Graduation!!!

* Hello, blog readers and friends. Before I start this post, I'd like to comment about my previous post. You know, the one where I declared that my family's NYC trip was absolutely going to happen? Yeah...I need to remember that I do not control everything. Particulary, the excruciating back pain that filled my 28 week pregnant (at the time) body the week before our trip. Needless to say, the trip was postponed. Please note that I am getting pretty tired of writing about pending trips that end up not happening, so in the future, I will not be posting about travel plans until the day they happen.*

This past weekend, my family and I made the 6ish hour drive from our home in Charleston, South Carolina to Virginia Beach, Virginia so that I could attend my college's graduation ceremony. We left on Thursday morning and arrived to gorgeous 70 and sunny weather. The ceremony wasn't until Saturday morning, so we had plenty of time to relax, recoup from the drive, and spend time together. During this time, we visited campus for the first time, had dinner with my in-laws, and I was treated to a much needed mani/pedi.

 My school!

Come Saturday morning at 5:45am, I was wide awake and prepared to face the day. Technically, I had already finished my studies in December 2012 and actually already had my diploma at home. But, there is just something about wearing that silly cap and large gown that makes a person rejoice. It made the last 6 years (yes, six) of my studies come to life.

While the ceremony was quite lovely, the weather was not. It was around 50 degrees and misting non-stop. You know, the kind of mist that gets you soaking wet but doesn't show up on the forecast? Yep, our outdoor ceremony was a bit damp. 

But it didn't matter.

It didn't matter that I was 32 weeks pregnant, cold, and wet.

It didn't matter that so many times I wanted to quit. That over the course of my studies I was beat down and exhausted and just plain ready for a break.

What mattered was that my husband, son, mother-in-law, and father-in-law were on campus, watching me graduate. 

What mattered was that my Louisiana family was in numerous locations (Baton Rouge, Houston, TX, and Mississippi), watching me graduate via the live video feed. 

What mattered was that my daughter, who was extremely active that morning, would be carried in my womb and cross the stage with me when my name was announced.

What mattered was that in this moment, all of those exhausting days were over. I had accomplished something that seemed impossible.

It's hard to describe the emotions I felt on this wonderful day. There was so much happiness present and I am just extremely grateful. I am beyond proud to be a Regent University graduate. The Christian education I received has shaped me into the person that I am today. The discipline I learned from being an online student is absolutely invaluable. The many professors and classmates that I have worked with have challenged me and helped me grow. And while I am sad that this chapter is finally over, I am excited to see what the future holds. Praise God for all of His blessings!