our journeys: Vet School Family

We started our veterinary education in 2004 as a group of approximately 100 students. Of those, roughly 75% were women. At the end of the four years, tight knit bonds had been forged between groups of individuals. The core group of friends with whom we spent time outside of class earned the name "vet school family" because that's what they had become - people you want to see on weekends and after class. People who make you stronger, help get you through the trials of advanced education and life, lending a hand when needed, lifting your spirits by word or deed. This group got together during General Conference weekends, holidays, bright summer weekends, and in between.

This "family" consisted of six couples and two single students. One couple was not actually attending veterinary school with us; we met Mike when he was roommates with Chadwick and Milo our second year of school before he got married. And of those in the veterinary program, I was the only wife...the other wives worked or were taking classes outside of the veterinary medical world.

Several couples were able to reunite in Wyoming at the Andrus house for a brief weekend and CE in Jackson in 2011. I was torn between my desire to stay at home with the girls and catch up and the need to attend my meetings for professional credits. I went to the meetings.

(Andrus, Hunt, Merkley, and Griffiths families)

Since that summer, we have gone many different directions and grown considerably. Two of us have been married. All have added children to their core family units. There have been moves, job changes, purchases and sales of veterinary clinics, and lots of life in between. Through it all, our bonds have been maintained. Bonds forged in Pullman, by helping each other through dating, conversion to the gospel, marriage, trials of college, and love for one another.

Some of us are still proudly displaying Cougar Pride.

We reunited in Fairview, Utah a few weeks ago, all but two couples in attendance from all over the western United States and Canada. It was amazing how it all worked out to allow us to get together for a quick weekend. The house we rented was perfect - the kitchen space was large enough to feed everyone comfortably, the outdoor sandbox was the best babysitter, and the living room allowed us to have adult time in the evening. I think we got caught up on the wheres/hows/whos of each family. And oh to hear the stories that were told!! I haven't laughed like that in a while.

Saturday afternoon was spent in Mount Pleasant at Hayley's parents' house riding horses, jumping on the trampoline, running through sprinklers, and enjoying turkey BBQ for dinner. Yup, we got Jen on a horse!!