Graduation

So, I graduated a few weeks ago. You know, no big deal. It just took up every waking moment of the last three years of my life...Really, though, I'm really stinkin' excited that I finally have my Master of Divinity (in urban missions, if you want to get really specific). For those who couldn't be there for my big day, here's how it went:

I woke up, got ready, and went over to my parent's hotel room so that they could help me get in my graduation get-up. Those graduations hoods are deceptively simple-looking. We took pictures until I saw what time it was and rushed out the door.

I'm somewhere near the back of that big mass of people. They put all the missions people last.

The family after graduation. 

"Yep, they actually put it in there. Isn't it pretty?"

I took lots of pictures with professors and friends. These are two of the first friends I made when I moved to New Orleans. I knew that both before they started dating and I got to be in their wedding...They are part of many awesome stories I'll get to tell my kids one day.

While my family was ordering pizza at a local restaurant, I went to my friend C's house to pick up the cupcakes she made for my special day. In one word: Amazing!

At the end of the day, I gave my dad his very own diploma, which I had signed by the president, registrar (who was very impressed by how real it looked), and graduate dean. He deserved it since he proofread and formatted almost every paper I wrote in graduate school. 

I'm still getting used to the idea of being a graduate. Right now, it just feels like I'm on summer vacation. Everybody asks what's next. The answer, as of right now, is: I don't have any definite plans for the future. I know what I would like to do, and I need to find the right people who will let me do it.  In the meantime, this is where I'm going tonight. Maybe the lack of concrete future plans will change soon...

(credit)