy eating outdoors and David and I decided to take advantage of that and making Kebabs for our Monday Garden Street meal last week. It was a wonderful dinner, everyone enjoying good company, good weather, good food and drink. Even Theo and Emma were able to join us for the evening.Theo & Emma

Most of the Garden Street House: Austin, Natalie, Theo, Emma, Missy, our good friend Dan, Thomas, David and Alison is taking the picture

Austin and Theo putting sticks into the fire

REI garage sales Rock!!!!

Our new B.O.B. road trailer all put together

So David and I recently purchased a bicycle trailer for our ride to Hamilton, Ontario this summer and when we went to REI to pick it up we happened to arrive during the last 20min of an REI garage sale. Of course I never have any luck at these garage sales, nothing is ever my size or I can never find two of a pair, but this time David and I made out like bandates getting $300 worth of gear for $18, along with picking up our awesome new trailer which we have so far only used to pick up pizza for dinner but it worked great!!!David putting together the trailer with only minor difficulties

Our $300 worth of gear: a pair of $90 keen sandals that I have wanted for years for $3, 2 sets of hiking pools each worth $100 that were purchased for $12 because one in each set was "broken" and my handy husband easily fixed them when wegot them home, and a pair of $40 gloves that are perfect for biking in during chili weather for $3. What an awesome trip to REI

HAPPY BELATED EASTER

Family friends and neighbors Deb & Pete , my sister Colleen, my mom, and family friend June @ my parents house

June, my dad's cousins John, Billy and Jane @ my parent's house for dinner

The Rule Police for the Easter Hunt: David, aunt Gini and Nancy @ the Lier's

Amy, Christopher & Jessica going through their loot that was found during the hunt and partaking in the "forced share" (i.e. everyone get's one chocolate bar and a present with their name on it)

The famous Lier Easter hunt

Well it's been a whole week since Easter but there is always more time to celebrate Easter because it is an amazing day and a wonderful event to celebrate. Easter, along with Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. Why? Because it has this amazing feeling of coming together and praising the lord for his blessings and gifts. Now this may be true with Christmas as well however I feel that during the season of Christmas the message gets lost in all the gifts and trees and events that happen but with Easter I feel the Lord's gift in the air. It makes me so happy and every year it is a wonderful day filled with joy and celebration.

This year David and I spent the morning with the Lier's, joining them at Church in Cambridge and then conversation over appetizers, drinks and the traditional Lier Easter hunt before heading to my parent's house for dinner with friends and family and a relaxing evening. It was a wonderful day. I hope you are able to thank the Lord for the many blessings he has given you in the recent past.