Commencement

On Saturday, I walked around in this flow-y black robe with a square on my head and participated in Commencement and Graduation ceremonies at Pacific.  It was a bit funny to have done it five months after I actually finished classes (but less funny than if I had done it before, in my opinion!), and I also think there's a part of me that just really doesn't know how to make a big deal of myself (aka celebrate), whether it be birthdays, awards, or occasions like this. 

Fortunately, I'm blessed with people who love me and do the job for me...?  That sounds funny.  Anyway, the whole family came up and packed themselves into our little house (Lauren and Nat graciously invited themselves upstairs) the night before, with the two brothers sharing the futon!  Anyway, between them, Darrell, undergrads who came, and long-distance friends who surprised me (Rob! Troy! Jackie! Harrison!), it was a delightful day!  Topped off by an eight-player game of Nertz with my friends and siblings and crepes for dinner.  

Lauren made me a handmade card and one of the things she wrote was how this isn't so much about graduating from college, but about the start of another phase of life (paraphrased).  And that, I think, is something I feel like I can celebrate.  The commencing of the next adventure--the upcoming training as an intern, the phasing out of student responsibilities, the settling of roots in friendships not connected to students I'm discipling.  

And I just got a new planner for the upcoming academic year so I can write in all the upcoming dates...it's all starting very, very soon!!

(I was going to post a picture of me in the fancy-looking graduation outfit, but D played photographer for the day and I haven't gotten them from him yet...)