Graduation! Graduation!

Graduation day was stressful, but it was nice. Our house was a disaster in the midst of moving boxes and packing and diapers strewn out everywhere! I managed to get dressed and ready and Chris dropped me off early. I thought I'd enjoy a little bit of time to myself, but as soon as I had checked in, all I wanted was to visit with my family!  And I had regretted not bringing Miles with me. I decided it would be fun to walk with him, but it was too late, I had no way of getting a hold of Chris now... I hadn't brought my phone with me. So I just went for a little walk in the beautiful weather and pondered on my past couple of years and struggles and really felt rather accomplished at what I was celebrating on this day. It was funny because without Miles with me I walked past people and nobody had even a hint at what I had been through this past couple of weeks. There were no funny looks because my belly was not protruding as it had only one week ago and I wasn't carrying my baby as proof of the discomfort that I was feeling inside (although, I still think I was better off with postpardum discomfort than to still be pregnant...). It was all very humbling for me actually because I walked past people and wondered about their stories. I had recently experienced (and was still experiencing) a life changing event and nobody knew. It made me wonder how many people I pass every day who are struggling with any kind of difficulty, and yet I am completely oblivious. I took the time to look into the faces of the people I passed and really try to understand the look in their eyes. It was a good experience and I realized that we each truly do have a story, and we can't judge a book by its cover.

Once we had paraded out into our seats on the gym floor of the Marriott Center, I searched around for my family. There were crowds and crowds of people and I was sure I would never find them, especially without my phone to contact them and ask them where they were sitting. I continued to scan the crowds in hopes that I might just find them. I was having no luck. Apparently they could see me and were screaming my name and whistling in efforts to get my attention. Nothing worked until my little girl cried out, "Mommy!" and instantly I recognized the tiny voice above the crowd and knew immediately who that sweet little voice belonged to. I turned to find my family waving excitedly and cheering for me, including my darling little three year old! I broke into tears at the thought that even in a huge crowd of people, I could still hear the small voice of my little girl. I hope she knows how much she means to me and I hope that I will always be there to cheer her on as she has done so for me these first few years of her life. What an angel.

This was a happy day and I was so glad to share it with my brand new little boy, Chris and Lydia, my mom and dad, Chris's mom and dad, brother, sister and Grandma. It was a beautiful day and I will not ever forget it.