A very difficult Birthday today!

So, today marks the beginning of my 53rd trip around the sun!  While I don't normally consider my birthday to be a big deal, today was a VERY big deal, and very bittersweet!  For those that don't know, my sweet Abigail left today for a six month internship on a dairy farm in AUSTRALIA!  Moxey Farms is the largest single-site dairy farm in Australia with over 5,000 acres and more than 5,500 cows!    

Abby was considering going with our neighbor and friend, Alex, last year, but she was still in school and would have missed her brother, Aaron's wedding last October so she decided not to go.   Alex went alone and thoroughly enjoyed his experience, so much so that he really wanted Abby to have the same experience.  

Her timing and flight just happened to land on my birthday.  It's not that big of a deal, but I was definitely sad!   

We left for the Central Wisconsin Airport at about 12:30 for her 4 p.m. flight.  She's going from Wisconsin to Minneapolis to Los Angels to Sydney.  She will arrive in Sydney at 6:35 a.m. on Monday, June 11.  That will be 3:30 p.m. (central time) Sunday, June 10 here if I calculated correctly. 

We dropped Abby off and then I had to go and park.  Abby actually thought we would just drop her off and go!  I don't think so!  















Abby's been through this before, so knew how to check in. 

Abby spent a lot of time packing and weighing her bags, but wasn't sure how accurate the scale was.  The one bag was 51 pounds and the second bag was 44 pounds.  She did good, as 50 pounds was the limit without having to pay extra! 

It wasn't exactly busy at the airport today!  

We had to wait about 45 minutes for TSA to open. 

And then it was time for Abby to go through the TSA lines.  Abby is in the blue sweatshirt.

I miss the days when you could stay with people at the terminal and not say goodbye until they actually start to board!   I will admit, I cried.  It was really hard for me, and I am going to miss my baby so much!   I know this is the opportunity of a lifetime for her, and I'm incredibly proud of her and happy that she's doing this, but that doesn't mean it's easy for me.  

If you are so inclined, please say a prayer for Abby, the flight crew and everyone else on her plane for safe travels and an uneventful flight.  As I write this, she will arrive in Los Angeles in about another half-hour.  She has a two and a half hour layover in LA and then a 15 hour flight to Sydney.   

Godspeed, Abby!  We love you!!!!  

Peace to all, 

Julie

P.S., I received some lovely birthday gifts from Erica and will post those in my next entry.   Today, it's pretty much all about Abby.  I was also fortunate that Aaron and Rachel and Rachel's parents, Ann and Roger stopped for a visit at 7:30 this morning on their way to Minnesota for a week of fishing!  It was great to see them all!